#kapo

Kapo was born of the earth and sky, personified as the gods Papa and Wakea, on the island of Oahu, though she is predominately worshiped on Maui. Sometimes she is born of Haumea instead and is the mother of the hula goddess Laka, sometimes considered the same goddess but in different forms. Kapo is a powerful sorceress with the ability to change shape, but more notably she has the ability to detach her own genitalia. In the myth of Pele she saves her from Kamapua'a, the pig god who lusts for her, by detaching her vagina (kohe lele) and using it as a lure to drag Kamapua'a away. He follows it to Oahu where to this day it has left an imprint called Koko Crater. Sometimes Kapo is said to resent having a vagina and so those possessed by her must wear ti leaves. She is also noted as an akua noho, or god who possesses others and speaks through them or delivers prophecy. It is also said that dark spells used against others would be sent back at them by invoking her name. In another myth of the poison god Kalaipahoa she is one of the three gods who entered the trees that were cut down in the story, entering the 'ohe tree (bamboo).

Pantheon: Hawaiian

Domain or Function: A powerful sorceress with dominion over fertility, hula dancing, healing, and poisons.

Alternate Names: Kapo-ʻula-kīnaʻu (Kapo of the red spots)

Character Traits: She is a dual natured goddess who is worshiped during hula dancing and for fertility, and is also a powerful dark sorceress.

Visual Traits: She is described as wearing red clothes with black dots or red dotted clothes.

Symbolism: Vulva, red or black dots, 'ohe tree, halapepe tree which is her sacred tree.