KAILUA-KONA — The Menehune: Small, mischievous and incredibly industrious beings that are pure myth — or anthropological fact?
Animal Planet will explore both aspects of the legend when it arrives on the Big Island to film a two-hour special in late May and early June.
The creators of the “Finding Bigfoot” series say they’ll spend two weeks here and on Kauai and Oahu, investigating reports of encounters with the leprechaun-like beings. They’ll also delve into the belief that the Menehune were a peaceful race of settlers in the island chain, persecuted and eventually displaced by a larger and more aggressive wave of settlers from Tahiti.
Got Menehune? Then the makers of the fun, family-oriented special — set to air close to Christmas — really want to hear from you, said Sean Mantooth, senior producer for “Finding Bigfoot.”
“Right now, we’re looking for witnesses, people who believe they have had an encounter,” Mantooth said.
Some historians say the notion of the Menehune being small originally referred to their social standing rather than their physical stature. On the mystical side, others believe the race embodied a deep spirituality and sense of magic, as well as the roots of aloha. Kauai is sometimes believed to be the last stronghold of Menehune, who were pushed north by stronger Tahitians who landed first on the Big Island.
In the early 1800s, a census taken by the ruling king of that time is said to have found 65 people who claimed Menehune ancestry. They were living far to the back of Kauai’s Wainiha Valley.
Mantooth wants to see if any of them are left.
“I really hope I can track down some of the people who claim to have Menehune ancestry,” he said.
His hopes for the Big Island are less clear; it’ll depend on the reports that come in. Following the format of the “Finding Bigfoot” series, the show will conduct interviews based on those initial reports and use thermal imaging at nighttime to investigate reported Menehune sites.
The crew and cast have long wanted to film in Hawaii, but couldn’t come up with a good excuse, since everyone knows there are no Bigfoot here, Mantooth said. Then, the idea of chasing the Menuhune came up.
“We never thought we’d do an episode here, but the legends of the Menehune proved too much to resist,” he said. “We’re working very closely with native islanders on all fronts to give our audience the intriguing investigations they’ve come to expect while also treating the topic with respect.”
The show will cover other aspects of the islands’ natural and cultural world, Mantooth said.
“It’s as much a travelogue as it is us walking around in the dark hooting and hollering,” he said.
Had an encounter? Animal Planet set up an email account this week where residents can tell about their sighting and be considered for the show. Based on their reports, select participants will be invited to a private luau on May 25, where they will share their story with the cast in “a supportive group of fellow believers,” Mantooth said.
A couple of the best stories will be picked to be investigated and featured on the show. The address is findingbigfoot.hawaii@gmail.com.
Email Bret Yager at byager@westhawaiitoday.com.
