Pikoi and the Rat Shooting

retold here by Kïkaha

Adapted from "Pikoi and the Rat Shooting" from the book Pikoi by Caroline Curtis

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Once a long long time ago, there lived a boy named Pikoi. He lived on the island of Kaua‘i but had recently been to O‘ahu to see his sister. There they set up camp overhanging a valley.

Just then, Pikoi heard a noise coming from the valley floor. He asked his brother and his dad who had accompanied him but they were to busy doing something else. So Pikoi decided to go check for himself. Pikoi ran down the mountain and saw a group of people shooting rats.

While he was watching, he accident bumped into a chiefess. They talked for a while and she asked him if he would be her bowyer. Pikoi gratefully accepted the offer and went to get his things. When he comes back, he realizes he is to challenge the best bowyer on O‘ahu. The bowyer’s name is Mainele.

The rules of the game were that the first person to shoot fifteen rats was declared the winner. Mainele shot first. He shot fifteen rats on one arrow. The crowd was amazed. But since Mainele could see no more rats, he let Pikoi shoot. The crowd was silent. Pikoi then saw a tail moving in the tall grass. So he loaded his bow, drew back the arrow, and fired! A servant went and got the arrow and counted fifteen rats!

The crowd went hysterical. Pikoi had won. Pikoi looked at the sun and said to himself, “ Oh no, I’m going to be late for dinner!” So he said goodbye to his new friends and ran up the mountain. The sun was just about setting under the horizon when Pikoi slipped in. As he sat down for dinner, he reminiced on his day and came to the conclusion that he had a wonderful day.