Koko Head

Koko Head Crater

Koko Head or Blood Head in Hawaiian.  Legend says that when the half-man, half-pig Kamapua’a attacked Pele at Kalapana on the Island of Hawai’i, Pele’s sister Kapo tricked him by throwing her kohelepelepe (vagina) to Koko Head, luring Kamapua’a to O’ahu and away from Pele at Kalapana.  The impression of Kapo’s lure remains to this day on the Makapu’u (hill beginning or bulging eye) side of Koko Head.

Koko Head Crater Botanical Garden and Koko Head Stables

Inside Koko Head Crater is open to the public for walking, hiking, and horseback riding.  This is one of the few places on O’ahu where wiliwili trees with bright orange seeds can be found.  These seeds, and their more common burgundy or white cousins, are prized for making lei.  Koko Head and Koko Crater are named for either the red earth of this area or for the koko (blood) of man bitten by a shark.  There is a Hawaiian saying that when the wiliwili are in bloom, the sharks bite.

This has been Koko Head and I hope you’ll check our next article on Hanauma Bay.