The Humans:
Lehua - The most beautiful girl in the village and the only daughter of the village's chief.
Ohia - The handsome warrior is witty, and the most powerful, bravest, of all the village's warriors.
The goddesses:
Pele: The fire goddess, very cunning, beguiling, a caster of curses, and a changeling.
Hiiaka: The plant goddess, a healer of curses, and a changeling.
The Animal:
Ilio: Name of a pet dog ***An Ilio, in English translation, is a dog
***The first episode: THE INTERACTION
Lehua: "Ohia, are you vanishing again?"
Ohia: "Do you miss me already?"
Lehua: "I'm unhappy when my father sends you away on some mission."
Ohia: "I'm his charge plus, whatever I do, gives protection for all the villagers."
Lehua: "Are you my protector?"
Ohia: "You both, are under my protection for you have forgotten our little one that you carry inside you."
Lehua: "How can I forget when I am constantly kicked, as a reminder?"
Ohia: "Well, command it to stop?"
Lehua: "I will not plus it's not like it is Ilio!"
Ohia: "Now leave Ilio alone for I must go."
Before Ohia joins the other warriors, he bends down near to Lehua's face, then he rubs her nose (a form of kissing), with his nose, then he departs the village with a handful of the warriors. At every crossing, one warrior will break from the group, leaving the last to go onward alone. Ohia, being the last of the group, was also the farthest warrior from the village, making him the most vulnerable in danger. At a middle juncture to his destination up ahead, Ohia saw an old woman coming his way, but as she came closer, she appeared to be a younger woman.
Pele: "Are you heading to the village above, young man?"
Ohia: "I will go as far as I go, and no further."
Pele: "Then, you will head back to your home village far below by the sea."
Ohia: "I do not know you, but I do know that you are a stranger to me."
Pele: "Oh, I do know who you are, but it is you who the stranger amongst us."
Ohia: "Then say you, which of the two villages that I come from."
Pele: "Certainly, not from the village from whence I came from."
Ohia: "And why is that?"
Pele: "Because the village behind me lies near the foot of the cold mountain, and I see that you do not carry your fur pack, as the coldness has been in effect for this area for quite a spell."
Ohia: I need not carry my fur pack down below in the southern region, but I will it fetch along my way home, for it lies just a little ways behind you, hid under some brush--so I will leave you on your peaceful journey."
Pele: "Then, I will wait here until you return."
Ohia: "I will not dally over this foolishness so, I am warning you to begone!"
Pele: "I will wait here to accompany me to your home village, my dear O-h-i-a!"
Then Ohia made a gasping sound.
Pele: "You sound surprised my dear beautiful Ohia."
Ohia: "Yes, I am."
Pele: "And why is that my dear Ohia."
Ohia: "By mentioning my name, reveals to me, who you truly are!"
Pele: "Then who am I, my dear Ohia?"
Ohia: "You are the fire goddess Pele, and that you are a cunning woman."
Pele: "Now that you know, who I am, then you should be terrified of me."
Ohia: "I am the mighty Ohia I fear nobody."
Pele: "Of course not, after all, you are a fearless warrior and soon to be a father of two hearts."
Ohia: "Yes, that of my beloved and my newborn."
Pele: "I keep forgetting of human limitations since I hardly involve my self with your kind, but I hope you Ohia, will have a changed heart."
Ohia: "Why should my heart be changed?"
Pele: "For your son's sake, that you will pick me as your newly beloved."
Ohia: "Nothing will separate me from whom I truly love with all my heart, so no Pele for I refuse you."
Pele: "Do not be so rash with your thoughts as you are with your actions to its vague outcome, my dear Ohia, for I merely want to paint a better picture of a happier life that you can have with me."
Ohia: "Nobody can have any happy life with evil by their side."
Pele: "Careful my Ohia, for there is need to be forever watchful in what you humans say to the gods and goddesses, for we are not alike."
Ohia: "You are not like your sister Hiiaka who provides sustenance for the people.
Pele: "But it is I who made the land for such sustenance to be, you humans dare to measure our worth as gods."
Ohia: "The people love Hiiaka for she is the mother of our harvest."
Pele: "You needed babble to me of her rights deemed hers by our father, yet, if the people love her, why didn't your village honor her with a temple, instead, your village honored me with a temple, so you lied to me for your village love me more than my sister, Hiiaka."
Ohia: "I did not lie to you, but you are misled for the people do not love you as the same as towards your sister Hiiaka, but they fear you greatly instead, that is why the village fathers built the temple for your glory out of fear that at any whimsical moment you will destroy our village."
