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Pohaku Pa'akiki
Pohaku Pa'akiki is a sacred lava rock located in the nearshore waters of Kaupo Beach on O'ahu's windward coast. While it may appear ordinary, Hawaiian legend tells of its significance as a spiritual offering site for sweet potato farmers who worshipped the shark god Kamohoali'i. This mythological rock represents the connection between the land, ocean, and ancient Hawaiian beliefs about respect, offerings, and protection.
Written by historians, never AIResearched & written by Marc Striegel
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Pohaku Pa'akiki
Pohaku Pa'akiki, Oahu
Pohaku Pa'akiki is a lava rock that lies in the nearshore waters of Kaupo Beach on Oahu's windward coast. The rock looks ordinary and just like any other rock on the beach. But there is an ancient legend about this one that's quite interesting. In the old Hawaii this rock was sacred to sweet potato farmers in this area. Every day they offered ‘awa root to the shark god named Kamohoali'i.
A fishermen one day tried to provoke the farmers and threw shark tails into the ocean near this rock, angering the shark god who then one day decided to eat the fisherman. The shark god first ate the fisherman's feet, but couldn't eat his buttocks because of their smell. The shark god after that pledged to never eat human flesh again. He also didn't allow any other sharks to attack humans between Waimanalo and Makapu'u.
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Key Features of Pohaku Pa'akiki
Mythological lava rock: Located in the shallow waters off Kaupo Beach, associated with a legendary shark god tale.
Spiritual offering site: Used by ancient Hawaiian farmers to offer 'awa root to the shark god Kamohoali'i.
Protective legend: Story tells how the shark god spared the coast between Waimanalo and Makapu'u from attacks.
Tide-dependent visibility: Rock is more visible during low tide and partially submerged at high tide.
Accessible beach location: Easily found across from Sea Life Park on O'ahu's eastern shore.
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