Mythology Can Save Your Life. . .

Mythology Can Save Your Life. I was fourteen, on a holiday to the Big Island of Hawaii. We were staying at The Kona Village resort. I had a fight with an abusive spouse of an older sibling, and I just wanted out of there. Kona Village had small individual outriggers for guests to use, and I’d spent my time there reading Hawaiian Myths.

I figured, with all of the confidence of a fourteen year old, that if I could SEE Maui, I could paddle there. I got about one half mile out and looked down below me. In the clear waters swimming leisurely beneath the outrigger was a hammerhead shark. A BIG one.

I stopped paddling became very quiet. My mind was quickly accessing the mythos I knew that was associated with Hammerheads. Did it regard the small outrigger as a seal? Would it “hammer” the side sinking the outrigger and putting me at risk? I stayed absolutely still until it swam far past me. Alas it went towards Maui, and I was forced to head back towards Hawaii. Mythology Can Save Your Life.

Kamohoalii, the Hawaiian Shark God, obviously did not want me out on the ocean alone. Alas, if I had read farther into my book, I would have read that Kamohoalii will LEAD lost people to Maui!

No matter, when the call comes, or an omen appears, heed them. Also, read the whole book! No matter, Mythology Can Save Your Life.