Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Niu Ola ... Tree of Life

The New Moon and the Solar Eclipse (June 1, 2011) is a powerfully creative time.  New Moon (emptied of sun's light) is a phase of filling the mind-body-soul with clear direction and intent.  June is the time of Gemini the sign of communication and transportation of all kinds (your car, your transporting of ideas and thoughts, words). 

My journey as makua o'o began deliberately when I met and apprenticed with Kupuna Aunty Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins.  She introduced me to the practice, sharing her Momma's definitions of an adult on the path to becoming an elder.  I was already well along the chronological road when I met Aunty Betty, already fifty.  The structure of makua o'o the nine tools listed on the tool-bar to the right is something a Scorpio-sun woman with lots of Saturn in her signature thrives upon.  I see the value in knotting threads together and routinely break knots that confine only to rethread my needle to string again.  The years of practice with the makua o'o's tools have been fruitful, serving me to keep on when maluhiluhi. 

The weekend just passed reunited me with a kumu who inspired a spark of exploration decades before my meeting with Aunty Betty.  During my years as a student at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, at a time when all the knots of investigating and becoming were loose, I sat in one history class with the only Hawaiian professor I would meet as an undergraduate.  Young in my understanding of my own history, Rubellitte Kawena Johnson spoke with a clear, strong voice and challenged knowingly the tentativeness of my mind.  This weekend I found that role model back in my life again.  She probably in her eighties, and me sixty-two.  Once again, she has changed me for the good, stirring me to assume I can climb the coconut tree.  Have you climbed a coconut tree with bare feet?  I have not. 

Among the teachings of Kumu Kawena I listened and watched her tell the story of her Puna grandmother to whom Rubellitte Johnson credits with her strength of character and determination.  The gist of this wonderful story is this:

At age 5, young Rubellitte was told to climb the coconut tree at her tutu's house.  The 10 or 15 foot tall coconut tree seemed an impossible challenge to the girl.  She told her tutu, "I cannot.  I'll fall down."  Her tutu said, "You can.  Just .... (she talked the girl through the process)."  At 4 feet tall, her tutu was shorter than young "Ruby."  Without benefit of pants to protect her legs and body from climbing, the girl climbed only to reach the crown of the tree and have to balance and then pick, how many coconuts?  "8 coconuts for all the aunties and uncles coming."  "I cannot,"  The girl told her tutu.  "Yes, you can.  Just ... and again her tutu showed her how to twist the coconut to loosen its hold.  5 year old Ruby did that.  Bam!  Down the coconut came.  Before she was 8 years old Ruby could climb trees 20 feet tall.  To watch Kumu Kawena tell that story, join our Malama I Ka Ha workshop and join in the story-telling.


Niu Ola, coconut tree, tree of life, kinolau of the God Ku.  Straight, up-right and sustaining the story of young Ruby is life-giving inspiration.  I drink it like the electrolyte rich water of niu ola.  The story, the reunion, the value beyond rational thinking cultivates my nature and I pass it along. 

Who are the role models in your life?  Are you the role model for the life you wish to live?

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Lono Moon

The last phases of the Anahulu Ho'Emi (the third 10 day week of the Kaulana Mahina) include two kapu moons -- reminding us contemporary kanaka, to give thanks for all the care given during the Malama (month) about to end. Nothing ends, nothing dies, all is ever-recreated, but cycles pass and that is what study and practice with life in the flow is about. From the coolness of the Quonset hut kitchen-writing place in the woods, the pot of water for washing dishes steams up: the hot water is ready to do its work. I will need to stop this story to wash dishes or turn the water off and do them later. I'm feeling maluhiluhi. My pace is reduced, resting and giving thanks for the malama, I've been horizontal more than up-right. A few dishes left from the delicious French-toast breakfast I stirred together are what needs washing up so dinner pots and pans can fill with the fish stew I'm dreaming up. So, the makua o'o's life is many things, an abundance of horizontals and up-right positions carried out with a variety of speeds. The love for writing flows too as this work is hand work, real work carried out not by talking about it, but crafting it with the fingers and hands. The same hands that need to do the dishes.


Maluhiluhi. Did you click on that link and read the definition or did you glean meaning from the context; or did you know already? Glancing at the clock on the computer, I gauge the time between writing and re-filling my body with nourishment. That French toast breakfast was many hours ago, the need for something ono and nourishing stirs. To get from dirty dishes to fresh pot of fish stew will mean using the reduced level of energy wisely. The steam still rises from the water on the burner, the stew will take less than a hour to prepare and serve, Pete will be back in a couple hours, my energy and this tale are in a complementary flow.

