The Myth of Maui (Encore)

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2:18Thomas. Tonight's songcore episode was written by Diana and read by me. It first came out a little under six years ago and it takes us to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands where we'll join Kai, a young boy who learns about his home and ancestors through the legendary stories of Maui. As a reminder, my voice may sound a little different to normal as this one was recorded such a long time ago. Before we sail off to sleep, go ahead and make yourself comfortable, embed. Enjoy a moment to just focus on your breathing. Feel the rise and fall of your chest as you inhale and exhale.

3:27Notice the wave-like motion of each breath. It's coming and going, slowly washes everything away, the good, the bad and all in between. Leaving you only with the present moment. Like footsteps in the sun, your thoughts begin to disappear. Leaving only the image of the gentle waves on a picturesque ocean cove in Hawaii. Nestled between coconut palms sits a small fishing village and this is where our story begins.

4:44On mornings like this, the island exploded with colour. Yellow, peach and red hibiscus flowers bloomed among the fresh greenery. Birds with shiny black feathers sang for the golden sun. The tan beach bordered turquoise waters which gradually turned bluer and darker. Under his mother's supervision, Kai played with an improvised fishing pole. Fishing was an important family tradition. Kai's father was a fisherman and so was his grandfather.

5:46Fishing is what sustained the village so nearly everyone knew the craft. From a young age, Kai learned that fishing was not only about feeding a family, it was a way to connect to the ocean, to his ancestors and Maui, the mythological hero. Whenever he heard stories about Maui, Kai's face lit up with joy. Maui was often portrayed as a fisherman that could catch anything. Armed with a magical fish hook, mythological power and a deep love for the world and its people, Maui was quite a captivating figure. Kai knew that one of Maui's biggest catches was the island he lived on. According to legend, the Hawaiian islands were created on a beautiful summer day.

6:49Early in the morning, Maui's brothers decided to go fishing. With a smile as bright as the sun, Maui offered to join them and lend a helping hand. But his brothers declined, unsure of Maui's fishing skills. Maui was persistent though. He talked about the ocean with great command. He knew how the winds moved its waves, where the waters were rich, and where they'd find the deepest abyss. Impressed by his knowledge, the brothers allowed Maui to join. They paddled together, riding the curly waves into the unknown. When they reached the heart of the ocean, Maui said that this is the ideal fishing spot. Their little canoe was the only thing between ocean and sky.

7:54The boat rocked up and down as gentle swells pass by on their way across the great blue. Maui closed his eyes and listened. A soft, salty breeze ruffled his long black hair and water lapped against the side of the boat. But Maui heard more. While his brothers were busy hooking their baits and preparing their fishing poles, Maui cast his magic fish hook into the water. He kept his eyes closed and visualised the world beneath the surface. In his mind, he could see through the deep blue. He saw pods of dolphins frolicking and great whales leisurely crossing the abyss. Maui let his hook fall deeper and deeper until it reached the ocean floor.

8:59He anchored his hook to a rocky outcropping and began to pull. With tension on the line, he told his brothers that he caught something monstrous. They must paddle to help him get the fish out of the water. So the brothers paddled with all their might. The bottom of the sea began to rumble and move. And with the brothers' efforts, a beautiful island rose out of the water. No island should be alone, Maui thought. Everyone needs a friend. So Maui repeated the trick and the Hawaiian islands were born. I love that story. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to fish an entire island.

10:02He wanted to hook one like the island that he lived on, where colourful fish and playful turtles swam among the coral and beautiful mountains rose right out of the sea. But no matter the catch, Kai was determined to become a great fisherman. One day he'd even build his own canoe. With his rod in hand, Kai waded out into the crystalline waters. He enjoyed the sensation of the coolness rising up his shins. The fish wouldn't usually bite so close to the shore, but the shallows were a great place to practice. Kai remembered his father's instructions. He held the bait between his thumb and index finger and carefully added it to the tip of his small hook, carved from bone.

