The Great Race of Molokai
A Tale of Paddles, Canoes, and the Wisdom of the Ocean
Once upon a news, in the wide, shimmering expanse of the Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean, two best friends named Kekoa and Malia lived on the verdant island of Molokai, in ancient Hawaii. They shared a passion for hoe wa'a, canoe paddling, which was a cherished activity in their island world.
Kekoa was a hard-working, ambitious boy, always eager to prove his strength. He believed in the Hawaiian saying "Hoe a mau," meaning to paddle on, and so he did, from the moment the sun kissed the horizon at dawn till it waved goodbye at dusk.
Malia, on the other hand, was known for her wisdom and curiosity. She enjoyed hoe wa'a as much as Kekoa, but she also loved understanding the currents, the tides, and the wa'a, the canoe, itself.
One day, an exciting announcement was made: The Nā Wā'a Kūkākūkā o Moana, the Great Ocean Canoe Race, was to be held. Kekoa, eager to showcase his prowess, began training harder than ever. He paddled tirelessly, pushing himself to his limits.
Malia, also thrilled by the news, took a different approach. She cleaned her wa'a, scraping off limu, seaweed, and other sea organisms that clung to the bottom, slowing it down. She fine-tuned her hoe, paddle, for a better grip and even studied the patterns of the ocean currents.
The day of the race arrived, with the sun rising like a glowing torch against the clear, blue sky. Kekoa, with his mighty strokes, quickly took the lead. But Malia, in her carefully tended wa'a, kept up with him, steering her canoe along the path of the current she had studied.
Despite rowing harder than ever, Kekoa started to lag. No matter how much he strained, Malia seemed to move effortlessly ahead. Finally, amidst the thunderous applause of the islanders, Malia crossed the finish line, a clear winner. Kekoa, exhausted but humbled, arrived shortly after.
He asked her, out of breath, "Malia, how did you do it? I paddled harder than I ever have!"
Malia, patting her wa'a, responded, "Kekoa, hoe a mau is important, but remember, it's not only about how hard you paddle. It's also about the wa'a you're in."
From that day forward, Kekoa learned to pay as much attention to his wa'a and the waters as he did to his paddling. And so, the adventures of Kekoa and Malia continued on the sparkling waters of Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, teaching all other islanders that success wasn't just about the strength of their paddling, but also about the condition of their wa'a and the understanding of the currents.
And as the tale of Kekoa, Malia, and the Nā Wā'a Kūkākūkā o Moana was passed down through the generations, the bedtime stories of Molokai always ended with the same ancient wisdom: "E ho'omana'o, keiki, it's not only about how hard you paddle, it's about the wa'a you're in."
Underneath the twinkling stars, as the children of Molokai drifted off to sleep, they dreamed of fast, smooth wa'a, favourable currents, and the joy of paddling not just with might, but also with wisdom.
The End.
"It doesn't matter how hard you row.
It matters which boat you get in."
Warren Buffett