Far above Rainbow Falls there lived a powerful kupua named Kuna. Kuna
had the form of a monstrous dragon, unlike anything in these islands
today.
Kuna often tormented the goddess Hina in her rocky cave behind Rainbow
Falls by sending over great torrents of water or by rolling logs and
boulders down the stream. Quite often he would block the stream below
the falls with sediment sent down by freshets during the rainy
seasons.
But Hina was well protected. Her cave was large and the misty cloud of
spray from the falling waters helped to conceal it. So in spite of the
frequent floods and many threats from Kuna, Hina paid him not the
slightest attention, but with her songs and gay laughter lightly
mocked him as she worked.
On many days Hina was quite alone, while her eldest son, the demi-god
Maui, was away on one of his numerous expeditions. Even then she did
not mind this, for should any danger befall her she had a peculiar
cloud servant which she called "ao-opua." If Hina were in trouble this
ao-opua would rise high above the falls, taking an unusual shape. When
Maui saw this warning cloud he would hurry home at once to his
mother's side.
One night while Maui was away from home on the Island of Maui, where
he had gone to bargain with the Sun, a storm arose. The angry waters
roared about the mouth of Hina's cave. They hissed and tossed in ugly
blackness down the narrow river gorge; but Hina heard naught of the
wildness without. Being used to the noisy cataract, her slumbers were
not disturbed by the heightened tumult of its roar.
But Kuna, quite aware of the situation, was quick to take advantage
and to act. Hina's apparent indifference annoyed him. He recalled
several failures to conquer her, and rage overwhelmed him. Calling
upon his powers he lifted an immense boulder and hurled it over the
cliffs. It fitted perfectly where it fell between the walls of the
gorge and blocked the rush of the hurrying torrent.
Laughing loudly at his success, Kuna called on Hina and warned her of
her plight, but, still unknowing, Hina slept on until the cold waters
entered the cave, rapidly creeping higher and higher until they
reached her where she slept. Startled into wakefulness she sprang to
her feet, and her cries of panic resounded against the distant hills.
As the waters rose higher her cries became more terrified until they
reached the Island of Maui and the ears of her son.
Through the darkness Maui could see the strange warning cloud,
unusually large and mysterious. With his mother's cries ringing in his
ears he bounded down the mountain to his canoe, which he sent across
the sea to the mouth of the Wailuku with two strong sweeps of his
paddle. The long, narrow rock in the river below the Mauka Bridge,
called Ka Waa o Maui (The Canoe of Maui), is still just where he ran
it aground at the foot of the rapids.
Seizing his magic club with which he had conquered the Sun, Maui
rushed to the scene of danger. Seeing the rock blocking the river he
raised his club and struck it a mighty blow. Nothing could resist the
magic club! The rock split in two, allowing the strong current to rush
unhindered on its way.
Hearing the crash of the club and realizing his attempt on the life of
Hina had again failed, Kuna turned and fled up the river.
The remains of the great boulder, now known as Lonokaeho, overgrown
with tropical plants and with the river rushing through the rift, lies
there to this day as proof of Maui's prowess.