The Legend of Kou Harbor.

The harbor of Honolulu was and is always known by the name of Kou. Very often we hear natives talking among themselve, “Ke awa o Kou,” (the harbor of Kou). But ask any of the young natives, why Honolulu Harbor was so called? Not a single one of them can give you the right answer. It was an old saying among the old native kamaʻāina of Honolulu, not altogether unknown by the young people of these days. “Hui aku nā maka i Kou,” or we shall meet at Kou or in a more literal translation: “The eyes shall meet at Kou.”

What is Kou? What the saying “Hui aku nā maka i Kou” referred to?

According to an old legend known in the days of Governor Kekūanāoʻa, Kou was a name, not of a place or locality, but of a large flat piece of smooth coral stone, used by Honokaʻupu, a man, and Māmala, his wife, for a papa kōnane or checker board. The legend runs thus, the couple, Honokaʻupu and Māmala, on each fine evening, after drinking their cups of ʻawa or Piper methisticum, sat on each side of this coral stone, and under the glimmering light of the kukui torchesor when the light of the moon was at its best, passed the time playing kōnane game. Very often one single game took all night to reach a satisfactory conclusion to both. Evening after evening, thebattle of kōnane, between husband and wife, was kept up with much interest. The spot where Honokaʻupu and Māmala played kōnane was called Kou. It became the favorite gathering place of many people, old and young, from every part of Honolulu. When one is getting ready to go to Kou, the saying “Hui aku nā maka i Kou,” would b gladly thrown at him (or her) by a lover or friend.

Kou is said to be at a spot where now stands Spreckles bank.²