Retold by Raquel Badayos

adapted from "Legends of Hawaii" from How Umi Found His Father Mary Kawena

How Umi Found His Father

Umi just ran up to the shore right after he won a surfing competition against a boy that was a foot taller than him. All the other boys on shore were amazed on Umi's skills at sports After the competition Umi got hungry and led a few of his friends to his home. When they got to Umi's house, he gave them some food and they sat down and ate. Right after they were done, Umi's friend O'ma'o noticed that they ate all the food and was worried that Umi's father would be angry. But Umi wasn't worried about his father just about his friends' stomach's being content and anyways their garden was full of plants.

O'ma'o was so worried that Umi would get punished that he gave Umi a big hug and told him how worried he was for Umi. But that was when Umi told him that he was more that a friend he was like a son, and that he shall adopt him as his "son" which he did. Then Umi told O'ma'o a big secret...Umi's father wasn't his real father, just his foster. When Umi asked his mom who it was she didn't have time to answer.

But the next morning she did give him an answer in front of his foster father and Umi's adopted son. Umi was the son of the great chief Liloa, ruler of Hawaii. Once she told Umi that, she gave Umi a bundle of items: a long feather cloak, a feather helmet, a chiefly malo, and an ivory neck ornament. It was Umi's time to go to his father and she gave him those things to take on his journey to show he was Liloa's son.

Since Umi was leaving he took his son O'ma'o on his journey. All day the boy's walked to get to their destination: Waipio. Then they heard shouts and of course Umi knew it was games. When Pi'imai, the winner, saw Umi's items he asked if he was a chief. Umi replied yes and Pi'imai asked to be his follower. Umi accepted him as another "son" and Pi'imai (who is also a little older than Umi) took Umi into his house to get some food and some rest and to tell his parents he will be accompanying Umi. Again on the journey, they met up with another boy who wanted to accompany them named Ko'i. Umi adopted Ko'i as his son as well.

Finally they made it to beautiful Waipio. Umi saw the palace of his father and told his sons to wait there. If they hear the sound of drums that will tell them that he is safe and that they will be sent for. But if they hear no welcoming sound they will know that he is dead and his father has failed to recognize him and return quickly to their home.

Umi walked to the entrance and saw a chief sitting on a platform. Liloa saw Umi and asked son he was. Umi replied and told him he was his son. Liloa recognized Umi's items he wore and hugged Umi and wept with joy. Liloa asked Umi if he had any traveling companions. Umi told him he had three, and that they were his adopted sons. Liloa send for them and to himself he relized, that even though Umi was only a boy himself, he already had sons and someday, he will be father to all of Hawaii.