The neighborhood of the hill near the old Hawaiian church named Kamo’ili’ili acquired its name through this story --- Kamo'ili'ili literally translates into “Pebble Lizard”. It is said that one day, long ago, three friends were traveling across this land. Hi’iakaikapolio Pele (the younger sister of Pele the volcano goddess) and two of her friends, Lohiau, and Wahineomao. (Lohiau was a handsome chief from Kauai and Wahineomao was a friend of Hi’iakaikapolio.) They were walking along together, when all of the sudden there was a powerful gust of wind.
They heard vehement cries for assistance, and felt tugging at their ears from invisible hands. Not fooled by this Hi’iaka knew that such mischief could only be the tricks of the mo’o. The mo’o being formidable lizard aumakua or family gods that had powerful magic in their control, had pestered her traveling companions before and she was not going to let it happen again. She told her companions to step aside, not wanting them to fall subject to the mo’o s trickery. She lifted her tapu skirt and lightning bolts leapt at the lizard, splitting him into tiny pieces that became a part of the hill. The land retained the name Kamo’ili’ili until later abridged to Mo’ili’ili. My daughter now attends Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary school, which sits where this story is said to have taken place. I cannot help but envision this folklore when the school bell rings.
