The Shark That Came for Poi

retold by ShanLee
Adapted from "The Shark That Came for Poi" from Hawai‘i Island Legends by Mary Pūku‘i

`Aukai and some men paddled from the Kohala coast to the Kona coast. As they paddled a huge shark followed them. Finally, one of the men asked the shark if the shark knew that they carried pa’i’ai (dried fish) and taro (poi). The shark did not answer so the man put together a bundle of food and threw it to the shark. The shark didn’t catch the food and eat it, instead he put the bundle of food in front of his nose, then pushed the bundle of food with him pass the waves, until he was out of sight. This happened for many days.

After seeing the shark everyday, ‘Aukai thought of a plan to figure out where the shark was taking the food. ‘Aukai would follow in a small canoe, and as he saw the men give the shark the bundle of food as they usually did, he would follow the shark and find out where the shark was taking the food.

So, the next day it happened. ‘Aukai was ready, he saw the shark receive the bundle of food, then the shark began to swim on and pass the waves. All, of a sudden a beach appeared, ‘Aukai watched from a distance. The shark swam to shore, a while after an old man limped out on his cane, simply taking the bundle of food, then going back into his house.

Curious, ‘Aukai beached his canoe and entered the old man’s house yelling and asking if he could have a drink and something to eat. The old man came to the door and kindly welcomed ‘Aukai. ‘Aukai sat down and was given fresh water and poi to eat.

‘Aukai asked the old man how he got the poi and how he was able to work in the taro patches. The old man answered politely that he and his wife got their fish and taro from the GODS.
‘Aukai soon left back for his village in Kohala. He told all of his family and relatives about the old couple. From then on the shark was given a big bundle of food especially made for the couple.

Then there were days when the shark did not come, then days turned into weeks, ‘Aukai felt that it was his responsibility to take the food to the old couple. After he beached his canoe on the beach he entered the old couple’s house, only to find an empty house. He then went to a neighbor questioning where the old couple had gone. The neighbor answered that the old man had passed on and the old women had gone to live with her relatives in another village. ‘Aukai realized that the shark’s work was done and the shark was never seen again.