Moûo are shapeshifting lizard spirits in Hawaiian mythology.
Moûo often take the forms of monstrous reptiles, tiny geckos, and/or humans. They were revered as ûaumakua, and could have power over the weather and water. They were amphibious, and many fishponds in Hawaii were believed to be home to a moûo. When a moûo dies, its petrified body becomes part of the landscape. Most of the time the MoâÂÂo were found to be females.
One of the legends about Moûo is that Pele is the volcano goddess who sends her little sister, Hiûiaka, to rescue a mortal lover. âÂÂAs Hiûiaka travels island to island, she encounters many moûo. On the windward cliffs of Molokaûi, the young goddess and her attendant Wahineûomaûo come to an impassable ravine. As they ponder how to proceed, a slender plank appears. Wahineûomaûo starts across, but Hiûiaka recognizes the bewitched bridge for what it is: the tongue of the man-eating moûo Kikipua. Spanning the gorge with her magical paûu (skirt), Hiûiaka chases the lizard to its lair and kills itâÂÂ. Another story is that Moûo has also been known to have possessed powers. It has been said they can control or manipulate the weather.
Another story about Moûo is âÂÂTo this day, fishermen hoping to catch hinalea (wrasse) in Waialua, Oûahu, call upon the spirit of Kalamainuûu. This moûo, according to storytellers, fell in love with a young chief while surfing. After she married him, her cousins Hinalea and Aikilolo disclosed her true identity, then turned into fish and disappeared down a crack in the seafloor. Kalamainuûu cleverly snared her betrayers with a woven trap â and sheâÂÂll supposedly fill the fish traps of those who askâÂÂ. The story that this shares about the Moûo is âÂÂOne of the most famous legends about Moûo is the story of Hina, the goddess of the moon, and her battle with the Moûo Kuna. According to the legend, Hina was pursued by the Moûo Kuna, a giant serpent that threatened to consume her. In order to escape, Hina transformed herself into a rock and waited for the Moûo Kuna to pass by. Once the serpent had passed, Hina emerged from the rock and used her magical powers to turn the Moûo Kuna into stoneâÂÂ. Other stories were told as or remembered as guardians or even these feared predators but regardless they continue to be all imaginary. Some think that they are dragon-like beasts who go to war with indigenous Hawaiians and even the goddess of volcanoes, Pele. When a Moûo dies, the petrified body becomes a part of the landscaping; examples are that the rocks are known to be the remains of the Moûo Water guardians. There are some nearby Hawaiian volcanoes that are known to have rested there to protect the park for eternity.
The Pokémon evolutionary line Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, and Kommo-o, introduced in the Hawaii-inspired Alola region, may be based on the mo'o.
Several named moûo were defeated by Hiûiaka