One of the most gratifying things about learning Chamorro is discovering new stories in the language that I have never heard before. The story about the Kakkak, or the Yellow Bittern, is a story that I never heard growing up. I found this version in a legends book from the KPV Collection that was collected and translated by Carmen C. Blas. This narration is done by Jay Che’le, listen and enjoy!

Håfa i Kakkak na Masoksok

 Nina’danña yan trinanslådan as Carmen C. Blas

Apmam na tiempo tåtte, sigun i estoria, guaha dos na botkånu mapta’ gi halom tåsi ya ha fotma i islan Guåhån. Annai esta mafotma i tano’ mandokko’ meggai na trongkon håyu, ya gumuaha hålom tåno’. Guihi na hålom tåno’ guaha dos na påhåru na’an-ñiha si Sali yan si Kakkak na sumåsåga ha’.

Un diha madisidi ni dos na para u ayunat gi un Betnes Sånto. Tåya’ para u ha cho’gue guini na ha’åni sa’ må’gas na gupot. Matutuhon i dos i ayunat-ñiha, lao annai ti mali’li’e’ i kakkak, chumochu un guali’ek sa’ esta gof ñålang gue’. I Sali ha sungon ha’ todu et diha ti chumochu.

Put esti na rason na ilek-ñiha i manåmko’ na achokka’ kuanto kinanno’-ña i kakkak masosoksok ha’ ya ñåñålang ha’ todu i tiempu sa’ ti ha kumple i prinimiti-ña. På’go i Sali gof bråbu ya gof gepan sa’ ha kumple i prinimiti-ña.

Why the Yellow Bittern is Skinny

Gathered and Translated by Carmen C. Blas

A long time ago, according to the story, there were two volcanoes that burst inside the ocean and formed the island of Guam. When the land was already formed, many trees sprouted, and there became a jungle. There were two birds living in that jungle, their names were Micronesian Starling and Yellow Bittern.

One day the two decided to fast on Good Friday. There was nothing for the two of them to do on this day because of the great feast day.* The two began their fast, but when the Yellow Bittern was not seen, it ate a gecko because it was already very hungry. The Micronesian Starling just endured all day and did not eat.

It is for this reason that the elders say that regardless of the amount the Yellow Bittern eats, it is still skinny and hungry all the time because it did not keep its promise. Today the Micronesian Starling is very healthy and very spry** because it kept its promise.

Notes

*må’gas na gupot: we translated this as a “great feast day” rather than as a literal party

**gof gepan: the word geppan means “jumper”; we interpreted this to be the English equivalent of “spry” or “active”

References

Blas, Carmen, trans. 1978. “Håfa i Kakkak na Masoksok.” PDF. In Legend Fino’ Chamorro Siha. Guam Secondary Bilingual Education Project. https://airtable.com/appU43QeD409YS6Hl/shrXhl6F1kRn9xx1H/tblQeLirqavda9h6P/viwh0oCoEpAZEH4XG/recEkBAfmW0rCSlHF/fldWSwclEvY9lGVlu/attZMRjxsDfGeiY5Q?blocks=hide.