Ridge Story

You'll trek it on the Lahaina Pali Trail, but Kalaloloa means much more to Hawaiians. Read the legend of ‘Ele‘io and Kanikani‘a‘ula.

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Pali hike MauiKealaloa is famous in legend as the place where ‘Ele‘io first met the spirit of high chiefess Kanikani‘a‘ula. ‘Ele‘io was a swift runner who was said to be able to make the circuit of Maui three times in a day. His job was to bring fish and ‘awa from Hana to the chief Kaka‘alaneo who was living in Lahaina. On one such mission, he came upon the lifeless body of Kanikani‘a‘ula, a high chiefess from Hawai‘i. He stopped to perform a ritual to restore her spirit. In reward, she gave him a feather cape, which he then passed on to Kaka‘alaneo. This was the first feather cape seen on Maui.

Excerpted from Tales from the Trails pamphlet. Before you hike, pick up a copy of Tales from the Trails from the Department of Land & Natural Resources office in Wailuku, located at 54 South High Street, Room 101. (It’s in the ‘70s style building at the intersection of Main and High Streets.)

Read more about the Lahaina Pali Trail hike in “Pali High.”

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