Spiraling into Control

Diamond Head by Ted Trimmer

Palila bird

"Seek simplicity, and distrust it." - Alfred North Whitehead

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."

-Thomas Jefferson

"I went to a restaurant that serves 'breakfast at any time'. So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance." - Steven Wright

Aloha mai! Welcome-

First, a give away. I love the splash of moonlight that shines on water, lake, pond, or puddle. That is called a "Moon Glade." One of my favourite words. My gift to you.

Every day the small fry in the harbor are bigger. They swim and sport with growing skill & beauty. Sort of restores your faith in regenerative nature. Even saw a first-time seahorse the other day! Oh, and a shooting star last evening. Just standing outside, drinking it all in, reflecting on worries and glories of the day. There it was like a sudden love note from eternity: "It's all gonna be OK."

Seems to me that lots of things are being re-evaluated, and re-valued today; like mortgages and your retirement account. It's a good time for a fresh look at what we value; not with our words, but in our day to day actions. We post-moderns have gained much materially, but we have surrendered lots of the real texture, flavor and meaning of life. Now the spell of "more & more" seems to be melting away. The things left standing: a warm bed, a healthy body, the wealth of fond family & friends, a quiet moment to contemplate the night sky, while riding the earth as it ticks off time in seconds and in ages. There will always be details, but we've taken our eyes off of treasure to specialize in details and have become dull. As I go about renegotiating the values in my life a passage comes to mind: "They shall mount on eagles wings." This is a heroic cliche` of an image to someone who lives in a city as I did. But once I got to Hawaii and watched the IO, the red tailed Hawaiian Hawk, circling over the Big Island, what I saw was a bird going around in circles. They don't fly straight to the heights like a superman, or a rocket. No. As in a flying meditation they retrace the same circumscribed repetition in the sky. Over and over. But I noticed something else too: each circuit takes them imperceptibly higher and higher till they are friendly with the snow covered tropic mountain, Maunakea, and conversant with the clouds and early moon. Finally, their view is unrestricted. Stress and striving don't buy them that view. They attain it by following their true nature. Perhaps the groaning of the world economic system will lead us to lives of paradoxical richness? But just for right now: go outside into nature. (after you leave your comment ;-) Play with a child, pet, or childlike adult who you know well, or just this moment met. Stop and breathe and go to your heart. All the answers you need are there patiently waiting. I've found that stress defeats itself. The experiments were exhaustive and went on for years! So take it from me: Walk the gentle path . . . and you may just find yourself spiralling into control. . . effortlessly. Mounting on the wings of your grateful heart.

A L O H A! Cloudia

Veterans

a Ted Trimmer photo of Maui from the air.

Hawaiian Flag

Punchbowl Cemetery at Puowaina, "The place of sacrifice"

"To be a patriot is to [sometimes] have a lovers' quarrel with your country."

-Wm. Sloane Coffin

I never had much awareness of the military growing up. Sure dad, and all the men around, had won WWII along with our allies, but the military was not a family tradition, or a career path that would have appealed to me. Besides, my two childhood heroes were Martin Luther King, and Leonardo DaVinci. Leonardo said that if you were a lover of peace, you should have brilliant machines to defend that peace. I loved his siege engine drawings, and I still adore high-tech war birds when they roar by at tree top level for some event, like today's "missing man" flyover . . . But I digress. . .

Here in Hawaii, the military is a significant presence. From Pearl Harbor, there WWII began for the USA, to the Barking Sands of Kauai where missiles are launched, tracked, brought down, to Schofield Barracks where "From Here to Eternity" was lived and filmed, and on to the giant veterans' cemetery at Punchbowl where Barack Obama's grandfather lies, Hawaii is a place where you experience the military up close. I even wrote a poem about the young service men & women who pass through Waikiki on their way to and from more dangerous places:

These Are The Boys


These are the boys who surf the waves
Or try to
Who cruise Waikiki
With radios thumping loud
Drunken, polite
Away from home for the first time
Supremely confident in youth
And in America.
These are the boys
Who go to the wars
Who go to the wars
And Die.

As you can tell, I have very mixed feelings about all of this. I honor those who put their lives on the line to defend homes, strangers, and high ideals. But I know that most often aggression could be avoided, and that those who "choose" diplomacy by other means are often wilfully blind to the consequences, and to other solutions. Nonetheless, I do honor the individual who gives up their personal freedom to obey and to serve. I could never do it. I am grateful to blog world friend, Brother Tobias for his description of proud British veterans at an event recently.

