Kupua
Encyclopedia
In Hawaiian mythology
, the Kupua are a group of demigods: heroic trickster
s.
Hawaii
an myth
s and legend
s abound with such characters. They are traditionally described as monster
s having the power of appearing in different kinds of bodies. They usually have cruel and vindictive characters and are ready to destroy and devour any persons they can catch. There are, however, many kupuas of kindly spirit who give watchful care to the members of their own families.
Many Hawaiian kupua are considered as gods having a double body, sometimes appearing as a man and sometimes being able to change shape, into an animal, vegetal, or mineral form. The latter form always possesses supernatural powers. William Westervelt mentions the following classification for kupua:
or crocodile
, as well as a beautiful woman. She could assume whichever shape she most desired. One of the legends says that she was a shark
and woman.
In an old Honolulu legend, a kupua who is a dog-man overthrows the government of Kahanai and becomes the ruling power between Nuuanu Valley and the sea. He is a cannibal and many of the people are killed and eaten by him. He can appear at will either as a man or a dog.
In Maui
, the king once had a kupua, a rooster
, which was very cruel and destructive. He could assume a different bird form for each magic power he possessed. This, with his miraculous human powers, made him superior to all the roosters which had ever been his antagonists in cock-fighting.
In Kauai
, Akua-pehu-ale (god-of-the-swollen-billow) was a kupua who devoured his enemies and was greatly feared and hated even by his own tribe.
In the legend of the bread-fruit tree, Papa
, one of the ancestors of the people living in all the islands now known as Polynesia
, is described as a kupua. Her daughter Kap-ula-kinau also has kupua, or magic power.
Other Hawaiian kupua mentioned in the mythology include Māui
, Iwa
, Ono and Pekoi. See also Apukohai
.
Hawaiian mythology
Hawaiian mythology refers to the legends, historical tales and sayings of the ancient Hawaiian people. It is considered a variant of a more general Polynesian mythology, developing its own unique character for several centuries before about 1800. It is associated with the Hawaiian religion...
, the Kupua are a group of demigods: heroic trickster
Trickster
In mythology, and in the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior. It is suggested by Hansen that the term "Trickster" was probably first used in this...
s.
Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an myth
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
s and legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
s abound with such characters. They are traditionally described as monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s having the power of appearing in different kinds of bodies. They usually have cruel and vindictive characters and are ready to destroy and devour any persons they can catch. There are, however, many kupuas of kindly spirit who give watchful care to the members of their own families.
Many Hawaiian kupua are considered as gods having a double body, sometimes appearing as a man and sometimes being able to change shape, into an animal, vegetal, or mineral form. The latter form always possesses supernatural powers. William Westervelt mentions the following classification for kupua:
- Ka-poe-kino-lau (the people who had leaf bodies)
- Ka-poe-kino-pua (the people who had flower bodies)
- Ka-poe-kino-manu (the people who had bird bodies)
- Ka-poe-kino-laau (trees of all kinds, ferns, vines, etc.)
- Ka-poe-kino-pupu (all shells)
- Ka-poe-kino-ao (all clouds)
- Ka-poe-kino-maani (all winds)
- Ka-poe-kina-ia (all fish)
- Ka-poe-kina-mano (all sharks)
- Ka-poe-kina-limu (all sea-mosses)
- Ka-poe-kina-pokaku (all peculiar stones)
- Ka-poe-kina-hiwa-hiwa (all dangerous places of the pali)
Famous kupua in Hawaiian legends
Mamala the surf-rider was a chieftess of kupua character. She is described as a moo, or gigantic lizardLizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
or crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
, as well as a beautiful woman. She could assume whichever shape she most desired. One of the legends says that she was a shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
and woman.
In an old Honolulu legend, a kupua who is a dog-man overthrows the government of Kahanai and becomes the ruling power between Nuuanu Valley and the sea. He is a cannibal and many of the people are killed and eaten by him. He can appear at will either as a man or a dog.
In Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, the king once had a kupua, a rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
, which was very cruel and destructive. He could assume a different bird form for each magic power he possessed. This, with his miraculous human powers, made him superior to all the roosters which had ever been his antagonists in cock-fighting.
In Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, Akua-pehu-ale (god-of-the-swollen-billow) was a kupua who devoured his enemies and was greatly feared and hated even by his own tribe.
In the legend of the bread-fruit tree, Papa
Papa
Papa or PAPA may refer to:*P, in the ICAO spelling alphabet*Papa class submarine*Pāpa, in Hinduism, the Sanskrit word for the concept of sin* Papa is a word used in many languages as an affectionate term for fatherPeople:...
, one of the ancestors of the people living in all the islands now known as Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
, is described as a kupua. Her daughter Kap-ula-kinau also has kupua, or magic power.
Other Hawaiian kupua mentioned in the mythology include Māui
Maui (Hawaiian mythology)
In Hawaiian mythology, Māui is a culture hero who appears in several different genealogies. In the Ulu line he is the son of Akalana and his wife Hinakawea . This couple has four sons, Māui-mua, Māui-hope, Māui-kiikii and Māui-a-kalana. Māui-a-kalana's wife is named Hinakealohaila; and his son is...
, Iwa
IWA
IWA may refer to:*Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South*Indian Workers' Association*Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada , an autonomous branch of the former International Woodworkers of America trade union...
, Ono and Pekoi. See also Apukohai
Apukohai
Apukohai is a marine monster in the mythology of the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Kawelo, a giant of enormous strength, departs for Oahu and encounters Apukohai. After a fierce struggle, Kawelo kills Apukohai, having invoked the assistance of the owl god and the fish Ulu-makaikai ....
.