Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 8, 1 August 2011 — Survival lessons of childhood [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Survival lessons of childhood

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D. Our kūpuna and mākua taught keiki mueh about survival and self-protection in early childhood. In old Hawai'i the framework for this was often harm that could eome from sorcerers. For example, disposing of one's clipped nails or hair was done with great eauhon. This practice taught personal hygiene and cleanliness. In the learning process, children were taught to observe quietly and listen carefully to lessons

and to talk only when the teacher invited questions. This taught politeness. Hawaiian learning usually didn't involve the cautions of supernatural consequences but it, too, was about survival. Modern Hawaiians may fault the reasoning behind these lessons, however, issues of survival and self-protection exist still, even in enlightenment. The ogres today, are human beings who hurt, harm and snatch children, an equally devastating harm. The story that follows is true and is an example of lessons the child had learned well. Specifically, these were to follow directions: not to stray from the mission, not to talk to strangers, and to follow all rules of the house . . . especially when at another's house. Ten-year-old Lei and her mother were staying with Aunty for the last weeks of school. Aunty's big house had a little stream in the

backyard. Eaeh morning before school, Lei dressed, made her bed and ate breakfast. Before catching the school bus, Lei would piek 200 white ginger buds from the patch in the backyard for Aunty to string a lei. There was one important rule, Lei must never cross the little stream. Lei picked llowers from the patch on the house-side of the stream. One morning, as Lei's nimhle fingers tugged gently on the stems, she heard a man's voice. He said, "Come over to this side." "Oh, no. I can't," answered Lei. She continued picking, with only a quick half-glance toward the man's voice. The man appeared to be sitting on a stool with his arms folded over his chest and he wore a form-fitting shirt. "I have to be quick, the school bus comes soon," Lei finished. "Come over. Sit and talk to me," the man said gently.

Lei responded without looking, "I have only 10 more buds to go and I must hurry." Lei finished and without turning to look toward the man, she hurried into the house. Aunty asked Lei who she had been talking to outside. Lei told her about the man and his invitation to go over, to sit and talk with him. Aunty looked worried, but told Lei to get her things for school. Aunty spoke quietly to Lei's mother in Hawaiian. Lei didn't understand but knew that Aunty

was upset. Lei's mother asked for another detail or two about the man. Lei responded, and Aunty looked worried. Then, both Lei and her mother hurried out to catch the bus to school together. Many, many years later, Lei remembered the incident and asked her mother about it. Lei was told that the man was the mo'o who watched over the little waterway. Lei was spared because she had followed the rule and did not cross over to the mo'o's side. It had been a close eall. ■

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In this mo'olelo about childhood lessons, we learn about a mo'o who watches over a stream. -Photo: Comstock