A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Kaupe can appear as a man or a dog and gains authority in the land between Nuʻuanu and the coast. The narrative describes his attacks on people and his movement between islands. On Hawaiʻi he captures a high chief’s son, carrying him to a temple at Līhuʻe on Oʻahu. The boy’s father follows and receives help from Kahilona, a priest and caretaker connected with the Menehune-built temple Ka-he-iki.
Guided by that assistance, the father releases the captive while Kaupe sleeps. When the dog gives chase, father and son hide beneath a great stone, and Kaupe wrongly expects them to flee directly to Hawaiʻi. They later overcome him after further preparation. His spirit returns to Nuʻuanu and appears in cloud forms. This sequence distinguishes death of the threatening body from continuing spiritual presence, without making the collector’s interpretations a universal Hawaiian doctrine.
Origins & earliest records
Chapter XIII of Westervelt’s 1916 Legends of Old Honolulu is the selected witness. It embeds Kaupe’s story in temple, chiefly and priestly relationships rather than presenting an isolated monster description. The publication dates this English retelling; oral transmission and different local understandings cannot be assigned a beginning from it. The linked witness is the second edition; its copyright page separately retains the earlier 1915 date.
Records & interpretation
The inspected account supports the two bodily forms, abduction, rescue, pursuit and returning cloud-associated spirit. Its named places and social relationships are cultural evidence within a collected narrative. They do not demonstrate a biological dog-human species, verify an abduction historically, or provide grounds for reproducing ritual directions as practical instructions.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Legends of Old Honolulu, XIII: The Cannibal Dog-Man
Selected inspected passages; edited witness, not a comprehensive bibliography. Linked title page is dated 1916 and labels the book Second Edition; its copyright page also records 1915.
- 02
Legends of Old Honolulu (Mythology)
Second edition, Boston Ellis Press / London Constable,1916; work first published1915.
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.
Legends of Old Honolulu (Mythology)
Second edition, Boston Ellis Press / London Constable,1916; work first published1915.
- The dog-man Kaupe takes either human or canine form.
- Kaupe carries a chief’s son to the temple at Lihue for future sacrifice.
- Kaupe’s ghost remains in the high Nuuanu Valley and appears in cloud form after his death.
Documents this credited English collected version, not a universal account of Hawaiian tradition. European terms such as crocodile are historical translator choices, not evidence of native fauna. Collector racial or cultural generalizations are not adopted.
Encyclopedia background
An additional attributed reference, separate from the editorial profile above.
Read the open encyclopedia overview
In Hawaiian mythology, Kaupe is a malevolent spirit that calls out to people at night to lure them to their deaths. According to legend, he used to rule Nu'uanu Valley.
Text from Wikipedia contributors, “Kaupe”. CC BY-SA 4.0. Extracted introduction; formatting changed. Retrieved 5 October 2026. The source article may have changed since retrieval.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textLegends of Old Honolulu, XIII: The Cannibal Dog-ManResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
