She looked over at Nukuluve, and when she saw the old woman smile, realized she had more to learn about her new surroundings than she thought.
They walked along the beach for a while and Mina noticed many paths leading into the tropical forest on her left. Nukuluve suddenly turned onto one of them, and then stopped at a hut.
Her grandmother spoke to the woman outside the hut for several minutes in Okawiian, and, as Mina couldn’t understand a word, she took this time to take in her surroundings. A fire pit was just off the path, and behind it was a clearing with two small huts. Mina wondered if her grandmother’s hut was this small as well.
Nukuluve switched over to English. “I will stop by later with some soup. This is my granddaughter, Mina. She is here for the summer. Mina, this is Irene, one of the islanders.”
Irene smiled, “Welcome.”
When they were back on the beach and out of earshot, Nukuluve explained. “They are recently married—about a year ago. Michael, her husband, is not from Okawii. It turns out he is a sickly type. He hasn’t been out fishing for a week. Irene’s mother, who is my old friend, is worried they will not be able to have children. She asked me to stop by.”
“Why? Is your soup medicinal?” Mina asked.
“I would not call it medicinal per se, but I do believe in the power of a good broth.”
They returned to the beach and walked further along. Mina wondered which path they would turn on and began to be afraid she’d get lost on the island.
“Okay, I get that maybe the mail isn’t the most important thing in the world,” the girl said, “but why is there nobody else here? Where are all the visitors and tourists? The other islands that the Aquarius stopped at were full of tourists and people selling their cultural things.”
“You are sharp,” noted Nukuluve with smile. “Okawii is one of the few islands in the Pacific that has been blessed with a ‘culturally protected status.’ It is illegal for unexpected people to step foot on the island. You are expected here, so do not worry.”
“Yes, but how did you do that? I mean, why did Okawii get protected status and the other islands didn’t?”
“In the 1930s we were able to get some Okawiians into high positions on the Island Council.”
They turned back into the woods; Mina was impressed by the agility of her old grandmother, avoiding roots and low-hanging branches. After they had walked through the forest and past several huts, Nukuluve stopped and Mina recognized her bag in front of the fire pit. Behind the pit were two small huts, identical to the ones they had passed. One hut was noticeably newer than the other. The fronds on the roof were a darker green and its framing poles fresher.
Nukuluve suddenly bowed. Mina hadn’t noticed the large man seated next to the fire. He stood up and nodded to Nukuluve in return. His bare chest prominently featured a necklace with a single golden cowry shell. It was a simple necklace, yet elegant enough to proclaim the high status of the man. He stepped toward Mina and grabbed both her forearms.
“Welcome to Okawii. I am Chief Akolo. I hope you will be comfortable on our island, on your island.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m sure I will.” The usually confident Mina could feel the perspiration under her arms. Should I bow? Or curtsy? Oh my God, how does a curtsy go again? How am I supposed to act around a chief?
Wrinkles appeared in the corners of his eyes and the Chief’s smile immediately put her at ease.
“Sit down.” He gestured toward one of the logs by the fire pit as if he were the host here. “It is not every day that one of our own comes home and at the same time visits for the first time. Well, almost the first time. You must know that you were here 15 years ago as a baby.”
Mina nodded and cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m sorry I don’t remember that visit.”
“Things were different on Okawii then. Your grandfather was chief, and people expected great things from your mother, Eva. Unfortunately for Okawii, she married your father, an outsider who did not share her dreams of settling down on the island.”
Mina was surprised at the information. She had no idea that her grandfather had been chief and that her mother was the daughter of a chief. Also, the feelings of anger toward her father that she had forgotten over the excitement of the trip began to resurface. How dare he pull her mother away from this island paradise? Was his bank and that luxurious lifestyle back at home so important to him?
She looked at the chief, not knowing how to respond. Thankfully he continued on, apparently not wanting a two-sided conversation.
“Of course my situation is not ideal either. Because we could not have children, the best I can hope for is that my nephew will succeed me.”
Nukuluve looked at Akolo, but was silent. Then she went into the hut on the right and came out carrying a pot of food. She rekindled the fire and set the pot on to warm.
“I will not be staying to eat, Nukuluve.” He turned back to Mina. “It is such a shame about what happened to Eva. A tragic and rare accident, and to someone so young, and a new mother. But do not worry, such accidents do not happen here very often.”
Mina felt her heart stop. She wanted him to go on, to give her some detail of the accident that had shaped her life, but he was silent on the topic. And she didn’t feel it was her place to ask the chief any more.
The scent of the fish stew arose as it heated up.
Akolo pointed to the pot and said, “I am afraid our cuisine is not what you are used to. One thing I cannot help you with is to get you a,” he paused, looking for a word, “…a Snickers if you get a craving.”
He smiled, pleased at his cultural reference.
“I’ll be okay, I’m not a picky eater.” Mina appreciated his comment; it seemed to show that Akolo really did care, even after his weird reference to his nephew succeeding him.
The corpulent chief stood to go. “If there is anything I can do to make you more comfortable here, do not hesitate to ask. Nukuluve, make sure you take her to Vai Place soon.”
