'OLE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF THE HAWAIIAN MOON CALENDAR: 'ole start today

We observe the 'ole days and nights as my Hawaiian ancestors did observe and practice.  Rather than plant new projects or activities we'll review or weed the ones we've already started.  No new posts during the 'ole cycle.

From the site on Lunar Calendar of the Hawaiian Islands (on our sidebar here at Makua O'o)

7.  'Olekukahi (first 'Oleku, days 7-10 mark the transition from less than half-lit moon to the more than half-lit moon): "the farmer does not plant on this day" (Kepelino); "'Ole" means "nothing," so planting and fishing may be not productive in the three "'ole" days [7-9 on the lunar calendar] (Handy and Handy).




8. 'Olekulua (second 'Oleku; Olekulua is the first quarter moon; the names for days 7-10 match the names of days 21-24 of the last quarter moon.): "farmers generally dislike it for planting"; "a good night for torching fishing" (Kepelino).



9. 'Olekukolu (third 'Oleku): "the farmer thinks little of this day"; "a good night for torch-fishing" (Kepelino).



10. 'Olepau (last 'Oleku): "it is a productive day, say the cultivators" (Kepelino). "Pau" means "end" so non-productivity is at an end (Handy and Handy).

Esperanto ... the universal language KNOWLEDGE IS FOUND IN MANY PLACES

Here's something to consider just before the 'Ole Cycle begins tomorrow (lasting three nights this time ... for it is the Ho'onui Phase ... the phase when the moon is getting full).  CJ Wright keeper of the space called Auntie Moon has ideas for making good use of the Sun's occupancy in Aquarius.  One of the 12 things CJ suggested as a 'To Do' during the days and nights of Aquarius is "learn a phrase in Esperanto the universal language."  That immediately caught my eye and my love of language.  Thanks CJ.

Here's the link to a few phrases of Esperanto.  Something new before new things are set on review and rewind, what fun!

Rainbow Tree's Eclectic Oracle Blogging: Oracle Message from the Fairy Realm "Dreams Coming True"

Rainbow Tree's Eclectic Oracle Blogging: Oracle Message from the Fairy Realm "Dreams Coming True"

Sometimes a seeming disaster makes room for the miracle of something yet to be. Yesterday I found Rainbow Tree's message from the Fairy Realm (in the culture of Hawaii, these small folk might be called Menehune ... although I would also name them as 'aumakua ...). While we search for our next Word-crafter aka 'Ruby II' there are

"WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS THAT SURROUND ME NOW, And My heart is
filled with gratitude."
Mahalo Rainbow Tree for sharing the messages (I got it~)

Mokihana

Our Ruby (the laptop) has died

The title says it all.  For the story and our ka hea (call) for ideas go here.

Kaulana Mahina ... naming the phases of Mahina and being in the flow

A bit of ke'ia and kela (skipping and linking to sites of interest, and visits to our other blogs)

The three night 'Ole Cycle of Mahina (the moon) during 'Emi or Waning phase is pau, and productive fishing and planting resumes.  This link will introduce you, dear readers, to the site created by Kapi`olani Community College on the Island of O`ahu, Hawai'i.  A tremendous resource for cultural material and education.  We have been involved in plenty of internal weeding and restoration.  Click here to read how the asteroid CHIRON is doing some very deep restoration work this Winter.

CJ Wright author of the blog Auntie Moon, astrologer and curator of all things Mahina, has become one of my favorite blog stops.  Her recent article about the phases of the moon for 2010 along with activities that suit the astrology of the moon's phases is a very cool way to keep in the flow of things.  To read CJ's article click here.

Na Mea Wai Wai Hawaii

"There is life in a kindly reply"
Ua ola no i ka pane a ke aloha

Yesterday I found an email from another Hawaiian native living not far from us . 'The beautiful bird' is living in Portland, Oregon and was searching for an 'olelo no'eau (a Hawaiian proverb). She gave me a brief idea of the reason for her asking, and then the search was on. In times past I carried a library of treasured print resources. Among those books were a basic 'ohana (family) of resources that had been passed to me from teachers, purchased from book stores, and gifted me by friends and family. The decade of travel and wandering as Pete and I simplify and cull and are asked to zen down even more quickly (MCS can do that) means that library of books is minimalized. Multiple chemical sensitivities for me includes being sensitive to and reactive to the chemicals used to print and assemble books, magazines, and other print. The loss has devastated me in the earliest times. Slowly, the loss has turned to acceptance and now it does please me that those books are with my son, my niece and others who were ready for the teaching.

Yesterday's kahea (the call) inspired me and motivated both Pete and me to find the tiny library of Na Mea Hawaii (things of Hawaii) that we do still keep with us. With concentrated effort, Pete found the tiny stack of cards printed with the collection of Hawaiian proverbs assembled and preserved by kupuna Mary Kawena Pukui. The cards fit in Pete's palm, and for many years, and through thousands of wandering miles over oceans, continent and islands those tiny cards have been a daily comfort. Kupuna Kawena, scholar and teacher is among the revered and valued human treasures of culture -- music, language and living practices -- of Na Mea Wai Wai Hawaii. I used to carry and keep close the tome of a book written by Kupuna Kawena, 'Olelo No'eau to do my work with community, used it to add meaning to a project or piece of writing that I was working with, or when I simply needed a bit of wisdom to ground me.

