Kaneana Cave is a bewildering natural wonder to stop and see on the Leeward (West) side of Oahu. Your visit will be even more interesting after learning about the Hawaiian legends associated with this sacred (and possibly haunted) site.
Highlights
This mysterious cave is easily accessible and takes only a few minutes to check out! The myth of Kaneana Cave, summarized further in the post, makes visiting this impressive site all the more enjoyable.
Kaneana Cave is estimated to be around 150,000 years old. The cave was formed by ocean erosion when the entire side of the cliff was once underwater! It is 100 feet high and 450 feet deep. Explore the cave respectfully – this is a sacred place in Hawaiian culture and history. You may see even see offerings placed inside.
Cost: Free!
Location + Parking:
86-260 Farrington Hwy, Waianae, HI 96792 (About an hour car ride from Waikiki/Honolulu)
You can park in the dirt lot on the ocean (makai) side of the road. The cave is at the base of the mountain across the street. The entrance is visible from the road, so you’ll know where to walk towards when you arrive. Use caution when crossing the road. There is no crosswalk here. You’ll have to step over a guardrail to get to the cave entrance.
Safety
The cave is dark and slippery so use caution when exploring! You’ll hear dripping as water droplets fall from the cavernous ceilings to the ground below.
Various tunnels branch out from the main cavern, but these have not been widely explored, mapped, or maintained. These tunnels are not safe and should be avoided. I recommend safely observing the cave from the entrance opening.
If the danger of getting lost in a dark, uncharted cave isn’t frightening enough to ward off overly curious visitors, the legends about what haunts the cave will surely have even the bravest spelunker running for the hills…
Legends & Lore
The meaning behind Kaneana Cave's names
Kaneana Cave is believed to be the birthplace of humankind, so it was named “Kaneana” after the Hawaiian god Kane, who represents the god of creation. It is also sometimes referred to as Makua Cave since it is in the Makua district, just past Makaha.
Kaneana Cave and the myth of the Shark-man
The Hawaiian legend about Kaneana Cave featuring Kāmohoaliʻi is one of Oahu’s eeriest myths. Kamohoaliʻi, the King of all Sharks, was a shapeshifter that could transform himself from a shark into a man. Kamohoaliʻi won over a human woman name Kalei, who fell for him without ever knowing about his dual-natured existence. Kalei gave birth to a son, Nanaue, who inherited his father’s shapeshifting abilities.
Nanaue developed an insatiable taste for human flesh as he grew older. He used his abilities to disguise himself as a human and trick unsuspecting victims. Nanaue dragged his victims into Kaneana Cave to eat them and satisfy his bloodthirsty cravings.
Fear of the Shark-man spread amongst the Ancient Hawaiian people and entering the cave became kapu (forbidden) for fear of being attacked. Finally, Nanaue’s identity as the Shark-man was discovered when a human caught a glimpse of the fin on his back. Nanaue escaped to the ocean but was later captured and killed.
The souls of those who died at Kaneana Cave are said to haunt the area to this day. People have reported sightings of a bone-chilling, crusty creature with glowing red eyes emerging from the lava tubes at the back of the cave. Some even believe the back of the cave is an opening to hell! Kaneana Cave is also known as a repository for psychic energy.
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What do you think? Have the chilling Kaneana Cave legends caused you to remove this haunted spot off your Oahu To-Do list, or are you even more interested in paying a visit to the home of a Shark God? Let me know in the comments below!
