Legends of the Wailuku

A collection of Hawaiian legends centered on the Wailuku River and the natural landmarks around Rainbow Falls, presenting origin tales, explanations of place names, and mythic episodes. Stories recount why the river earned a name meaning destroying water, a demi-god's rescue of his mother from a river monster, the slowing of the sun so tapa cloth can dry, a visiting god who confronts the river's danger, and the weaving of ti leaves that inspired a town name. The prose preserves oral storytelling, blending local lore, supernatural beings, and customary practices to explain landscape, hazards, and cultural craft.