Yesterday's kahea and search led to rediscover the value of those beautifully worn snippets of timeless wisdom. Among them was something the young wahine Hawai`i found fitting for her purpose. So cool! The search also led me to discover that archives and electronic access to Hawaiian language, and archives of Kupuna Kawena's 'Olelo No'eau are available to those who have access to cyberspace. Aue! I have included links to a few of those electronic connections. There is power in the word and to see how a culture and language that teetered on the edge of extinction can now be accessed through electronic libraries, wow, we are indeed not in control of how life will proceed in the hands of generations to come.

Three on-line resources to access NA WAI WAI HAWAI'I:

'OLELO NO'EAU Archives Selected proverbs assembled at Leeward Community College on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii

ULUKAU (Electronic Hawaiian Dictionary) A project created by Aha Punana Leo (the Hawaiian language immersion schools of Hawaii)

The Kumulipo (The Hawaiian Sacred Texts of Creation) This one the translation done by Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last reigning queen, done during her house arrest when Americans were stealing the 'aina.

The Makua O'o practices using the o'o
"Know that wisdom is found in many places … SOFTEN THE GROUND OF YOUR BEING"

Keep a keen sense of observation ... NOTICE

Pete and I have been on a crisp, invigorating walk not far from the Mill Town and yet far enough to be a part of the wild. Along the wide-spreading Snohomish River, the asphalt walkway is rising in places, rising like miniature volcanoes where the roots of maples and trees whose names we don't know expand as they do in nature course. Though the sound of traffic from a nearby freeway is a din for company, the whole of the Snohomish Valley command our attention and I feel the wild. It's a wet New Year's Eve here in the Pacific Northwest.

Our plan for the end of 2009 include a pan of homemade blueberry and cornmeal pan bread, pot roasted chicken with carrots and the movie Julie and Julia with Merle(yupps, sorry Meryl) Streep. We love Julia Child and Merle Streep, so dinner with that movie promises a well-fed and entertaining conclusion to a very full year.Tonight is Mahealani Moon, the full moon and a Blue Moon. The tides will be full, the river was at full flood as we walked alongside. It seemed to be in no rush to go any way as we walked a good clip the river was just present. Pete and I shared stories while we walked, and more stories as we sat earlier in our favorite bakery restaurant. The subject of memories of the old men in our lives ... the old men who were old when we were very young. Elsa P wrote a wonderfully rich post with pictures of the old men who came to the bar where she tended bar at 19. I read the post and followed the link to a story of a precious man who in so many ways tended that young Elsa, preparing her well for the life she would live decades later. Elsa's story tapped the memories in me of old men who were part of the small kid times of my Hawaii. My Dad and his drinking buddies, Mr. Pung the neighborhood Fuller Brush Man/Insurance Man/WearEver Cookwear/Cutlery Man/Never-a-silent moment Man, Uncle Bob the first and old black man in the valley/our new door neighbor/Ebony Magazine subscriber, Tata Pacheco fishnet maker, cigar smoking prophet and teller of tales that made my father laugh and cry at the same time. Pete remembers the old men who taught him to keep that shovel moving, never standing still on the job-site, setting standards he has maintained on his way to becoming that old man himself.

We are becoming that old man, that old woman. This year has filled with ventures and adventures neither of us could have imagined and surely they were not the stories we heard when we were surrounded by the old men (and old women). The old man Father Time will wrap up one more year in a few hours. The year has been filled with time noticed and time invisible to us because we were so busy with time.We are grateful for the enduring nature of our journey sometimes such a struggle it has felt like our undoing. And yet, we have walked along the river together and enjoyed the time today noticing, remembering, appreciating just how far we have come.We send you prayers and wishes for a good year ending, and hope the new one is filled with many times of noticing how wild this life really is.

If you're wondering what the Moon is like tonight ...

From the The Native Hawaiian Moon Calendar
Mahealani
(Sixteenth night)

Mahealani is the second night in which the moon does not set until after sunsrise. It is the last of the four full moons and is also considered the 'calendar' full moon. Mahea means 'hazy, as moonlight' and the plants are prolific and large on this night. This time is good for all kinds of work. Currents run strong at this time but fishing is good.

Kulu
(Seventeenth night)
On this night the moon's rising is delayed until after darkness sets in. Kulu means 'to flow, as tears'. The banana's sheath drops off on this day, not unlike falling tears, exposing its new bunch. It is a good time for potatoes and melons. This is the time for offering the seasons first fruits to akua. Currents are strong, but it is a good time for fishing.

Hauoli Makahiki Hou Kakou (happy new year to you all)

Mokihana and Pete