“Tomorrow, after she has slept.”
“And Nukuluve,” he had a twinkle in his eye this time, “When will you tell her?”
At this question the old woman smiled and blinked both her eyes at the chief in answer. Mina had a feeling they weren’t referring to her mother’s death this time, but the jet lag had caught up with her and she didn’t have the energy to ask.
After he had gone, Nukuluve served her the fish stew that had been warming on the fire. It was the tastiest thing Mina had ever put into her mouth, and her body soaked it in, having been sustained on airplane and processed travel food for the past two days.
Nukuluve led her into the newer hut on the left where she collapsed and slept better than she had in years.
Chapter 3
Mina woke up at noon the next day completely refreshed, and full of questions.
She got dressed, breathing in the smell of the freshly chopped wood of her abode and was surprised to find that she could not stand up completely in her hut: it was about ¾ her height. The poles of the hut were neatly lashed together, giving the roof a very tidy appearance. Looking around, she noticed a small ledge opposite her bed on which her suitcase had already been placed, and two shelves, one empty, and the other with a framed picture of her mother as a teenager. She studied the picture and thought she was able to see some of herself in her young mother.
When she stepped out, Nukuluve motioned for her to sit one of the logs.
Feeling energized, Mina jumped right in with her questions.
“Did my father force my mother to move away from Okawii?”
“Good morning,” Nukuluve smiled as she assembled breakfast.
Her grandmother sat down next to her.
“Chief Akolo is a good man,” she started, “but he is misinformed about a few things regarding your mother. Eva loved David very much, and what they had decided together was that they would live abroad for several years, make sure you were educated well in the States, and then return after y
our education was completed. Those years would also give your father some time to groom a successor and to orchestrate an effective hand-off of his family bank before they moved to Okawii permanently.”
“So he didn’t make her move away?”
“No, Eva wanted to go for those years. She had a real desire to travel and see the world, and was looking forward to the challenge of making a life so far from the island she loved. But she did always intend to return.”
“What did the chief mean when he said they expected great things from her?”
“Well, your grandfather was the first chief in living memory not to have a son to succeed him. It was questionable whether Eva, as the only child, would succeed him and become the first woman chief of the island. During your mother’s childhood, the elders had many, many meetings discussing this unusual situation. There were some who wanted the Chiefdom to pass to Akolo after your grandfather. He was your mother’s third cousin, and your grandfather’s closest living male relative. But throughout her childhood, and especially in her high school years, your mother proved herself.”
“How?”
“She was an outstanding student, the best on the island in her generation. And she was charismatic and eloquent—had a real gift with words. When she was invited to speak at the elder’s council in defense of her position, it was quite clear that the island would be in good hands with her. The council decision was unanimous to let her succeed. Eva also intended to use her years in the States to broaden her worldview and gain some international experience before succeeding your grandfather as chief.”
Nukuluve handed her a plate with breakfast. The dried fish surrounded by fresh tropical fruits looked strange to Mina, but she found everything delicious. Her beverage was a large coconut with a straw in it.
“Today we will tour the island,” said Nukuluve after Mina had eaten.
They went back out to the beach and headed toward the dock.
“As you might have noticed yesterday, the paths from the beach lead to groups of huts. These groups of huts go all around the island, except for the north side.”
They approached the dock and a gaggle of barely-dressed kids ran by, almost knocking them down. One of them threw a ball further up the beach and they all went after it at full speed.
“The island is round, roughly, and there is a coral reef surrounding it—about 100 feet out. The only opening in the reef is here at the southern end, just south of the dock. It is the only place boats can enter our waters. We are completely protected by the reef otherwise.”
Mina looked out and scanned the sea.
“Grandmother? Where are the fishermen? Look, there is only one boat out there. I thought everyone here lived off of fishing.”
Nukuluve looked at her. “You don’t miss much. Hold that question—I think you’ll understand more by the end of the day,” she answered mysteriously, and then added, “Also, we like to do our fishing a little further from the island. That way we do not to deplete the fish populations in our reef.”
Just north of the dock, back in the forest was a large pavilion. It had two rows of eight posts each supporting a roof structure covered on palm fronds. Mina saw a few old men sitting there on the benches, talking and laughing.
Mina admired and took pictures of the lashings that held it together. They were the same as in her hut, but more photogenic here in the open sunlight. She thought about how different the furnishings here were from those at home. In her circles in Arizona, this type of ‘native’ art was often emulated, but presented in an elegant, expensive way. She thought that this original “shabby-chic” was far more cool-looking.
Nukuluve grabbed her elbow and gently pulled her away. “It’s called the main lodge, but apart from feasts and meetings, it is usually only used by the men,” she whispered.
They walked along the shore and off the east side of the island Mina noticed a huge rock not too far off shore.
“The kids must love jumping off that rock,” she said to her grandmother.
“Not really,” replied Nukuluve. “Jumping off it would cause them to jump onto the reef. They do most of their jumping at Vai Place.”