Kaulana Mahina, the Hawaiian Moon Calendar and system of tracking the Moon's influences on Earth is such an inclusive and encompassing practice. Tied inseparably with the Hawaiian perspective of the environment that includes ALL EXISTENCE (seen and unseen) the kahuna observed time, over the long time ... ho'omanawanui. With diligence and regularity the observable became cycles upon which people counted. Today and tonight, the Lono Moon is one where the gods of harvest and abundance are acknowledged, thanked and included in the whole of living.

Pete is planting the three butternut squash starts this afternoon in our garden down the road. Squash shaped like the ipu, the gourd are the shape and kinolau of the god Lono. I consulted my written material, still practicing, and remembering, unlearning Gregorian counting (the calendar on your wall) and told Pete, "Yes, look Lono is a time to plant ipu-shaped food." With that intent, we give thanks to the gods who sustain us, who malama us. It is fitting that our well-ness include mahalo, thanks so more comes. We notice, we feel, we look: "Time to wash dishes. Time to give thanks. Time to plant." The kupuna and kahuna did there work, time for me to wash the dishes.

A NOTE and PREVIEW:

This post appears on the Workshop-study blog MALAMA I KA 'AINA.  The content and depth of study that takes place in our workshops include this style of storytelling woven with specific examples of connection between the Hawaiian perspective and my/your/our today.  The study group has ventured through two malama (months) of exploration, and next month the teachings from one of my first kumu (teacher) Rubellitte "Ruby" Kawena Kinney Johnson weaves itself into MALAMA I KA HA (care for the breath).  Her scholarship and her sense of Hawaiian perspective will widen the net of knowledge.  I am totally excited with this reknewed connection. 

I strongly encourage any readers and followers to consider the value and timing of this upcoming workshop.  I did not anticipate the work that is unfolding from these workshop -- I listened to the call and said, "Yes."  MALAMA I KA HA starts on Muku, Hawaiian New Moon, Tuesday, May 31st.  Click here to read about MALAMA I KA HA.

Aloha,
Mokihana

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Malama I Ka Ha ... the next Kaulana Mahina Workshop, starts May 31st

The practice of 'malama' is the underlying theme of story-telling for the workshops that we began in April.  I've called them Count on the Moon Workshops because they are just that: a way to gather and pay attention to the regular and cyclical nature of Mahina's thirty phase journey around our Earthly planet.  This up-coming workshop is the third monthly study group, focused on caring for the breath, malama i ka ha.  A small group has begun to paddle the wa'a kaulua into exploring the intuitive nature of Mahina.  When we began the workshop, the inspiration to share Kaulana Mahina came from the saving grace of the seven 'Ole Moons of rest-recoup-realignment.  Personally, Pete and I found the gentle yet powerful cradle of the 'Ole Moons much like any one finds grace during the chaos of loss.  We began new lives through our reconnection with Mahina, and each month since these workshops began, we learn more.

The Hawaiian month is also named 'Malama' so in the kaona (multiple meaning) of words, each workshop is a study of malama, caring.  The study is organic, and grows from the personal experiences of the phases; coming to know each month with care, we feel Mahina's effects not only on what we plant, or harvest, but feel Mahina's influence in our selves.  June is a month of attending to and caring for the breath.  Without breath/ha there is no life.  AloHA.  I see the breath of life in you. 

We would like to widen our service to our followers, so invite those of you who have visited and read Makua O'o over the while.  This month we've simplified registration, the workshop will be available for $20.  You can begin the Kaulana Mahina study with this workshop at the $20 price, and if in the future you choose to study previous workshops, they will be available at $20 per workshop.

A preview of the Malama I Ka Ha Workshop will be available soon.  We hope you'll feel moved to jump in and feel the heartbeat of Kaulana Mahina The Hawaiian Moon Calendar, and make time to breathe deeply during this June workshop.

To register for the Malama I Ka Ha Workshop

email ssvardoATgmailDOTcom 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

UKULELE

One of the things that has added fun to life is playing ukulele.  We left Everett more than a year ago, and one of the gifts that came with us is an old soprano ukulele.  Slowly, I began plucking at the strings.  Slowly, I added whistling with the plucking.  I knew three chords:  C major, C7 and F.  My tentative strumming warmed me up, stirred things long asleep.  Three chords, whistles and melodies from the somewheres just wanted to play!  A year later, I play a few more chords, whistle and sing to my kitty, my Pete and the hundreds of trees that are my favorite company. 

