Moanalua. The word means something different that what the books say. In ancient times, Oahu had more inland water than any other island, with fresh water coming deep from Kamananui valley. There was so much water on this part of Oahu that it looked like two oceans meeting. So, it is not Moanalua - a place where two roads meet; it is Moanalua - a place where two oceans meet.

Moanalua also comes from Moʻoanalua, the place’s original name and identiy.

Moʻo - Ana - Lua

Moʻo - Succession, series, a genealogical line, lineage, story, tradition, legend. Going back to the beginning: the original world. Moʻo, the original entities or guardian spirits of the land: lizards, serpents, dragons, water spirits. Moʻo meaning the fourth dimension: time.

Ana - Cave, grotto, cavern. Some caves in Moʻoanalua connect the underwater labyrinth leading to the sea, the home of the shark men. Keanaakamano, the cave of the shark, is the identity of the descending middle ridge. Keanaakamano was the son of Kamawaelualani who could swim like a mano while in human form. He entered the cave, saw a deep, hidden chamber and glowing freshwater pool and plunged in. From that point to Keehi was his territory.

Lua - Simply, something very deep. Star. Also, the word name identity of Hawaiian martial arts. But, Lua in this name was not spoken with a clear L sound, but also an R and a D sound, a combination of all three sounds. To simplify that complexity down to the L sound is to rob the sound of all itʻs power.

Moʻo - Ana - Lua.

There is no direct translation for it.

It is only Moʻo - Ana - Lua.

It does not exist beyond the spoken Hawaiian language. The name only holds the power in the speaking of it.

When the masters of old chanted Moʻo - Ana - Lua thunder rumbled in the sky and lighting split the heavens.