Hina Kuluua was the second daughter of the goddess Hina, who lived
behind Rainbow Falls. Hina Keahi, the elder sister, had received the
best of the gifts which their mother could bestow--power over fire and
ownership of the largest of the Halai hills. Known as the goddess of
fire, Hina Keahi was indeed very powerful and one time gave
spectacular evidence of it in saving her people from starvation, as
told in the legend, Hina Keahi.
Naturally everyone looked upon her thereafter as the most wonderful
goddess in the Islands. Even her sister's little band of followers did
not refrain from open admiration of the beautiful fire goddess.
This made Hina Kuluua exceedingly angry. Her jealousy overwhelmed her;
she could not bear to let her sister claim so much glory, and she have
none at all.
It was not long after this that another famine swept the land. Hina
Kuluua thought fortune was at last coming her way. Here was the very
opportunity she craved. Now she would prove her power superior to her
sister's and all the people would sing her praises and worship her
alone.
In her excitement she entirely overlooked the fact that she was
goddess of rain, and not of fire. She ordered an immense imu to be dug
in her own hill, Puu Honu. Comprehending her intentions the people at
once realized the utter futility of her proposed action and pleaded
with her against it; but to no avail.
"Do you mean to tell me that my power is less than Hina Keahi's?" she
demanded angrily. "Do you think that I, Hina Kuluua, cannot do as much
for my people in their time of need? I will show you! Then you shall
recognize Hina Kuluua as the greatest goddess in Hawaii."
"You can help as well and perhaps better than your sister," they
argued, "but you cannot do it in the same way. Your power, though it
may be as great, is nevertheless entirely different from hers."
Then Hina Kuluua would order them out of her sight and command them to
hurry the completion of the imu.
At last all was ready. A group with tear-stained faces were gathered
about the smoking imu. Hina Kuluua approached, her head held high in
an air of triumph. She stepped to the edge of the imu, cast a glance
of disdain toward the wailing women and said, "Cover me quickly. Watch
near the imu and in three days a young woman will appear. She will
give you further instructions."
Stepping into the imu she was quickly covered with soil. The people
had expected a cloud of smoke to appear, but were somewhat surprised
to see the little there already was become even thinner and dwindle
away to mere nothingness.
Slowly the long days of waiting passed. The third day dawned. All
morning the people watched for signs from the imu. Late in the
afternoon found their vigilance unbroken; night closed in and still no
sign. Dawn once more, another day of anxiety. On the fifth day they
could no longer restrain themselves and cautiously uncovered the great
oven.
A dark greyish cloud rose over the imu--that was all. Within, the
people could distinguish the charred remains of their proud goddess.
With reverence they covered the imu once more and carefully smoothed
it over.
That is why today you cannot see a deep crater in Puu Honu as in
Halai, and why the dark, gloomy cloud--a sure sign of rain--often
hangs low over the one-time home of Hina Kuluua.