Drive east along Kamehameha Hwy to Kamalo and pull over by the side of the road to see Kapualei and find the cache. The great mo’o, Kapualei, is visible along the western side of Kamalo Ridge, especially in the afternoon. The red dirt is Kapualei’s blood. To the early Hawaiians the mo'o (giant lizards) were a symbol of spirituality and good fortune. An ‘aumakua was a personal god or guardian spirit.
The legend tells how Kapualei is forever known as the ‘aumakua of Kamalo.
There lived east in Kainalu another ‘aumakua named Kauhuhu, a mano (shark) who wanted to be the ‘aumakua from Kainalu to Kamalo. The mano thus challenged the mo’o to a battle, which lasted for 3 days with both ‘aumakua badly wounded. The mo’o lost a lot of blood and collapsed, his last words were:
“I will ALWAYS be the aumakua of Kamalo! even if I should die!”
Feeling victorious, the mano swam back to Kainalu to boast winning the battle. Later rested and healed, he returned to Kamalo to claim victory, only to find the mo’o’s trail of blood up the mountainside and the mo’o asleep.
Kapualei had won the battle and will always be known as the ‘aumakua of Kamalo!