ABC Wednesday: H is for Hula

Hula is the soul of Hawaii expressed in motion. Hawaiians agree that the first hula was performed by a god or goddess which makes the dance a sacred ritual. Some believe the hula was only danced by men, but legend and historical sources tells us both men and women danced. Hawaiian hula is unique and totally different from other Polynesian dances.

Every movement in hula has a specific meaning, and every expression of the dancer's hands has great significance. Chants accompany the movements and aid in telling the dancer's story. Today, several hundred halau hula (hula schools) and less formal hula groups are active on every island and the mainland, teaching hula to thousands of students and keeping the old ways and traditional Hawaiian culture alive.

Aloha

I've been away for awhile, as those on Facebook know. Just back from our Hawaii vacation and have posted many photos on my facebook page. Ty's dad was feted for his 90th birthday and for the first time met most of his Maui family. It was a great few days on Maui, wonderfully memorable Kauai adventures, and nostalgic days on Oahu for Ty and me.

One of my 'themes' in photo-taking this time was 'keiki' as many of the children from Hawaii are of mixed heritage, which produces some exquisite and adorable children. I did not post many of these photos on my FB page, so I thought I would give you a sampling of Hawaii's finest treasures. I hope you enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

A little early...
Sculptures from the Hilton Hawaiian Village on the island of Oahu. I was truly amazed to see the amount of detail and realized emotion of this artist's renderings of the hula.

coqui - geckos and roaches - oh my lanai!

Girasoli's post about her gecko visitor (http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/girasoli/) reminded me of my first visit to the Aloha State of Hawaii. It was nighttime or early morning to be exact. Arriving home to Kaneohe from a night of 'playing' in Waikiki, I inadvertently kicked something in the front grass while walking from the car to the front door. It jumped, made a low gurgling sound and scared the bejesus out of me. It was one of the largest frogs I had ever seen. Thank goodness we had sympathetic neighbors (in more than one sense) because I couldn't contain a scream. These are the coqui frogs of Hawaii.

About a year later a friend visited from Boston. It was an inopportune time in that two of us had just moved from Kaneohe into a vacant (a/k/a devoid of ANY furniture - very irregular for Hawaii) house in Kailua. The only thing that came with the house was a lanai and a holdout male roommmate. But, this was Hawaii and Joannie's first visit to the Oahu. We hadn't seen her for over a year so it was a great reunion!

Remember my saying this house was devoid of furniture. This means no beds as well. So, being 20-something and full of risks and life, we bunked on the living room floor temporarily until we could get to a swap meet. (Read - poor 20-somethings.) Now, one of the reasons we decided to rent this house was because the entire back wall of the house was an indoor lanai full of lush plants and there were sliding screen doors to separate the rest of the living space from the lanai during rainy season. It also keeps geckos in the lanai area - something we were to be educated about . Well, we kept the doors open for the 'full Hawaii' effect for Joannie. She awoke in the middle of the night screaming and said she felt something walking over her - when we turned on the lights we saw a few geckos. My friend, Denise, leaned over and said quietly, "Whew, I thought it was going to be coackroaches."

In Hawaii, I overcame my fear of creepy and creeping things. Actually, the geckos were cute and quick; the coquis were monstrous and ugly; and the cockroaches - well, what can one say about roaches.

When is Home, HOME?

Most of you know that Ty moved from Hawaii to Boston in June. After 7 months, is Boston home? We have this discussion frequently. I mean, yes, physically the move has been made - lifetime items have been shifted through, boxes shipped, territory in a home has been mapped out for personal, private space.

But, there is an entire psychological component to one's thinking that prepares the psyche to imagine a place as a home. Is it when you know all the local ad jingles, or when you can find your way in an unfamiliar place, or when you secure a driver's license from your newly-adopted state, or gain permanent status in your job? Is it ever really home?

The adaptation seemingly has gone smoothly for him. Not sure I could have handled it so well. I was in Hawaii for over two years and came home to say "goodbye" to Boston to move everything out to Oahu permanently and didn't do it. A number of factors entered into my staying in Boston but it was a tug of mind for me.

So, when is home HOME?

PhotoHunt: Ruin(ed)

.. as in having your sand castle ruined by a wave. These twins didn't seem to mind..would you? It was a sunny, warm, picture-perfect day in Kauai in July....

PhotoHunt: View

If I'm breaking any rules, it's not intentional. I'm just too tired from a week of busyness to make a decision. So, I give you Views from four of my favorite places in the world:

Orvieto for its sensibleness, simple and exquisite beauty. The fog had not yet lifted which made for an eery backdrop to the iron scrollwork.

