Pu'u Keka'a (Black Rock), Maui

Pu'u Keka'a  (or Black Rock as commonly known) was created by one of the last lava flows on Maui. It is located at the north end of the resort-dominated Ka’anapali Beach. Ancient Hawaiians believed that this was the place where their spirits went to jump off to join their ancestors forever. Unlucky souls who could not be shown the way by their family’s aumakua (ancestral animal spirits) would wander and attach themselves to rocks in the area. King Kahekili, Maui's last ruling chief, ruled the island for 27 years starting in 1766. Pu'u Keka'a was his favorite spot for high cliff diving, and it was where he made his most impressive jumps. The Hawaiians considered this an amazing feat because only a human with powerful mana (energy) could jump from such a rock and return unharmed.

Although typically overrun by the resort guests snorkeling and cliff jumping during the day, early in the morning you can dive into an underwater aquarium with great clarity and hopefully encounter some of the remaining denizens. One of the startling moments during my dive was observing for the first time the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, which holds profound cultural significance as a native species and revered in some traditions as aumakua.