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Antonio asked for a glass of water. Gulping it down, he looked at Norah and Cassie and said, “Wow, that was intense.”
Silence filled the room. Antonio finally broke the stillness, “I’m counting on the two of you help me investigate these matters scientifically. I need to know if, as I believe, I really lived a past life or if I’m a nut case. I want the truth!”
“Antonio, why do you think you remember this past life?” asked Cassie.
“My current life is so outlandishly prosperous that the only way I could have reached this level of power and wealth is by dipping into some body of accumulated wisdom. I ask myself how I had the so-called ‘luck’ to channel my actions into all the right places and at all the right times. I feel strongly that my wealth is not just mine, that it was given to me. But by whom? And to do what? It feels right to say my wealth is a tool to help all people. And meeting Alicia is no coincidence. I’m convinced that her spirit is that of Kealaula and she will help me do the right thing—find the right path. Why is my consciousness steeped in the wisdom of the Hawaiian ancients, a culture with an attitude of respect for what nature has given to us? It’s weird, but I feel that if it was adopted by all, the planet could be saved.”
Cassie was flabbergasted by Antonio’s response.
“I have always sensed that my dreams informed me of a past life,” added Antonio. “But as I grow older, more and more memories emerge in my consciousness, and I’m compelled to understand why.”
Cassie continued to prod Antonio. “Can you accept this situation as inexplicable? How will it help you to know what’s real and what isn’t?”
“I’m not sure. But I believe that if I tell my story, and we can show that I really had a previous life, it could make my current life more meaningful. Nobody knows what happens after we die, but in the back of our minds, we all are aware death is coming. Maybe my memories of another life, another family, might help me and others understand some of the mysteries of life and death. I need to find out what the memories mean. I really hope you’ll help me.”
Norah, with great compassion, said, “We will talk, and we will see if we can help.”
“By the way, I have never been to Hawaii. I don’t want to set foot on the islands until I fully explore the intelligence in my dreams and memories to rule out that it’s coming from prompts in this life. That’s where you and Cassie come in. I want to know if my unconscious and dream knowledge come from another life. Please, think it over tonight. I want to give you time to discuss and come to a decision that you are comfortable with. Is it okay if I call tomorrow at 3 p.m. to ask you for your verdict?”
Norah nodded yes. Antonio opened the door and waved a farewell.
Norah was still processing the session with Antonio as she later spoke with Cassie. “What if Antonio is right?” she asked her friend. “What if he has lived twice?”
“It would be earth-shattering,” said Cassie, with some sarcasm in her voice.
Norah peered into Cassie’s eyes. “I believe him. Do you?”
Norah noted that Cassie’s response seemed to imply more than a little reservation.
“I think he believes what he is experiencing. He has given us a first-hand account of the memories of a man, Mark, or Maleko, if you prefer. But is this real? Was Maleko a real person? Was Kealaula a real person? Are there any records that these two people, Maleko and Kealaula existed? Of course we can check on facts about the King and Queen because that is recorded history, but can we find others who were not well known? It’s a nice fantasy with a nice call to action. Perhaps it’s a way for Antonio to cope with his own personal ghosts from the past. And his future ambitions.”
“But, Cassie, what if we research the past and discover that Maleko is a real person?”
“We will cross that bridge if we ever come to it, Norah.”
Norah sensed that Cassie’s open-mindedness was waning, at least for the moment.
“Our job is to be the detective duo,” said Norah. “We need to look up known sources and check them with Antonio’s memories. Don’t you think it would be gratifying to find answers if possible?”
“I don’t know anything about Hawaiian history. Do you?” queried Cassie.
“Not a thing, but we can find out. Our next step is a trip to Hawaii. Antonio will fund it,” said Norah firmly.
A few days later, Norah and a reluctant Cassie began their pilgrimage at the airport, lugging notepads, video equipment, and reading materials. Antonio had arranged first-class travel. Their plan was to visit wherever Antonio claimed to have been as Maleko.