They visited the three canoe houses on the island as well. Each held about four boats, and they were all full, except for the third canoe house, which was missing a boat. Mina figured it was the one she had seen out at sea earlier. After they had seen all of them, Mina said under her breath, “Twelve boats for the entire island. Shouldn’t each family have a boat?”
Nukuluve led them further into the island. The paths were well worn, and the main ones had been cleared of all roots. They walked past the huts until they came out of the forest in Okawii’s interior.
There rose a gently sloping mountain that peaked toward the middle of the island. It was on these slopes that families had their plots on which they grew taro root, breadfruit, yams, bananas, and everything else they needed. Mina saw women and their small children in the fields, and asked where the men were.
“Here on Okawii there is a division of labor: generally men fish and hunt, and women tend the garden and cook.”
Nukuluve noticed Mina’s surprised face.
“I know it is not what you are used to, and actually the younger generation is starting to come out of that. A few weeks ago I saw Michael helping Irene in their garden.” She paused. “I do not think there is anything wrong with it, but there are some who attribute his illness to this break with tradition. I disagree, though. A number of the younger husbands have been helping in the gardens, and some of the wives go fishing with their men without any illnesses resulting.”
Mina raised her eyebrows. She wasn’t used to illnesses being attributed to anything else besides germs and viruses.
They continued their tour and ended up at the north side of the island. There, a second reef starting from the beach created a large lagoon. Mina had never seen water this clear and blue before. The bottom of the lagoon was of smooth and inviting sand. It was perfectly pristine: not a fish or human broke its flat surface.
“This is our lagoon,” Nukuluve gestured with her arm. “You will be spending a lot of time here swimming with the others. The north part of the island is also considered a community area, and the young people spend most of their time here.”
“Oh yes, this is definitely going to be my favorite spot,” Mina breathed, amazed at the beauty of her surroundings. The entire lagoon was surrounded by palm trees, giving it some shade in the hot, tropical sun.
But the gorgeousness of the lagoon paled in comparison with what she was about to see next.
“Where is everybody?” Mina asked. “It’s the middle of the day”
“They’re all at Vai Place, I assume,” answered her grandmother. “Come, I will show you. It is the last stop on our tour.”
They heard the laughter and splashing at 50 yards away. The same gaggle of kids from the beach blew past them through the bushes, still chasing the ball.
Vai Place was where the steep backside of the mountain came down and met the gentle slope coming up from the shore. Several waterfalls flowed down the mountain and there, some acting like showers, some slowly carving the rock out into natural waterslides, and all flowed into a perfect pool that then formed a river and flowed past the lagoon into the Pacific.
Mina gasped when she caught sight of it. Lush foliage and brightly colored flowers vied for a space near the water. Teenagers good-naturedly shoved their unsuspecting peers down the rock slides, and some of the younger boys showed off by scampering among the vines 25 feet in the air. The laughter and sounds of people jumping into the water periodically pierced the constant din of the waterfalls.
“Now this is paradise,” she breathed, wondering why her mom would ever want to leave here.
The people at Vai Place were having the times of their lives while doing what was obviously something ordinary to them. Mina simultaneously felt a jealousy of the Okawiians who could come here every day, and a gratefulness for her chance to be the
re at all.
On the other side of the main pool there were three smaller, shallow pools in which toddlers splashed around at the feet of their vigilant parents. A younger guy who was looking out for a 3-year old boy immediately caught her attention. He was shirtless, with a flawless form that glistened from the drops splashed up by the boy. His still-boyish face smiled at the boy lovingly.
She felt a twinge of jealousy toward the little boy’s mother for landing such a good-looking guy. The mysterious guy looked up at her, and she glanced away, praying he didn’t see her staring at him. As Mina looked all around at her surroundings, at everything but the guy, she willed herself to remember Andrew. On the night before she left for Okawii she was feeling so happy about her trip that she had kissed him. There hadn’t been time to discuss it after and she didn’t know if they were now dating or not. Either way, she owed it to him not to fall for someone else on her first day.
“Come,” said Nukuluve. “I will introduce you to your teacher.”
Mina followed her grandmother all the way around the pool right to the hot guy!
“Good morning, Keoni. I would like you to meet my granddaughter, Mina. She is the one you will be teaching Okawiian. Mina, this is Keoni, one of our brightest. He just finished high school this past year, so you two are about the same age.”
“Keoni! Come play!” the little boy interrupted, tugging on Keoni’s shorts.
The boy squealed as Keoni threw him up in the air. “This is my little brother, Taha.”
“Nice to meet you, Taha,” Mina blushed at her relief that Taha wasn’t his son. “And you, Keoni.” Mina realized that she had never blushed because of a boy before, and then blushed again at that thought. She reached up to her neck and started fingering her shell necklace, reminding herself again that at home she had the attention and affection of Andrew, the most popular boy in school, whom she also liked.
As Keoni walked away, she noticed a tattoo near his left hip of a small, tribally-stylized bird. The tiny tattoo served to accentuate his perfect figure and Mina caught herself staring again. She suddenly could not wait to start her language lessons with this boy whom her grandmother had also called ‘bright.’