(tidbits from F. Brian):
Molokai History:
(from “Ho’opono: The Hawaiian Way to Put Things Back into Balance” by Pali Jae Lee, I.M. Publishing, Ltd., Mountain View, HI, 2006)
Molokai is also known by the name of “Pule O’o”. This is the story of how it got that name. At the time of the Tahitian invasion of the 1200’s, something very interesting happened. Warriors had laid waste to the island of Lana’i. Only forty people had survived as they had taken to the canoes and fled to Molokai. The warriors followed after the escaping Hawaiians. as the war canoes left Lana’i to attack Molokai, the current in the channel between Lana’i and Molokai became stronger than usual. Some of the Molokai people at Kaoio came out of their houses and watched the warriors paddling across towards them. The warriors were strong men, but the current was stronger. Some were able to beach their canoes but most found the current was taking them away from the island instead of toward it. One of the elders started to chant in Hawaiian, “Mighty is the land of Hina, you can not land.” Others took up the chant until it rose like thunder across the waters. They said the ocean was a red color from the reflection of the red malo (loin cloths) of the warriors, and because they were murderers.
The tide itself had taken them away from the island. The invaders were to say later that the chanting kept them from landing on that island (Molokai), and they gave it the name of “Pule O’o” (powerful prayer). They were spooked by what happened, and as they told and retold the story of not being able to beach their canoes, they continually called it the island of powerful prayer. There was no invasion of Molokai at that time. Through the centuries to follow, Molokai was often called by that name because the island was full of powerful prayer. Molokai is still full of powerful prayer, and is still called “Pule O’o”.
Mahalo nui,
Fr. B