Moloka'i was famous in classical times for the learning and power of its religious leaders. The latter part of the 16th century was the era of the famous prophet, Lanikaula, who lived in seclusion and was so celebrated both as a prophet and a counselor that pilgrims came from all the islands to seek his advice. Moloka'i became a place of retreat, protected from warfare by its religious prestige and the marital alliances of its chiefs. In the 17th century, the Kalaipahoa appeared on Maunaloa, and Moloka'i gained a reputation for sorcery. The epithet, Moloka'i pule o'o (Moloka'i, place of matured prayer), refers to the effectiveness of the rituals practiced here.
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