Fishing the Reef

Kai examined his spear to make sure it was sharp. He lined up his snorkel mask and fins.

"I hope for a nice Mona tonight," he said

"Oh, that would be good," his wife Hana smiled back at him.

"They have been scarce these days, it must be the current."

"A nod from the ancient ones," said Hana.

Kai smiled. Leave it to his wife to invoke superstition. She came from an old family on Maui.

"Well, that about does it," he said loading his gear into the back of his small truck.

Hana kissed him lightly. "I love you, see you later."

Kai started the truck and headed to Kapalua Beach where he was going to meet his friend, Iokua. The beauty of the sun hanging low over that vast ocean never ceased to tranquilize him. It was almost as if you could board a boat and sail right out to the rim of that magnificent sun. Iokua was waiting on the beach, the last glimmer of daylight diving beneath the waters, ending the day with calmness and serenity.

"Hey, Ho!" said Kai.

Iokua grinned broadly. "I hope to have a better night than the day I had at work. I'm sure we will find Omilu, good meat there, those fish," he said.

"I guess I am ready," said Kai.

"Let's go then," answered Iokua.

The two men walked down to the water and looked out at the fading light. The reef was out there waiting with promise and bounty. Kai had learned the art of spearfishing from his father who had, in turn, learned it from his father. It was history and tradition and another way to feed his family other than the low-paying job he had driving a tourist bus.

"That's Wacu's boat out there," said Iokua.

"Ah Wacu, he's a good man," answered Kai.

The water was perfect as the two men waded out in the gentle waves. Diving into the water, the lure of an aquatic underworld greeted them. Kai never took it for granted, he wouldn't live anywhere else in the world. A big sea turtle swam up as if to nod seaworthy greetings. It swam along Iokua's left side. A host of bright blue unicorn fish eyed them cautiously.

Kai caught an Uku right away.

They rose to the surface to inspect the catch.

"It's decent," he said.

"Yeah, I wonder where the big ones are hiding?" said Iokua.

They took the fish to shore and put into the bucket.

"Oh look, Machu the porpoise is back," said Kai pointing in the distance.

"Ah yeah, he brings us luck!" said Iokua.

"Let's head on out to the reef to see if we can find anything bigger," said Kai.

"Okay."

The two men dove in and swam. More snappers appeared from the bottomless deep and headed into the crevices where they looked out at the two men with eyes wide, curious and cautious. Iokua nudged Kai; a large Mona was at hand. He pointed his spear gun that zoomed through the water in a tunnel of bubbles. A perfect shot, it caught the Mona almost dead center. The fish struggled wildly, refusing to accept its fate. Kai swam to help Iokua land the fish closer. Together they were manning the line when the dark shadow appeared. Kai saw it first, they were no strangers to Mano, the Hawaiian word for tiger shark. It appeared as a large, blue form swimming silently below them.

Kai did not believe in the concept of Aumakua like Hana did, the belief that sharks were ancestors of the Hawaiian people. No, what he saw in the spots of the large approaching blue form was tragedy. He remembered the unloading of the cattle ships when he was a boy, the ship stopping, the plank lowered into the water, the cows swimming in shallow water. The tiger sharks knew this boat well and followed it, taking many of the cows before they could get to shore. Those wide gaping jaws, the helpless mooing of the cows, water coated in blood. This scene was forever burned into Kai's memory.

Iokua and Kai looked at each other, hoping, as in times past, that the shark just wanted to know what they were doing, but this one was not simply curious. It swam by Kai, his heart caught in his throat. It was big, very big. This shark was probably over 16 feet long. They were poorly matched for it. The men came together, back to back, and got ready for what? They did not know. The shark headed toward the Mona, then it turned abruptly and swam away. Iokua looked at Kai with a questioning look, hoping it was gone. Kai looked around nervously, it would be a miracle for the shark to leave that easily. Then all of a sudden it was back and heading for the fish. Iokua pulled the line out of the charge area. The fish thrashed violently. The shark charged and took the tail end of the fish as Iokua maneuvered it again, wrestling it from the shark's mouth. Kai turned to him and shook his head. He wanted to scream, "What are you doing? Let him have it!" What was wrong with Iokua? There would be other fish. Iokua shook his head again, the shark disappeared. Kai's heart sank.

The other fish had long scattered in the wake of the big shark, headed for shelter. Now it was just the two men in the water, an injured fish flapping, some blood: the perfect storm. Iokua held the line. Kai prayed; if anyone ever needed Amakua, it was now. He wanted to punch Iokua, and maybe he would if they got out of the water in one piece. In the distance, the shark approached, speedy, spotted death, and it was headed straight toward them. They braced themselves for uncertainty and just before it reached them, the shark dove into the depths. Kai knew fear now, more than he ever had in all his years of living on the ocean. Was that the last charge? Were there more sharks coming now with the fish still breathing, writhing? Could they make it to shore? Iokua jerked and both men froze as they looked down. The shark was charging them from the bottom. Kai knew they wouldn't stand a chance. They braced themselves. The shark turned abruptly again and headed for the fish. Kai looked at Iokua and shook his head; still, Iokua moved the line. The shark swam outward and dove down to the bottom. Kai prayed again, and they waited.

Minutes melded into an eternity, everything was quiet. The schools of fish streaked by, gliding effortlessly in the calm water. Finally, the men had the courage to head for the shore. Their nerves were frazzled, they kept waiting for that sinister fin to appear beside them or below them, a shadow of an incessant predator. Land would feel good if they made it. Kai thought of his family, and he was burning in anger and disbelief. What was it inside of Iokua that made him hang on, why did he not give up that fish?