The Gift

The Gift

(A Tale from Hawaii)

In the early days very long ago, the people of Hawaii did not have any clothes except what they could make from grass or leaves or feathers. They had not learned to make cloth either to wear or to use on their beds at night. When the stormy season came, or if they lived up in the mountains, they suffered greatly from cold. At night, too, they often had a hard time keeping warm. In the summer, the fierce rays of the sun burned them.

Now at this time on the Island of O-a-hu, there lived a good old man named Ma-hi-ko-ha. One grey day it happened that Ma-hi-ko-ha was climbing the steep mountain trail along the Nu-u-a-nu stream. Because he was old, he climbed very slowly. Every little while he stopped to rest by leaning upon the strong stick that he used as a cane. Often he looked up at the mountain tops, where black clouds were beginning to gather.

“It’s going to storm,” said Ma-hi-ko-ha to himself. “The leaves of the ku-ku-i trees are turning silver, and the wind is starting to blow. I must get home before the storm breaks.”

The wind was cold, and Ma-hi-ko-ha shivered as he hurried on his way. “How sad it is,” he thought, “that we Island people must suffer so from the cold in winter and from the heat of the sun in summer. If only we had something to wear to protect us!”

The rain began to pelt down, and Ma-hi-ko-ha was dripping wet by the time he got home. He crawled through the low, narrow doorway of his thatched hut, and Me-li-a, his daughter, did her best to warm him.

“I’m afraid you’ll get ill, Father,” she said. “Here is a little a-wa to drink, but how I wish I had something to put over you to keep off a chill!”

“That would be good,” said Ma-hi-ko-ha. “And it would be good if all the people had some kind of covering to put on or take off as the weather changed.”

Ma-hi-ko-ha drank the a-wa. Then he sat and thought for a long time. At last, he said, “Me-li-a, I am an old man. I know I shall not live much longer. When I die I do not want to be buried in a mountain cave like the rest of our people. I want to be buried beside the Nu-u-a-nu stream. Will you promise me that?”

“Oh, Father!” Me-li-a wept, “I cannot bear to hear you speak of leaving me.”

“Me-li-a, I shall not really leave you,” said the old man. “If I am buried by the stream, a wonderful tree will grow on my grave. It will be my gift to you and to the Island people.”

“But I would rather have you alive than have a thousand trees!” cried Me-li-a.

“You will have a thousand trees-strange and wonderful trees!” replied her father. “Now listen.”

Then he went on to tell her that when the tree had grown to a good size she must strip the bark from the branches and spread it on a flat rock by the stream.

“After that,” he said, “sprinkle the bark with cool water and pound it with a stone. Only then will you see how wonderful my tree is."

“But it will be as though I were pounding you, Father!” cried Me-li-a.

“You must do as I say, my child,” said Ma-hi-ko-ha. “And remember, each time that you strip a branch, plant another branch by the stream. Will you promise me all this?”

At last, to make him happy, Me-li-a promised. A few days afterwards, Ma-hi-ko-ha became very ill and died. As she had promised, Me-li-a buried him beside the Nu-u-a-nu stream. Then she went sadly home.

After some weeks had gone by, Me-li-a went one morning to visit her father’s grave. To her surprise, she found growing from it a kind of tree that, she had never seen before. She could not help noticing how thick and soft the bark was. Then she remembered the promise she had made to her father.

Quickly she broke off a branch and stripped the bark from it. After she had placed the bark on a flat rock by the stream, she dipped her fingers into the cool, running water and shook the drops onto the bark. Then she began to pound the bark with a stone.

As the water soaked in, it softened the bark. When Me-li-a pounded it, the bark became thinner and thinner and spread out wider and wider. At last, she stopped working to look at it.

“Oh, my Father,” she cried when she saw how smooth and soft and thin the bark was, “you have given us a most wonderful gift-the gift of cloth! From the bark of your tree we can make clothes to wear and coverings for our beds!”

Then, remembering what else her father had said, Me-li-a took another piece of branch from the tree and planted it on the bank of the stream. She did this each time that she stripped bark from a new branch. The pieces all took root and before long other trees of the same sort sprang up. Soon they were growing all over the mountainside.

Me-li-a taught the others in her village how to prepare the bark. It was not long before the sound of pounding could be heard all over the Island, in the sheltered valleys as well as along the seashore. The people called this new stuff that they were making by the name tapa.

At first, all the tapa was grey, but, they soon learned to dye it with vegetable colouring. Then they made pink, yellow, and brown tapa cloth and covered it, with beautiful designs and figures.

Making tapa (Fiji, 1911)

In this way, Ma-hi-ko-ha’s tree brought great comfort and great beauty into the lives of the people. They were so thankful for this wonderful gift that they made him the special god of the tapa-makers. Even today you may be sure that Ma-hi-ko-ha is remembered wherever tapa is being made.

Source:

Hawaiian tales

Helen Lamar Berkey

1968

Pages: 19-23

http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_postcards8/ (Postcard)

K’ow and Buneney

K’ow and Buneney

(A Tale from Yap)

In a time long ago, the people of Yap could change their form. They could become an animal, or even a plant if they wished.

Yap Island

One vain young woman decided to become a Buneney, an elegant white crane.

The Buneney was beautiful, with glistening white feathers and a graceful long neck. She used her long neck often, especially to look at her reflection in the still pools of water near the lagoon.

“My, I am truly beautiful!” she would announce. I deserve to marry a handsome man.”

White Crane

Day after day, Buneney spent her mornings looking at herself in her water mirror. She did not notice the shy grey crane, K’ow, who watched her from beneath the coconut palms.

Many young men of the village wished to marry the beautiful Buneney. She refused them all. “You men of this village are too plain for me. I must marry an especially elegant man.”

One by one the men went away, muttering about the proud Buneney. But K'ow continued to watch. Every day he brought her gifts of fish and fresh food. She never once said. “Thank you." In fact, she did not even seem to notice K’ow.

One day Molob, the great black frigate bird, came to this village on Yap. He had heard of the beautiful Buneney. He wished to see her for himself. Now Molob was a large and handsome bird. His kind is rarely seen near the land. He prefers to soar far above the ocean, almost in the clouds themselves.

Buneney was beside herself. Molob was so handsome! Molob was so big. And Molob had asked Buneney to be his wife.

“Oh, yes!” Buneney replied. “I will soar with you. We can look down on these lowly villagers together.”

Buneney was a land crane so she could not fly high. Molob was very large and very strong. He placed Buneney on his broad back. Together they soared high into the sky.

Far below, little K’ow wiped the tears from his eyes. He went back to gathering fish and food for his supper. He missed the white crane. He loved her and did not even mind that she never spoke to him. Now she was gone.

Molob and Buneney flew higher than Buneney had ever imagined. The land below looked like a toy. She could hardly see the people at all. “This is the life, Molob. Yes, this is the life!"

After a time, Buneney was beginning to feel a little tired. "Molob," she asked, “Where is our home to be?"

“This is our home," replied Molob. “I live here in the sky. Do you like your new home?"

“Well,” answered Buneney, “I think so. But I do miss my nest on the ground a little bit.”

Later, as they flew higher and higher, Buneney found herself feeling a bit hungry. On the ground, when she felt hungry she just opened her mouth. That nice grey crane, K'ow, was always right there to pop in a fresh fish. Maybe Melob would be nice too?

“Molob, my husband."

“Yes, Buneney?"

“What is there to eat, in this magnificent home in the sky?"

“Eat? Why just open your mouth, my wife, and fly to the east."

Buneney opened her mouth and flew toward the east. Nothing happened.

“I am still hungry," she said.

“Open your mouth and fly toward the west this time.”

She did, but still, nothing happened. She was getting very hungry.

“Husband, I am very hungry, and I cannot find anything to eat.”

“But Buneney,” Molob answered. “I eat only the air. Isn't it delicious?”

But Molob," Bnneney wailed, “I eat fish and taro. I cannot eat your air.

I am sorry, Buneney. These foods are strange to me. I do not have any of them here.

“Then please," Buneney begged, “take me back to the earth before I am too weak and die.”

Molob the frigate bird took Buneney back to the earth. He put her down on a beach not far from her home. Then he launched himself back into the air and was gone.

Buneney was so week she could hardly move. Nearby she saw a small fish trap. There were some fish caught in the trap. She did not see K‘ow, the owner of the trap, sitting nearby on a rock. She took a fish.

“Who is stealing my fish?" K'ow demanded, pretending not to see Buneney.

“Oh please," begged Buneney, “I am starving. Please let me have a little food."

“All right,” answered K’ow. “Since you are hungry I will give you coconut to drink and fish to eat.” He also gave her taro to eat and betel nut to chew.

Buneney ate. She looked gratefully at the grey crane. How kind he was. How strong he looked as he gathered the fish and brought her taro.

“K'ow, I am sorry I was so mean to you. I see you are a good provider. You have a caring heart. I would like to marry you if you will still have me."

K'ow was overjoyed. “Remember,” he counselled, “The wind does not always blow from the same direction.” Which is to say that one should think twice before leaping. Buneney knew this now. She had leaped far into the air and had almost died. Now she would stay on the ground.

K'ow and Buneney lived happily together for many years. They had many children. And Buneney always had plenty to eat.

Source:

Pacific Island Legends: Tales from Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Australia.

Nancy Bo Flood, Beret E. Strong, William Flood

1991

Pages: 56-58

Lasa and the Three Friendly Spirits

Lasa and the Three Friendly Spirits

(A Tale from Tonga)

There was once a man named Lasa who dwelt on Vavau Island in Tonga. One day he went out into the bush to cut down a tree to make a canoe. After a whole day of toil, a tree was felled and Lasa went home to sleep. During the night the god Haelefeke, who was half octopus, came to the felled tree and said to it, “Lasa's tree, stand upright," and all the chips of wood flew together and the tree stood up again in its place. In the morning Lasa came and spent another whole day in felling the tree. That night, while he slept at home, the Octopus came again and restored the tree to its place. This happened three times. After hewing down the tree for the fourth time, instead of returning home Lasa hid himself and lay in wait. This time when the Octopus came Lasa sprang out and seized him and held him until he had promised to help build the canoe. So they built the canoe together, and when Lasa was preparing to sail away in it, the Octopus said, “If you should see anyone beckoning to you, do not refuse to take him with you."

Vava'u, Tonga

Lasa set sail, but after he had gone a little way he saw someone beckoning to him from the shore. So he stopped and took this man on board, and it happened to be the Hungry Spirit. A little farther on he saw someone else beckoning, and went to him, and took on board the Thieving Spirit: and still, farther on he found the Octopus himself and took him on board as well.

Then they sailed away to Fiji and landed on an island where a demon lived. They smoothed out their footprints in the sand, hid the canoe, and went to the demon’s house. Lasa climbed up to the ridgepole of the house, while the three spirits each stood close to a post. The demon was not home, but he presently returned, bringing weeping people whom he had stolen. At once he began to sniff suspiciously, saying. "I smell the smell of humankind," and catching sight of Lasa, he hauled him down from his perch. Then he saw the three spirits and tried to pull them out into the open, but the Octopus clung so tightly to his post that the demon could not pull him away: indeed, his hauling seemed likely to pull the house down. So the demon asked the Octopus to let go his hold on the post and promised that he would not harm him.

The demon brought in food, saying. “If you do not eat up every bit of this, you shall surely die." The Octopus and the Thieving Spirit both ate as much as they could, but still the food was not nearly finished. “Hungry Spirit, you must save us." Said Lasa. So the Hungry Spirit saved them by devouring the huge meal and, finally, the leaves and the bowls that the food was brought in.

The demon then told them that he was going to shake his vi tree and that they would die if any of the fruit fell to the ground. Lasa looked up and saw that the tree was so laden with fruit that not a single leaf could be seen. “Now surely we shall die." he murmured sadly, but the Octopus saved them by spreading himself out under the tree and catching all the fruit with his tentacles so that not one escaped him.

After this, the demon thought of yet another way to outwit the strangers. He called one of his Fijians and told him to go with the Thieving Spirit to gather land crabs, and that they were to have a race. "This time nothing shall save your lives," he shouted, “unless you can beat my man." So the two went off, and as the Fijian knew the place well he had his basket filled before the man from Tonga had caught even a single crab. As they were about to return, the Thieving Spirit asked the Fijian to climb a coconut tree to get nuts for them to drink. When the Fijian was up in the tree, the Thieving Spirit began to sing, “Tongan wakeful eye. Fijian sleepy eye; Tongan wakeful eye, Fijian sleepy eye." And he kept on singing until the Fijian fell asleep in the tree. Then the Thieving Spirit quickly filled his own empty basket with coconut husks and exchanged it for the Fijian’s basket of crabs. Having done this, he woke the Fijian, who came down from the tree and seized the basket of husks, not knowing that it had been exchanged. When the trick was discovered the demon flew into a great rage, and he told Lasa and his three friends to leave quickly and return to their own land. They obeyed immediately, and Lasa journeyed home without any further dangers.

Source:

Tales from the South Pacific Islands

Anne Gittins

1977

Pages: 79-81

Turtle and Canoe

Turtle and Canoe

(A Tale from Palau)

“I shall prove it now.” Eledui grabbed his hunting spear and pulled it from the rafters. “I shall be the best!”

Branches of coconut palms clattered in the night wind. No moon or stars pierced the blackness that wrapped around the island like a warm blindfold. Without hesitation, Eledui hurried toward the beach. His feet could see as well as his eyes, sometimes better. Tonight they raced down the stone path to the shore where his outrigger was prepared for the hunt.

The sand was wet. The tide had slipped out, leaving behind wave-rows of shells and coral pieces. Piles of tangled seaweed smelled of yesterday’s fish.

Eledui laughed at the ghost crabs that scurried into their dark holes. “Don't worry. Children chase you, not great hunters like me. Tonight I will capture the Great Turtle, the Old One." He thrust his spear and boasted. “For it is I, Eledui from Ngerdemai. who hunts with more courage than anyone!"

Quickly Eledui dragged his canoe into the water, leaped aboard, and grabbed the paddle. He glanced back at his village. “The old men waste time waiting for an omen. I say, begin the hunt now!"

His fingers gripped the oar's slender throat. “They will see who knows best. The Old One will soon be mine!

He paddled quickly, forgetting to study the horizon for storm swells or look for strong currents. But when a fairy tern (a small seabird) swooped overhead, shrieking and scolding, he stopped his paddling.

The white bird circled and then dove so close that Eledui could see its black eyes staring at him. He started to laugh but only shuddered. The bird had disappeared. Or had he only imagined a bird? Now he remembered. In his hurry, he had forgotten to greet the land spirits, the providers of safety. He had even forgotten to give offerings to the sea spirits. Their powers could protect and assure his safe return or shatter his slender outrigger with a sudden storm. These spirits often changed into birds when travelling to earth with messages or warnings.

Bowing his head, he prayed. “Be pleased, not angered at my boldness. I give thanks for the courage in my bones and the strength in this canoe.” He scooped up a handful of salt water and threw it onto the outrigger's bow. “Forgive my haste, for my head is filled with thoughts of the hunt." Eledui raised his head and shouted out his prayer. “If the Spirits consent, I am ready."

Now he turned and faced the eastern horizon. Already a blood-red line split sea and sky. "I must hurry or I will lose the advantage of the morning sun. Its brightness will blind the turtle’s eyes. With the sun behind me, the Old One will see nothing. I can drift closer and closer . . . " Eledui smiled, "and drive my spear through his back!”

With great speed, Eledui paddled directly to the outer reef. There he drifted above the sea caves, the Old One's resting place.

The turtle's eyes were dark but clear. He was ancient and preferred the shadowy recesses of the coral caves. He rested a long time before the need for air forced him to surface. He needed air now.

A few strokes and the turtle glided upward like a bird winging across the sky. Shafts of morning light beamed through the turquoise water. As soon as his hawk-beak broke the surface, his nostrils flared open. The morning light blinded him. The old one floated with eyes half-closed and breathed in the salty air.

Eledui had been scanning the sea when he saw the messy domed back of the hawksbill. His heart began pounding. Yes, there he is! It must be the Old One. Only one turtle on the reef had a back so big, so wide. Yes, the Old One, and he shall be mine!

Before fear could cloud his determination, he pulled his paddle deeply through the water, let the outrigger drift closer and closer until he could see the pattern of squares on the turtle's back. Eledui drew back his spear, aimed, and threw. Blood spurted high into the air. Slowly a circle of red stained the water.

The Old One slid beneath the surface, but the spear’s shaft stuck out like a death mark. Eledui dove in and grabbed for the turtle. He must keep the turtle from diving deep below the surface. He must hold onto the shell, kicking to keep the turtle from diving deep into the sea but careful to stay away from his sharp fins. When the Old One grew weak from bleeding and struggling, then he could lash it to his outrigger, paddle back, and strut triumphantly through his village, holding his trophy high above his head. The children would crowd around pointing and shouting. Young women would stare from a distance. Stories would be told about his great strength and courage and the speed of his paddling.

His paddling . . . where had he dropped his paddle? Eledui glanced around him. Where was his boat? In his haste to spear the turtle, Eledui had forgotten to anchor his boat.

He strained to see some sign of his canoe. Now he was the one blinded by the sun's strong light. But yes, he could see its small silhouette already drifting away, caught in the current that ran like a river away from the reef toward the ocean. If he had any hope of catching his boat, he must swim to it now. The ocean was not a place to survive without canoe or paddle.

“Aigh!” The turtle was now quiet, almost as if dead. Eledui shifted his grip. Suddenly the hawksbill twisted and turned, struggling to break free, to dive down, down, down to the safety of a cave.

I will use the strength of this turtle. I will use his clawing to pull us both toward my boat." Eledui clenched his fists more tightly. His outrigger was his prize possession, but this turtle was his future. He must have both!

The Old One twisted his head, his gaping jaw reaching and snapping. But Eledui was quick. The turtle slapped the water with his front fins, trying to tear at Eledui’s hands. But the claws could not reach. The turtle rolled onto his back, trying to drown this hunter who had pierced his shell with pain that was burning like fire in every bone, muscle, and even his brain.

Eledui glanced again as his outrigger shrank smaller and smaller, drifting faster and faster away from the reef.

The Old Turtle's fins clawed across Eledui's chest, leaving bloody lines and ripped skin.

“No! I won't give up. I won‘t let go and return empty-handed. Never!" He swam harder, pushing the Old One in front of him away from the reef, toward the sea and drifting canoe. Waves splashed, choking him with water and salt. His eyes burned. The strength in his arms was nearly gone. No longer were his muscles powerful and strong. The weight of the Old One felt heavier and heavier. When he stared at the horizon, sometimes he saw the tiny silhouette of his outrigger but sometimes all he saw was the black tip of a distant wave.

The turtle lifted his head and sucked in a long breath of air. And then the Old One dipped his head under the surface and pushed hard with front fins and back. He would dive to the deepest cave even if he must take this hunter with him.

Eledui now saw the sadness in the turtle’s eyes and felt a shudder of death and sorrow. Around both hunter and turtle, the sea foamed red with blood. Eledui felt the shell's sharp edge slide from his fists. He lunged for the turtle but the Old One slipped beneath the sea.

“No! No!” he screamed. But the only ones to hear his cries were the waves and the empty horizon.

Source:

Pacific Island Legends: Tales from Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Australia.

Nancy Bo Flood, Beret E. Strong, William Flood

1991

Pages: 39-44

The Consequence

The Consequence

(A Legend from Tonga)

Listen, you of enlightened minds,

While I tell you a tale of the shore.

Two sisters who lived together Hava and Ila,

They were wives of Naa ana moana.

They lived together then they quarrelled.

What a sad thing is jealousy-

Ala!

Here in Tongatapu long ago a chief named Naa ana moana had two wives who were sisters. Hava and Ila. They-two came from across the sea at Nukunukumotu, and Ila was the favourite wife.