The contrast between economy and first class was eye opening. Academia had never paid to place professors in any first-rate conditions. The two friends happily zipped through the ticket line, handed their luggage to attentive attendants, and encountered the smiling faces of security officers as they whizzed through the gates. They waited in the luxurious first-class lounge with comfy cushioned chairs and ample outlets in which to plug their computers. Surrounded by copious food and drink, they sipped on Courvoisier and eighty-year-old scotch. When it was time to board the plane, they were greeted by the sweet, soft sound of Hawaiian music and by stewards and stewardesses dressed in Hawaiian garb. The wide plush leather seats in the airy first-class section provided ample leg room and magically converted into beds that were so comfortable they made the twelve-hour trip more than tolerable.
Stepping off the plane in Honolulu was dreamy. They were greeted at the airport by a tall, dark-haired, muscular man with kind eyes called Palila. Antonio had arranged for an agent to provide an experienced guide and protector for Cassie and Norah. He made a point of leaving the selection of escorts to a travel firm of the highest quality so he was not involved with the selection of any escorts since he did want his biases or beliefs to affect any of Cassie and Norah’s work. A broad smile radiated from Palila’s face as he placed leis smelling of fresh ginger around their necks and introduced himself. He told them to call him Pali for short. As he drove them to their destination, he cheerfully chattered about the beauty of his island home and played the songs of famous celebrity IZ, singing the sweet sounds of a Hawaiian traditional song, “Ahi Wela,” meaning “Twinkle Little Star.” Norah’s eyes were moist as she listened to the haunting sounds of the Hawaiian tunes.
Pali brought them to their living quarters—a beautiful house that overlooked Kailua beach. From their bedroom windows, they watched aquamarine waves crash onto the white sands of the most beautiful beach they had ever seen. After settling in, Norah pushed Cassie to get organized so they could trace Antonio’s steps and interview persons who might have the expertise to confirm or disprove events and facts that he had related.
A tour of Iolani Palace was their starting point since so much of Maleko’s story happened in and around the palace. As Norah and Cassie walked out the front door, Pali appeared out of nowhere and handed them each a card. “Remember, I am your driver. Just call this number. I will take you anywhere you want to go and watch over you. Orders from Antonio via my travel firm.”
“Okay. Iolani Palace, please,” smiled Norah.
As they pulled into one of the parking spaces under the huge banyan trees on the palace grounds, Pali told them their timing was perfect. “The Royal Hawaiian Band presents free concerts on the Iolani Palace grounds on most Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. If you are finished with your tour, come out to hear the band. I will wait for you under these trees.”
Cassie and Norah smiled; they were one step ahead of Pali. They had scheduled the tour so it would end as the band performance began. Norah was quite excited about being in the midst of the geography that Antonio had described.
Cassie was starting to fret. “I don’t know what we’re doing here. What will it prove?”
Norah responded, “Cassie, taking the public tour of the palace will provide us with information from neutral people who don’t know Antonio. It can tell us a lot.”
Cassie rolled her eyes quietly and felt a shudder shoot down her spine. Why did I get talked into this? kept spluttering through her brain.
The tour guide for Iolani Palace was a native Hawaiian in her late seventies. She wore a flowing Hawaiian mu-mu with an exquisite ginger lei around her neck. Wise-looking and knowledgeable, she was a picture-perfect choice to teach them about Iolani Palace.
“I am your docent for this tour. Iolani Palace is a historic landmark for Hawaiians and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The palace was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1978. Under the Kamehameha Dynasty, King Kamehameha III used Iolani Palace as the royal residence of the rulers of the Hawaii Kingdom. When David Kalakaua became King, he decided to build a new Iolani Palace to improve the world image of Hawaii. Kalakaua saw it as a symbol of the greatness of the Hawaiian people, and he wanted the world to admire and respect their accomplishments. King Kalakaua brought electricity and telephones to the palace even before they appeared in America’s White House. The finishing touches were put in place in November 1882. The total cost was more than $340,000, which was a huge sum in those days. King Kalakaua’s detractors blasted him, labeling him a corrupt spendthrift. They said building such a palace was an unnecessary expense. King Kalakaua was affectionately called ‘The Merrie Monarch’ by his people, who adored him, but his detractors used the term disparagingly.”
