The Hawaiian Legend of Naupaka
Once upon a time in ancient Hawaii there lived a beautiful princess named Naupaka. She fell madly in love with a fisherman named Kaui. It was Kapu, or forbidden, for royalty to marry a commoner and so they ran off together. The gods were not pleased and banished Naupaka to live among the mountains and Kaui by the sea. To this day the Naupaka flower only grows in halves; one variety called Naupaka Kahakai near the beach, and one called Naupaka Kauihiwa high among the mountains. It is said that their undying love continues and whenever the flowers are joined the two are able to come together again. Today the flower has come to represent the kind of undying love that forever prevails… just as the mountains will always meet the sea.
