Long ago, La’amaomao, the Hawaiian wind goddess, held a gourd containing the winds of the Islands. This gourd eventually passed to her grandson, Paka’a, who learned the hundreds of distinct winds and their names. He became the most trusted attendant to King Keawenuia’umi of Hawaii Island, but two of the king’s seafaring navigators were envious of Paka’a and spread rumors to turn the king against him. Paka’a was forced to flee and take refuge on Molokaʻi, where he married a young chiefess and had a son, Kuapaka’a. Kuapaka’a was taught the way of the winds by his father, in preparation for avenging him and restoring his rightful place at the king’s side.
After the two navigators revealed their selfishness, the king realized his mistake and sent out a search party for Paka’a. However, Paka’a’s spirit misled the king, leading them to Ka’ula instead of Moloka’i. Kuapaka’a, who had been secretly supervising the search, unleashed a storm to force the search party to shelter on Moloka’i. He maintained the storm for four months, and eventually cleared the sky and joined the search party, though he kept his identity a secret.
On the way back, Kuapaka’a called to La’amaomao and a wave whisked him ahead of his opponents in a canoe race. The fishermen asked for a rematch and demanded Kuapaka’a wager his bones against theirs. Kuapaka’a won the race and the king asked him to have mercy on the fishermen, but Kuapaka’a revealed his identity and asked the king to prove his commitment to Paka’a. The king agreed to the fishermen’s deaths and promised to welcome Paka’a back, restoring his lands and position. At long last, the king and Paka’a were reunited. With the sacred wind gourd, Paka’a and Kuapaka’a made sure that the names of the winds would never be forgotten, and that those who understood them would never be belittled or disregarded.