Where Mountain Meets Sea: HAWAII'S STORY (1) [REWRITTEN]

Victorious, Happy and Glorious [The Paulet Affair Part 10]

Hawaiʻi felt something odd this morning. She felt something stirring, something different. A little push upwards, a little brightening of her mood. Something minute at first. But it gained more and more with the hours passing, until she felt something surging, all at once.

It felt slightly like when Kaʻahumanu had officially declared Kauaʻi and Niʻihau to be officially hers, the way it all kept growing, asking for more.

And it all felt so... So lovely.

A little tingle in her chest, that grew and bloomed like a flower, like a fire, and it almost burned in such a good way. The way it slightly burned, the way it felt like a tightness was released made her want it all the more, to feel that lovely flame make its way all over her body and consume her whole.

And more important than that, she felt like herself again, for the first time in a long time.

Hawaiʻi felt almost like the kingdom she knew she was.

She knew that something had changed, either at home, or somewhere important.

And so, despite being urged not to, Hawaiʻi sought out Britain, to ask him what was going on.

He was gone.

Great.

Of course he was gone right when she needed to speak to him. He could be an absent father when the colonies wanted him, but miraculously show up right when they wanted to step an inch out of line.

Just great.

While in her quest to find said Empire, she stumbled, finally, upon a group of colonies sitting in a circle, with small balls all in the centre. Not liking the idea of interrupting whatever the hell they were doing, she tried to make an exit.

Lucky really should not have been the nickname chosen for her.

"Sandwich Islands, what are you doing?" Someone called.

"Just leaving," Hawaiʻi said. "On important business."

"Come on, we're playing ringtaw," Bahamas said. "I'm winning."

"What's that?"

"Oh, you've never played ringtaw before?" Bahamas grinned. "Well, come here, you've got to learn. Virge, give her a marble."

"What? You can't just let her play. It's a game for boys," Virgin Islands said. "You give her a marble.

"I'm a girl, and I'm playing," Bahamas said. "And you have more. Give up a clay one."

"You're different. You'd beat us up for not letting you," Nevis muttered.

"Well, as a girl, I say let her play," St. Helens said, folding her arms. "There's more of us than there are of you."

"I could beat you up if it makes it easier to convince you," Hawaiʻi said, grinning.

That was the end of that.

Ringtaw was a bit like kinikini, or, as someone mentioned, marbles. Hawaiʻi caught on quickly, liking the game quite a bit, and becoming more and more confused as to why girls weren't supposed to play marbles.

When the missionaries came, they said it was silly and superstitious to divide eating houses into men and women. But yet it was expected that they divide themselves with other things, like games and the way you held yourself and all rules that Hawaiʻi didn't have time to think about.

"Ah, so you've finally joined the colonies then?" She heard someone say, and turned to see Montserrat, who was frowning. "I thought this was all beneath you, Your Highness."