Legend of Owaissa

Legend of Owaissa

(Aka The Owaissa, Owaissa Legend)

The Legend of Owaissa is an Indian legend originating at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Owaissa (Indian name meaning “Bluebird”) became friends with some white settlers in the Hampton Beach area. This angered her father “Kenu” very much as there were mounting tensions between the white immigrants and the Native Indians.

Owaissa’s father Kenu became so upset with Owaissa that he told her to never visit the white settlement again. Owaissa promised her father she would not disobey his strong orders.

Much time had gone by when Owaissa learned of a deathly ill friend at the white settlement and decided to visit the white friend. When Owaissa’s father heard the news of her returning to the white settlement to visit the sick friend, Kenu immediately went to the all-white settlement and burned down the home of Owaissa’s sick friend. Owaissa ran as fast as she could to the white settlement to save her friend’s home, but she was too late. Her father Kenu had already burned down their home. Owaissa cried at the sight of her friends home burned. Kenue returned to the burned home and found Owaissa by the ruins sobbing. Owaissa immediately escaped from her father and ended up at what is now Great Boars Head along the coastline. Owaissa jumped onto a canoe that was sitting on the shore and began her journey out to sea. Owaissa prayed for safety from her father. Her upset father remained on shore, watching her as she drifted from sight.

The legend of Owaissa states that she was seen in her canoe, ascending to heaven with open arms as her prayers had been answered.

People claim Owaissa can still be seen in her canoe at Great Boars Head (shown on map below), and you can hear her name, “Owaissa” being whispered in the crashing of the waves.