The ruling chief of Maui gave his first-born son to the keeping of a trusted warrior and his wife. Many days passed, and the chief longed for his baby. “I shall go secretly,” he told himself, “and see whether my son has the care that a young chief should have.”
So the ruler came to the Moloka‘i village where that warrior lived. He came alone, paddling a single canoe. He found the warrior’s home and, nearby in a shady spot, he saw two little boys. One held a baby, the chief’s son, while the other fed the little one. What was the food he was putting, bit by bit, into the child’s mouth? Unnoticed, the chief drew closer. Taro tops, cooked taro tops! Was that food fit for a young chief? The father was filled with rage.
“Where are your parents?” he demanded in loud tones.
The little boys glanced up, surprised at the sight of a tall stranger. “Our father is working in the taro patch,” said the older boy quietly. “Our mother has gone to the forest for bark to dye her kapa.”
“And is there no fish,” the chief asked, “that you feed that child with taro tops?”
“There is much fish,” the boy replied. “But this little one is a young chief and very precious. ‘If he cries, feed him,’ our father said. ‘Feed him cooked taro tops, not fish, lest he choke on a bone and die.’” The boys paid no more attention to the stranger, but continued to feed the baby till he was satisfied and fell asleep. Then the older boy laid him carefully on a mat. The chief watched every movement. He saw that both boys treated the child with great respect. The older held the baby carefully, but never once placed his hand above the head of the little chief. With a grunt of satisfaction the ruler left the children and returned to his canoe.
When their father came, the boys told him they had taken good care of the precious baby. “A man was here,” said one, “a tall stranger who came in a canoe. He watched us feed the little chief, then went away.”
“Our ruler!” thought the father. Had he been satisfied or angry at what he saw?
Later the chief sent for this warrior. “Let my son return to his home,” was his command, “and send your boys to serve him. Your sons shall be attendants and companions of the little chief, for I have watched them. Like you, they can be trusted.”
Translated by Mary Kawena Pūku‘i from a Hawaiian newspaper