MO'O

Water Demigods

BACK TO HAWAIIAN

Hule'ia, Haiku Road.

An individual was walking home at 11:00 p.m. and passes a large triangular rock. On this rock, a lady was sitting, combing her long white hair that touched the ground. This lady is seen only once in ten years on dark nights and at certain time of the year. Informant was Wah Quan Lee

Waimea River. People believe that the river is a female mo'o. When she has her menses, she seeks a mate. Men who travel in the area disappear. She is the cause of their disappearance. Recorded by Carol Synder, Fall 75 class.

Mo'o of Koia'e. This mo'o is an eel. Men who met this female , when in human form, would disappear at Koia'e pool . A man once caught this eel , had it mounted and the eel turned color from a brown to a green. Recorded by Carol Synder Fall 75 class.

Mo'o of Punaluu Fishpond. The present owner of Punaluu Fishpond is Chinese. He bought the fishpond after the owner died. It was teeming with mullet, barracuda and other fishes.

Once while he was surveying his pond from a boat, he fell into the pond and was almost sucked into an undersea cave which acted like a whirlpool. He survived his near drowning and went back to the area.

He speared an eel which was nearly 30 pounds in weight. The head and innards melted away. people in the area believed that this man speared the guardian spirit of the pond, the moo in the form of an eel.

The retribution was that the fishpond slowly became unproductive and the fish population began to dwindle until no fishes were present. Combined with the stingy nature of the owner and the killing of the mo'o, the pond became a liability rather then a financial asset.                                              Carol Synder Fall 75  Informant, Don E. Johnson Feb12th.

The Mo'o of Waiahole.  High up in Waiahole Valley there is a spring where a moÕo is reputed to live. Once a Hawaiian man who was working in the area saw a woman combing her very long black hair with a comb. he crept up and stole her comb but decided to revisit the spring. The moÕo once seen by men are said to be exteremly beautiful. The man was succumbed by her beauty and was led down the spring into the underground network of tunnels that are said to connect all the islands. He enjoyed his life until he tired of it and sought to escape. He disappeared for 3 months and one day me made his excape through a small hole. He was found on the slopes of Koko head on Oahu above the rifle range. he said the cave opening closed after he left. He was found covered with slimy growth on his skin. Mrs. Paglinawan. Waiahole, Oahu.