Aloha is the most widely used, the most sacred and the most powerful word in the Hawaiian language. While most first-timers to Hawaii think it is a word used in greeting, meaning hello, goodbye or love but its true usage means volumes more. It is one of the two words that most represent the values that are cherished and treasured in the Hawaiian culture, the other being Mahalo.

Happy Holidays Everyone!,

     Pearl Harbor is on of the top tourist destinations in Hawaii. The National Park Service designation is the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. As you are making your plans to see Pearl Harbor, there are a few things to know.

     There are very few places in Hawaii with a dress code, but this is one of them. While you don’t need to dress up and aloha wear is appropriate, swim wear is not. This is a very special place and the sanctity of the site is maintained in part by not allowing swim wear or clothing of a profane or questionable nature. Military personnel are expected to be appropriately dressed. Bags, purses, fanny packs, diaper bags, etc is not allowed in the park area. There are lockers that you can use to store these items for a fee at the front of the visitors center. 

     Kalaupapa is on the island of Molokai and is a national park. If the name isn’t ringing a bell, let me add this bit of information; it was Hawaii’s leper colony from 1866 until 1969. Leprosy is a disease that has been around for at least 4,000 years. The name is from the Greek meaning fish scales.

     Leprosy is more properly known as Hansen’s disease can be very disfiguring and contagious, although there does appear to be a natural immunity. Today Hansen’s disease is cured with antimicrobial therapy and the patient is not contagious after about two weeks of treatment. But years ago when there was no cure, the only known solution was to isolate the patient. Leprosy was a slow death sentence.

     The USS Missouri was built during World War II, although her keel had already been laid when Pearl Harbor was attacked. She was commissioned in June of 1944 and sailed into Pearl Harbor on Christmas Eve of that same year.  It was a rather modest beginning for this famous ship. 

     The Mighty Mo was assigned to the Third Pacific Fleet, to build up the fleet that had been destroyed. She had impressive firepower with her nine 16 inch guns. She also had 20 anti-aircraft guns. She completed many missions during WWII, not the least of which was being the flag ship for Admiral Bull Halsey.  This historic ship definitely got to see its fair share of battle, for good or bad.

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     The Eye of Kanaloa is an ancient Hawaiian symbol which you see when you gaze into the eye of the God of the Ocean, Kanaloa. It is a powerful healing symbol as Kalanoa, whose name means “great peace” or “great stillness” is also a god of healing as he channels the energy “mana” from Io, the Source, to healing disease.

     Imagine a round spiderweb with four concentric circles ringing outwards and 8 spokes of a wheel radiating from the center circle. In the smallest circle in the center is a 7-armed star with a dot in the middle.  The overall pattern depicts the web of life, or the Aka Web, representing the interconnectedness of life. In the center of this web is the shaman or the conscious individual who knows that he or she weaves the pattern of the life lived or to be experienced. The conscious person is the dreamweaver.

     The first big waves of the winter season have arrived in Hawaii as an early Christmas present for locals and tourists alike. Huge 40 foot waves with the occasional 50 footer caused the red high surf flags to be flying along the north shores of Hawaii coasts. In fact the North Shore of Hawaii was closed to ensure the safety of folks who might like to try their skills against these huge waves.

     The storm system that produced the waves in Hawaii went on to cause a huge snow storm with high winds in the center of the continental United States. Although Hawaii just received the waves and no storms. So how are these huge waves formed and why aren’t there always huge waves in Hawaii?