Norah and Cassie exchanged glances. So far the docent was corroborating what Antonio had said. But Antonio might have heard or read it somewhere even though he claimed never to have visited the islands previously.
“Iolani Palace was completed in the ninth year of King Kalakaua’s reign. He planned a coronation ceremony at the opening celebration. He launched the festivities on February 12, 1883, for all Hawaiians. Kalakaua created Keliipona Hale, a pavilion for the coronation itself, which later became a bandstand and the permanent home on palace grounds for the Royal Hawaiian Band. The hula was brought back to life at this festivity. Dancing, laughter, and good times prevailed. The King spent $4,000 every month—again, a very large amount at the time—so a wide audience could enjoy the concerts, which were, and still are, public and open to everyone.” The docent smiled., “Be sure not to miss the concert that follows this tour.”
Both Norah and Cassie found themselves enjoying the tour. Cassie was enthralled by the outside architecture of the palace, which was a unique style of American Florentine. The spacious halls and handsome rooms inside the palace were irresistible to Norah. The magnificent ornate koa wood staircase and ornate plasterwork in the grand hall were awe provoking. The throne room and the dining room astounded them. Queen Lili’uokalani had been an accomplished musician and composer, explained the docent. The Queen played piano, guitar, ukulele, and other instruments. She created both music and lyrics to express her love for Hawaii. She played her compositions for guests on an exquisite koa wood piano in the Blue Room.
The guide brought them upstairs where they viewed the bedrooms. They were led into the library, in which Antonio claimed that Kealaula had been bludgeoned to death. Antonio’s description of the room closely matched the space in which Norah and Cassie were standing. Cassie asked the docent, “Do you know if the Queen’s assistants worked in this room while she reigned?”
The Hawaiian docent looked at Cassie. “Interesting question. It could be. This was a private library for the royal family but, of course, the Queen had helpers and ohana—extended family—to do research since the royal book collection was huge. Both the Queen and the King loved to learn about the world, other nations and world events. I can’t say for sure, but it is likely that an aide would do this kind of work in the library.”
Norah felt her heart skip a beat. Antonio’s description of Kealaula’s work was a high-probability event. Her eyes fell on the fireplace mantel. She saw two very heavy gold candlesticks. “Were those candlesticks originally in the palace?” she asked.
The guide’s gaze penetrated Norah. “Another interesting question. Much furniture and many artifacts vanished from the palace after the overthrow. Conspirators snapped up valuables, and other pieces were sold at public auctions. Luckily, over the years, many items have found their way back to their rightful places in the palace, returned by people from all over the world. Those candlesticks to which you are referring are extremely heavy and were sent back to us by a man who lived in Wisconsin. When he learned they came from this palace, he wrote to us. He had bid on these items at an auction. After he purchased them, he placed them in his own house. Their beauty made him feel proud to own them. But he often wondered where they came from. Their history was not known. One day he visited Hawaii and came on this tour. He made the connection that these candle sticks belonged here when he saw a picture of them in the museum. He had a nagging suspicion that he needed to bring them to their rightful place, and once he recognized the palace was their original home and discovered they were part of the Hawaiian Kingdom, he was happy to return them to their rightful abode. ”
The docent continued, “We are trying to recover any and all of the original palace treasures that we can. Our website asks anyone who thinks they may have original items from the palace or know their whereabouts to contact the curator.”
“Just curious,” Norah said shyly, feeling as if she should not ask but knew she had to do so. “I have another question for you. Maybe it’s silly and I have been watching too many bad movies, but was there ever a murder in this room?”
The docent visibly paled. “I cannot answer that. Let’s move on now.” Norah shivered. Cassie recoiled and could not believe how foolish Norah sounded and felt a shiver of embarrassment move up her spine.
