9 Mysterious Hawaiian Mythology and Legends Worth Knowing

Most people know the Hawaiian Islands for their beautiful blue waters and white sand beaches, but they also have a beautiful and rich culture that is often overlooked. Some of these myths, legends, and superstitions have been around for so long that Hawaiians today still believe them. Here is a quick look at some of the most well-known Hawaiian myths and legends.

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The spiritual guardian

In the Hawaiian Islands, an aumkua is a spiritual guardian, and it is thought that the soul of a loved one who has died could take the form of an animal, an object, or a thought. aumkua could be a cloud, a rock, a whale, a turtle, or even a shark. When you were in trouble, an aumkua would usually come to you in the form of an animal and help you until you were safe or your question was answered.

Don’t wear lei or necklaces when you’re expecting.

Hawaiians are known for their leis and beautiful shell necklaces, but in the past, pregnant women never wore them. They thought that if a pregnant woman wore something around her neck, the umbilical cord would wrap around the baby’s neck in the womb.

Don’t touch the lava rocks.

If you are going to the Hawaiian Islands, you need to know about Pele, the goddess of volcanoes. She is the most well-known of the Hawaiian gods, and people believe they will be cursed if they take any of her lava rocks off the island. Pele is known to have a fiery temper, so until you put the rocks back where they came from, bad luck will follow you.

9 Mysterious Hawaiian Mythology and Legends Worth Knowing — © Jack Ebnet / Unsplash

The people of Menehune

Menehune are small people who live in the Hawaiian jungles and valleys. People thought that they helped build a lot of the great things on the Hawaiian Islands because they are such great builders. People say that these tiny people built many fishponds, mountains, and rock formations.

The ghosts of the night marcher

Night marchers are the ghosts of warriors who walk from where they were buried to where they died or to other holy places. They are most often seen right after sunset and right before dawn. Most of the time, you can hear drums beating in the distance before night marchers show up. People used to believe that if you saw a night marcher or if a night marcher saw you, you would die, unless you had a relative in the same ancestral class as the night marcher who saw you.

No pigs allowed on the Pali Highway.

Kamapuaa, the god of pigs, was sent away by Pele to live in the Kailua/Kneohe area of Oahu. The Pali Highway is the best way to get to and from Kailua. If you drive through Pali with pork in your car, Pele will think that you are helping Kamapua’a get away from Kailua, so she will do everything she can to stop you. Some people think that if you pray to Pele, your car will break down. This has happened to many people in the past.

Put the placenta in a hole under a tree.

Women in Hawaii used to bury their placentas under trees after giving birth. This was done so that the child’s soul would always feel connected to their home and would never be hungry or homeless after they died.

Don’t cut your nails or hair in the middle of the night.

People used to think that if you cut your fingernails or hair at night, someone could steal your mana (spirit or strength). Your mana is in your fingernails and hair. If you leave it lying around, especially at night, someone could take your spirit.

Face your feet away from the door while you sleep.

People used to think that if your feet were facing the door when you died in your sleep, your soul would leave your body. Hawaiians never sleep in their homes with their feet facing the doorways to avoid this.

Topic: 9 Mysterious Hawaiian Mythology and Legends Worth Knowing

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