Menehune

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Also known as Nawao. Hawaii's legendary mystical and shy forest dwellers, small in size (about 3 ft
tall), but according to legend, very industrious master builders that use their great strength to
accomplish mighty feats of engineering and construction overnight.

The Menehune are also said to possess magical powers and to have created major projects throughout
the Hawaiian Islands, such as the Menehune Ditch (an aqueduct that funnels water for irrigation from
the Waimea River) and the Alekoko Fishpond (also called Menehune Fishpond).

According to folklore, the Menehune works at night so as not to be seen by others. They cut,
transport, and fit stones for their projects in a fireman's bucket brigade like method. If they are
discovered, their work would stop and be abandoned.

Popularly, they are described as playful pot-bellied hairy and muscular elves two or three feet tall, with
bushy eyebrows over large eyes and a short nose with a trace of mischievousness. Some think that
there is more to it than just a popular legend, and that the Menehune is some kind of Hawaiian
mysterious primate, such as the Teh-lma from the Himalayas. See Abominable Snowman, Almas,
Yowie, Chemosit, Chuchunaa, Higabon, Yeti, Meh-teh, Bigfoot, Mono Grande, Mapinguary,
Nguoi Rung, Orang Pendek, Vasitri, Sasquatch, 'X' and Wildman of China.