The Ghost Dance on Punchbowl

retold here by Bree
Adapted from "The Ghost Dance on Punchbowl" from Hawaiian Legends by Eric Knudsen

There was once a young chief of O‘ahu, who was the best at every sport. He would beat everyone in konane, slingshot, sports, and other games. He suddenly got bored with just gambling so many days later, he decides to plan a surprise attack on Kaua‘i wanting to take over the island. He told all his people to go into the forest and cut down the finest koa trees to make the finest canoes. He also told all the women to gather lots of food for the journey and make the best kapa cloths.

Finally the day came to go on their journey. They left at sun down and arrive at dawn. While all the people are just waking up, they attacked! All the men were killed and the women were taken with them back to O‘ahu.

When they got back to O‘ahu, they had a big feast with lots of food. The women and children of Kaua‘i were crying wanting to go back to their island. All of a sudden, the earth started to shake and then it cracked in half. The aumakua of Kaua‘i came from out of the mountains and everyone started to run and yell. The young chief then noticed that he should return the women and children back to their island. He put them into a canoe and let them return back home. The earth stoped shaking and the lava started to cool down. That’s why everytime you see smoke above punchbowl, that is the aumakua of Kaua‘i doing their sacred dance.