Pack 27 - Mo'olelo a Manaua Traditional Cache
Sara B: Per the request of the property owner, this geocache must be removed.
Will follow up with geocache owner with more detail.
Sara
Community Manager
Geocaching HQ
Pack 27 - Mo'olelo a Manaua
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is located on way into Waimea Town, at a fairly flat area. This cache is part of Pack 27's attempt to pass on the history of certain valuable resources in the Waimea area. Permission was granted by the owners of this location to place a cache here.
The Cub Scouts of Pack 27 have placed a cache in a location that has cultural significance to the people of Waimea. The rock is actually on the other side of the property, but this gives you the opportunity of exploring the property. When you travel to this cache please show respect for the area as this is a location that Paniolo's, Hula practitioners, school children, etc come to learn and pay respect to the mo'o Manaua. She is responsible for the rains that we receive so that the cattle can survive and the crops can grow. Pack 27 asked a well respective member of the Hawaiian community to come and tell the story of this location and asked to share this with you:
The story of Manaua begins in the land division of Waiaka of the Waimea plains. Here in the early morning hours a group of young boys prepare for their favorite past-time called lawai‘a manu or bird fishing. Much like the fisher people of the coasts, they got their poles, fishing lines, hooks and bait ready for their trip; in this manner they dug in the moist soil in search of chrysalis cocoons until their buckets were full. The cocoons were the maunu or bait that the boys would use to “fish” for the kolea or Golden Plover birds. When all was ready they walked a short distance to the Hökü‘ula hillside where they cast their hooked lines with sinker stones called Pöhaku-ka-pili-manu. This was so that the famous winds of Waimea would not whip their lines around thereby chasing the birds away. As the boys lay still and quiet in the tall grass, they continued fishing until they had acquired enough kolea birds for their consumption. It is at this time that instead of returning home, a suggestion is made for the group to go to a favorite swim spot just above the bird fishing area at Hökü‘ula. Agreeing that a refreshing swim would be good, the boys proceeded to the swimming hole called Kohäkohau. There they did, as taught to them, in order to gain permission to enter and swim in the pond that was home to a mo‘o wahine named Manaua, who was the water guardian of that stream. It is said that if the t-leaf that was tossed in the water stayed afloat, you were granted permission and were allowed to enter the pond. If however, the t-leaf sank you were denied entry and could not swim. On this day, it is said that, the leaf floated and the boys dove in enjoying the cold mountain water of Waimea. After some time, the group noticed that one of their friends had not surfaced and was nowhere to be found. As they searched and called out for him, they came to a realization that they would not able to find him, despite all their efforts. Gathering their belongings, they returned home to the lower lands of Waiaka where they shared their account of the day with area elders. Within the wisdom of the kupuna, elders, the boys were told that it was Manaua who had taken their friend and kept him for herself. They explained that she admired him while she watched him swim and decided to keep him there as her companion. A little closer to Waimea town there is a rock which bears her name, Manaua. She is known by the same old ones to frequent this large boulder to warm her body in the sun. Following this she’d return to her watery home of Kohäkohau, where she remains until today. The boulder of Manaua and the pond of Kohäkohau are reminders for us today to honor this special and storied landscape of beautiful Waimea Hawai‘i.
Mahalo
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh znl arrq gb ybbx haqre gur onex sbe guvf.