People around our community are asking, "Do you play (ukulele)?"  I've said, "Yes, and I sing, too."  Last fall my son was visiting and he said, "Mom, I didn't know you could sing?"  So many parts of a person wait.  And then, time comes when the waiting parts say, "Now, for something completely different."  I'm humming, whistling and practicing the song E KU'U MORNING DEW, written by Larry Kimura and Eddie Kamae.  My friend Lizzie is practicing that song too, on her baritone ukulele.  Someday the two of us will be in the same place with our ukulele and then watch out.  Led Kaapana's rendition is inspiration, and pure enjoyment for me.  Hope you enjoy it, too. 

Do you play?


MAKUA O'O is being REMODELED

I am doing SPRING CLEANING here at Makua O'o.  After three years, I feel the urge to make a few changes.  I've started with adding the beautiful painting of ULU (breadfruit) because Pete and I are so missing the flavor of the delicious starchy, ono food! 

Things will shift and change over the next day.  Please enjoy what is here, and then expect a little dust to fly as I move bits out and move bits in. 

Hauoli La,
Mokihana

Monday, May 9, 2011

Lists



Are you a list maker?  I have made lists in my life, but don't so much these days.  Maybe making blogs has replaced making lists.  My friend was out in the garden across the orchard that separates their house from our tiny homes.  I saw her red sweatshirt and knew she was putting in the veggie starts she bought at yesterday's Tilth Farmers' Market.  I walked over to chat and see if she needed some help.  "Hey," I said.  She'd already heard the clatter of the gate at the far end of the orchard so she was alert to me heading her way.  "I'll take it from here,"  the starts were mostly in the rich dark lepo.  I took over the watering and then we just chatted about the current state of duck and chicken land, and this question:  "How much food does a family need to feed themselves?"

Whidbey Island is the largest island in the Northern Hemisphere, approximately 60 miles from tip to toe.  We live in one of the wooded communities in So. Whidbey and in a year we have experienced --seen, heard and got ourselves in touch with the enterprise and energy of people mobilized.  A ferry separates So. Whidbey from the 'mainland' (never did like that word from my Hawaiian Island times) and makes a big difference in the way life is lived.  We live in a rural place.  People garden, people farm, people raise their food and sell their food and mobilize around the keia ma kela (the everyday stuff) of food and sustaining practices. 

The question "How much food does a family need to feed themselves?"  came from conversation between my planting friend and her friend/our friend.  Well, I thought that was a good question, but thought maybe we needed to start with another question and that's where the 'list making' comes in.  Before you answer how much food a family (your family) nees to feed themselves start here:

WHAT do you and your family eat now?

While Mahina moves into the four 'ole moons of the First Quarter, that's a good review and consider kind of thing to do.  We're planting our first gardens in many years, and eating eggs from our chickens though not eating the chickens who lay the eggs.

I think I'll start them lists again and see what comes of it.  You?

Sunday, May 1, 2011

May Day ... May Pole, Lei Day

Aloha May Day!

The beautiful 1st day of May is here, and hope it is there for you wherever you find yourself.  Pete is already out of the Quonset and on his way to the South Whidbey Tilth Gardens.  It's the first day of Farmer's Market at the Tilth, and the rumor is there will be a May Pole. When I was a girl, in first day, at 'Aina Haina School, I have a memory of a May Pole.  Mrs. Nobriga was my first grade teacher, the flag pole might have been the school May Pole, I see ribbons and flowers, I see children circling the pole.  Since then I have never been part of a May Pole Celebration.  I'm hoping that will change today at the Tilth gardens.

May 1st is also Lei Day in Hawaii.  My mother, my tutu, and my mother's tutu were lei makers.  I see those lei makers in my heart and I write and think most especially about the plumeria trees at the Kuliouou place.  I see Ma stringing carnation lei, pikake lei.  I see my brother stringing fragrant lei from the blossoms the cover the wire fences surrounding his home in Waimanalo.

I have strung lei of words and ideas:  I teach what I learn, teach myself as much as any who might come.  Lei is a gift, an art, timeless.  And you?  What lei do you string?