Kū'ula lived in Leho'ula of Hāna, Maui with his wife Hina and their son 'Ai'ai. Kū'ula loved to fish and had mana kapua that helped him to control the fish in the sea.
He built a fishpond along the shore where he lived in Leho'ula. In the fishpond were stocked all sorts of fish. Kū'ula also built a sacred rock platform where he offered the first fish caught to the akua. Kū'ula named his platform after himself. Since Kū'ula took such great care of his fishpond and gave proper thanks to the akua, the fish in the pond were obedient towards him and came when he called.
Soon all of Hāna had heard of Kū'ula's fishpond and his special powers. The ali'i of Hāna made Kū'ula his head fishermen, a very important position in ancient Hawai'i.