As a young surfer, Koa took to the ocean with obsession. He had to be on the waves. If he wasn’t, he was waiting to be. There was something wondrous feeling the ever-changing water beneath him that kept his attention fully past the shoreline. And he was never alone in the ocean.
Koa was orphaned on the island as a baby and taken in by a water spirit named ‘Ekolu Nai’a. It raised him on the land, teaching him the ways of the water, itself a giant droplet of water. He learned sacred words of power through the lessons. Ways to command the ocean, to surf the unsurfable. ‘Ekolu Nai’a spoke to him telepathically, and vice versa. One day, it manifested as a trio of magical dolphins, explained to be the true form of the spirit. While he thought of it as a parent, ‘Ekolu Nai’a wanted to be a brother, rather than a mother or father. It planned to have adventures together that a parent would fear.
There was a longing to join ‘Ekolu Nai’a in the ocean. Koa felt it was where he belonged. But he was getting to an age where most humans would need to go to school. Though he had no interest in the matters of humans, he listened to the wise spirit and found his way into a foster home and into a local school. Each night, he would return to the ocean and share what he learned that day, who he spoke to, what he did. ‘Ekolu Nai’a, as three dolphins, would sit on its bellies on the beach and listen proudly.
Koa grew up to surf better than anyone on the island had ever seen. Nearly at manhood, he found a woman who filled his heart, named Malia. She watched him surf every day until night came and then would watch him disappear to his secluded beach.
“How come you never invite me to your place?” Malia asked one such night, just before he slipped away.
“I’m planning something.” Koa said. It was a half-truth.
“Really?” she questioned him, eyebrow raised.
“Really.”
Koa kissed Malia goodnight with a big smile and made his way home. He called ‘Ekolu Nai’a to the shore to commune with the spirit.
“I want to marry her, brother. But I have nothing. I need something to show for my love.”
“She needs only your heart, Koa.” ‘Ekolu Nai’a replied.
“I need it for me. To know I’m worth hers.”
“I understand.” the dolphins swam in circles in the cove. “In the ocean beneath the ocean, there is an artifact of great beauty. I can take you.”
“Now?”
“Now. But you’ll need this.” ‘Ekolu Nai’a spat up a puka shell necklace for Koa to wear. “It will allow you to be down there as you are here.”
“Kowa-” Koa began to say his sacred word and stepped forward to ride on ‘Ekolu Nai’a when he was interrupted by a gasp.
“They’re so cute!” Malia shouted, emerging from the bushes behind Koa’s shack.
‘Ekolu Nai’a continued swimming in circles, chuckling softly in Koa’s mind.
“Malia! Did you follow me?”
“Of course I did! Planning something. Psh.”
“You want to meet my brother?”
“You have a brother?”
“Yeah, here.”
They approached the water and were met by ‘Ekolu Nai’a.
“This is my brother.” Koa waved his hands across them.
“Your brother is…three dolphins?”
“Well he’s an elemental spirit. But mostly yes.”
“Nice to meet you.” Malia said, resting a hand gently on the middle dolphin’s head.
“She can’t hear me.” ‘Ekolu Nai’a told Koa.
“I figured.” Koa replied aloud.
“Yes I can.” Malia interjected.
“Oh cool.” ‘Ekolu Nai’a said, returning to making circles in the cove.
“I really am planning something.” Koa told Malia. “I’ll come find you when I’m back.”
“Where are you going?”
“Out there.” Koa pointed towards the ocean. He could tell Malia wanted him to stay. “I’ll be back by morning.”
“I’ll wait right here.” Malia sat in the sand and looked out onto the water. The last thing she heard as she watched Koa step onto ‘Ekolu Nai’a was the word “KOWABUNGIS!” Which caused a column of water like a liquid half-pipe to be shot forth into the ocean. The dolphins rode on it, leaping from one edge to another. Koa didn’t look back, for he was searching for something to earn the life he saw with Malia.