In the small town of Laie on Oahu, you can find quite an interesting sight at Laie Point. Just off shore stands a long, rather linear rock island with a hole in middle. Per the popular guidebook, Oahu Revealed, the hole was created by a tsunami is 1946.
The island’s name is Kukuihoolua and it is a bird sanctuary.
Kukuihoolua is not the only island or islet in this area. There’s a plaque at Laie Point that tells a legend of this location and the surrounding islets. It reads:
“This point of land that extends out into the ocean is called Laniloa. According to legend, this peninsula was originally a “mo’o” or giant lizard, standing upright ready to kill any intruder.
“After Kana, a legendary warrior, and his brother had rescued their mother from Moloka’i and had taken her back to Hawai’i, Kana set out on a journey to kill all the mo’o in the islands. In time, he arrived in La’ie where the mo’o had been killing many people. Kana easily defeated the mo’o, taking its head. He chopped it into five pieces and flung them into the ocean. The pieces of the lizard’s head can be seen today as five small islands lying off-shore.”
Laie Point is located at the end of Naupaka Street in Laie. Use this Google Maps link to create directions. Please note this important advice from the state’s official park page
“Lāʻie Point State Wayside consists of two separate parcels on either side of a dead-end residential street, with no facilities and extremely limited parking. Please respect the neighbors by enjoying this small scenic lookout without blocking driveways or other vehicles. The adjacent undeveloped point is privately owned, please respect.”
Have you been to Laie Point?
Sheila Beal
