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As U'ilani grew older their trips to the Noelani springs grew further and further apart, thus isolating them from their river born heritage. When they were younger such trips were always met with wonder and excitement, a sense of growing adventure, but now U'ilani did it simply to please their mother. They wanted little more than to stay in the depths of the ocean chasing monsters and myths, not making their way up toward the sun.

Passing others wasn't a necessarily uncommon thing, especially as U'ilani made their way toward more occupied waters, but seeing one like that certainly was. It was enough to bring the other to a curious halt. They were still far enough away that U'ilani could run if they wanted to, but close enough that they could tell this wasn't a normal Menehune; the hair was enough of a give away.

You did this to yourself, you know. If you'd just kept on then you wouldn't have been spotted. U'ilani grimaced. Instead of just outright leaving as they might have liked, the hunter held fast to their trident and tried not to look as exhausted by this whole ordeal as they really were.

"Can I help you?" Very welcoming. Not that they really cared. There wasn't much time to brush up on one's social skills out in the wilds. "I'm passing through so I'm hoping to keep this short."

"It comes from my father." U'ilani lifted their hand and tugged the length of their braid out into view. "It's pretty common for kawena to have highlights that match their scales." When they let it fall the braid settled over their shoulder. For a moment U'ilani regarded the stranger, taking in his appearance with a less abrasive eye.

"Since tossing out curiosities I'm assuming you're a hybrid because last I checked Menehune didn't have hair like that." Or scale markings, for that matter. Then again U'ilani didn't deal with the Menehune all that often so maybe they did?

It wasn't surprising, really, considering how far down the Kawena resided. They liked their privacy and while U'ilani's people weren't necessarily unfriendly they also didn't make a habit of seeking companionship outside their caves.

"I thought that might be the case. Your hair is a dead giveaway." They had seen enough of their mother's people to recognize colors and patterns, but the confirmation helped to quell suspicions. "I'm half Kaha'iko myself and I'm on my way to visit with my mother." It wasn't as if she knew they were coming right now so U'ilani was taking their sweet time getting there.

U'ilani looked at the outstretched hand with a pensive look. For a moment they debated shaking it, but settled for rolling their eyes and getting it over with. "I'm U'ilani." Contact was kept brief, though, but they were trying.

"I haven't seen her in a long time because of the distance, but if not now when." U'ilani shrugged. The journey was long and by the time they made it there they would likely be too exhausted to do much socializing the first day, but if it made mother happy...

"I take it you don't live with them if you're out here?"

Imagine that; two Kaha'iko hybrids that didn't live with that portion of their heritage. If it wasn't dependent on being sociable U'ilani might have prodded into that a little further, buuuuut they just weren't about that.

"Do you live out here, then, or are you traveling as well?" It didn't seem likely that any group of Menehune were around, but they hadn't been in the area for a while so who knew.

U'ilani furrowed they're brow. So not a merchant or a hunter, just a traveler? With a 'hmm' the hybrid made to leave, but found themselves pausing. Slowly, they turned back to look at Akiliano. "Have you seen any noteworthy beasts in the area? There's coin in it for good information, but I'm only looking for creatures that would make a hunt worth it."

Big beasties; creatures that could be legends in their own rights. Some called U'ilani mad, but they knew what they were about.