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Long ago many, many years before the haole came to plant his sugar cane in their deep, rich soil these hills were the homes of several beautiful goddesses. The makai and largest hill, called Halai, was the home of Hina Keahi, eldest daughter of the goddess Hina, who lived at Waianuenue the cave behind Rainbow Falls in the Wailuku River and sister of Maui the demi-god.
To Hina Keahi was given power over fire. In many ways this young goddess aided her people, bestowing upon them the blessing of protection from fire while teaching them many ways in which to use it. The remarkable fact has often been noted, by the way, that although the Hawaiians always lived in grass houses, seldom was one known to be destroyed by fire.
Thus on the third day from the disappearance of Hina Keahi those gathered about the imu saw a strange woman approaching from the direction of the sea. As she drew near they noticed a striking resemblance to their own goddess, yet she, they knew, was buried in the imu. In fear they drew away, but the strange woman smiled and told them to uncover the imu.
Hina Keahi was well beloved by her people and her lightest commands were obeyed meticulously. Food had always been plentiful in Hawaii. The people cultivated their fields, which yielded bountifully. But one time the crops failed grew smaller and smaller and began to shrivel up and die. Soon a famine spread over the land.
Crops were allowed to wholly perish because none was strong enough to tend them. Hina Keahi saw that unless something was done at once her beloved followers would all die. Calling them about her she commanded that an immense imu be dug in the top of Halai Hill. "Prepare a place for each kind of food as though you were ready to fill the imu, then bring as much firewood as you can," she ordered.
Followed then three long days of waiting fraught with mingled hopeful expectancy and anxiety for their goddess. On the third day everyone repaired to the edge of the imu and awaited the appearance of the woman of whom Hina Keahi had spoken. In the meantime Hina Keahi had not remained in the imu for long. The fire had not harmed her, for she had complete power over it.
In three days a woman will appear at the edge of the imu and tell you what to do." Bidding them farewell, Hina Keahi stepped quickly into the red-hot imu. Immediately a dense white cloud of smoke surrounded and concealed her. For a moment the people stood transfixed at the sight; but remembering instructions they at once began covering the imu with earth.
Hina Keahi, the elder sister, had received the best of the gifts which their mother could bestow power over fire and ownership of the largest of the Halai hills. Known as the goddess of fire, Hina Keahi was indeed very powerful and one time gave spectacular evidence of it in saving her people from starvation, as told in the legend, Hina Keahi.
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