ROAD TRIP DAY 1

E-mail to Rod Mon Mar 12

I Drove on the 19 along the north shore. So many different ecological zones occur within such a small area. It was pouring rain in the rainforest when I left. There was some rain in cattle country. And it was dry on the crossing over to the coast where golden grasses sway scattered amongst dark chocolate brownie-like rock surface (like when the topping cracks) which are sprinkled for miles along the roadside with white pebbles spelling out different messages, heart shapes and other symbols by travellers. Finally as I headed down the coast to Kailua-Kona there was not the sun that I was promised. The sky was cloud covered but still it was warmer and dryer and I enjoyed listening to Izzy and reggae on a local radio station and drinking ice Kona dark roast coffee mmmmm along the way.

Bill's directions were pretty good though missing some details. I'd google mapped it last night and was able to get within a few blocks before calling Joseph (the house manager) who directed me the rest of the way and gave me the key. I was considering renting a garmin for the trip but thought, "how lost can you get on a trip like this" and I also don't have much luck with those devices so I was better to do the google thing as it helps me orient myself to the terrain.

Bill's Place in Kailua-Kona

kids boogie boarding at sunset at Magic Beach

sunset at Magic Beach

in the distance, the work of the menehune at THE FISHBOWL

view from THE COFFEE SHACK

view from where I sat at THE COFFEE SHACK

After settling in I ate 1/2 of the lunch I had Kalani pack for me (a curried chicken wrap) and some almonds that Ellen gave me before she left and then headed out to Kahalu'u Beach aka THE FISH BOWL so named due to the many colourful fish found there. I wasn't disappointed! Though it was overcast they were still brilliant. And, I came upon yet another turtle. The water there has some thermals as the bay is spring fed. It is quite protected due to an out-cropping of rocks supposedly put there by the menehune (small people like fairies who work at night to get things done and excel at stonework) so that the fish would be contained there but the gods of surfing didn't want the job completed as it would ruin the surfing and so somehow the menehune were tricked into leaving it uncompleted. Lifeguards hang out on surfboards at the mouth of the bay due to rip tides which can take unwary swimmers up island. Though there could be surfing here it was too calm today. It's meant more for experienced surfers as rocks and coral are everywhere.

I came back to Bills, showered and then headed out to La'aloa Bay aka Magic or White Sands Beach a protected little beach where kids and families go to boogie board and body surf. It was a great place to watch the sun go down through the clouds. Not a spectacular sunset but a lovely one with families hanging out, people fishing and 2 lone swimmers way out in the bay. There is a Kapu (sacred site nearby) which demonstrates how important the land was and still is for the Hawaiians. I haven't taken pictures of these places in order to respect their sacredness.

I came back to Bill's at about 7:30, ate the rest of my "lunch" and watched HOUSE. As I haven't had any brain candy for over a week so I thought I'd indulge. I was going to go out to a café but I discovered that the place has a clothes washer and dryer. Everything's been so damp out at Puna that I found the idea of doing laundry (even if just the few items I had with me) strangely compelling.  So I did some hand washing only to find that the machine takes 4 quarters. I only had one. In order not to disturb the rest of the residents I'd have to go into town, come back and put the very small load in before it got too late. I ended up hanging my clothes outside on the patio using my travelling clothes line. I'm hoping they'll be dry by tomorrow. If not I'll just spread them out when I get into some sun.

Tomorrow my road trip continues on my way back to Kalani and hula class at 7:30p.m. I plan to have some great coffee and brekkie at The Coffee Shack (http://www.coffeeshack.com) which Deborah said, "is awesome for breakfast and lunch $$-$$$" and it has a great view. I'm planning to kayak, swim with fish and maybe dolphins, if they're into it.

Life doesn't get any better than this!

Hi all,

I returned from my amazing road trip tonight and I'm bagged. So no pics tonight. But I promise more tomorrow night.

NOTE: I published this last night, but for some reason it didn't go through so I'm re-posting it today Wed Mar 14th.

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FB entry Sun Mar 11:

I swam with wild dolphins today!!! Got a FREE massage at Kehena beach!! Ate food I didn't have to think about, buy or prepare!!! Life just doesn't get any better than this!!!

