The Sleeping Giant

Bearing a striking resemblance to that of a sleeping giant, the Nounou Mountain Range is located along highway 56.  Hawaiian legend tells of a giant that once roamed the Hawaiian islands.  During that time the ball village chief wanted to build a heaui. Being that the villagers were too busy with their farm work, the giant volunteered, taking two weeks to finish the project.

All the villagers were ecstatic at his accomplishment so they celebrated and threw a luau in his honor.  Legend tells that the giant ate too much and went to the mountains to take a nap. However, the giant never woke.

To ward off invaders of the Hawaiian Islands in ancient times, folklore tells of the Hawaiian natives lighting huge fires behind the mountain range, hoping to illuminate the figure of the sleeping giant and therefore discouraging any invaders coming ashore.

To get to the Sleeping Giant take Highway 56 North from the Wailua River to Kapa’a.  You’ll see signs marking the viewing areas of the sleeping giant.