Polynesian Legends

Prince Hulu and Mā'ili'ili

[The story of the mountains of Mā'ili]

On the island of O'ahu, in the valley of Lualualei, lived twin sisters. One was named Mā'ili'ili. Her beauty was unmatched and she soon came to be pursued by the local chief, Chief Hulu.

Chief Hulu would go to the beaches to see Mā'ili'ili where they spent many days together. Unbeknownst to Chief Hulu, Mā'ili'ili was a twin, and her sister was wary of Prince Hulu's true intentions.

To prove Hulu truly loved Mā'ili'ili for who she was and not just her appearance, she convinced her sister to test the prince. They would switch places and her twin sister would meet Hulu in her place.

Despite their identical appearance, Chief Hulu uncovered the truth, wishing to see his true love, Mā'ili'ili. Passing her test, Mā'ili'ili's twin approved of their union.

However, he wasn't the only one who wished to pursue her.

Mā'ili'ili caught the eye of a Mo'o, a powerful beast of legend. A lizard the size of an island, some saying that this magical beast also took other forms at will. A shapeshifter.

Rejected by Mā'ili'ili, the Mo'o kidnapped her and tried to force her to marry him. Chief Hulu confronted the beast at sea, demanding the return of his love. The Mo'o called out to Mā'ili'ili.

Here, she tested the Mo'o with the same test she gave to Chief Hulu. But the Mo'o failed to realize Mā'ili'ili's twin stood before him, and not her.

She declared her love solely belonged to Prince Hulu.

In his jealousy, the Mo'o cursed the two lovers. "You may only look at each other but you may never touch," declared the Mo'o, turning them to stone where they stood. Since the foolish being couldn't distinguish one sister from the other, both were turned to stone. And both stand strong together, supporting one another.

The three became mountains bordering the valley of Lualualei. The twins stand together facing Chief Hulu, forever in each other's gaze but never can they touch.

The mountain of Mā'ili'ili has become a popular hiking trail known as Pu'u-o-hulu, the hills of Hulu, commonly known as Pill-Box Trail. Used as a military outpost to scan the horizons of the West Coast of O'ahu, the small structures still stand on the peaks of the mountain. A popular spot to explore the abandoned posts and witness the beauty of the Westside from Nānākuli to Wai'anae.