Page 58 of Big Island Neighbors
“How about this,” Rory said. “I help you catch the baby fish, and then we go catch big fish.”
“Sure,” Kai said after a moment’s thought. “Okay.”
“I’ll be right back.” She plucked one of the purple flowers and carried it over to Lani. “Here, Mama. This is for you.”
Lani opened one eye and accepted the flower. “Thank you, baby.”
Kai watched the exchange. Then he picked up an entire plant, the purple tower of flowers with its broad leaves, bulbous flotation devises, and trailing roots. He carried it over and presented it to Emma with a splashy flourish.
“This is for you,” he said seriously.
She accepted the plant. “I love it. Okay if I put it back in the water so it doesn’t dry out?”
He shrugged. “I guess.”
The kids played in the pond for a long while before setting off on their saltwater fishing expedition. Rory found discarded lengths of fishing line, and Kai tied them to bits of sticks and shells. They explored the rocky tide pool area for hours, occasionally remembering to cast their makeshift lines into the water.
Eventually the sun retreated, leaving the beach in shadow, and Kai started to shiver.
“Did you bring a towel?” He looked up at her beseechingly, wrapping his hands around his upper arms.
“They’re back at the car. Come on. Let’s get you warm, and then we can get something to eat.”
“I’m starving.”
“I bet.”
Emma settled him in a beach chair bundled up in a huge towel, and went to serve them up some food. She found two plastic bowls, scooped out two piles of white rice, and topped them withpoke. When she carried them back over to Kai, he was completely hidden in the towel.
“Hello in there,” she sang out as she set the bowls down and pulled up another chair.
He sniffed loudly and stayed hidden.
“Kai? Are you okay?”
“I hate Hawai’i,” he grumbled.
“But we just had the best day.”
“I hate it.”
“What happened?” She tried to pull the towel away, but he clung to it from the inside.
“Go away!”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said gently. “What’s going on?”
He was quiet for a while. Then, in a voice that she could barely hear, he told her, “They said I’m not Hawaiian.”
“Who said that?” Emma looked up and saw Mahina standing nearby, listening.
“They said that I shouldn’t even be here, because I wasn’t born here and I don’t know anything.”
“Who did?” Emma asked. Mahina gave her a sympathetic look.
“The big kids. ‘Io and his friends from school.”
Mahina’s eyebrows dropped as fast as a guillotine, and she stomped off to find her grandson.
