Little Island Bird

After six tortuous years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her mother and stepfather, Pallia was on an airplane cruising at 42,000 feet above the blue pacific. Seated beside her was her father's sister, Leilani, a woman from her long forgotten life on the island. Together they were flying to attend the burial ceremony for her father, Makoa, who was also a stranger to Palila from her long forgotten past. When they met at the Honolulu International Airport, Leilani had squealed with delight and wrapped the timid teenager tightly in her arms. Leilani exuberantly chattered with excitement as they embarked their plane for the final leg of their journey, the Pago Pago International Airport 2200 miles to the southwest. For a brief moment, Palila felt the urge to entrust her closely guarded secrets to her aunt, her uso o le tina. That was until the voice in her head, the one she had come to rely on for survival, loudly and distinctly chastised her foolishness. "Grownups," it said, "cannot be trusted. They put on a good show in public, but then turn around and betray that trust whenever they get the chance." For the remainder of their flight, Palila remained curled up in her usual tightly tucked fetal position, covered by her auntie's big sweater, as she reluctantly journeyed into another terrifying unknown future.