Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 July 1991 — Spinning tales of the "nightmare weke" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Spinning tales of the "nightmare weke"

The effects of the weke pahulu or "nightmare weke" are well-i known by Hawaii's fishermen. The phenomenon occurs from eating the flesh of certain species of goatfish and mullet. The fish most often implicated in the

poisoning is the weke pueo, also known as weke pahulu or "nightmare weke." Named after Pahulu, chief of evil spirits, the weke pahulu is known for the nightmarish effect it has on those who eat it before going to sleep. People report having extremely bad nightmares often of imminent death such as being lost on high seas or being mauled by dogs. One case reported from Moloka'i describes how 30 or more Japanese laborers became mentally paralyzed after eating the heads and bodies of the fish. The poison whieh causes nightmares is concentrated in the brain of the fish. The toxin seems to be more prevalent during the warmer months of the year and completely absent at other times. It is not clear whether its hallucinatory effects are related to ciguatera whieh some fish acquire by eating a certain type of algae. Weke do not usually feed directly on the algae but may eat small animals that do. It is said that the toxin is stronger in fish caught near the island of Lana'i, home of Pahulu. According to legend, Pahulu, while drinking at a

pond, was struck dead by a rock thrown by an enemy. Pahulu's body fell into the water and his spirit was kept alive in the bodies of certain weke. The word "weke" in Hawaiian means to "open."

These fish were used by some kahunas to open the minds of their subjects thus making them ready to accept treatment. Other types of weke were used as sacrifices in religious ceremonies.

Xat«ii'ally Hawaliau