11:03Once it was nice and secure, he cast his line out into the water. Now it was time to wait. Some children found the waiting game boring, but Kai loved it. He was ever curious, always watching, listening and feeling. The slightest movement on his line might signal something. A change in hue at the water's surface might be a pod of fish. Most importantly, a gentle tug meant it was time to reel the line in. It was pretty incredible that in an ocean as wide as the sky, a fish could find his bait and nibble on it. Kai enjoyed the light breath and the salty smell of the ocean.

12:07The wind, the fish and the waves are telling a story. His grandfather often said, fishing is the time to listen. So Kai listened patiently. The ocean was alive. Some of its waves splash loudly, excited to reach the shore, while others stretched out lazily in a pearly white foam. Over the whish of the waves, a familiar voice called out Kai's name from the shore, his mother. It was time to get the hook out of the water. No fish this time, but that was no bother. He had the rest of his life to keep fishing. Kai headed back to the beach, enjoying the swish of the water around his ankles,

13:08and the soft sand under his feet. For a few moments, he considered what it would be like to live at the bottom of the ocean. It seemed like a place of extraordinary tranquility. There, swimming in the deep blue, he could make a variety of new friends. Not only fish, but all sorts of sea creatures. He could sleep among forests of colourful coral, splash with chatty dolphins and even sing with the whales. Kai loved whales. Between November and April, these majestic creatures migrated to Hawaii to enjoy the warm tropical waters. His father and grandfather saw them often fishing out in the deep. Occasionally, the whales could be seen from the village,

14:12coming up for air at the surface and even jumping playfully out of the water. Kai always wondered what their songs were about. Maui probably knew, he thought. Kai exited the water and took his first step onto the beach. He looked down at his footprints on the thin stretch of wet sand. They lasted only for a moment before being washed away by a wave. Then, the sangru warmer as he moved beyond the reach of the water. In contrast, the dry sand stuck to his feet. He liked the way that sand filtered between his toes as he walked. With the sun high in the sky, the beach was warm. Kai joined his mother under the calming shade of a palm tree.

15:17She offered him a coconut and kissed his forehead gently. Kai giggled, enjoying this loving gesture and thanked his mother for the delightful treat. He put down his fishing pole and, with the coconut in his left hand, sat on the sand, watching the ocean. Each sip of coconut water felt light and refreshing. It was cool and sweet and Kai enjoyed it to the last drop. With a shell, he shaved the tender coconut flesh from the inside and nibbled it down bit by bit. Once finished, Kai laid flat on his back and gazed up at the sky. It was an intense shade of blue. A few thin, dainty clouds meander gradually across his view.

16:21Where the clouds come from and how far away were they? Kai wondered. He remembered an old legend about Maui. According to that story, the sky was once very low. It was so close to the ground in fact that people couldn't walk upright. To end the people's suffering, Maui decided to push up the sky. Though he was strong and powerful, he knew this was a task he couldn't complete alone. With kindness in his heart and determination in his eyes, Maui asked his father for help. Together, they lifted the sky high above, allowing room for mankind to flourish. Now, the sky looked very far. It was far beyond even the tallest tree atop the tallest mountain

17:27on the island. The legend about father and son reminded Kai of his own dad. It was nearly time for the fishermen to return to the island. He stood up, brushed the sand off himself and scanned the horizon for canoes. He could see a handful of long brown canoes making their way around the reef and into the cove. From the beach, the canoes were no bigger than ants. But with the wind and the waves that they are back, they got closer in no time. The canoes they used had an out trigger, a long wooden beam farcened to the hull of the canoe, which made the boat much more stable. As the canoes approached, they found out in road a gentle wave, laughing and racing one other.

18:36Kai watched as they paddled to the shore. Once they reached the shallows, the fishermen hopped gracefully out of their canoes and poured them onto the beach. Leaving his fishing pole behind, Kai ran happily to greet them. After hugging his father and grandfather, Kai looked curiously inside their canoes. The long hand-carved boats were filled with shimmering grey fish. Let's thank the ocean for being so generous today, one of the fishermen said, smiling. Kai watched as all the fishermen gathered in a circle. Then, facing the ocean, they took a moment to express their gratitude. They thanked their canoes, the wind and the waves, the ancestors who guided them,

