The Sacred Tree

Retold here by Nohea
Adapted from "The Sacred Tree" from Hawaiian Legends of the Gardian Spirits by Caren Lobel-Fried

Once, long ago, there lived a sacred tree. This tree grew like any other-tall and proud, but in a small circular clearing. This tree was filled with mana (powers), but was only noticed by a woman named Papa. Papa lived with her husband, Wakea, over a ridge in Kalihi. One day when Wakea went to go pick fruit Papa was plaiting new mats. As she was plaiting she thought to herself of all the treasures in the ocean, and if she hurried she could catch a surprise for Wakea. So she grabbed her calabash and took off.

After she got her surprise she headed to a little spring to rinse the crab and the limu (her surprise). As she took a drink she saw men beating up Wakea, she screamed Wakea while running up a trail to him. As she was running her calabash flipped over and seeds fell from her skirt. The men were just going to beat him up because he took fruit from the chief, but when she arrived so suddenly they were so startled and just let her go to him. When she got there she grabbed Wakea hugged him, and at that moment she noticed the sacred tree. As soon as she noticed the tree, she pushed him into it and the tree grabbed them and magically returned them home where their safe.

Now where Papa took her drink in the little spring the limu took root and the crabs found a home, and where her seeds fell of her skirt beautiful morning glories bloomed from the day she saved Wakea’s life with help from the sacred tree.