The fairy tern – my ‘aumakua

[Kater]

I have loved these birds from the first day I “met” one. Let me explain…

Fairy terns can fly distances when they need to, but they can also hover in one spot like, well, fairies. Since they're often curious and unafraid, fairy terns sometimes seek out and follow people, humming and twanging just above your head.

Every time I would take Jack out for his evening romp in the field behind my house, these birds would be out and about, and would hover over me as I threw Jack balls and frisbees. I was totally enchanted by their friendliness and beauty. My parents would often see them in the early dawn hours when they took their walk around the neighborhood and they were equally taken by these striking creatures. At some point, after we had learned some things about these fascinating jewels of birds, we decided to claim fairy terns our ‘aumakua. An ‘aumakua is defined as a benevolent guardian spirit or family protector. In the past, each Hawaiian ohana (family) had an 'aumakua or ancestral guardian spirit for protection, comfort and spiritual support. ‘Aumakuas were thought to possess both awesome power and loving concern.

Though some view the practice as a religious one involving worship, most, regard it as a continuation of an ancient belief system, a cultural practice that does not interfere with other religious beliefs. Nonetheless, for those who have a relationship with their 'aumakua, it remains a powerful force. It has been a real stronghold for me in this difficult past year – my first year away from home at college.

One way to explain the relationship might be to compare it to the feelings a person might have for his elders. When in a difficult situation one might recall the lessons that your grandparents or another respected elder taught you. This grants wonderful feelings assuring you that they’ll be there to watch over you. So like a revisiting a time of guidance from someone you look up to, your ancestral god might appear in a dream to furnish guidance or spiritual strength in difficult times. This is what it is like to have an ‘aumakua. However, beyond this ‘aumakua were even thought to bring warnings of coming misfortune and deliverance from immediate danger through dreams, visions and physical manifestations.

In ancient times, families were careful not to eat certain forms of animal life if their 'aumakua was thought to appear in that form, for if they did, they knew the punishment could be as severe as death. Offerings of taro leaves with sincere prayers could abate the anger of an offended 'aumakua. In my own way I follow this practice by abstaining from all animal products.

This does not mean every fairy tern is my 'aumakua because not every fairy tern will be “gracious” to you. (However, fairy terns are a more apt to interact with humans than the animals others often choose for ‘aumakuas—sharks, turtles, hawks, lizards, owls, rats, octopuses, etc) 'Aumakua are identified very specifically by body markings, and are named. They are part of the family. There is a direct connection, a blood relationship. However, one will always be able to recognize their ‘aukmakua, no matter what form it chose.

As the major gods of the Hawaiian universe caused the rain to fall and make the lands fertile, the sun to rise and travel slowly across the sky, and the ocean to be plentiful with fish, so the 'aumakua, the personal gods, managed the simpler aspects of daily life, which were equally important in the scheme of things.

Why did I share this? Well, I wanted to share the fairy tern with you animal lovers because I think it is a little known jewel of a being. I was putting together an imagestation album of great fairy tern pictures I found on the ‘net for the sole purpose of printing them out when I go back to school and taping them onto my dorm room walls and ceilings. However, I couldn’t keep these wonderful photos to myself and wanted to share them with my fellow PTers! As for why I shared my personal story about my ‘aumakua and some of the history behind this Hawaiian belief--- well, I want to show PT a bit of the Hawaiian culture. But I also have this inkling that perhaps by sharing this ancient belief system with those that might otherwise never learn of it--- I might help someone discover this practice and experience its calming, reassuring, magical, helpful, strengthening force – as I have.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.