Keonaona Kapuni-Reynolds
Ma'alaea, Maui, Hawai‘i
20/X/01

Wā ‘Akahi

‘Ēkaha
Ma Kai

‘O kāne iā Wai‘ololī, ‘o ka wahine iā Wai‘ololā
Hānau ka ‘Ēkaha noho i kai
Kia‘i ‘ia e ka ‘Ēkahakaha noho i uka
He pō uhe‘e i ka wawā
He nuku, he wai ka ‘ai a ka lā‘au
‘O ke Akua ke komo, ‘a‘oe komo kanaka

First Epic

‘Ēkaha
Seaside

Wai‘ololī the product of males, Wai‘ololā of females
The ‘Ēkaha gives birth, it is found in the sea
Guarded by the ‘Ēkahakaha in the uplands
The night becomes tumultuous
Ranting, plants are sustained by water
The Gods enter, man does not have access

He Inoa no Kuali‘i

Mai loko mai ‘o Nā Mele ‘Aimoku, na Hawaiian Historical Society

Ua like paha ka ‘ōhi‘a,
Ka lehua i ka wao ‘eiwa,
Ka lā‘au ha‘o wale, kū i ka nāhelehele
‘A‘ole i like Kū.
‘A‘ole i like i ka ‘ēkaha
I ka ‘ēkaha kū i ka moana,
Me ke kiele, me ke ala,
Me ka ‘ōlapa lau kahuli,
Me ka pū mau kūkū,
Hina wale hina wale lā,
‘A‘ole i like Kū.

He Inoa no Kuali‘i

From Nā Mele ‘Aimoku, by Hawaiian Historical Society

It could probably be compared to the ‘ōhi‘a,
The lehua of the ninth region,
The astonishing tree, standing in the forest
It is not the same as Kū.
It is not the same as the ‘ēkaha,
The ‘ēkaha who withstands the sea,
With the gardenia, the fragrance,
With the ever turning leaves of the ‘ōlapa,
By grabbing and shaking it,
Tumbling over, just falling over,
It is not the same as Kū.

Kekahi ‘Ike Hou A‘e

Inoa Hawai‘i: ‘Ēkaha Kū Moana

Inoa Pelekānia: Black Coral

Inoa ‘Epekema: Antipathes grandis

Kona ‘ano: He ko‘a kēia i like kona ‘ano me ka limu ikaika. ‘Ele‘ele a i kekahi manawa ‘ula‘ula kona ‘ano ke nānā aku. Like ke kinona o kona kino me nā lālā o ke kumu lā‘au me nā lau ‘ole. Ma kekahi ‘ano he pe‘ahi kona ‘ano.

‘Ikepili Hoihoi: Ho‘ohana ‘ia kēia ko‘a no nā ‘eha waha. Ho‘ohui ‘ia me ke kumu mai‘a ‘ano palahē, ke kukui a me ka ‘ōhi‘a ‘ai.

More Information

Hawaiian Name: ‘Ēkaha Kū Moana

English Name: Black Coral

Scientific Name: Antipathes grandis

Description: This is a coral that is similar to strong seaweed. This coral is sometimes black or red. The shape of its body is just like branches on trees with no leaves. In a way it is similar to a fan.

Interesting Fact: This coral is used for mouth sores. It is combined with soft banana stump, kukui and mountain apple.