Hamakua is a good habitat for the dragonfly because they can lay their eggs in the water. The juvenile naiads emerge from the egg and they live in the water. They live in the water until they metamorphize into an adult dragonfly. Sometimes they eat one another. Other times they eat other insects. The colors of the dragonfly are beautiful.

In times of old baby dragonflies were caught, namely the naiads (known as lohelohe or pua'alohelohe) and they were taken to dedications. This was a type of gift/offering for hula dedications and to bring blessings to new babies.

This was done with the thought that the mana (spiritual power) of the lohelohe would help the young one to become a better listener: the Hawaiian word "lohe" means literally "to listen;" "lohelohe" means "to listen very intently with great focus."

Listening is important in the Hawaiian culture because if you listen you can learn all sorts of things all the time from adults, teachers, grandparents. Following is a very well known Hawaiian wise saying: "The mouth is silent, the eyes watch, and the ears listen."