And the Birds Appeared 9780824842123

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by Julie Stewart Williams illustrated by Robin Yoko Burningham X A Kolowalu Book Press

Honolulu

Text © 1988 by Julie Stewart Williams Illustrations © 1988 by Robin Yoko Burningham All rights reserved Manufactured in Singapore 94 93 92 91 90 88

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Williams, Julie Stewart, 1928And the birds appeared / by Julie Stewart Williams ; illustrated by Robin Yoko Burningham. p. cm. — (A Kolowalu book) Summary: Retells the traditional legend of how Maui, a boy with magical powers, made the birds appear on Hawaii. ISBN 0 - 8 2 4 8 - 1 1 9 4 - 1 [1. Folklore—Hawaii. 2. Birds—Folklore.] I. Burningham, Robin Yoko, ill. II. Title. PZ8.1.W654An 1988 [398.2]—dcl9

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To my grandchildren Stewart Nani Williams, Jr. Stacey Nalani Williams Ka'iukapu Kaleialoha Vierra Na'inoa Hokumakamae Vierra Kainoa John Peterson

Acknowledgments

I am deeply indebted to Mary Kawena Pukui and Caroline Curtis who, nearly forty years ago, published a collection of Hawaiian legends suitable for children of all ages. And the Birds Appeared was inspired by one of those legends, " H o w Birds Became Visible," from Tales of the Menehune. J.S.W. I gratefully acknowledge the love and support of my husband, parents, and children. Their warm encouragement helped in a large way to make the illustrations for this book possible. R.Y.B.

^ ^ • ^ ^ l c e upon a time there was a boy who had magical powers. His name was Maui. And he lived in Hawai'i. Maui could see things that no one else could see. And in those days, only Maui could see the birds.

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In the yellow 'ohi'a lehua tree was a nest. Someone lived there. But who? No one knew . . . except Maui.

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The red 'ohi'a lehua tree had a nest, too. Someone else lived in that nest. But who? No one knew . . . except Maui.

But the neatest nest of all was in a koa tree. Someone had twined it round and round with cobwebs. But who? No one knew . . . except Maui.

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O n a lava bed was another nest. Someone had made it. But who? No one knew . . . except Maui.

And so it went. Each nest belonged to a creature no one had ever seen . . . except Maui. For Maui could see things that no one else could see. And only Maui could see the birds.

One day a man from another island far, far away came to Hawai'i. To everyone he said,

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" W h e r e I come from is more beautiful than anywhere else."

" M y island has the loveliest waterfalls!"

Maui listened. And as he listened, he thought and thought. Then, when the man stopped bragging, Maui spoke. " T h e r e is something here you can't even imagine!" W i t h that, Maui picked up his ipu drum. He tapped it gently. Thump! Thump! Thump!

Branches moved up and down. Bushes shook from side to side. Leaves rustled. Flutter! Flutter! Flap! Flap!

Then all was still. Not a sound could be heard.

Maui lifted his ipu and gave it a hard slap. T H U M P ! At once, music filled the air. Eyes opened wide! Heads turned this way and that! Such beautiful singing!

" T h e voices of menehune," the people whispered as they listened in wonder.

W h e n the sweet music ended, Maui shouted a command. "Singers, show yourselves!" And the birds appeared! There, before everyone's very eyes, were the colorful feathered creatures no one had ever seen before . . . except Maui.

" O h , M a u i , " said the man. " M y island has nothing as wonderful as your birds! Your island is far more beautiful than mine!" And ever since that day, all the people, not only Maui, could see and hear the birds.

N o w people know whose nest is in the yellow 'ohi'a lehua tree. It belongs to the 'i'iwi. N o w people can see the 'i'iwi with its bright red feathers and long curved bill.

N o w people know whose nest is in the red 'ohi'a lehua tree. It belongs to the 'o'o. Now people can see the black 'o'd with its tufts of yellow feathers. N o w people can hear its clear loud whistle.

N o w people k n o w w h o builds the neatest nest of all. It's the 'elepaio. N o w people can see this friendly little bird as it pecks a tree branch for a meal of insects.

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N o w people know whose nest is on a lava bed. It belongs to the nene. N o w people can watch this Hawaiian goose eating berries and tender leaves.

To this day Hawai'i is still more beautiful than anywhere else. And all because of Maui, who made the birds appear.