The Fertile Turtle

Mo'olelo is known for their sea turtles, who come in all shapes and sizes and nest every year along Mo'olelo's shores. However, the tale of the Fertile Turtle speaks of a mythical sea turtle who is laying magical golden eggs.

Summary

A sea turtle with a pair of golden eggs were the symbol of the Great King, a mighty ruler who lived long ago and united the islands of Mo'olelo. It was always unclear why the Great King's symbol were golden turtle eggs, when no one had seen or had any record of golden eggs existing. The tale says one night, when the Great King was very young, the Fertile Turtle asked him to come to seashore as she laid her eggs. She told the Great King he was allowed to eat two of the golden eggs. He did as he was told, and as he cracked open each one to cook them, the Great King supposedly heard fragments of an ancient song. It's those fragments he heard that guided him to become the iconic and mighty ruler he was to unite the islands of Mo'olelo into one realm.
Some believe the Fertile Turtle doesn't exist. The Great King was naturally great on his own, and didn't crack any eggs or hear any ancient song. Others believe the Fertile Turtle does exist and continues to swim and lay eggs among the Maninikiko, smaller islands and atolls to the northwest of Mo'olelo. No one has lived on the Maninikiko for a long time, well before the Gray Island, as they are ancient islands. The Maninikiko are much older than even the White Island and are more remnants of the volcanic eruptions that helped create Mo'olelo and continue to grow the Red Island today.

Historical Basis

The Great King never confirmed or denied the tale. He never spoke of why the golden eggs were his symbol or if he had ever seen them or eaten them. It's presumed once the eggs are cracked in some way, the person or creature who cracked the egg hears a fragment of the ancient song and then the rest of the egg turned to dust. The tale says the entire golden egg turns to dust so there isn't any evidence of the egg. It's believed the Great King was guided or inspired by the ancient song he heard and didn't actually get to eat any of the egg. The only evidence of the existence of the golden eggs and the Fertile Turtle is the Great King's symbol.

Spread

The tale is very well known. The Great King is held in very high regard, and his contact with the golden eggs is considered integral to his power and who he ended up being in Mo'olelo history. Some venture the Maninikiko to search for the Fertile Turtle, hoping to know for sure if she exists.

Variations & Mutation

There is much discussion and speculation over the ancient song the Great King heard when he cracked the eggs. Some believe he heard the chanting of the Kumulipo by Papa and Wakea themselves, the creation story and the original man and woman of Mo'olelo, and was inspired to ensure Mo'olelo's place in time immemorial. Others think he specifically heard his destiny whispered in his ear, and pursued that route. Some think he was hypnotized or had an outer body experience, which motivated him to become a powerful ruler.