“DAYSTART
This day of being blessed by blessing
Being honored by honoring
Being love by loving, I awaken
”
Joshin and I made it to Kailua-Kona last night after an hour delay at O’Hare and a tight connection in San Francisco! Our bodies, not used to being squeezed into a small space - the economy seats - for a total of 10 hours, took time to expand again. ; )
This morning we rose about an hour before a Hawaiian sunrise. The sky slowly lightened with pinks and corals illuminating our lush natural surroundings. Hawaii is gorgeous.
I hear zebra doves cooing in the distance. I grew up hearing that cooing every time my family went to the beach. My father drove the four of us kids and our mom there every other Sunday - what a treat! We all loved going to the beach. We packed a delicious lunch. My father was good at frying up chicken and my mom, sister and I were in charge of making musubi - triangular rice balls with umeboshi (pickled plum) in the middle and nori - seaweed wrapped around it.
From our balcony we see elegant palms, tall with thin trunks and wind-swept leaves drinking in the beautiful morning light. I recognize three big kukui trees with their full, light green leaves as if I am seeing old friends.
I can see Hualalai, the mountain, dark green against a clear blue sky. Hualalai last erupted in 1801 and remains an active volcano. After 200 years, its slopes are again green. Houses dot the bottom half of the mountain. A thick blanket of clouds rolls in to cover the summit during the afternoon and stay through evening.
The light blue sky matches the deep blue of the Moana - the ocean. I hear Moana as she roars and flows onto the black lava - the pele - fingers of land again and again. Much of the pele’s sharp edges have been worn smooth by her constant flow. Sometimes Moana murmurs, sometimes she crashes with great energy. Pele never complains. She is there like a true friend noticing and bearing witness without trying to change Moana.
Today, we went to Kahalu’u Beach for a swim. It was a renown snorkeling park with schools of reef fish. When I snorkeled there 20 years ago, I was entranced by the beautiful fish. But, I only saw yellow tangs here and there. Where have all the fish gone?
Resting and enjoying nature are so important. Always hustling and bustling about is a good way to forget what's important in life. December is a time to be with people you love, your family and friends. You may not always get along but nothing is perfect.
Tonight I had dinner with my two brothers and sister, talking stories, and laughing. Catching up. It was good. I also visited my kumu and hula sisters in the halau I spent many hours dancing in over the 10 years of my training. It was good to be with them also.
Wishing you, your family, friends and all beings a safe and joyous holiday season!
Malama pono (take care of body, mind and heart),
June Kaililani Tanoue
Kumu Hula and Sensei
P.S. Here is a slide show of Halau I Ka Pono's 10th Anniversary Year - 2019. Photographs by Elizabeth Carabello, Tom Neiman, Robert Althouse and June Tanoue. Beautiful music by Kuana Torres Kahele and Jason Poole. Happy Holidays everyone!!!