Kuokoa Home Rula, Volume VI, Number 51, 18 December 1908 — The Legend of Kou Harbor. [ARTICLE]

The Legend of Kou Harbor.

nie haroor of Honolulu was and is always known by the name of Kou. Very often we hear natives talking among themselve, "Ke awa o Kou," (the harboj of Kou). But of the young natives; why Honolulu harbor was so Called ? Not a single one of them ean give you the right answer. It was an old saying among the old natjve kamaainas of Honolulu, not altogether unknown by some of the young people of these days: " Huī aku na maka i or we shall meet at Kou, or in a more literal translation: " The eyes shall meet at Kou." What is Kou? What the saying " hui aku na maka i Kou" referred to? According to an old legend known in the days of Governor Kekuanaoa, Kou was a name, not of a plaee orlocality, but of a large flat pieee of smooth cora!l stone, used by Honokaupu, a man, and Mamala, his wife, for a papa konane or checker board... The legend runs. thus, the eouple, Honokaupu and Mamala, on eaeh fine eyening, after drinking their.cups of awa or pipermethisticum, aatoneachside of this coral stone, and under the glimmering light of the kiikui torches or when the light of the moon was at its best, passed the time playing konane game. Very often one single game took them all night to reach a satisfactory conclusion to both. Evening after evening, the battle of konane, between husband and wife, was kept up with mueh interest. The spo.t where Honakaupu and Mamala played konane, was cal!ed Kou. It beeame the favorite gathering plaee of many people, old and young, from every part of Honolulu. When one is getting ready to go tcj Kou, the saying "Hui aku na makai Kou" would be gladly thrown at him (or her) by a lover or a friend. Kou is aaid to be at a spot where now stands Spreckles hank,