Kohala Coast and the Pueo

He ali‘i ka manu.

A bird is a chief.

If only the Pueo could speak English. Or Hawaiian. Or any language we humans can interpret. Would they have a story to talk? “Locals” long before the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, the short-eared Hawaiian owl, known as the Pueo, is considered sacred. It is one of the many physical manifestations of ancestral guardians (‘aumakua) and is believed to protect individuals from harm, and even death. Throughout Hawaii, streets, places, and valleys bear the owl’s name, with many such places having an intriguing legend attached to them. This Kohala Ranch estate is one of those places.

From the moment the gates open and you drive down the long, circular driveway and up to the entrance of this grand estate, the pueo’s energy has already become a whisper in your ear, a tugging at your consciousness. Is it the way the home is perched on the side of the mountain with spectacular views down the coast that reminds you of a white owl soaring high above the golden Kohala fields seeking it’s dinner? Or  the way this estate home enfolds you in it’s protective “wings” while giving the subtle impression that it – and you – are rulers (chiefs) of this special land?

While the owl remains a symbol of guidance in most world cultures, the pueo is one of the most beloved – and revered – animals living today in these Hawaiian Islands. On Oahu’s endangered species list, it’s common to see these gracious creatures soaring and floating at all elevations along the Kohala Coast – from Puako Beach to Kohala Ranch – even up as high as Waikii Ranch. Regardless of one’s personal belief about ‘aumakua, many people living on the Big Island today still heed the pueo’s “warning” and will alter their course of action – especially while driving – when one flies across their path.

Perhaps that’s the message Pueo Place is trying to convey – that it’s time to change your course of action and spend more time in Hawaii soaring above the coast – relaxing on the lanai – soaking up the view and reveling in the silence. Let the wisdom of the owl guide you (especially in light of a recent $200,000 price reduction) to this very special estate.