There were no cars on the highway as we left Kauai’s Wilcox Hospital that May morning. At least we didn’t notice any. We were oblivious to everything but our new infant. Born three days earlier, Rebecca Lilinoekeka-pahauomaunakea was going home, home to anxiously waiting siblings Johan, Malia, and Caroline. We were excited, too, yet enjoyed the intimacy of the moment, just Mom, Dad, and baby.

We decided to drive the “long way” home. I don’t know why, we just did, maybe for the serenity, and by way of introducing our newborn daughter to the island. We turned left at the Coco Palms Hoetl, went uphill past Opaekaa Falls, and behind Nounou Maountain—the Sleeping Giant. There, the winding road stretched out below us as wide swaths of green gently rose to meet the distant hills and cloud-covered peaks. It was so incredibly beautiful and peaceful, and our precious infant slept.

As we followed the winding road’s descent toward Kapaa, a low flying bird swept across the road just ahead of our car. It crossed back again, then kept pace on the driver’s side for at least a hundred yards before the road curved away from its flight path. We could see it was a pueo. Wayne remarked how unusual it was to see one at that time of day. The road straightened out once again, and we saw an incredible sight up ahead. The pueo was perched, it took flight, our escort once more.

Again, it crossed our path once, twice, then doubled back, circling low just above the fence line, where it remained with us a few moments more before heading west towards the high mountains beyond.

It was a chicken skin moment. The pueo is one of Wayne’s family aumakua. Could we have been blessed with a visit? It surely felt so. It was difficult not to believe that the newest member of your family had received a special sign welcome. Curious pueo, or aumakua? Either way, we had witnessed something very special, and we definitely counted the appearance of the pueo as an added blessing that morning.