The Sleeping Giant: A Tale from Kauai

An enchanted fish is caught by a fisherman on the island of Kaua’i. To all the villagers’ surprise, the fish grows and grows, his scales fall, his fins turn into arms and legs, and he becomes a giant. Hungry, the giant eats all the poi in the village. Everyone scrambles to make more poi, but still, it’s not enough. A kahuna is called in to help. Upon his advice, oli, or chants, are offered up to help the giant ease his hunger. But only one young girl, named Pualani, can tame the giant with her oli.

The Sleeping Giant is a tale explaining the existence of the mountain Nounou on the island of Kaua’i that looks like the outstretched body of a sleeping giant.

Author: Edna Cabcabin Moran