Here in Hawaii we walk among a shrinking number of aging, local Japanese boys who served in the most decorated unit of WWII; they were the 442 "Go For Broke" boys who left family and friends in internment camps to fight fascism overseas, and to ultimately be the ones who shot the lock off the gates of Auschwitz. "You fought two enemies, the Nazis, and prejudice. And you have won." President Harry Truman said of them. Our Senator Dan Innouye left his arm in France, but continues to serve Hawaii and the nation without it.

Of course, it was US Marines off of the USS Boston in Honolulu Harbor who helped insure the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy and of the internationally recognized nation of Hawaii. We in Hawaii have a complicated relationship with the islands and people we love, and with the USA that our parents fought and sometimes died for. It's like being children of a complicated marriage; we love both of our parents, even if they disagree from time to time. The formal apology by Bill Clinton's administration was a good step, but only a step in resolving this relationship. . .

Yes, the military holds a lot of Hawaii land, including a big chunk of Waikiki. When you turn Right onto Kalia from Ala Moana Blvd, and drive past the Hilton's 3 heroic hula dancer statues, you are entering the heart of federal property. Fort DeRussy, the Hale Koa hotel, and, Kuroda Field are the sunny face of the military in Hawaii. Depleted uranium rounds, "ordinance reef" (off of leeward O`ahu), and the militarization of sacred Makua valley are the less than beautiful face of our military presence. See, that is a complicated relationship . . .

But today we say a big "Mahalo" to the men and women of every nation and tribe who put themselves at discomfort and risk to serve others. May our "leaders" respect them enough to deploy them with wisdom, discretion, and humanity. And thanks to you too, Dad!

A L O H A! Cloudia

Morning In Waikiki

Morning is a special time of day wherever you awaken, but gentle Waikiki mornings seem to have a distinct excitement and uniqueness about them every day. Perhaps it is those “first day of vacation” tingles pulsing through the trade winds. Or maybe it’s the poignancy of sunburned, baggage laden visitors yawning at the taxi stand, steeling themselves for the ordeal of returning to…. wherever else. It doesn’t matter where. Those of us in thrall to Waikiki wish them a sad Aloha, with a bit of a happy twinge (truth be told) that it’s not US (!) leaving the magic beach town; or not yet anyway!
Thoughtful Diamond Head shields us from the earlier dawn, letting us sleep in a bit, and Splash the harbor cat stirs in the pink basket of a little girl’s bicycle chained to the rack at the head of G – Dock. Little feline “Radar O’Reilly” will follow her hunger unerringly to a friendly early fisherman, McMuffin sharing tourist, or juicy trash can fish head. Then, satiated and casual, she will patrol the docks, keeping an eye on the Kolea and Java finches feeding on “her” bit of lawn. Then it’s time to snooze again, no doubt under the dark blue canvas of some neighbors covered boat, till it’s time to work for her dinner again, posing for vacation photos, and licking her paw in the afternoon sunlight. No one exactly “owns” Splash, but she has lots of friends, and lots of names, and is clearly too friendly and self possessed to be a feral wild child. She is simply part of the Ala Wai Harbor, part of our community.
Hard working Hilton, Ilikai, and Hawaii Prince workers fill almost every public parking space in the harbor on some days, like the morning tide rolling in, just as the hard working harbor residents leave for their jobs. And Stan the Man, who builds and maintains everything at the Hawaii Yacht Club walks his two miles from home, smoking like a narrow gauge Japanese locomotive, and saying funny-friendly things to everyone that matters as he passes.
Older (or younger!) couples whose very appearance screams: “Maine!” “Ohio!” “Stuttgart!” or “Beloit!” thoughtfully muse upon the tethered boats, and our alluring harbor bulletin boards where boats for sale, and crewing positions to Tahiti, are offered. Till the wife (usually it’s the wife) gets hungry for breakfast at the Harbor Pub and, clutching her discount coupon, drags her husband away from what “might have been” back to whirlwind vacation fun, Waikiki edition: the beach, the bar, the lunch, shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center, the world’s largest open-air mall, and finally, the bus to the Lu`au. Very few akamai souls will take a customized, really local and personal tour with Papa Al, or get off the beaten path by themselves to experience the wonders of America’s oldest China Town, the royal Iolani Palace, or the historical and breathtaking Pali Lookout. You came this far; so check out the stark and beautiful Ka Iwi coastline, and the lush, tropical Windward Side of our island of O`ahu while you’re here!
Then there are the lucky and blessed folks who simply rest and rejuvenate in the healing sands of Waikiki, this ancient spa favored by the Chiefs, Chiefesses, Kings and Queens of this kingdom by the sea. Very few modern people, I think, fully relax long enough to truly benefit from our medicinal breezes, chanting waves, and rustling palms. But Waikiki waits patiently as always, full of tangible magic for the lucky one who lets everything loose just to listen to the warm, the song of birds, and the laughing voices of children from all over the world playing together. Yes, too few of us surrender to the Lomi Lomi of Waikiki’s healing Mana. Try. . . You’ll like!
Having fallen under that magical spell, a lucky, blessed few of us never leave, like Splash the harbor cat waking to another gentle Waikiki morning. What will there be to eat today? Who will I smile upon or talk with on my slow progress up the beach this afternoon?
I hope that I will awaken here in Waikiki as long as my boat, my mooring permit, my luck, and my body hold up. Each day here is unique in beauty. . . like all the others, just because it opens its petals here in magical Waikiki. So the white doves of Fort DeRussy, Splash the harbor cat, and me, we’ll hold a place for you under the palms, right in front of the Hula Mound.
Till then. . . I’ll be here. . . Walking in Waikiki. . .

