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Overview
In chapter XXII of Moke Manu’s Ku-ula continuation, Aiai directs his fisherman friend to kill a hee kupua in the deep water off Wailuanui, Koolau, Maui. Aiai supplies lehoula, the shell inherited from his father and kept in a fishing gourd. While the canoes wait near Kopiliula, the friend invokes Ku-ula and Hina and lowers the shell on a line. Its rainbow colours emit a fiery radiance underwater. The octopus emerges to seize it, raising arms compared in length and thickness with full-grown coconut trees. Above the water it resembles a coconut grove. These comparisons describe the extraordinary animal in this episode, rather than measurements of an observed octopus.
The creature comes into the canoes intending to destroy them and the men while taking the lure. The friend pushes a stone into its head, and the weight carries it to the bottom, where it cannot remove the stone and dies. The men cut away one arm, so large that it loads the returning canoes. Aiai watches from Puhiai and directs the distribution of the catch. The narrative says the dead octopus turns to stone and identifies a formation outside Wailuanui with its body and remaining arms, one missing. The source alternates octopus and squid terminology in English; it supplies no personal name for the being.
Origins & earliest records
Located in XXII, Aiai, Son of Ku-ula, pp. 234–235, of Thomas G. Thrum’s Hawaiian Folk Tales (Chicago: A. C. McClurg, 1907).
Records & interpretation
The selected historical account supplies the actions and transformations described here. Named sites and ritual objects are narrative and cultural witnesses; attributed supernatural explanations remain source-specific.
In the literature
“When the squid died, it turned to stone.”
XXII Aiai, Son of Ku-ula, hosted printed-page marker 235 · M. K. Nakuina (Moses Kuaea Nakuina)
Aiai tells his fishing friend about a hee kupua offshore at Wailuanui and supplies lehoula, the special lure inherited from his father. Aiai stays on the cliff Puhiai to observe. The friend and companions lower the lure from their canoes. Its changing colours and fiery light draw out a huge animal whose arms are compared to coconut trees. As it threatens the vessels, the friend puts a heavy stone into its head. Unable to rise or remove the weight, it dies on the seabed. The fishermen cut off one arm, large enough to load their boats, and distribute the catch at Hana. The dead creature becomes stone; the narrator identifies a coastal formation resembling its body and arms, one missing.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Hawaiian Folk Tales, XXII, Aiai, Son of Ku-ula
pp. 234–235; complete selected chapter, including its final outcome.
- 02
Hawaiian Folk Tales — XXII Aiai, Son of Ku-ula
Hawaiian Folk Tales, compiled Thomas G. Thrum; Chicago: A. C. McClurg,1907, digital copyright page published 1 March 1907. Both selected chapters expressly credit Translated from Moke Manu by M. K. Nakuina. First chapter says translation somewhat condensed and Maui version transmitted through old people of that island. Complete XXI215–229 and XXII230–249 read; markers hosted in Gutenberg18450, original scan pagination not independently collated.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Hawaiian Folk Tales, XXII, Aiai, Son of Ku-ula
Hawaiian Folk Tales, compiled Thomas G. Thrum; Chicago: A. C. McClurg,1907, digital copyright page published 1 March 1907. Both selected chapters expressly credit Translated from Moke Manu by M. K. Nakuina. First chapter says translation somewhat condensed and Maui version transmitted through old people of that island. Complete XXI215–229 and XXII230–249 read; markers hosted in Gutenberg18450, original scan pagination not independently collated.
- Aiai tells his fishing friend about a hee kupua offshore at Wailuanui and supplies lehoula, the special lure inherited from his father. Aiai stays on the cliff Puhiai to observe. The friend and companions lower the lure from their canoes. Its changing colours and fiery light draw out a huge animal whose arms are compared to coconut trees. As it threatens the vessels, the friend puts a heavy stone into its head. Unable to rise or remove the weight, it dies on the seabed. The fishermen cut off one arm, large enough to load their boats, and distribute the catch at Hana. The dead creature becomes stone; the narrator identifies a coastal formation resembling its body and arms, one missing.
XXII Aiai, Son of Ku-ula, hosted page markers 234–235 within complete230–249
Complete XXII230–249 and precedingXXI read. Hosted English alternates octopus/hee and squid; not a modern taxonomic determination. Heavy stone goes into its head, not a hook allegedly lodged in its mouth. Missing arm follows the fishing party’s removal. Claimed surviving rock formation was not independently inspected.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textHawaiian Folk Tales, XXII, Aiai, Son of Ku-ulaResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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