Legend says that Haumea, the Hawaiian goddess of childbirth, appointed five guardians to care for the Windward side of O’ahu – from Kaoio Point to Makapu’u Point. The five guardians were Olomana, Pakui, Ahiki, Makawao, and Hauli.

Olomana was famous for his strength and height, towering at about 36 feet high or twelve yards. He became known to be a dreadful chief, killing anyone who passed by Maunawili to Waimanalo. The King of O’ahu, ‘Ahuapau, feared Olomana and never traveled to the Ko’olau. One day, the great supernatural warrior Palila from Kaua’i flew to O’ahu using his war club, Huli-a-mahi, to meet the Chief Ahuapau from Waikele and destroy an evil kupua, or shape-shifter, that was killing fisherman and people who traveled near the ocean. Palila destroys this kupua and is given Ahuapau’s daughter for marriage.

Fearing Palila, Chief Ahuapau sends Palila to Waimanalo without warning him of Olomana. When Palila sees Olomana from the top of the Nu’uanu Cliff, he flies over and lands upon Olomana’s shoulders, who is standing at Ka’elepulu. Olomana is surprised and says, “Where are you from, you most conceited boy? For my shoulder has never been stepped on by anybody, and here you have gone and done it.” Palila tells him that he is a soldier from the sacred temple of Alanapo in Humu’ula, Kaua’i. When Olomana heard this, he became fearful and pleaded for his life. Palila refused the plea and cut Olomana in half. Half of his body landed as Olomana Peak and the other half ended up at Kawainui as Mahinui, the ridge separating Kane’ohe from Kawainui. (Sources: Ho’okuleana and Growing Pono Schools.)