The Mo‘o water dragons of Hawai‘i

Record summary

Moʻo are Hawaiian beings often represented as lizard-like or dragon-like guardians, dangerous water entities, transformed ancestors or powerful women. Kihawahine, associated with Maui and other places, is one especially documented figure in Hawaiian history and contemporary cultural practice. The tradition offers a comparison with Pacific water monsters while also showing how colonial translation into ‘dragon’ or ‘monster’ can distort Hawaiian categories. Sources may include chants, genealogies, ethnographies, land traditions and modern cultural work. Narrative details and acceptable terminology differ among communities.