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LAO
"Commonly
called "lao Needle, the traditional Hawaiian name for this 2,250 foot high
peak is Kuka'emoku. This peak is known as the phallic stone of Kanaloa,
Hawaiian god of the ocean.
"During
periods of warfare, the peak was used as a lookout by warriors. It
was here that some of the Maui warriors retreated from the forces of Kamehameha
I during the Battle of Kepaniwai.
"Kuka'emoku
is an arsenal remnant. It is at the end of a ridge comprised
of a denser dike stone. The softer rock around the dike stone was
eroded by streams and waterfalls."
Looking back on the upwards climb
The Lao Needle of Maui.
Or better known to ancient Hawaiians
as:
The Phallic Stone of Kanaloa
As the Hawaiian name for the Lao Needle would attest, these early settlers
of Maui weren't in the least bit shy about love & romance!
Their ancient dances, as demonstrated in the hula (at the luau's), were
another prime example of their healthy awareness of the better things in
life.
Ah, imagine
spending your life on this Pacific Eden, lounging on the beautiful beaches,
living in lush jungles cooled by rushing waterfalls; feasting on all those
coconuts, bananas, pineapples and such!
What joy
the males must have known watching beautiful young girls dancing Hawaiian-style.
And surely these maidens found those powerfully muscled young warriors
more than exciting to share romantic evenings under the tropic moon.
The thrill, oh, the excitement this must have offered to all concerned.
Of course
the rumble from a local volcano, now and then, helped to add a bit of disruption
to their otherwise dull mundane lives.
No doubt
the natives got really restless when the earth shook and the mountains
flamed in red and yellow fires!
Had they
failed to satisfy the supernatural powers of the islands?
And when
the the rain of stones and the flow of fiery lava had subsided, the people
must have done their best to appease the Maui Gods of Kanaloa! Considering
their name for the Lao needle, it is easy to imagine how passionately they
must have enjoyed these ancient, primitive rites.
Until, of
course, the coming of the missionaries who had their own idea of rights
and wrongs--and stern warnings of Heaven and Hell!
Now, in modern
times, all we have is this natural wonder, and a distant suggestion of
its effect on the native population so long ago.
For but a
while we basked in our imagination, not wanting to leave this high place
of worship.
Then, reluctantly we started
back down the winding steps into the lush valley below.
It was a beautiful journey to
this mountain stream.
Almost sadly we put the Gods
of Maui behind us.
And returned, tiredly, to our
car.
On our way out of the park we
stopped here:
Then said goodbye to the Leo Valley.
To continue click on
The Maui Man.
Maui Comments by Charles Nuetzel
