The legend of Akaka Falls is quite interesting. In the olden days, there was a warrior chief named ‘Akaka in the village of Honomu. Strong and very handsome, he was famed throughout the island and attracted the eyes of the ladies. One day, while his faithful and trusting wife was visiting her parents in the distant village of Hilo, ‘Akaka went to see his sweetheart on the north side of the gulch. Her name was Lehua. Seeing his wife return unexpectedly, he left Lehua’s hut by the back door and crossed the gulch to visit his other sweetheart, Maile, who lived on the south side. Following him there because of the scented grass he wore, his wife called for him to return home. Hearing her call him, ‘Akaka hastily sped out the back door and took a shortcut to his home.
Alone at last, ‘Akaka contemplated his ill behavior as he sat in the hut with his loyal dog. Overwhelmed with shame that he could deceive his loving wife, ‘Akaka fled the hut with his dog following closely at his heels. ‘Akaka approached a projecting rock on the top of a bluff. Looking down to the sea, he then threw himself over the cliff and fell headlong to the far valley below, transformed into the waterfall.
His dog hesitated and was turned immediately into a jagged rock at the top of the falls. His wife, following ‘Akaka closely, rushed through the brush to get to his side. She began to call him, but it was too late. His wife rushed to the edge, and overcome with grief, wept uncontrollably and called for ‘Akaka. It was then that she was transformed into a large rock at the top of the falls. As she wished, she is now permanently there next to ‘Akaka.
The heartbroken sweethearts, Maile and Lehua, upon hearing of ‘Akaka’s death, cried and cried until they too were turned into waterfalls, a little further down the gulch from Akaka Falls. According to Legend of Akaka Falls, this was how the falls came about. Old timers say that on a still and moonless night, when the leaves are quiet and the crickets silent, one can hear, nearly muffled by the roar of the falls, his wife still calling for ‘Akaka.
Don’t forget to check out our hike to Akaka Falls or our recommendation for the top 10 things to do in Big Island if you are visiting.
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