I can't rule out there being passive influence from some myth or another, but it started with a collared shirt my mother gave me. It has a stylized turtle on its chest, with honu (Hawai'ian, 'turtle') written above and Hilo below. I was trying to write something about the Far Isles when I happened to look at that shirt, ran the words together in my head, and the greater part of that myth sprang forth. I'm definitely going to go for a Polynesian flavor for the Kančel mythos, since it is a most awesome model (and Pele has been one of my role models as a strong independent woman for years). As for her human coloration, those are just my favorite combo of colors

Hilo is one of my favorite places, it's managed to be a decent-sized (for the Big Island) town and retain its relaxed small town attitude. And the showers that its eternal weather forecast of partly cloudy with a chance of rain gives are usually light and wonderful to stay out in (unless you're the Wicked Witch of the West, of course).