Cultural Feature: Chants and stories of Nihoa from the island of Niʻihau

"Queen Kaʻahumanu, widow of the recently deceased Kamehameha I, heard about the island of Nihoa during a royal visit to Niʻihau in 1822. Niʻihau is the westernmost populated island of the eight main Hawaiian Islands, and oral histories, chants and stories tell of regular voyages between Niʻihau and Nihoa, 150 miles to the WNW. One chant tells of the winter rains that come from the direction of Nihoa:

Nihoa. Photo Credit: David Boynton

Ea mai ana ke ao ua o Kona
Ea mai ana ma Nihoa
Ma ka mole mai o Lehua
Ua iho a pulu ke kahakai

The rain clouds of Kona come,
Approaching from Nihoa,
From the base of Lehua,
Pouring down, drenching the coast.

Later in 1822 Queen Kaʻahumanu organized an expedition to Nihoa and claimed the island for the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi under the Kamehameha Monarchy. Kaʻahumanu Street in Honolulu was named Nihoa in honor of the visit. "

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