Welcome back. After Pohatu's daring rescue of Hafu, I just had to talk to the brave Tohunga who sacrificed his masterful statues, and almost his life, to protect his village of Po-Koro. So here is our conversation.
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http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/GaliGee/GaliGeeArt/hafu-interview.jpg)
Interview with Hafu the Stone-CarverGaliGee: Thanks for this interview, Hafu. It's an honor to speak with such a brave hero.
Hafu: If you say so.
GaliGee: Please describe for the BZ members what the Po-Koro Tahnok attack was like.
Hafu: It was awful. We heard rumbling, and saw smoke on the horizon. Everything was glowing red. We couldn't figure out what would be on fire, out in the desert. Then we realized it was the SAND that was on fire. That's when we got really scared.
GaliGee: Yikes!
Hafu: My reaction exactly. Then, when the Tahnok blasted through the barricades, we were sure we were goners.
GaliGee: Then you realized how you could stop them.
Hafu: Yes. Onewa can be very persuasive, having the Komau and all. I really didn't want to knock down my own statues, but it had to be done.
GaliGee: It was very courageous of you to go out there alone.
Hafu: Courageous, or stupid. I'm not sure which. But fortunately, with the Toa around, we're never really alone.
GaliGee: What did you think when Pohatu showed up?
Hafu: Well, I saw one of the Tahnok launch this gummy blue thing at me. Later I found out how narrowly I had missed being enslaved by the swarm. It's funny, because I felt Pohatu before I saw him. I thought one of the Tahnok had grabbed me from behind. There was this blur, and then I was lifted up. I was expecting to feel searing heat, then I looked and saw it was Pohatu's hand holding me. I just about fainted with relief. But we were still there, in the middle of the swarm. Still, when he winked at me I suddenly felt that, somehow, everything would be OK.
GaliGee: How about the catapult ride?
Hafu: Whee! I was really impressed with Pohatu's quick thinking, using the Komau, and with Huki's skill. What a kick! Then up we went. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to panic. And when we landed, I was so relieved. I hugged Huki so hard it made his back crack.
GaliGee: That's funny! You and Huki are pretty good friends, I take it?
Hafu: Very good friends. We didn't used to be. We were rivals. I thought he was a show-off sports star, and he thought I was a show-off artist. And we both wanted to be Onewa's second-in-command. But then, we got to be friends, in kind of a weird way. You know, sometimes when you get to know someone, you can really change your mind about him.
GaliGee: How's that?
Hafu: Well, Maku has this friend, Lili, that she brought over in the canoe one time to watch a Koli match with her. All of a sudden I found myself wanting to watch Koli, too. After the game, we all hung out together for a while, and I found out that Huki was actually a cool guy. So we became best friends.
GaliGee: What about Lili?
Hafu: I haven't seen her in a long time, because of the Bohrok. [expletive deleted] Bohrok!
GaliGee: Yes, everyone I've talked to feels that way. So how did you get to be such a good carver?
Hafu: Practice, practice, practice. I just messed around with a chisel constantly, and eventually I got good. But you know, I look at it really differently now. I used to think it was all me, look at me, I'm really hot. But now I see that the Great Beings gave me this gift, of skill in carving, so that I could help defend Po-Koro. Really humbling, actually, to realize I'm just a cog in history. But really flattering, that they selected me.
GaliGee: Your carvings ARE really amazing. How long do they take?
Hafu: Well, the Path of Prophesy ones took a couple of months each, because I did them all myself. The Toa Kanohi in the Quarry went faster, since I had a whole team working for me. But I was putting in 16-hour days. It was grueling.
GaliGee: Those statues are beautiful. What are they for? Are they all hollow inside, like the one where the Nui-Jaga made its nest with the infected Koli balls?
Hafu: Thanks. Yes, they are all hollow. They are emergency shelters. The Turaga hold the keys. Except when the Koli salesman stole one key. They say he made a deal with Makuta. Sold out his own people! Maybe he didn't know at the time, but he's lucky no one has found him.
GaliGee: Say, tell us about the first time you were a hero! When Takua took you to Kini-Nui to defend the Toa's backs.
Hafu: That was great. Well, I kept seeing this rainbow dude while I was working on the road signs. Back and forth, back and forth. He was always friendly, but I had no idea what he was up to. Finally he stopped me again, and I figured he wanted to learn to carve, since he didn't seem to have a job. But he told me he had gotten Onewa's permission to take me to Kini Nui for a defense mission. I said, OK. He turned out to be terrific. Brave, cheerful, humble, all that, you know, like your Boy Scouts.
GaliGee: What did you think of your companions?
Hafu: I already knew Maku, like I said, and she's good company. And I also knew Taipu. He and I are like night and day in terms of personality, but we've always liked each other. He's really funny. And strong, too. And he's got this almost ridiculous enthusiasm.
GaliGee: How about Kopeke?
Hafu: ...
GaliGee: Excuse me?
Hafu [laughs]: He doesn't say much. Nice enough guy, when he does open his mouth. Great with a disc, too. He really waylaid those Rahi. Also, I like the way he can carve ice.
GaliGee: Kapura?
Hafu: Weird dude. I don't know what the heck he is talking about half the time. But he is really loyal, and covers your back. I'd like him to teach me his relocating trick sometime. Then I could go see Lili without having to get in a boat!
GaliGee: And Tamaru?
Hafu: Tamaru is great fun. And the wacky way they talk in Le-Koro! Taipu has told me about the party they had when they got back from the Rama hive. I'd like to go there after the Toa get rid of these Bohrok.
GaliGee: So what was the Rahi battle like?
Hafu: Alternating hope and despair. Here would come a couple of them, and we'd recoil in fear, then we'd rally and let 'em have it. Eventually we beat them back, after getting our masks knocked off a few times. Then came the big wave.
GaliGee: That must have been terrifying.
Hafu: You have NO idea. But then, Kongu, and Onepu, and Jala, and all the brave Matoran in their armies, all showed up at once. Just like a Hollywood ending!
GaliGee: What are you going to do next?
Hafu: Lay low, until the Bohrok are gone. Then we see whether the Great Beings will grant us peace again. I sure hope so.
GaliGee: Me too, but I have my doubts. Anyway, it's been wonderful talking to you, and all of us at BZ are really in awe of all you have done for Mata Nui.
Hafu: Just doing my job. I'm just lucky I could help. Give my regards to BZ.
GaliGee: Thanks again. I will. [click]
Hafu, carver of stone, has etched a place for himself in the history of Mata Nui. We will never forget his brave deeds. This is GaliGee reporting.
Interview with Hafu, ... the stone-carver etched into history
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