Rome for its reverence in history, steeped in tradition.

The Alhambra in Granada for its mysteriousness - and at dusk it's magical!

Kaneohe, taken from the Pali Highway in Hawaii -- just because .. way too many warm thoughts to list here.

Hey, Paisano!

I don't know why I am always amazed when I run into someone that I later determine is related to me. The probability is, upon reflecton, quite high.

There were 10 siblings on my mother's side and each had at least 3 children (30). Seven boys (God bless my grandmother) on the other side (one bachelor and one childless) and each had at least 2 children (~10). In 1985, we had a family reunion for just one side of the family and 164 people were present. So, when I run into someone who has a family surname, I ask them about their family. After the preliminary questions of where did you grow up and parents' names, there's a connection made. This happened today in a phone conversation with someone. After speaking to him, I asked his name for my file reference - and sure enough - we are related!

Even when I was living in Hawaii in the 70s, I was contacted by a cousin who resided there (and I had only met him once - much older than I). I hardly knew him, but he was family and it felt good to be with family so far away from home.

When I was younger my father and mother would sometimes describe someone in conversation as "you know, he's a paisan." Seriously, I think everyone with a bit of Italian blood is related. After all, if you read about the emporers, kings, masters of arts, and even the popes, they fathered many families......hmm, makes you wonder?

Feels Like Home- West Meets East

You just know it when it happens. Like an pair of worn jeans, it just feels good...

Today is the 3.5 month anniversary of my fiance's relocation from Hawaii to Boston. (I know what you are asking ... it's for l-o-v-e, as he says.)

An ongoing discussion is 'adjustments' -- to each other, to East Coast living (weather, pace of life, local idiocyncracies, accents, directions, locations, job seeking) to pets. He seems to have just flowed naturally into it. Of course, having an easy disposition and great outlook on life sweetens any adjustments.

I think you reach a point at any relocation where you just KNOW when it feels like home. Funny how that happens. You just know.

I Wanna Go!

Yes, I've been to Hawaii - many times -- three in the last two years. Lived there briefly. But I wanna go again! I miss the land. I miss the people. I miss the smell - I swear it's the permeation of the intoxicating, sweet-smelling plumeria that aids to my addiction to these islands. Of course, the warm weather and constant sun helps.

So, my friends leave next week for Kauai, probably my most favorite of the islands (followed closely by Maui). I'm jealous. I'll just have to dream about Hanalei Bay, which has to be the most pictureque beach in the islands, and the rugged beauty of the Napali Cliffs.

As the song goes: "When you see Hanalei by moonlight
You will be in heaven by the sea."

To Be Or Not To Be

Late Saturday night - check that, early Sunday morning's quote:

Comes to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come the edge, he said.
They came. He pushed them .. and they flew. – Guilluame Apollinaire


Taken lovingly from my cherished dear friend's daily word. I love this quote. So many 'things' in life prevent one from fulfilling her desires ... intimidation, fear of failing, time, money ... this quote is my mana....

Boston, my home town

Beantown, the City of Champions, the home of the Cod .. whatever you call it, it's where I hang my hat ... these days .. Boston. Born and spent most of my life here with some brief hiatuses to my second home, Hawaii.

In the cool evenings of September in Boston, when the warmth of the day is becoming a memory, the feel of autumn begins to tug at your memory. On the East Coast we are fortunate that Nature repeatedly gives us a kaleidoscope of rich colors to view this Earth.

So, as not to forget that summer may be an Indian Summer, and not to rush the new colors of fall, here are some of my favorite photos of New England. Aloha!

The Communion of Two Hearts

One of my life list items(or 'Bucket List Items" as in 'before you kick the bucket') is to learn more about the Hawaiian culture. It has always been a curiosity to me since living in the Islands and now, even more so, because Hawaii is closer to my heart.

I was given the gift of mana cards, sort of like tarot cards with a Hawaiian 'punch'. As much of the Hawaiian culture is documented by an oral tradition, wonderfully illustrated mana cards give a clearer snapshot into the interpretation of Hawaiian symbols and tradition. It is a resource to understanding what it all means in relation to ourselves, our beliefs, our relationships.

My email name has been 'menehune' for many years as I became infatuated with these magical and mystical spirits thirty years ago. As Catherine Becker notes, you may interpret the menehune as someone who can accomplish amazing feats; they sometimes act as a reminder to step back and take account of what you are doing as there is more than one way to view a situation. Patience, persistance, attention to detail -- ah, my soulmate, the menehune ..

What's on your Bucket List?