Kargara, also known as Calgara, was a legendary figure from the island of Jaya who lived approximately four hundred years before the main events of the story. Standing at an imposing height of 222 centimeters, his most distinctive physical feature was his long, wild mane of red hair that reached almost to the ground. As a member of the Shandia tribe, he possessed a pair of small white wings on his back, and his body was adorned with red tattoos across his face, shoulders, and arms. His typical attire was sparse, consisting of a purple laced-leg pants worn beneath a skirt made of leaves, with magenta cloths tied around his arms.

Kargara was the strongest warrior of the Shandia people and was known by fearsome epithets such as Shandoras Monster or Shandoras Demon due to his savage fighting style and intimidating presence. In his initial encounters with outsiders, he displayed a personality that was quick to react, deeply suspicious of strangers, and a fierce believer in the traditions and cultural sanctity of his people. He would ruthlessly eliminate any intruders who threatened his homeland, at one point single-handedly destroying an entire enemy ship with a massive iron ball before boarding it to annihilate its crew. Despite his ferocious exterior, his defining characteristic was a profound love for his culture and his tribe, and all his actions were driven by a desire to protect them.

His motivations underwent a significant transformation following the arrival of Montblanc Noland, an explorer from the Blue Sea who had come to Jaya seeking the legendary city of gold, Shandora. Initially, Kargara was hostile, especially when Noland interfered in a ritual sacrifice intended to appease what the Shandians believed was their god, a giant serpent named Kashigami. This confrontation revealed that the plague devastating the Shandia tribe, known as tree fever, was actually a curable disease rather than a divine curse. After a fierce battle where he matched Noland in combat, Kargara was persuaded by the explorers logic and chose to trust him, personally killing the serpent that threatened Noland. This marked a pivotal change in his personality; he became a devoted friend to Noland, and the two shared drinks and laughter, with the villagers noting they had never seen Kargara smile so genuinely.

A key relationship in his life was with his daughter, Musse, who was initially chosen as the sacrificial victim to end the plague. His friendship with Noland grew so deep that, despite a subsequent conflict where Noland unknowingly cut down the Shandias sacred trees to cure the disease, Kargara realized the explorers good intentions too late. As Nolands ship departed, Kargara rang the island's golden bell, promising to keep the light of Shandora shining as a guiding beacon and a vow that he would wait for his friends return. This promise became the central purpose of his remaining life.

In terms of notable abilities, Kargara was revered as the Shandias greatest warrior, capable of fighting on equal terms with Montblanc Noland, a man strong enough to defeat sea kings and giant boas. His primary weapons were a spear, which he wielded with great skill, and a giant iron ball attached to a chain that he could swing and hurl with devastating force to destroy ships. Beyond his immense physical strength and speed, he was a user of Kenbunshoku Haki, known as Mantra in the sky islands, which granted him enhanced senses and the ability to perceive the presence and emotions of others.

His role in the story concludes in tragedy. Kargara and his people remained on the half of Jaya that contained the golden city, faithfully ringing the bell and waiting for Noland. However, a year before Noland was scheduled to return, a massive Knock Up Stream propelled this section of the island, along with Kargara and all its inhabitants, into the sky above the White Sea, where it became known as Upper Yard. After being violently cast into the sky, Kargara found himself and his people attacked by the Skypieans, who sought to claim the rich soil of their land. As the invasion began, Kargara rejected the Skypiean leader who called himself a god, dismissively questioning what kind of god this could be after his experiences with Noland had shown him the true nature of such claims. His last known act was shouting for his warriors to protect their homeland and to relight the light of Shandora, ensuring his friend Noland would not worry even though he would never be able to return. He died in this conflict, never knowing the fate of Noland, but his final wish echoed across four centuries to inspire his descendant, Wiper, to fulfill the promise that he himself could not.