As a child, I was fascinated by the ancient Hawaiian legends passed on to me about the different places on the island of Kaua'i. One of the most intriguing stories I heard was about the coastline once guarded by a giant mo'o, a mythical lizard named Kaikapu. The local folks believed that Kaikapu would devour anyone who dared to swim or fish in the area. But one day, a brave young boy named Liko decided to challenge the fearsome reptile. With a sharp stick in hand, Liko entered the ocean to outwit Kaikapu. The mo'o attacked him ferociously, but Liko thrust the stick into her mouth and managed to swim under the nearby lava shelf, escaping through a small hole to the surface. Kaikapu followed Liko towards the surface, but unfortunately, she got stuck in the lava tube. Even today, visitors can hear the lizard's roar and see her breath spraying from the blowhole, a testament to the enduring power of ancient Hawaiian legends.
