Im proud of the 'ōpio (youth) from 808 Urban.Org and Estria.Org on changing this space in Waikiki. Im honored to have helped done the research for this HPD beautification project on the mo'olelo (Hawaiian folklore story) of Kapo'i & King Kakuhihewa along with John "Prime" Hina of 808 Urban and Estria Miyashiro of the Estria Foundation. The 808 urban mural clubs of Punahou, Waipahu and Roosevelt were the backbone of students that contributed to this project.
Here is an abbreviated mo'olelo of the mural.
There lived a man named Kapo'i, at Kahehuna in Honolulu, who went one day to Kewalo to get some thatching for his house. On his way back he found some owl's eggs, which he gathered together and brought home with him. In the evening he wrapped them in ti leaves and was about to roast them in hot ashes.
When a pueo (Hawaiian owl) perched on the fence which surrounded his house and called out to him, "O Kapo'i, Give me my eggs!". Kapo'i asked the pueo, "How many eggs had you?". "Seven Eggs," replied the owl. Kapo'i then said, "Well, I wish to roast these eggs for my supper." The pueo asked a second time for its eggs and was answered by Kapo'i in the same manner. Then said the pueo, "O heartless Kapo'i, why don't you take pity on me? Give me my eggs." Kapo'i then told the owl to come and take them.
The pueo, having received the eggs, told Kapo'i to build up a heiau (sacred temple) and instructed him to make an altar and call the heiau by the name of Manua. Kapo'i built the temple as directed, set kapu days for its dedication, and placed the customary sacrifice on the altar.
News spread to the hearing of King Kakuihewa, King of Oahu living at Waikiki before Kamehameha ruled all the islands, that a certain man had kapu serveral days for the heiau, and had already dedicated it. This King had made a law that whoever among his people should erect a heiau and kapu their heiau before the King had his heiau kapu, that man should pay the penalty of death. Kapo'i was thereupon seized, by the King's orders, and led to the heiau of Kupalaha at Waikiki.
That same day, the pueo that had told Kapo'i to erect a heiau gathered all the owls from Lanai, Maui, Molokai,and Hawaii to one place at Kalapueo. All those from the Ko'olau districts were assembled at Kanoniakapueo and those from Kauai and Niihau at Pueohulunui, near Moanalua.
It was decided by King Kakuhihewa that Kapo'i should be put to death on the day of Kāne. When that day came, at daybreak the pueos / owls left their places of rendevous and covered the whole sky over Honolulu. As the King's servants seized Kapo'i to put him to death, the owls flew at them, pecking them with their beaks and scratching them with their claws. A battle was fought between Kakuihewa's people and the owls.
The owls finally conquered Kakuhihewas men and Kapo'i was released. Kakuhihewa realized that Kapo'is akua (god) was stronger & wiser than his. He vowed to make amends with Kapo'i and claim the heiau in Manoa sacred. read more