Kauhala (kɐwˈhɐlɐ)

"The high places are sacred to Kāngi, and only those who have proven themselves by blood or deed may walk there"

— Kaikai lore

Kauhala is the highest point on the island of Koa'ki, and one of the most sacred to the Kaikai people. It is also the highest mountain in the entire Great Ring. While the god Kāngi rules over all the mountains of Koa'ki, Kauhala is his home. It is from this peak that Kāngi watches, and from here that he can command the earth to quake or the wind to blow as he wills it.

Notable Spirits

While Kāngi is the ruler of the mountain, he is not the only spirit who lives there. It is also home to the Nā Hina Kāngi, or Daughters of Kāngi. These goddesses are associated with various aspects of the mountain, and many Kaikai tales feature one or more of them.

The most notable of the Nā Hina Kāngi are named Hauke'e and Kīhonu. They are the eldest of Kāngi's daughters and are twins, with Kīhonu being older by a few minutes. Hauke'e is said to have the power to make water into stone, and it is she who covers the mountaintop with ice and snow. In contrast, Kīhonu's gift is to make stone into water - she is responsible for the lava which flows during a volcanic eruption. These two goddesses are often in conflict, and many stories involve them wagering with each other, or competing for some prize that they both desire.

Geography

Kauhala is not only one of the tallest mountains in the Great Ring, but it is also one of the most massive, with a footprint occupying several hundred square miles. It is not a very active volcano, and has only erupted twice in the last five hundred years. The slope of the mountain is quite gradual and easy to climb. The summit is a flat plain thirty miles across and is usually covered in ice and snow. The lower slopes of the mountain are covered in jungle which shifts to a more temperate forest which extends to the treeline. Many animals live in the midranges of Kauhala that are not found at the lower altitudes, and these are considered to be special to Kāngi and are not hunted without express permission.

Type

Mountain / Hill

Location under

Koa'ki

Geographic Details

Location: Southern Region
Latitude: 1.03 degrees North
Longitude: 7.97 degrees East
Elevation: 13,022 ft

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