Monday, December 31, 2012
Cleaning...
Cleaning the kalo pa'a at Waipao in preparation of pounding it into pa'i'ai...and eventually making poi...
Hope...
Whenever I need a renewed sense of Hope, I simply examine closely the beautiful new life and irresistible growth of irrepressible plants...
Cleaning...
This ant was cleaning up his aphid farm in anticipation of the imminent arrival of 2013...
Maka'u'ole...
Maka'u'ole. Fearless. I remember watching this little aphid crawl up the forearm and onto the top of this lizard's head with impunity. Fearless little bug. My aspiration for 2013...
Sunday, December 30, 2012
He mau ʻūʻū kela...
He mau ʻūʻū kela. Soldierfishes. Also known as Menpachi. Some were considered ʻaumākua, or family guardians and guides...
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
You...
In my soft bed of flowing grass...
I lay down my worries...
Under a canopy of stars...
Feeling the warmth of your being...
And the gentle vibrations of your heart...
As night descends upon a murmuring World...
Heavy rain drops explode all around...
Washing away my cares...
And my past...
In beautiful cleansing shimmering prisms of Starlight...
The entire World slowly fades from view...
And I'm left alone with the only thing that matters...
In the beautiful silky darkness of life...
Incredibly beautiful You...
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Counsel...
Tonight, as I was walking home, I was thinking about my late Mother. Lost in thought, I glanced up and saw a Hawaiian man approaching me. As I do walking to and from work, I try to smile and say "Aloha" to everyone I pass. Most are receptive. Some continue walking past head down. Some really light up and smile back. As I passed this man, and said, "Aloha!", he lit up, reached out his hand and said, "Wow! Long time, no see..." I looked at him and didn't recognize him and figured that maybe he was mistaking me for someone else. I actually saw someone today at lunchtime who looked like me, a big bald guy. I also spoke with an old co-worker after lunch, on the phone, who I haven't spoken to in about five years, and she told me she thought she saw me, walked up and was embarrassed that it turned out not to be me. We laughed.
So I looked at this man and just smiled and said, "How have you been?" He replied, "Oh man, I just got out...Federal." I asked him how long was he in. He said a little over six years. I smiled and said "You look great!" Still trying to figure out if somehow I knew this man from my past, but couldn't place his face for the life of me. I then said, "What was your name again?" He replied "Raymond." I said, "Brother Raymond, you can do it. Walk that straight path. God is with you, your ancestors, your 'aumakua, all rooting for you." He smiled and said, "Thanks, I'm really trying hard to get my life together." I again said, "You have your whole life ahead of you." He smiled and lit up again and asked me what church did I go to. I said, "God is all around" as I pointed to the sky and trees around us. I said, "I talk to God constantly, and our kupuna, our Angels, our ancestors...they are always around..."
He looked at me, a little teary eyed, and grasped my hand. He said, "I really did some stupid things in life." I said, "Me too brother, we all have." I then noticed that we were standing about ten feet away from the portion of the sidewalk fronting Zippy's where I sat dying six months ago. I told him the story, about shutting down and my World closing in. Praying to God, Jesus, my Angels, my ancestors, to not let me die on the sidewalk. Then about the miracle of my Resurrection. I said today is a new day, it doesn't matter what we did in the past, we start brand new."
He said he lost both his Mother and his Father while in prison and his eyes teared up again. Holding onto his hand, I said your Mother and Father are with us right now, they are rooting for you brother, to make it. No sooner than those words left my mouth, my arms, neck and back lit up with chicken skin. I could see Raymond's face as he looked incredulously at his own arms while our hands still remained clenched together. He said, "Wow, I can feel...." Then I said, "chicken skin." He laughed and said "Yeah!" I said that is your Mom and Dad, and your ancestors here now. I lit up again in another powerful wave of goosebumps...always a sign of the affirming presence of Spirit.
I released his grasp, and gave him a hug and said, "I love you brother..." and he replied in the same. I told him he can change his life. Walk that path. Noticing his empty dirty Big Gulp cup and a plastic bag with some type of cellophane wrapper, and a slightly disheveled appearance, I pulled out my wallet and grabbed whatever was in there and stuffed it in his hand. He looked incredulously at me and said "Thank you so much...I'm so hungry..."
I smiled and told him to go get something good to eat. He lit up again in a big smile and just said, "Wow, alright. Thank you!" We departed in Aloha and as I turned and walked away, I felt a wave of emotion envelope my body, such humble gratitude for such a beautiful experience and connection. I walked away much enriched for that beautiful exchange. I felt the presence of my Mother as well, and my ancestors. An affirmation of love, kindness, compassion and redemption. Tears fell as I walked...so grateful for this beautiful life...
My middle name is Raymond too. Germanic and French in origin. It means "counselor" and "protector." Raymond and I fulfilled our roles for each other tonight. Counseling and protecting each other's Spirit. Let's see what kind of magic tomorrow brings...
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas...
Wishing everyone a most beautiful Christmas celebration filled with Love, Light, Laughter, Aloha pau'ole, family and friends. Happy Lonoikamakahiki, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ashura, Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, and all the other World reasons for celebrating this magnificent incredibly beautiful blessed Life and World... :)
Sneaky...
This wasp was enticing me. "Come smell the subtle fragrant essence of this beautiful alluring lehua blossom", she said. "You know you can't resist." Adding, "You can trust me, I won't sting you...I'm a honeybee and would certainly die." Nice try my little wicked friend...
Waiwai...
Everyday, I am blessed to take a shower and drench myself in the life giving waters of Kāne. Wai. My waiwai. My wealth...
Guesstimate...
This is an old wild boar. I can tell...not by the length and growth patterns of his tusks, but by the growth of hair in his ears...lol...
Monday, December 24, 2012
Kahiki...
Very proud of my sons. Both of them. Here, Elliott performs Tahitian dance at his school Christmas show...
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
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