In
Hawaiian mythology, Hauwahine was a
moʻo and the
guardian spirit of
Kawainui Fishpond as well as
Pā'eo and
Kaʻelepulu fishponds.
Name
In the
Hawaiian language
Hawaiian (', ) is a critically endangered Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family, originating in and native to the Hawaiian Islands. It is the native language of the Hawaiian people. Hawaiian, along with English, is an offi ...
, the name ''Hauwahine'' literally means "female ruler".
Characteristics
It was believed that Hauwahine ensured there was enough food available for the people, but removed the fish from the pond if the people living in the area were
oppressed
Oppression is malicious or unjust treatment of, or exercise of power over, a group of individuals, often in the form of governmental authority. Oppression may be overt or covert, depending on how it is practiced.
No universally accepted model ...
by the
aliʻi
The aliʻi were the traditional nobility of the Hawaiian islands. They were part of a hereditary line of rulers, the ''noho aliʻi''.
Cognates of the word ''aliʻi'' have a similar meaning in other Polynesian languages; in Māori it is pronoun ...
. She was additionally believed to prevent sickness.
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the component ...
and overgrowth were thought to be insults to Hauwahine, which was one motivation for the Hawaiians to keep the fishpond clean. The Hawaiian goddess
Hiʻiaka
In Hawaiian religion, Hiʻiaka is a daughter of Haumea and Kāne.
Hiʻiakaikapoliopele is the Hawaiian patron goddess of hula dancers, chant, sorcery, and medicine. Born in Tahiti and brought by her sister to Hawaii Pelehonuamea, Hi'iaka is al ...
was believed to have fought all the moʻo except for Hauwahine, for whom she chanted a
mele
Mele () is a ''Comune'' (Municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about west of Genoa, and historically famous for the production of paper.
Mele borders the following municipalities: Genoa, Masone ...
.
, a
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
outcropping on the west side of Kawainui,
was thought to be a favored location of Hauwahine.
Yellow grass and
rushes were believed to mark her location.
References
Bibliography
*
*
{{Legendary-creature-stub
Hawaiian mythology