Aloha!


You can check out my novel: “Aloha Where You Like Go?” at Isle bookstores and at Amazon.com. MAHALO!

Hawaii Photos

Photos: A friend at Pokai Bay

Apapane by Carroll Cox

Robert Louis Stevenson

& Queen Liliuokalani

Queen Mum & Duke Kahanamoku

"I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound - if I can remember any of the damn things."
Dorothy Parker

A plug for my little novel.
"A wise little book masquerading as a
good story."

Young Man
Young man looks ahead
Old man looks back
The moment, a shiny penny,
Rolls unnoticed down the crack.

A L O H A! Cloudia

Hawaii Music Awards

Ted Trimmer photo:

Walking in Waikiki: Hawaii Music Awards
Cloudia Charters

A while back I attended the 10th Annual Hawaii Music Awards courtesy of my good friend Mark Coleman, who’s CD “Tunes With Love” won this year’s trophy for Rock & Roll. It was one of those “only in Waikiki” nights as winners took the stage to perform. Brittni Pavia wasn’t the youngster in the group anymore. First time winner Misaki, an ultra-poised, local middle school student with a really nice voice, just captured everyone’s attention. We even stopped eating when she sang! Waitiki, a group of deceptively young guys, lovingly interpreted the classic Polynesian Exotica of Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman along with nostalgic Hapa-Haole songs of Alfred Apaka and Mahi Beamer. Chicken Skin, eh? But lest you think that the new kids ran away with the evening, let me hasten to mention a few of our reliable local talents who please their many fans, and make new ones, everyday around town. Pierre Grille, that wizard, accompanied several groups in various musical styles all night. You should catch him some Friday night at The Dragon upstairs on Nu`uanu Avenue in Chinatown where he sometimes “solo-duets” playing trumpet with one hand and piano with the other! Fortunately local chanteuse Ginai keeps right up with him as they improvise, play obscure requests, and turn on a musical dime! Speaking of a masterful stage presence, Ernie Cruz Sr. who is patriarch of a large and talented clan including sons John Cruz, and Ernie Cruz Jr; got the whole place stomping with his Big Island Paniola (cowboy) music accompanied by his youngest daughter who also acquitted herself quite nicely on a solo number. Legends Manny K. Fernandez and Peter Apo also won well-deserved accolades this year. Mahalo to ALL who paddle this wonderful canoe that we call “Hawaiian Culture.” Which brings us to a surprise (to me!) winner: Aloha Joe of Alohajoe.com. Since 1994 this haole man on the continent has been web casting great Hawaiian music all over the world! Joe won an award this year for producing a tasty compilation CD entitled “Aloha From Paradise” and was seated with several tables of his listeners who joined his party from all over the world including England, Europe, Canada, and the continental USA! As far as I’m concerned, Aloha Joe is one hanai brother; thanks for sharing Hawaii’s healing magic with the world! . . . Saturday morning, walking down Kalakaua Avenue, I talked with quite a few couples who were exploring our beach town before embarking on cruises. Sure hope they come back sometime to spend more than an afternoon in Waikiki! . . . Arriving in Kapiolani Park where the Prince Kuhio Hawaii Folk Life Festival was taking place, I had the serendipity to catch kumu hula, songwriter, master musician, and Hawaiian cultural specialist Manu Boyd dancing the hula 'Makee Ailana' on the New Park Bandstand. Many folks don’t know that the bandstand is surrounded by ponds and water features because it was specially designed to recall that pleasant landmark (Makee’s Island) of King Kalakaua’s day, so we were seeing the hula in it's home spot! Hula certainly makes us all part of living history. Looking out at the gathered Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the Hula Halau, Canoe Paddling clubs, and our local artists, artisans, and food vendors, I couldn’t help but think that the Merrie Monarch (King Kalakaua's fond nickname) would be pleased that his beautiful park, and his beloved people still carry on their precious culture to this very day. So lucky we malahini (new-comers) who’ve joined them in Hawaii, eh? Walking back to the Ala Wai Harbor I was admiring the new Beachwalk project on Lewers Street when whom should I meet but everyone’s old pal Brickwood Galuteria! Brick played great local music for years on local radio, performs musically with Imai & friends on occasion, and even headed up the Hawaii State Democratic Party for a while! Now he’s consulting with Outrigger and others to make sure that Waikiki always maintains its uniqueness, which is founded on the Aloha of our gracious Hawaiian Host Culture. “So you’re out of the public eye.” “For now,” he replied with his eyes twinkling. Our next Senator? (Update: he was just elected State Senator for Waikiki!) . . . While down on Lewers, be sure to explore all the improvements. . . . While I adore a Ruth’s Chris steak, a Beard Papa crème puff, or gelato as much as anyone, I’m especially happy to see a favorite local eatery, like Top of Waikiki, continue to spread it’s wings and soar in this newly freshened area. Good local grinds (food), friendly service, and yes – REAL Hawaiian music are still on the menu…when you’re walking in Waikiki. . . . Aloha! Cloudia

