The Whales Return

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude."
- Cynthia Ozick















"The Dreamers are the saviors of the world."
- James Allen




"The Greeks invented logic but were not fooled by it."
- Eric Hoffer

A big "Mahalo" thank you to everyone who left a comment yesterday! Things have been so "jamming" here at Da Beach that I've fallen behind in my visits to YOUR sites. I look forward to catching up with you soon! YOU are the whole point of this blog.

A few days ago, a catamaran spotted the first whales of the season a couple of miles off Diamond Head. Winter really has arrived! Another sign of the season: A group of inmates at the minimum security Waiawa Correctional Center, here on Oahu, rose before dawn one morning last week. They took off their red prison shirts and tied Kihei over one shoulder in the old way. Conch shells (Pu) were blown, and Oli, chants, shared. The men were blessed with long Ti leaves that had been dipped in water salty with Hawaiian Alae, red salt. The Kahu, Priest, sprinkled the assembled men with the water he had blessed. And then they each had a few moments to speak. Most expressed thanks for their families and friends, their Ohana. Some did so with newly learned Hawaiian words. "This is about growth, forgiveness, and new beginnings," said Kahu Patterson. Each Oli of the morning seemed to be answered by Ka Makani, the wind, and after the group recited the Lord's Prayer one particularly strong gust blew over their altar to traditional god of the Makahiki season, Lono. Make of this what you will. Like many other indigenous people colonized by westerners, most Hawaiians are devout Christians who, nonetheless, bring their ancient spiritual culture into church with them. You should hear O Holy Night in Hawaiian! E lohe na Leo Anela: "You, Hear The Voices of Angels." Liturgical Hula is not uncommon here, even at Catholic Mass. Of course the original missionaries would be outraged by this, but our understanding and our compassion do seem to evolve over time. In 2003 the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation filed suit on behalf of Hawaii prisoners (a majority Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian) incarcerated on the "continent." To deny them their cultural observances was not re-rehabilitative, or Pono "righteous." After this year's hard won ceremony, each man turned to the brother next to them. They touched foreheads, and shared the sacred "Ha" the breath of life, the Makana "gift" that some prefer to call the Peace of Christ. May that peace, whatever YOU may call it, be yours today. Amene

A L O H A ! Cloudia