Ka ʻŌnohi
(The Rainbow Patch)
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: 2. n., Patch or fragment of a rainbow.
Parker: 4. A small cloud which reflects the colors of the spectrum: Ike aku la oia e ku ana ka onohi iluna pono o Maunalei. Laieik. p. 25.
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
Kekahi kiʻi i hōʻoia ʻole ʻia: Kuhikuhi kēia mau kiʻi i kēia ʻano ānuenue ma muli o ko ka mea kākau maopopo ʻana i nā wehewehe ʻana o nā puke wehewehe, ka pōʻaiapili ma loko o kekahi mau kaʻao, kekahi ʻatikala nūpepa, a me kekahi hoʻopaʻa leo Hawaiʻi. ʻAʻole panina lākou.
Unverified Photos: These photos demonstrate this type of rainbow based on the authorʻs understanding of the dictionary definitions, context within some Hawaiian legends, newspaper articles, and Hawaiian language recordings. They are not definitive.
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
Nā hōʻailona a me nā ʻōuli:
(Signs and omens):
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 type of beautiful rainbow is often seen in Hawaiʻi. It can be a sign or omen for a variety of things as described below:
Wahi a nā kaʻao ʻŌʻili kēia ʻano ānuenue i kekahi manawa he 4 ma loko o nā kaʻao he 4 i kālailai ʻia i kēia papahana. Kuhikuhi ʻo ia i 3 hōʻailona/ʻōuli like ʻole, a hōʻike ʻia i ke kiʻi i ka ʻākau:
According to the legends This type of rainbow appears on 4 different occasions in the 4 legends analyzed in this study. It represents 3 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 kekahi ʻōlelo noʻeau:
"Kau ka 'ōnohi ali'i i luna."
He ānuenue - he hōʻailona a nā akua e nānā ana i nā aliʻi - ʻōʻili i kēia manawa.
According to a Hawiian poetical saying:
"The royal eyes rest above."
A rainbow-a sign that the gods are watching the chiefs-is now visible.
References:
1. Pukui, M. K. (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau. Honolulu, HI: Bishop Museum Press.
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott