The Legend of the Naupaka Flower
Have you heard the legend of the Naupaka flower? If you said no, it goes like this.
There was a Hawaiian princess who lived high in the mountains and her name was Naupaka. One day she went down to walk along the beach where she met a fisherman named Kaui. It was love at first sight for these two, but because she was a princess and he was a fisherman, they knew it could never be.
This didn’t stop them. Naupaka went to the kupuna ( an elder) to ask for her blessing to marry Kaui. But the kupuna said no, that it was kapu (forbidden). Feeling bad for Naupaka, the kupuna told her to visit the high priest to ask for his permission.
So Naupaka and Kaui wandered through the mountains for days before finding the kahuna (high priest). The kahuna listened to Naupaka, but because the custom was too strong, he told the couple no. Wanting to give the lovers some hope, the kahuna told the young couple to ask the gods for permission.
As Naupaka and Kaui sent their pleas to the gods, a fierce rain came down as lightning struck the mountain. They knew that the gods too had said no.
Naupaka and Kaui returned to the beach to say their goodbyes, but before Naupaka returned to the mountain, she took a flower from behind her ear and tore it in half. She gave one half to Kaui and kept the other.
To this day, the flower blooms in half, a symbol of the two lovers being separated.
There are two types of naupaka that grow in Hawaii. Naupaka kuahiwi, which grows in the mountains, and naupaka kahakai, which grows by the beach.
When these two flowers are picked and brought together, it is said that the lovers have once again united.
This story and the uniqueness of the flower is where I found my inspiration for my newest collection, named for the Naupaka flower.
Just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I do. They were so fun to make!
Aloha!
Erica
the image was found on homeyhawaii.com and was illustrated by Mariia Kudrina