Pele: "Why would the gods be belittled and seen as bearing human frailties, it is a foolish notion for the gods to be so precarious with their abilities, but it is humans who are so foolhardy that they boast such as you have boasted of the gods so willingly and openly towards me shows you are fearless but you forget the three loves of your life."
Ohia: "Three you say, you meant my father-in-law, chief of our village, is that of your meaning?"
Pele: "No!"
Pele turns to the awe-struck face of Ohia.
Ohia: "You spoke of my newborn being my son, for of that we did not know, but being a goddess, you would know such things."
Pele: "Yes!"
Ohia: "Therefore, my son is the first heart and Lehua, will, of course, be the second heart."
Pele: "For n--ow."
Ohia: "For always!"
Pele: "And the third heart, my dear O-h-i-a."
Ohia: "You said it was not my father-in-law, but it must be so for he is the chief of our village."
Pele: "Stop repeating yourself for it annoys me so."
Ohia: "Stop being so vague for you to play with me for I am not a toy, who would this third heart be?"
Pele: "Your daughter."
Ohia: "My d-a-ughter?"
Pele: "Ugh, so you want me to be a nuisance too and repeat myself--never--for you heard me the first time!"
Ohia: "A daughter, as well as a son?"
Pele: "Yes, my Ohia, for Lehua carries two hearts beside her own."
Ohia: "We, will be parents of twins!"
Pele: "Yes, they have been known to be called that."
Ohia: "I must quickly go and tell my beloved Lehua of this wondrous news."
Pele: "What do you mean that you will quickly go, and what of me?"
Ohia: "And what of you? Go wherever you want to go, you are a goddess after all!"
Pele: "I will go with you!"
Ohia: "Why?"
Pele: "Do not be slow with me!"
Ohia: "I will not part from my Lehua, for we were both meant to be together--forever."
Pele: "My dear Ohia, as a goddess, I can give you your heart's desire."
Ohia: "My heart already belongs to Lehua, and now, my twins, for they all wait for me. I must leave now that we can all be together when they are both born to us."
Pele: "But Ohia...?"
Ohia: "There is no but, for I have already spoken, enough of this and once again, begone with you."
Pele: "What is with you and this repetitive nature."
Ohia: "If it annoys you so, then leave for I will not object to that as you are now annoying me. Now that you have shared news vital to me, I must leave so that I too may share the precious gift that will soon be part of our lives."
Pele: "But I want you to share your life with me."
Ohia: "You are a goddess, and you can have the choice of any man from any village of the lands. Leave me and go anywhere you choose to be."
Pele: "But I choose to be with you, do you not see this desire I have for you. The gods demand the best in all things. You are attractive, powerful, and brave. Such a combination of qualities is rare indeed. You are exceptional, and you should take heed to what I say."
Ohia: "We must part ways, for you cannot be with me. I fear the harm that you might do against my Lehua."
Pele: "So my handsome Ohia is weak and fearful because of love, as this is true, then I place a curse on you."
Ohia: "Please, why do you do this."
Pele: "Do not beg for you are not a dog."
Ohia: "Please, do not do this."
Pele: "Then, you will leave her and be mines."
Ohia: "As long as you leave them alone, all of them."
Pele: "I vow that I will keep my bargain...but remember my dear Ohia, I must have all of you, your beautiful muscular body, your fearless, bold spirit that will be tamed, well at least towards me. And of course, that which is under your beautiful thick black hair. That which is behind your handsomely well-structured boldface."
Ohia: "What would that be--my head?!"
Pele: "Ugh!" You, and your repetitive nature, and now, you, are being obtuse! Oops! I forgot you would not know the meaning of that word. It means 'slow'...to think. You say you are witty, but it appears, I must show you pity!"
Ohia: "It is because of my thoughts concerning this matter, for it has cast a difficult shadow over me. I would need time to ponder such decisions and not treat it so lightly."
Pele: "Your children, who don't know what time is, will soon be popping out of her belly. And so my dear Ohia, as a goddess, we do not dally, and we take what we want. But, I am losing my patience, for I must have all of you. You have given me two of three, so will you submit the third of you, and that is, whatever is left of your mind, be completely mine!"
Ohia: "NO! I defy you Pele. I will not be your plaything. There! I have given you your answer. Admittedly, it is not the answer that you seek, but I love Lehua, and how strong is that love. Strong enough to defy all the gods and even you too Pele."