The docent continued recounting the history of the palace. “The King and his family, including his sister, Queen Lili’uokalani, lived or worked in Iolani Palace until the overthrow. The evolution of the Hawaiian government from provisional government to a republic, then to a territory of the United States, and finally to the State of Hawaii transformed the palace into a government building. The Queen, who was trying to rewrite Hawaii’s constitution to return power to the monarch instead of giving it to the rich merchants, was charged with having knowledge of treason and failing to report it. A military commission tried her—right here where we stand—in the throne room. Lili’uokalani was found guilty, sentenced, and imprisoned in her own palace for eight months. She was finally freed in late 1896 and returned to her home, under house arrest. Our beloved Queen died at the age of 79, waiting for the Kingdom of Hawaii to be restored. Hawaiians worked to restore the palace, and in 1969 the palace became a public building and cultural symbol.” When the docent announced that the tour was over and the group was welcome to look around and to go to the gift shop, Cassie and Norah thanked her profusely. She smiled at them and bid them farewell.
Norah felt excited as she turned to Cassie. “The history of the overthrow and the palace was consistent with Antonio’s story,” said Norah. “Did you ever learn about this history in school?”
“No,” replied Cassie. “And I had no idea that Hawaii had its own king and queen and culture with a sophisticated political system or even that becoming a state was controversial for some Hawaiians. I thought Hawaiians were eager to join the United States.”
“Me, too. I never knew that Hawaiians didn’t want to be part of the United States until Antonio came along. Now I see this whole turn of events as bigger than just whether Antonio was reincarnated. It seems,” said Norah, “as if there are mysterious connections and synchrony when you pay attention.”
“Just because it’s not taught in school or because Antonio has never been in Hawaii before doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have learned about Hawaiian history elsewhere. He may have just forgotten. He didn’t have to live a past life in order to know about the workings of the Hawaiian Kingdom,” countered Cassie in an exasperated tone of voice. “And obviously there are courses taught in Hawaiian schools about their own history.”
“What you are saying may be true, Cassie, but let’s keep our minds open,” pleaded Norah. “Look at the preponderance of the evidence.” Norah pointed to the ladies’ room. “Pit stop?” she asked Cassie.
On their way out, Norah was startled as the docent emerged out of nowhere and abruptly spoke to her. “Your question about a murder in the library was interesting. Do you have a message from the Queen?”
Caught off guard, Norah blurted out the truth. “Why are you asking about a message from the Queen? She’s been dead for years. It’s just that I’m dealing with someone who claims to remember a past life in Hawaii. He has a vivid memory that someone bludgeoned his wife to death with a metal candle holder in that very room.”
The docent gasped. “Oh, my girl. You have received an extraordinary gift. It is your kuleana now.”
“What do you mean? Gift? Kuleana?”
“The gift is you having this kuleana—your personal obligation—to pursue the truth.”
Norah was astonished. Cassie stood silently.
“I ask that you visit some experts who are traveling the same path as you are. Can you see them tomorrow? The story waits to be brought into the light.” The docent handed Norah a piece of paper with names, addresses, and a phone number. “Call the number if you need someone to drive you. Ahonui will welcome you in the morning, and she will arrange a meeting with Kapono, the Kingdom’s place holder. He will help you to understand. By the way, the death of Kealaula has never been avenged.”
Norah shivered slightly in the warm sun. “Did you say Kealaula?”
The docent nodded, smiled, and slipped away around the corner of the palace hall.
Bemused, Norah turned to Cassie, who had witnessed the interchange. Cassie looked upset. “I’m afraid. This is too strange. We can’t be sure this is safe. Is someone setting us up?”
“Why would we be set up? And any comment about her saying the name Kealaula?” Norah asked snidely.
Cassie merely shrugged her shoulders with a look of disdain and suspicion crossing her face.
Norah felt some irritation toward Cassie for her doubting-Thomas attitude. “We have a driver. We have to check this out. But for now let’s move on to the concert.”
