The Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands

     There is nothing like an exotic trip to the Hawaiian Islands, from the world class shopping along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, to all the adventures you can stand, from diving, to whale watching, to paddle surfing it’s all available. In the Hawaiian Islands you can find what you are looking for. For me it is a journey, a journey into the Hawaiian life and the great culture that abounds if you are willing to get off the beaten path and understand the details that are presented to you.

     Our trip started in Maui on the beaches of Kaanapali, where we stayed at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel. The staff was always accommodating as I started to feel the spirit of Aloha. As with most places you stay you find the staff to be friendly, which is normally written off as being part of the job, but not here. I got a sense that this is a way of life as I started to feel the peace and tranquility of my surroundings. I ventured out and went to the local craft show in Lahaina where talked with many people that live on the island and they too had a quality that was tranquil. The more I spoke with the people of Maui the more I came to realize the spirit of Aloha, but the moment I knew in my heart was the day we were checking out and went to the Aloha ceremony. The host explained that this ceremony had been started eight years ago to start a healing process. To heal the wounds that were opened from the attacks of the world trade center by using the spirit of Aloha. I could feel the power of her conviction as she spoke and as she put the lei over my head I could feel the Hawaiian spirit of Aloha engulf my being.

     The lei is made of the Kukui nut which was and still is a very important part of the traditional Hawaiian culture. The Kukui nut was the Hawaiians fuel source long before we ever thought about bio-fuels. This is just one more instance of ancient knowledge we should learn from. The lei that is pictured is the lei from the ceremony. The kukui nuts that have the white streak are from the ocean salt. The host used these to commemorate the 50 years of the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to statehood, but we will leave that for another day.

     This is my vacation to the Hawaiian Islands and as I close my eyes I return to the place of Aloha and tranquility fills my soul. Aloha…