Nāmaka

For the moon of the dwarf planet Haumea, see Namaka (moon).

In Hawaiian mythology, Nāmaka (or Nā-maka-o-Kahaʻi, the eyes of Kahaʻi) appears as a sea goddess or a water spirit in the Pele cycle. She is an older sister of Pele-honua-mea. She is the daughter of Ku-waha-ilo and Haumea, whose other children are Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, the Kama brothers, and the bird Halulu. Aukelenuiaiku becomes her husband in Kahiki, then later the husband of Pele, and because of this Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, Malulani, and Kaʻōhelo migrate to Hawaii. In Thrum's Kane-huna-moku myth she is called the chiefess of the Mu and Menehune people when they are summoned to build the watercourse for Kikiaola at Waimea on Kauaʻi (Beckwith 1970:193, 495).

When Pele causes a conflagration by staying too close to the fire god Lono-makua, Nāmaka drives her away (Beckwith 1970:170). Another legend mentions that Nāmaka's guardian dog, Moela is reduced to ashes when he touches Aukele (Beckwith 1970:348).

Namaka (moon), the smaller moon of the dwarf planet Haumea is named after Nāmaka.

References

• M. Beckwith, Hawaiian Mythology (University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu) 1970.

Note: This article states: "She is the daughter of Ku-waha-ilo and Haumea, whose other children are Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, the Kama brothers, and the bird Halulu.", while the article on Haumea claims the Kane was the father.