Koae and the Tropic Bird

In the heart of the Pacific Ocean are some beautiful islands – points of green that arise from the dark blue depths. One of these islands is called Oahu which in Hawaiian means "the gathering place". It is well named for it is the home of many.

Among the people that lived on Oahu in times long past was an old man named Koae and his grandson Keola. Koae was a kahuna, a man of God, whose wisdom and love for others was well known. Koae loved many things - the sparkling curtains of rain falling on the dark green mountain valleys, and the roar of the rollers breaking over the reef, the bright orange and red hibiscus blossoms that framed the still brighter smiles of the graceful island women, and the sound of drums and chanting on quiet moonlit nights.

Most of all, Koae loved to sit on the beach with his grandson Keola, and as the sun set he would tell stories of long ago - stories that had been told by his grandfather and his grandfather before him.

The sun had dropped below the horizon, that distant place where sea and sky meet, but its rays still pierced the ocean's edges with beams of orange and crimson light.

"Look, my son," said Koae, pointing out beyond the reef. "It is Koae, the tropic bird, coming home from the sea. It is for him that I am named."

"Grandfather, please tell me of Koae," said Keola.

"White is Koae. Long-winged, fork-tailed, strong and sleek is Koae - master of winds and seas and mountain-tops. His home is the limitless sky and the steep-sided green pali. It is from there that he looks upon our home and the homes of our friends."

"Why does he choose such a place for his home?" asked Keola.

"Because his thoughts are high!" answered Koae. "He doesn't care for the things of the earth. Only the treasures of heaven interest him!"

"And why is he white?" questioned Keola.

"He is the selfless one. No colors does he claim. All colors he receives. His feathers reflect the light of the sun even as a pure heart reflects the light of God."

"And why is his tail two rather than one as are other birds?" asked Keola.

"His tail is like the mind of a perfect man. It contains both love and knowledge. One tail is not enough for such a bird. He is as we should be. He roams both land and sea, but with a strong mind and a pure heart he remains always in the heavens!"

"And when Koae is far from land and is blown by storms and torn by winds and waves how does he find his way home?" asked Keola.

"He desires it above all else," smiled the old man, "and he has the sun and the moon and the stars to guide him even as we have God and wise Ones, parents and uncles and aunties to guide us. Even the storms that seem to slow his progress are guides to his green pali home for he knows from where they come."

Time passed. Koae and Keola sat in silence. An army of waves rose from the depths and passed over the reef to end their journey at the ocean's edge. The evening star shone brightly casting a ribbon of light over the sea. The bird had returned to its nest on the cloud-enshrouded pali and was sleeping peacefully.

"Oh grandfather," exclaimed Keola, "may I learn to fly as well as you!" The old man smiled and taking his grandson's hand, they walked back to their home together chanting songs that are now forgotten.

(by Bob Thiesse, Brilliant Star magazine, November–December 1983)

Source: Bob Thiesse, Brilliant Star magazine, November–December 1983, via Baha'i Stories for Children (https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2017/07/koae.html).

Various. *Baha'i Stories for Children*. https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2017/07/koae.html