Pele: "You insignificant fool, I just wanted you for a very short time,
but my insatiable craving, demands more and not just one of you. Then when the interest wears-off, you could have returned to your precious Lehua--if she'll have had you?"
Ohia: "What are you saying? If this was to be, as you say, why would she not take me back?"
Pele: "My dear witless Ohia, after all, she is a woman."
Ohia: "This conversation is neither here nor there--it is over! I'm leaving!"
Pele: "Hold your pretty horses my witless Ohia. Now, you know me and of my powers and of what I can do and not do."
Ohia: "Yes! Nevertheless, I will be with my Lehua!"
Pele: "Indeed, you are not afraid of me, or any of the gods. So, you openly and willingly, accept the consequences of your foolish decision?"
Ohia: "You are blocking my way, but never mind. There is room enough for me to go around you."
Pele: "Final warning you witless fool."
Ohia: "Your beguiling charm hides the ugly truth!"
Pele: "U-G-L-Y, you say, choice words indeed! How fitting for such a handsome man such as yourself."
Ohia: "I am that I am, for I am just a man!"
Pele: "NOT ANYMORE~! From this day forward, A MAN NO MORE~! Ugly you say, then ugly you will be, my handsome Ohia, for you deny me, then the ugliest tree you shall be. Bent out of shape, somewhat, deformed, and you will never be with Lehua or the expected ones.
Pele leaves Ohia, as a deformed and ugly tree, along the mountain path for many to see and ridicule.
Meanwhile, back at Ohia's village, Lehua suddenly is about to give birth. She was not expected for another month, but the baby was starting to come out. The warriors have all returned except Ohia, and because Lehua is about to give birth, the chief, her father, told the warriors to go together and bring back Ohia and to say nothing to Lehua of his disappearance. The warriors went to the mountain path where Ohia should be until they too came up to the ugly tree. As Ohia was their main interest, they thought nothing of the ugly tree and went around it not knowing that they were passing Ohia. Their search was hopeless, so they returned to the chief bearing the grim message of their fruitless search. Meanwhile, a woman visits Lehua, feeding her newborn twins.
Hiiaka: "Greetings, lovely Lehua."
Lehua: "Greetings! You are new to our village."
Hiiaka: "Oh, I have been around. I have relations nearby who is a bit touchy if you know what I mean. Well, anyway, I am here, and I need to have words with you, right away."
Lehua: "Well, the twins are asleep, we can go into the main hall nearby, so I can hear them should either of them wake."
Hiiaka: "Oh, you need not worry, they will not wake--not yet that is."
Lehua: "How do you know this?"
Hiiaka: "Because they told me."
Lehua: "Who?"
Hiiaka: "The twins."
Lehua: "You know their thoughts."
Hiiaka: "Of course I do, even if they are as young as those two. Oh, I must not dilly dally, so I will get to the point of my visit."
Lehua: "Yes, please do!"
Hiiaka: "I am the goddess Hiiaka, sister of Pele. That is why I understand children, I am the mother of the harvest, and that list goes onward, but enough of that. Your father, the chief of the village, understandably, that you are in a delicate condition, need not ruffle the waves, for you let alone anybody, could have done anything anyway--except me."
Lehua: "What is this news that you still have not told me, and why is it an exception to you alone."
Hiiaka: "My sister, Pele, has put a curse on your beloved Ohia, for he refuses to love her and leave you, at the same time, ergo, the curse."
Lehua: "What can you do?"
Hiiaka: "Well, it is tricky. I will think more on the matter, while you bring a nurse mother to care for the twins and a runner, quickly!
As Lehua leaves, Hiiaka goes to where the babies were fast asleep.
Hiiaka: "So, little ones, now that you know of your father, what say you on the matter of what I can do."
The sleeping twins turn their bodies, facing each other while asleep--smiles.
Hiiaka: "As I have expected my lovelies, now rest."
Lehua: "I have brought them."
Hiiaka: "Nurse mother, you stay with the twins. And you runner, come with us for there is not much time."
Lehua: "Why must we rush?"
Hiiaka: "I will tell you on the way to Ohia, time is running out."
As the three secretly leave the village, fearing that the warriors will learn of their plans, and her father the chief, may stop them. They dash for the mountain passage trail where Ohia waits.
Hiiaka: "We have what we need--(in a ghostly voice, she utters) He waits!"
Lehua: "Are we near for it has been a long while since we left the village."
Hiiaka: "Yes, just beyond this bend... (Lehua breaks away and runs feverishly that even the young male runner could not keep up with her) ...but you do not know what kind of curse was caused upon him (as she whispered, for they both have left her sight by now)."
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