Ka Luakālai, Luahoana, Luakālailani
(The rainbow around the sun or moon)
Wahi a nā puke wehewehe Hawaiʻi-Pelekane, ʻo kēia ka wehewehe ʻana o kēia ʻano ānuenue:
According to the Hawaiian-English dictionaries, this is the definition o this type of rainbow:
Pukui/Elbert: Same as luahoana. Literally, hewn pit.
Andrews: s. See LUAHOANA. A halo around the sun or moon in cloudy or hazy weather.
Parker: A halo around the sun or moon in cloudy or hazy weather. Syn: Luahoana.
Nā hōʻailona a me nā ʻōuli:
(Signs and omens):
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
ʻO kēia nō ke ʻano ānuenue e kapa mau ʻia e kākou he Luakālai a me kekahi mau ʻōlelo ana hoʻi, he Luahoano a me he Luakālailani (Nāwahī, 1893). ʻIke pinepine ʻia kēia ʻano ānuenue nani ma Hawaiʻi. He hōʻailona a i ʻole he ʻōuli no kekahi mea like ʻole a hōʻike ʻano ʻia i lalo iho:
This is the type of rainbow that is called by us a Luakālai and some other words, a Luahoano, and a Luakālai (Nāwahī, 1893). This type of beautiful rainbow is often seen in Hawaiʻi. It can be a sign or omen for a variety of things as described below:
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
ʻO ka Luakālai, ua kapa ʻia he pōʻai ānuenue piha, no ka mea, ʻo ia wale nō ka manawa e puni maoli ai ka pōʻai ānuenue a lawa piha. ʻOiai, ua komo aʻe nā kilihune wai makaliʻi e lewa ana i loko o ke ea, ma waena o ka lā me kākou (Nāwahī, 1893)
As for the Luakālai, it was called a full rainbow circle, because, it is only the time it encircles fully. Since, the fine misty particles are suspending in the air, between the sun and us (Nāwahī).
Wahi a nā kaʻao ʻŌʻili kēia ʻano ānuenue i kekahi manawa he 3 ma loko o nā kaʻao he 4 i kālailai ʻia i kēia papahana. Kuhikuhi ʻo ia i 2 hōʻailona/ʻōuli like ʻole, a hōʻike ʻia i ke kiʻi i ka ʻākau:
According to the legends This type of rainbow appears on 3 different occasions in the 4 legends analyzed in this study. It represents 2 different signs/omens as shown in the table to the right.
I ka wā hea ʻo ia e ʻōʻili ai?:
(When does it appear):
Wahi a Nāwahī, "ʻO ia ka pōʻai ānuenue e kau ana ma ke ʻaouli o ka lani i ka wā o ka lā e kau ana ma ko kākou Meridiana." (Nāwahī, 1893).
According to Nāwahī, It is the rainbow circle that hangs in the firmament of the heavens at the time that the sun is hanging at our meridian. (Nāwahī, 1893).
References:
1. Iosepa Nawahī. (1893, May 24). Ke Ānuenue a me Ka Luakalailani. Ka Leo o ka Lāhui, pp. 2-3
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott