Paka`a had a calabash which allowed him to control all the island winds simply by lifting the lid and chanting. This amazing power is only part of his story. There are six versions of the Paka`a legend. Five were originally written in Hawaiian and one in English. Each has a certain flavor or point of view conveying different aspects of the culture existing at the time they were published. Some authors found the chants cumbersome and skipped them all together. Others portrayed brief summaries as historical accounts. My favorites tell in meticulous details the nuances and kaona that only a skilled story teller could use and still hold your interest. In blending all the stories together into one, along with pictures where they took place, you the reader may catch a glimpse of Molokai that you never realized is still there.
The story of Paka`a begins on the island of Kauai, his birth place. His father marries his mother but leaves shortly thereafter to return to his duties to the Big Island ruler. While saying goodbye, he gives the mother a malo, kepa and fan so if the child she is carrying is a boy, he can claim his heritage when he comes of age. Because the grandparents think their daughter has married a bum, the mother raises Paka`a in poverty with only the help of her brother. But Paka`a father is a high ali`i who manages the affairs of Keawenuiaumi a famous Big Island chief.
In one version of Paka’a’s adventure he is credited with inventing the sail for fishing canoes while he was still a boy. He wagers his fish catch racing skilled fishermen into shore and beats them using two sticks with a mat as a sail. This concept of wagering is seen in other Molokai stories. In this instance, it begins Paka`a transition from a small kid towards maturity.
Soon, he joins the Kauai ali`i’s island tour as a ho`opili wale (one who sponges off others) of the servants of the Kauai court. With no blood or genealogy connection to the court nor to the servants, he is treated like kauwa or people who were put to work until they were worn out. He does not mind because of the opportunities to travel and observe the court protocols. When the tour is finished, the ali`i decides to visit Oahu, Molokai and Hawaii. When Paka`a begs his mother to join on, she gives him the clothing left for him by his father. She instructs him as to how recognize his father, but more importantly how to get his father to recognize him.
Upon arriving on the Big Island the Kauai ali`i is honored by Keawenuiaumi with feasting and festivities. But as the entourage starts to over stay their welcome, the generosity begins to dry up. The visitors are no longer special and must look after their own needs. But not being from that place, most of the court, the servants and followers begin to go hungry. Paka`a realizes that to eat, he must connect with his father and be acknowledged as his son.
When that happens, the father peers into the boy’s face recognizing the boy’s mother. Paka`a’s father weeps. With the rejoicing comes another round of feasting. Those who have abused Paka`a by treating him like a slave, are fearful. However, he overlooks it and instead sends many presents with the Kauai ali`i to his mother. Although she previously had been poor with no friends, through the wealth Paka`a provided her, many people sought her out, claiming to be of relation. But the truth was, before she became rich, no one knew her.
In the meantime, Paka`a grew more knowledgeable and skillful in every aspect of Big Island court life. He became such an expert that Keawenuiaumi appointed him to a high position just below his father. With the responsibilities came land and corresponding wealth. When Paka`a was 25 years old, his father became sick. On his deathbed he entrusted the affairs of the ali’i to Paka`a as well as his own lands. Paka`a becomes the manager for the chief. In modern terms, it was as if he were the chief of staff for the president. Only in those days, nepotism prevailed. It did not matter who you knew but who were your relatives. What mattered was a person’s genealogy, as only high ranking people could serve the ali’i, touch him, his things or go behind him. On Kauai, people had thought Paka’as father was a nobody. Instead he was a chief who took on a chiefly role on the Big Island.
Paka`a’s new role continued on until destructive jealousy set in, forcing him to flee for his life to Molokai. The deceptions leading up to those events are played out even further while he lives on Molokai.
To be continued.
