Don't Mess With Owls ~ a Lesson from Hawaii

BATTLE OF THE OWLS

a Hawaiian Folktale

In Kahehuna, in Honolulu, there lived a man named Kapoi.  One day, on his way back from Kewalo, he found some owl's eggs.  He collected them and brought them home.  That evening, he wrapped the eggs in ti leaves and prepared to roast them over hot ashes.

Before he could do so, an owl perched on the nearby fence, and called out to Kapoi, "O Kapoi, give me my eggs!"

Kapoi, who was quite hungry and quite certain these were not the owl's eggs, asked the owl how many eggs she had.

"Seven," replied the owl.

Kapoi sighed, and told the owl, "But I want to roast these eggs for my supper."

The owl again asked for her eggs, and again, Kapoi refused to relinquish them.

The owl cried out, "O heartless Kapoi! Please take pity on me, and give me my eggs!"

Kapoi, with a sigh, told the owl to come get the eggs.  Once the owl had her eggs, she instructed  Kapoi to build a heiau, or temple.  Then she told him how to build an altar.  This temple would be called Manua.

Following the owl's instructions, Kapoi built the temple.  He set kapu days for its dedication, and, as was the custom, placed a sacrifice on the altar.

News of this soon spread to Kakuihewa, who was the King of Oahu, and lived in Waikiki.   But Kakuihewa had made a law: whoever among his people build a heiau and kapu at the same time that the King's temple was kapued, would be punished by death.

Kapoi was seized by the King's men, and led to the heiau of Kupalaha, at Waikiki.

The same day that the owl told Kapoi to build the temple, she gathered together all  the owls from Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii.  They gathered at Kalapueo, and at Kanoniakapueo, and at Pueohulunui, near Moanalua.

The King decreed that Kapoi would be put to death on the day of Kane.  But that day, at daybreak, all the owls left their places and covered the entire sky above Honolulu.

Just as the King's servants seized Kapoi to put him to death, the owls flew at them, pecking and scratching and tearing with their beaks and claws.

At last the owls conquered, and Kapoi was released,  The King was forced to admit that Kapoi's Akua (god) was a powerful one.

And from that day on, the owl has been recognized as one of the  deities venerated by the Hawaiian people.

Owl charms and earrings can be found here.

The Grasshopper and the Owl

THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL

by Aesop

An Owl, who lived in a hollow tree, was in the habit of feeding by night and sleeping by day; but her slumbers were greatly disturbed by the chirping of a Grasshopper, who had taken up his abode in the branches. She begged him repeatedly to have some consideration for her comfort, but the Grasshopper, if anything, only chirped the louder.

At last the Owl could stand it no longer, but determined to rid herself of the pest by means of a trick. Addressing herself to the Grasshopper, she said in her pleasantest manner, "As I cannot sleep for your song, which, believe me, is as sweet as the notes of Apollo's lyre, I have a mind to taste some nectar, which Minerva gave me the other day. Won't you come in and join me?"

The Grasshopper was flattered by the praise of his song, and his mouth, too, watered at the mention of the delicious drink, so he said he would be delighted. No sooner had he got inside the hollow where the Owl was sitting than she pounced upon him and ate him up

The moral of the story (which came to late for Grasshopper) is: Do no let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.

Or... don't mess with Owl.

Many owls can be found here and here.

The Owl and the Pussycat...as Portrayed by Charms

by Edward Lear

I

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea     In a beautiful pea green boat, (accompanied by a manatee) They took some honey, and plenty of money,     Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above,     And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,       What a beautiful Pussy you are,           You are,           You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

II

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!     How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried:     But what shall we do for a ring?' They sailed away, for a year and a day,     To the land where the Bong-tree grows (elephants can always be found near Bong Trees) And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood     With a ring at the end of his nose,           His nose,           His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose.

III

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling     Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' So they took it away, and were married next day     By the Turkey who lives on the hill. (This is his neighbor, the eagle). They dined on mince, and slices of quince,     Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,     They danced by the light of the moon,           The moon,           The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. Be CHARMed here and here.