Waipi'o Valley...

Valley of the Kings. A pathway to the underworld as well. When I was younger, a friend and I went fishing. We stayed on the beach way too late and it quickly became dark. So stubborn to catch a fish. We failed to pay attention to the sun going down and our lack of flashlights. I still remember looking at the beach in the dark and seeing the glow of phosphorescent plankton flowing across the black sand in a giant sheet of glowing green. Hitting our feet and feeling the cold foamy water of the surging surf. We couldn't even find the trailhead in the blackness to get back to our home. Fortunately, Ke Akua kept Judas, a giant furry black dog, with us. I held onto his fur with one hand, my other hand holding my fishing pole and tackle box. My friend held onto my shirt with one hand and the rest of his gear with his other hand. And step by step, we stumbled in the dark with Judas leading us home. It took about an hour on the trail, under the canopy, in the blackest of night, next to steep slopes which led down to the swamp. Step by step. All of our faith and hope in a giant black dog named Judas. We made it home safely. Mahalo no e Ke Akua. Mahalo no e Judas. You certainly didn't betray us despite your name...