19:40and most of all, the fish themselves. After this inspiring moment, the fishermen carried the catch back to the village. It was a warm, lovely afternoon, calling for a bite to eat and some time to relax. So all went home to their cozy huts just up from the beach. Inside the cool shade of their fat chat, Kai told his father about his fishing practice. He talked about baits, how he listened to the ocean, and how one day he would catch the king of fish, pimo, just like Maui had long ago. Kai's father smiled with pride. He offered to tell Kai a story of his own. Kai happily accepted,

20:40already hoping that it would be one about Maui. They walked back to the beach and found a comfortable place in the shade. With the sound of the waves in the background, Kai found out how Maui blessed their island with long sunny days. A long time ago, some rise and sunset were different than what we see today. The blue sky lasted only a few moments because the sun rose in a hurry and was quickly replaced by the moon. The days were so short and the people had no opportunity to enjoy them. It was often cold and activities were limited. Seeing that the people would thrive with longer days, Maui decided that it was time to stop the sun. An impossible task it seemed, but Maui had faith in his powers.

21:45He walked all the way across the Great Island. His journey took him through the lush jungle and to places of extraordinary beauty. On the seventh day, he reached an area devoid of vegetation. In front of him sat the house of the sun, a towering volcano with boiling lava in its belly. Everything was rocky, rugged and covered in ash. It was a side of the island that Maui had never seen. Determined to reach the highest peak by some rise, Maui advanced steadily. He reached the foot of the volcano in the evening and continued climbing to its peak through the night. The moon was his only guide. Its pale blue light reflected off of the distant waters far

22:55below. Maui reached the top just before dawn. Then he saw the first rays of light peaking over the horizon. The sun appeared stretching out its yellow arms and hastily moving across the sky. Using a magic rope made from his sister's silky hair, Maui captured the sun. With no way to escape, the sun pleaded with Maui. But Maui was a gentle being and wasn't there to hurt it. In a calm voice, Maui talked to the sun about its daily journey. He suggested that it would be much better at a slower pace. Take your time to appreciate the world around. Enjoy the views, the sounds and smells.

24:04This world you pass by with such haste is beautiful. If only you take the time to observe it. Comfortant that the sun would oblige, Maui released it. Following Maui's advice, the sun slowed down its journey through the sky. The sun rise and sunset became awe-inspiring. Warm colors flew across the horizon and the ocean mirrored the sun's glowing face. The people were happy and the sun enjoyed its new pace of life. When his father finished the story, Kai looked up at the sky. The sun did move quite slowly and sunset was his favourite time of the day.

25:10By now, evening was approaching and the villages were beginning to gather on the beach. In a pit dug into the sand, a few of them carefully stacked logs into the shape of a pyramid. Then they set it on fire, sending a stream of grey smoke floating into the sky. Shades of pink and purple dashed across the horizon and Kai thought about Maui. Perhaps one day he would climb the volcano and talk to the sun too. As the day turned into night, the fire grew brighter and bolder against the black starry backdrop. The moon came to watch over the village, reflecting off of the rippling waters in the cove.

26:12Kai watched the orange flames thinking about the volcano's belly of fire. After a delicious dinner together, Kai's father and several others played the ukulele. Tender melodies filled the air. The soft strum of the ukulele strings mixed beautifully with the fire's crackling sounds. Everyone around the fire was smiling. A great fool for a full belly, beautiful music and a loving community. Slowly, the fire began to fade. The trail of smoke disappeared, leaving only a blanket of stars in the sky. Wishing one another a restful sleep, the families returned to their huts.

27:19Before bed, Kai spent a few minutes stargazing. He didn't know much about stars. Because there were so many, he wasn't even sure if he had seen all of them. But together with his grandfather, Kai identified the brightest stars and imagined his own constellations. One looked like a bird and one like a canoe. And then there was a big constellation that was clearly Maui's fish hook. Perhaps Maui had left it there for someone to find and use, Kai thought. He let out a yorn and laid back in the sand. Above him, the moon shone brightly over the Hawaiian islands.

28:23Kai noticed that there seemed to be a smiling face on the moon. Maybe it was Maui watching over the people making sure they were safe and happy.