Fed from the great watershed of Hawaii far up the densely wooded
flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea--often snow-capped in winter--the
Wailuku River roars through the very center of Hilo, principal town of
the Island of Hawaii.
There are many vague stories as to why the Wailuku River was so named.
In the Hawaiian tongue Wailuku means literally "destroying water."
In olden times before there were bridges and other safeguards the
river wrought considerable damage to property and during the rainy
season it took its toll of human lives. Legends connected with the
Wailuku tend to confirm the belief that it was named for its violent
habits.
Long ago, so one legend goes, the much dreaded Kuna (dragon) blocked
the gorge below Rainbow Falls with intent to back the waters up and
drown the goddess Hina, who dwelt in the great cave for which the
falls form a curtain. How her son, the demi-god Maui, came to the
rescue, saved his mother, and finally hunted Kuna from his lair up the
river and slew him, is told in the legend, "The Last of Kuna."
When Paoa, a very powerful god from Tahiti, came to visit Hawaii he
built a grass hut and made his home on the long, low rock--now known
as Maui's canoe--in the Wailuku near its mouth.
Local gods viewed this selection of a homesite as foolhardy, but Paoa
was unaware of the sudden and rapid rise the river made when heavy
rains and cloud-bursts loosed their torrents high upon the slopes of
Mauna Kea. Hina, goddess of the river, warned the visitor of his
danger and told him how the angry waters would sweep everything before
them. In the legend, "The Coming of Paoa," you will find his answer.
In those days there must have been much more water in the river than
there is today, for a certain amount is now diverted above Rainbow
Falls for water power.
In spite of the decreased volume the river is still very violent and
treacherous. At high water big boulders are clumsily rolled down
stream and when the river is unusually high even trees are torn from
the banks and carried out to sea.
So the Wailuku still lives up to its name, Destroying Water.