Na ‘aumakua at Dusk

Na ‘aumakua at Dusk

By Vicki Levin, author of Just Keep Your Panties On: A Playful Book about Food and Erotica for the Bedside Table

Photo Courtesy of Hawai'i Forest & Trails

While our forests and grasslands here on Maui are not populated by many mammals, birds are quite another story. Last night at dusk we found ourselves outside under a fingernail thin sliver of a crescent moon. As the Western sky began to lose its swath of pink, we watched a bird of prey swoop low to the grasslands that sit on the edge of our gulch as we reside up against 50+ acres of watershed. Back and forth he glided, hunting the thick brush and scrub that leads to the forest. The light was getting low and finally he was a mere shadow in the darkness.

The Pueo or Hawaiian owl is a subspecies of the short-eared barn owl. It is endemic to Hawai’i as it is not naturally found elsewhere, but evolved here. Apparently the Hawaiians found it here upon first contact.

This rapidly declining avian is considered ‘aumakua or an ancestor spirit in Hawaiian culture. One doesn’t see them too often as our eco-systems are constantly in flux with development, even here in the rainforest on the road to heavenly Hana. Here’s an excerpt from Kamehameha Schools about Pueo:

The pueo is considered a sacred creature, having a special place in Hawaiian mythology, and is recognized as a kinolau (physical manifestation) of 'aumakua (ancestral guardians). It was believed in ancient Hawai'i that following the death of an individual, the spirit of that individual could still influence and protect the remaining family members through the use of a body such as that of an owl, shark, turtle or other animal. As an 'aumakua, the pueo is often attributed as a protector or guardian, and was specifically skilled in battle. In legends and stories, the pueo is credited with providing guidance and direction, and as in other cultures, is recognized as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.

As we sat sipping our wine, I pondered the idea of ‘aumakua from a modern, non-Hawaiian perspective. I often think of lessons my parents taught me and how those lessons now ‘protect and guide’ me from making serious mistakes. So while I may not believe in the afterworld, I do believe that I am affected by my ancestors and what I’ve learned from them. Occasionally when a problem comes up I will ask myself, “What would Mama do in this instance?” She’s still a guide to me, although long gone from my physical life. While this isn’t a physical representation such as a turtle, shark or Pueo as is believed in the Hawaiian culture, perhaps this is my form of ‘aumakua? In which case, we all have this opportunity to remember what we’ve learned and make it useful to our daily lives. www.vickilevin.com Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com