As they walked to the lawn, they heard the bandmaster. “Welcome to our Friday concert here at the palace. In the way of background history, King Kamehameha III created the “King’s Band” in 1836. Since then, the Royal Hawaiian Band has played continuously for people in and around Hawaii—in the outer islands and in remote destinations of the Kingdom, even the leper colony on Molokai. The band incorporates singers and hula dancers. We participate in parades, state, and military functions, as well as in events at schools, community centers, retirement communities, graduations, and the like. You can find us here at Iolani Palace every Friday, bringing Hawaiian history to life. We carry out the will of our King and preserve Hawaiian music, inspire young musicians, and enrich the Hawaiian people. The bandstand on which I stand today is a reproduction of the original from 1883.[14] We hope you will enjoy our performance.”
Cassie and Norah felt the soft tones of the Hawaiian music reverberate through the pavilion. It captured the beauty and bittersweetness of life. The hula dancer was liquid motion with her swaying hips and graceful hands circling and caressing the air.
Cassie, sensing Norah’s exasperation, wanted to end the tension. “Is this the feeling Antonio spoke about? The scene he described when he met Kealaula fits this picture, doesn’t it? The music is so enticing that it’s easy to see how Antonio fell under the spell of Kealaula and her expressive dancing.”
Norah accepted Cassie’s attempt at making up. She looked around. “These beautiful plants and palm trees are old enough to have been growing here when Lili’u and Kalakaua lived and worked in the palace—and during the time Antonio claims to have lived in Hawaii.”
When the music ended, they headed back to the car. Pali stood waiting, tall and strong. “Did you enjoy the performance?”
Norah replied enthusiastically. Cassie nodded, but she was preoccupied with her search for rational, more parsimonious, non-spiritual explanations for what had occurred. She wanted to challenge Norah that she could not even prove that such a being as Maleko existed. But she refrained so as not to build more strain.
“We’ve already learned a lot,” Norah said to Cassie as Pali opened the car door for them. “Don’t you think so?”
“We’ll see,” replied Cassie “We need a lot more information before we can confirm anything. Do you really think we should meet with those people the docent recommended? It may be a scam. I don’t trust it.”
Norah showed Pali the sheet with the names and address that the docent had given her. “A palace docent, an old woman, said these people will be of help to us. Can you take us tomorrow?” she asked him. Pali bowed and Norah continued, “Do you think it’s safe for us to go?”
Pali looked at both Norah and Cassie. “Let me assure you, the docent is a kahuna, an elder. I encourage you to meet with Kapono. If you are interested in learning about the Kingdom of Hawaii, you should talk with people who know their stuff. They are ohana of Hawaii.”
Cassie commented, “The whole thing sounds a bit strange to me. It’s suspicious that the docent pushed us to see these people in the first place.”
Pali looked quizzically at Cassie. “Why not listen? Nothing wrong with listening to those who want to talk story. You can ask questions but you don’t need to accept any information you don’t like. Why not explore different ways of knowing about the world? Open your psyches to possibilities. Choose the one that fits best. Make up your own minds.”
Cassie glared at Pali. When he dropped them off at the house, Cassie was both anxious and irritated. “I don’t like this. This is getting crazy. Let’s face it. We’re learning about Hawaiian history, and Antonio may have learned in the same way we are. I’m not saying that Antonio is a fraud, but he may have blocked some experiences out of his consciousness. He could easily be fooling himself about his past.”
Norah firmly replied, “That’s true, Cassie. We need to find out what’s real and what is not.”
Cassie’s lip curled up. A sharp, condescending array of words shot out like bullets. “Look, Norah, be real. Alternative explanations abound. When the brain is gone, we are gone. How can any human being have a mind without a physical brain? Do you really expect me to believe that the mind leaves the brain and transfers itself from the dead body to a newborn body? And the new person grows up with the old person within? Give me a break. Call me a proud materialist.”
Norah craved Cassie’s support, but instead Cassie’s stance of an adamant nonbeliever tore her into little pieces and fostered Norah’s own misgivings. Norah resolved to find a way to press on despite Cassie’s barbs and accept her ferocious skepticism as a part of life without allowing it to close her own mind.
Tomorrow was another day. Norah looked forward to meeting new and interesting people. She saw Pali as a guide to the unknown.