A long time ago in the paradise island of Samoa, there lived a young and beautiful princess, named: Fa’amoemoe. She was the fairest maiden in the island kingdom with long silky hair and dreamy brown eyes. Her skin was creamy smooth and cultured. She was so gorgeous that her people simply adored her.

Fa'amoemoe was the favorite child of the King...and being the youngest sibling was certainly an added benefit. The women of Samoa found the Princess alluring and amusing. Since she was barely Two, she had a knack for entertaining audiences. They would sit around to watch her dance and make faces while they laughed and encouraged her. Mo'e as she was lovingly called, delighted at being the center of attention (as any child of that age) would always give them a show....

“Who are you?” cried a middle-aged woman amidst the laughter and the noise.

“Hey, what is your name?” cooed another from the crowd.

“Yeah” followed a mother with a baby in her arms, standing in the corner.

"Tell us!" came the gleeful tone from the mass.

Moe’s mother looked in the direction of the inquiries and called out, “Tell’em baby! Tell’em who you are!”

“Tell us, sweet princess” echoed another.

“Do it baby princess. Tell us!” a grandmother childed.

The girl stopped abruptly and stood up straight to recite. “I am Fa’amoemoe, the Royal Princess of Samoa. I am the youngest and the fairest daughter of the King. I am beautiful. I am smart and I am SAMOAN.”

The crowd burst out in agreement, bowing delightfully in reverence and appreciation.

“You are the fairest princess.” they clamored.

“You are beautiful. You are smart. You are the sweetest princess in all of Samoa” they stated.

The girl cried out again. “I am Fa’amoemoe, the Royal Princess of Samoa. I am the youngest and the fairest daughter of the King. I am beautiful. I am smart and I am SAMOAN.”

"Yes you are, my darling." her mother offered.

"Certainly you are." an old woman bellowed.

"You are a goddess." the lady with a baby added.

"You are what you are, Mo'e." one echoed.

"I am Fa'amoemoe, the Royal Princess of Samoa. I am youngest and fairest daughter of the King. I am beautiful. I am smart and I am SAMOAN." she called out.

"I am Fa'amoemoe, the Royal Princess of Samoa. I am the youngest and the fairest daughter of the King. I am beautiful. I am smart and I am SAMOAN." the girl repeated.

This went on and on and on.....until the little Princess tired out. The crowd would dutifully disperse but not before they paid their personal homage and warm wishes to the little girl. The Royal Guards would then transport the baby in her Royal carriage, along with her mother, back to the Royal Residence.

****************************

One beautiful sunny day, the women of Samoa were out working their chores. A large group was situated under an ULU tree singing songs of ancient past. Another group was mulling around their family UMUs baking breadfruits and fish for the evening meal. Yet another group, along with a corps of old men and young children were placated around a huge Banyan tree reciting chants and telling stories of some ancient island god.

The little Princess was centered around the women singing old Samoan songs, entertaining them with a familiar hula or dance. The cheers and awes permeated the island air. The laughter and the ogling went on and on.

“You're a beautiful dancer, my Princess!” remarked a woman with braids.

“Yes! Yes, you are!” mused another woman.

“Ai! Ai!” cried out a grandmother. “You dance just like your great grandmother, Sweet Princess! May the Gods bless her spirit"

The little girl heard the old lady's remark and came closer to where she was situated. She responded with a little more vigor and a little more sway to her Hula.

The old woman fell to her knees and began to sob.

The girl stopped her dancing and approached the old woman.

"Why are you crying, Nana?" Moe asked.

The old woman did not reply right away but continued sobbing. A crowd began to assemble around them as they tried to comfort her.

"Nana! Nana! Why are you crying." Moe asked again. "Please Nana! Tell me why you are sad?"

"Ai my child." the old woman responded, wiping away the tears from her eyes and face. "I am not sad."

"Then why do you cry? The little girl prompted.

"No! No, my child." she informed. "I am not sad. I am not crying because I am sad. I am crying because I am very, very happy."

"Are you sure, Nana?" Moe replied. "I have never seen anyone cry because they are happy."

