The Stones of Moemoe and Wahine O Manua - Ka'anapali, Hawaii
Posted by: 
elyob
N 20° 55.520 W 156° 41.460
4Q E 740139 N 2315612
While in the area, be sure to seek out other signs along the Kaanapali Historical Trail.
Waymark Code: WMNYP1
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 05/25/2015
Views: 6
Bonus: there is a geocache here.
The following text is taken from the sign on site.
The two large pohaku (stones) are steeped in legend. The larger one is over six feet long and resembles a reclining person. It is called Moemoe (to lie in wait or sleep). The taller stone sheltered an abused woman who was hiding. It is known as Wahine o Manua (abused or fighting woman).
The following text is taken from the relevant web site.
At the south end of Outrigger Maui Eldorado Resort behind the tall hedge, lie two large brown pohaku, or stones, which are steeped in legend. Over six feet long, the larger of these is called Moemoe and resembles a reclining or sleeping person. Maui, the demigod, and Moemoe, a young man, were contemporaries. Unlike Maui, who was always a hard worker and respectful of others’ needs. Moemoe preferred to lie down at Keka’a and sleep for his own contentment. After returning from Haleakala, where he harnessed the sun to make it pass across the island more slowly, Maui found Moemoe asleep yet again. When Moemoe awoke, he mocked Maui’s efforts to improve life for others. Maui chased him uphill and down to the east of Pu’u Keka’a. Because of Moemoe’s taunts and laziness, Maui turned him into a stone, sleeping permanently on the side of the road.
The smaller stone has been the subject of several legends and two different names. The popular name is the Hiding Woman Stone (Pohaku o Wahine Pe’e) which relates to a love story between her and Moemoe, but we’ll tell the original legend of the abused, or fighting, woman (Wahine o Manua) who was hidden by the stone. She was a beautiful young woman who fled from her husband due to continual abuse. He and his warriors pursued her, and she ran into a sacrificial temple to elude them. After they moved on, she left the temple and ventured to the roadway where a guardian spirit owl, Pueo, appeared before her. Guided by Pueo’s flapping wings, she ran until she reached the large stone east of Keka’a, where the owl left her. The woman lay down sheltered by the stone and slept until morning, then departed in freedom. Both stones were uncovered when the Outrigger Maui Eldorado was being built.