Ephemeral Life...

Ke Ao... Ka P ō ... Lōkahi...

Increasingly, as I offer my Prayers each morning, and night, I bear witness to the Presence of Beautiful Divine Affirmations of the Loving Presence of God. Of Angels. Of Ancestors. Of Guardians. Of 'Aumakua. Of Celestial Beings. Always just Observing. Supporting. Encouraging. Listening. Loving. Never Judging. And that is Simply the most Beautiful Part of it All...

I hadn't planned on posting anything really for Father's Day as I truly believe we must remember, appreciate and Love all those in our Lives on a daily basis rather than in preplanned scheduled commercialized constructs. I do understand, however, the modern value of setting aside and designating periodic celebrations throughout the year in which the collective can help lift each other up in the shared and relatable sentiments. However, I came across this photo of my father when he was ten-years old in New York. It was September, 1944. His Birthday month. He had a hard life after his parent's divorced in an ugly event and the siblings were split up. He told me that there were times when he was so hungry that he and his twin sister would go hide in the basement and eat the dog biscuits. He does look a little gaunt in this photo. I am not sure if it was hot, or he didn't have a nice birthday shirt. Then I came across the other collage of photos, 70 years aft...

Simply Stand... In Your... Beautiful Power... With Love...

For the Children...

Heritage...

I stumbled upon this old photo from thirteen-years ago taken at Punalu'u/Nino'ole where a wave crashed right under the adjacent heiau where offerings of i'a, or fish, were often left...

I stumbled upon this photograph from 2012 that someone took with my camera. I am not sure whom but am very grateful. It is hard for me to look at myself here, not so much because I often dislike any photos of myself, which is a whole other issue, but because when I look at myself standing here, I see a proverbial "Dead Man Walking." I had just started working with Kahu Kaleo Patterson and others in bringing and documenting the observance of mostly traditional Makahiki ceremonies with the pa'ahao at the Hālawa Correctional Facility. So many people collectively put their love, sweat and tears into the effort.  Over time, severe restrictions on what could and what could not occur during the ceremonies, what could be brought in and utilized, the limits of the photography and identifying pa'ahao, slowly changed for the better over time as trust was built within the facility, administration and with the participants. The program is still moving Beautifully forw...

Reflection...

Heiau Ahu'ena... Kamakahonu... Kona... Hawai'i Island... The wahi kapu of Pai'ea's passing... Ua Hala... Kaumaha noho'i...

Sacred... Respect...

In January of 2012, at the Ku'i at the Capitol event, I spotted this kupuna in the sky. Eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, cheeks, chin, neck, ear, hair, etc. Discernment between pareidolia, such as a propensity to see faces in nature and objects, or clouds, and observing a true hō'ailona, or spiritual sign, is always important. Life-changing and Beautiful as well...

Hala i ke ala ko'i'ula a Kāne... Gone on the sacred red trail of Kāne... Death.
.. 'Ōlelo No'eau 421

E Ku'u one Hānau... The Sands of my Birth... E Ku'u one Hala... The Sands of my Death... The Central Sand Dunes Island of Maui... Thousands of Ancestral Remains... Crushed... Pulverized... Screened... Sorted... Plundered... Built Over... Erased... Our Most Cherished Possession... Kaumaha noho'i... Uē...

The other morning, after capturing Mahina in all of her unparalleled Beauty and Brilliance, the clouds and the rain quickly swept over downtown Kou. Right before she was obscured, my eyes saw a figure, clad in all white, with a darkened face. I think that was her. The camera rarely adequately captures what the Heart truly sees... 

In the Predawn Morning hours... Whilst Fast Asleep... I was Gently Awoken... By Shimmering Light... Illuminating my Dreams... Thus I Beheld... Her Soft Radiant Beauty... As my Heart Fluttered... For it had been Weeks... Since we Held... Each Other's Gaze... Gently Cradling... Each Other's... Enraptured Hearts... To Love Her... And She I... Awoken and Satiated... I Slumbered Yet Again... To Wistfully Dream... Of Far Away Worlds... Of Incomparable Love... And of Beautiful Her...

Remembering... The Fleeting and Ephemeral... Sacred Moments... On this Shared Journey... Of Life... Which Like Love... Truly Last... Forever...

Kū i ka Pono... Kū'e i ka Hewa... Stand for Righteousness... Resist Injustice...

Imagine... A World... Filled... And Overflowing... With Love...