Honolulu Nights

AhiAhi - Night.


It is the time of PO: darkness & mystery.

"Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"There they stand, the innumerable stars, shining in order like a living hymn, written in light." - N.P. Willis

"Cities, like cats, will reveal themselves at night." - Rupert Brooke

On the 'mainland', night skies are all about astronomy, science fiction and space travel; but in Hawaii star filled nights are redolent of myth and cultural memory. Hoku Lei`a (the star of gladness) led the people here to these islands in their voyaging canoes. The night sky speaks of voyages, but ancient ones. It is a map across time and the sea. Ancestors and gods, akua and amakua, look down here where all the action is. Jump in! Ahui Ho - We Go!

A L O H A!

Cloudia

Yes We CAN!

"You can always count on the U.S. to do the right thing - once it has exhausted the alternatives." - Winston Churchill

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

- Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt

In the days when the U.S. was being born through a declaration of independence, and a groundbreaking Constitution, one of our founding statesmen was scientist, thinker, inventor, writer/publisher, and bon vivant, Benjamin Franklin.

One afternoon, upon leaving the Pennsylvania Statehouse (which we call Independence Hall today) a passing tradesman asked him what was going on inside. Dr. Franklin told about a chair in the statehouse which had a half-sun carved upon it. "I look at that sun and ask myself if it is a rising, or a setting sun. Today I know that it is a rising sun. We have a free country, a democracy . . . if we can keep it."

I love the land of my birth; it's a natural way to feel. But lately I, and many other citizens, have been made to feel disloyal for calling our country back to it's better angels. My entire life has been lived in a time of culture war. Liberty, free opinion, civility, have all been damaged in some deep way. But now those warriors are getting on in age. A new generation of pragmatism, one motivated by high ideals, prepares to take center stage.

I have seen JFK rise and fall. Dr. King inspire and fall. I have seen humans walk on the moon, polio defeated, the Berlin wall's demise, and the turn of a century from "19" to "20". But NEVER have I experienced a moment in history like this one.

Last night's weather forecast: "High Clouds Clearing Tomorrow."

Perhaps the Hawaiian way has rubbed off on me, but I can read messages in those skies:

Yes. The shadow will be off of our high places soon. The sun seems to be rising.

We know that trauma lives on in the body and the mind, and that it can span generations ("The sins of the father"). Today the brow of every American of color is smoother. The conscience of every European-American is lighter. My bi-racial nephew will grow up in a changed world. Dr. King did not live to get here with us, but WE AS A PEOPLE are entering a promised land. A land where the great ideals of America are a little more tangible. Where we listen to each other "especially when we disagree." Where the 'heavy lifting' can begin.

"Free at last, Free at last. Thank God almighty we're free at last."

Today my flag is wholly sweet to me again; once more it represents values higher than torture, and endless war. It belongs to me as a citizen, representing my fondest ideals and aspirations again. New solutions are at hand and we are all a part of them.

This morning George W. Bush made a gracious, articulate speech that I listened to without rising blood pressure. It was addressed to me, to all of us as one people.

English drinking song during the American Revolution: "The world turned upside down."

An age of Miracles has begun! A L O H A! Cloudia