"Yes, my Princess." Nana proclaimed. "I am giving thanks to the gods for allowing me to witness YOU. You are so beautiful; so gorgeous and so talented. You are truly SAMOAN."

"Thank you, Nana." Moe said.

"I am an old woman, my child." she continued. "I do not have many seasons left. I grew up with your great grandma. You are everything that she was. In our days, she was the JOY of SAMOA. And now, my child....You manifest the NEW SAMOA. Blessed be the Gods."

"Yes, Nana." Moe chimed.

"Now go up there and dance for me." The old woman said. "Show me the new dances."

Moe giggled. She bent down, hugged and kissed her. Joyfully, she said. "Yes Nana. I will dance for you" She moved out to the center and proceeded to her sways and delicate but graceful footwork. Her hands, her fingers, her entire body gyrated to the sounds of chants. The beat of the drums and the mystical conch horns excited the winds and Moe became a living testament to that rythum. Her hips swayed sequentially to the vibrations while her entire demeanor joined in the meaning of the chant.

A voice called out to the chanters. "Play the Goddess of Love chant."

"Yeah" a timid lady quibbed.

"Yes, please. The Goddess of Love." the crowd cooed.

"Oui! Oui! Yes!" they clamored.

The Goddess of Love was the most popular chant and dance medley in the islands. It tells the sad story of an ancient Samoan woman who was chastized and ridiculed because of her ugliness and lack of physical coordination. Everyone made fun of her because she wanted to Hula but could not. It wasn't the mean-spirited cajouling but a fun-filled and tender joking....more-or-less, the feeling sorry type. No matter what, the woman felt hurt. Surprisingly though, she never gave up on her dream and her passion to dance.

The men beating on their drums and blowing on their horns were purposely ignoring the calls from the crowd. They were certainly acting deaf to the public outcry or just trying to bring the on-going chant to a finish. The women, somewhat impatient, jumped in and began huming and chanting the medley to the Goddess of Love. Eventually, the men raised their hands in frustration, then feted out the melody to the new chant. The lead Chanter took center stage and cried out....

Here's the story of centuries past...

Right here in the land of the Gods...

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei...

A sweet Samoan woman...

Not so ordinary and not so agile...

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei...

Here's the sacred medley....

The crowd began humming along and swaying to the tune. Moe took her place at the center of it all. She place the tips of her fingers together above her head, swaying her body from left to right and right to left like a graceful pantomine. Her eyes sparkled as she gravitated up and down and around. The people formed a huge circle space around her, as they cheered her on.

"Boy, do I love this chant." Moe whispered to herself.

More and more people joined in and gathered around the Princess, admiring her every move. The ooohs and aaahs came from everywhere. The synchronous cadence and the masterful dips of her head marked the physical testament of the chant.

The lead Chanter continued....

The poor Samoan woman...

Who could not Hula. Who could not Hula.

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei.

Try as she may....

So clumsy and so akward.

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei.

Moe suddenly changed her demeanor. She began to reenact the movements of a clumsy and foolish peon; a non-dancer. Her easy-going, soft and flawless karma became jerky, wanton and wild. She began to mimick each and every form called out by the lead chanter. She took on the soul and spirit of the old Samoan woman. She became the old Samoan woman who could not Hula.

The crowd was mesmerized. They were shocked and confused. It was so real....so very real.....as if they were re-living the ancient past.

Put your hand up to the sky....

Touch the moon. Touch the stars..

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei.

Moe raised both hands, fingers pointing to the heavens. Reaching out. Reaching high. So brazen. So awkward.

Like moonbeams from the heavens...

A twinkle here. A twinkle there.

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei.

Suddenly, she crashed to her knees and motioned as if blinded by the moonbeams; Her body still gyrating, she winked her adorable eyes as if responding to a call from the heavens.

Like rainbows to the skies....

Stairway to the gods.. Stairway to the gods.

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei.

She laid down, her back to the ground and pointed to the stars. Surprisingly, her body was still jerking and gyrating to the beat of the drums. The crowd became apprehensive. They became afraid. Seeing their beloved Moe dancing in such disarray; such disdain.

The light of life and death...

A twinkle here. A twinkle there.

Bubu lei. Bubu lei. Bubu lei.