Tongatapu Island

Those wives went fishing for Naa's food, they always tried to please him with their catch. When there was a raui on fishing in the lagoon, they went out on the reef for crabs. But the time came for the raui to be lifted, therefore they tied up leaves for torches and went night fishing in the lagoon once more. But they went off separately, those two.

Hava went along the shore past the mangroves and Ila went on the shallow part of the lagoon. With their spears and torches, they looked for good food.

Beyond the mangroves, Hava came to a cave in the land, and in that cave, she found a hole that was covered with a stone.

Came and opened it,

She thought it was a crab-hole.

Looking in she saw the fish with

pouting mouths.

Brought her basket,

Opened it out,

Chose the biggest fish,

Lifted up her load,

Wishing to have something to take to her husband.

Indeed Hava lifted the stone from that hole and found that it was filled with mullet: all the mullet of the world were in that hole. Therefore she fetched her basket and picked out the biggest fish and took them to Naa. When she had gone the hole was teeming with mullet again.

Mullet fish

Now Ila her sister brought home only crabs that night, and when she saw the many mullet which Naa was scaling and cutting she was jealous, for Naa was pleased with Hava.

Those wives again went fishing on another night, and Ila thought there was something Hava knew. They-two went down to the mangroves and they fished there for a while. Then Ila set off for her lagoon-place again, and seeing her go, Hava left her torch burning on a mangrove tree and went on to her cave.

Ila also deceived her sister. She too left her torch burning in a mangrove tree, and in the dark, she followed Hava.

And Hava, thinking that she was alone, went in and lifted up the stone and filled her basket to the brim with fish. Then she returned to her husband.

Ila went in also and lifted the stone, she filled her basket with fish to take to Naa. But she was angry with Hava, angry because of her secret. Therefore she threw away the stone and called to the fish:

‘You come out and you go!’

And all those mullet came, they streamed in thousands from the hole and leapt into the sea. They were the first mullet in the world.

When Hava reached their home at midnight she was cold. She, therefore, put on clothes while Naa cleaned the fish. But while he was doing this Hava heard a great rushing sound like thunder and she cried, ‘The fish! The mullet! They have all been let out by Ila!’

Straight off she rushed, she dashed out in the night to prevent her mullet from escaping.

She looked for rocks to block their way, that woman. And with her hands indeed she pulled in the islands Kanatea and Nuku to close the cave. When they would not do so she pulled Houmaniu close. Then the teeming fishes turned in their flight and like a wind, they rushed to the other shore, which caused the small bay which is there today.

Then Hava seeing them escaping pulled with all her strength at Toa as well, but the fishes sped back to Folaha, and dented that shore also with their rushing force.

Still, Hava persevered, she pulled the ends of the land, Haaloausi and Houmatoloa. She also tugged at Mataaho, the island where the giant ironwood tree is growing; but that tree would not move.

Was nearly dragged along the toa tree;

But the fish turned,

Which made the inlet at Lifuka,

And the inlet at Faihavata,

And the beach at Fatufala-

Ala!

Pulled out Haaloausi,

Turned the fish to the other side,

Which caused the inlet at Umusi

Near to the rock called Tuungasili,

Afterwards known as Tui-

Ala!

When daylight came and the flowing of the fish had not been stopped Hava grew intensely angry, she cried out to her own land across the sea, to Nukunukumotu, for all her people to come and catch the fish.

All Nukunukumotu stood and waited for the fish, but they escaped at Fota, Nukunukumotu could not stop them, those mullet utterly escaped.

Then indeed Hava turned herself into a coral rock. And the mullet escaped and increased, and mullet thenceforward were everywhere.

After this Hava was a coral rock forever, but her husband joined her. From his love for her, Naa also became a stone. And Ila said what is the use of living and became a stone as well.

They are standing together in the lagoon-entrance of Tanumapopo. Hava on the one side and Ila on the other, and Naa ana moana in between them. This is true.

Source:

Legends of the South Seas

Antony Alpers

1970

Pages 285-288