A HAWAIIAN FOLKLORE - EVENT ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII - Part 6

***The sixth & final episode - THE CONCLUSION

Lehua stops just short from Ohia, the young runner arrives too, breathless. Lehua calls out for Ohia while panting breathlessly.
Lehua: "OHIA, where are you, why don't you answer me! We were told that you would be near the bend that we have passed, so now we are here, O-H-I-A!"

Meanwhile, goddess Hiiaka picks herself up a little and floats to where they are now. She appears behind the runner who turns and with fright, he quickly dashes behind Lehua.
Hiiaka: "You did not give me a chance to tell you what sort of curse was done on your beloved Ohia. Well, anyhow that is him over there."
Lehua: "Over where?"
Hiiaka: "That ugly tree, just off the path. My sweet sister turned him into a distorted naked of mess."
Runner: "That thing is our great warrior Ohia."
Lehua: "Be silent you, careful of what you say!"
Hiiaka: "Yes, for the mighty warrior Ohia can certainly hear you--for now."

Lehua approaches the tree that was Ohia and wept to hug its trunk and had private words with Ohia, and while Lehua was with Ohia the tree, Hiiaka had words with the runner, whereto, the runner returned to the village and retrieve the little one and the dog, per Hiiaka's instructions to him, and not to say a word to anyone--but the nurse mother had known.

Lehua: "Why the rush?"
Hiiaka: "My powers are limited, but before anything can happen, you must first agree, or the spell will not work, and beloved Ohia will be forever lost."
Lehua: "Of course, I agree, I agree. I agree!"
Hiiaka: "You do not know of the consequences that awaits all of you! (a strange day lightning strikes and a glowing mist is seen afar and getting closer. It's too late the gods have heard your cries. It is done."
Lehua: "What is done?"
Hiiaka: "Before I came to your house, I had to perform the counterspell while the morning sun was rising, it would not have worked if the morning sun rose completely above the horizon. To effect that, all of you must agree."
Lehua: "You spoke to the twins?"
Hiiaka: "And they both said yes because they know that their dear mother will also say yes, and by the way, so did the dog."
Lehua: "What?"
Hiiaka: "He barked, yes!"
Lehua: "Where is the runner?"
Hiiaka: "I sent him to fetch them while you were with the tree--I mean, Ohia, he is returning with the three of them. Soon they will all be here."
Lehua: "Of the consequences, I will accept, but for them, I will simply send them away, and the consequences will only affect me!"
Hiiaka: "And they will simply reappear here because you all bear the mark of the counterspell."
Lehua: "What will happen to us."
Hiiaka: "Oh now you are been reasonable, but I should not chastise you for it will soon be all over."
Lehua: "You been talking riddles, be forthright and just say it already!"
Hiiaka: "Well, first the good part of the counterspell. Ohia will return to human form and for a while, you can rub noses and hug and look and feel, as long as the glowing mist remains before sunset, then Ohia will return as that ugly naked tree forever, and as for the rest of you, you will have what all of you said yes to, and that is to be with Ohia forever and your wish will be granted by the goddess of the mist. As Ohia was transformed, so shall you all. I will go now, for the parting of that kind is much too much for me--and I am a goddess! So farewell my gorgeous daughter, and you two little gems, and you too down there (bark)"
Lehua: "The runner is here with the twins and the dog."
Lehua to the runner: "Leave us."
Runner: "Mistress?"
Lehua: "What is it?"
Runner: "The nurse mother went to your father's house when I left the village, and I am afraid that the chief and warriors will stop whatever you are doing."
Lehua: "Go now!"
Runner: "Yes mistress."

As the runner leaves, the glowing mist began to rise, and Ohia was transformed to his former self. They embrace, rubbed noses, exchanged holding one twin, then next, all with a very rambunctious Ili'o. Then the glowing mist became thicker that none could see. The chief and the warriors could be heard talking amongst themselves about the mysterious glowing mist. All left the mist to go to an open clearing including the chief. They could hear whispering, then Ohia came out of the mist and waved to the warriors until the mist-covered him and lifted and they all saw the ugly twisted tree, naked, and then there were more whispers, the mist lifted and Lehua holding the twins waved at her father who had fallen to his knees weeping with his arms stretched wide to receive them but the mist took them and they were all gone, accept Ili'o who ran out from the mist, and despite whistling and finger snaps from the warriors, the dog ran into the mist with a bark, then an eerie silence, the whispers were gone. Then the goddess of the mist lifted upwards and pieces of bark fell out from the mist and lovingly covered the naked Ohia tree, then a shower of verdant strong green and light green leaves clung to every branch as there were, two of every kind, as the strong warriors melted into their stream of tears, until at last, as a grieving father looked onward, cascades of beautiful red-flowered blossoms in a tender embrace, covered themselves upon an Ohia tree.

ALOHA! Story by William Kekaula

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