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Letter to Rod - Sunday Mar 11

Some people thought that they changed time in Hawaii just to stay in synch with the rest of the states but I discovered this is not so. My alarm sounded at what I thought was 7:00, having set my clock forward last night, but it didn't feel right so I got on to the computer and found out that the time here hadn't changed. I really wasn't sure about it til I went to the dining lanai to confirm it. I hadn't heard the conch at 7:30 so I felt something was off.

This was my first morning without anyone from the group but I'd talked to some of the English country dancers and 2 young women who are here on personal retreats last night and saw them again this morning. One of the women had been at the life drawing class. One of the English country dancers is a Hawaiian woman who also teaches Hula. There are people from all over. I haven't heard an English accent out of the group yet; Swedish yes, but no Brits. One woman told me that there was a workshop held in Egypt last year. Apparent'y it's more popular outside of England. Go figure.

Though the day started out quite rainy it cleared up and showed promise so I walked to Kehena Beach about 30 mins away. I took supplies with me and planned to return for lunch at noon. There were only a few people when I got there at 9:45 and they said they sighted dolphins out in the bay. Anthony (the dream group's guide) showed up and we went out together. I was glad to have him with me as he's familiar with the currents and proved to be a strong swimmer. He said if we stuck together the dolphins would be more likely to come around as they swim in pods and a solitary figure seems somewhat pathological to them. Well, whether that was it or not they did come around. I heard the sound of the blowholes first and turned in time to see 3 - 4 to our left. They crested the surface of the water many times and a bunch of them took turns leaping out of the water some spinning too. It was amazing!!! We were so caught up with the dolphins that we didn't notice the current taking us south. It was no biggie to swim back in line with the beach but was a good head's up as to how it can sneak up on you. The Hawaiian woman had recommended I not snorkel til I got familiar with points of reference and the current; good advice. She said you have to look up frequently to get your bearings which is what I did.

I'm very lucky to have seen the dolphins as one beach regular, who's very familiar with them, swum with them and given them names, said that there haven't been too many around since after Christmas. Someone else said the same thing tonight at the yoga class.

I also got a free massage at the beach from a guy who was much in demand. Everyone at the beach knows him. He's kind of like Rick in our neighbourhood - the neighbourhood watch guy. He's a 3rd generation Hawaiian, married with 5 kids, his grandfather came over from the Azores. Anyway, his technique was really good - kind of lomi, lomi like. He learned from a woman who he used to train with. He worked on the dolphin woman and a young woman who's been a friend of his for a few years.

His friend Andrew is one of those people who have put offers in on some lava land out at Kalapana. He hopes to get 5 lots at $5,000 each. (I think that's the price. I'm not sure how big a lot is.) He figured that he'd get a better price if he put in for more than one. He will build inexpensive homes on the land - ones that can be taken down quickly should the flow come back that way. Apparently they had a few months notice on the last flow and there's no guarantee that the flow wouldn't turn in that direction again in the future though it's miles away at this time.

I left for Kalani around 1:30. I thought I'd be fried if I didn't as the sun was pretty strong today. I went to Hale Aloha and had some mango ice cream and read for a bit. Went back to my hale and snoozed for about 1 hr and then went to yoga at 5 which was pretty good.

Last night I had a sauna and swam at the pool before heading off to bed. Tonight I'll skip it as I'm pretty bagged and I'm off at 9 with the shuttle to Hilo and then driving to the Kona side. Everything seems to have fallen into place. I did have some difficulty getting the rental agreement sent back to Bill but was helped at Hale Aloha last night. We all fumbled around with it and got it sorted out. I thought there'd be some tekkies here, but not so. People have been so helpful, it is amazing. I've been really fortunate. I got an e-mail from the woman who had recommended the rental, Anthony's girlfriend, wishing me a good trip.

So, my sweet that's my adventures of the day. It has been incredible and I'm looking forward to more adventures tomorrow.

I'll be thinking of you on my little road trip and wishing you were here with me. I'll try and take more pics.

Pele, Flying and English country dancers

Exerpt from an e-mail to Rod

Sat March 10th. 

Yesterday (Fri) 3 of us went to a special sacred site with a local shaman to give an offering to Pele the Goddess of fire, lightning, wind and volcanoes. We did ceremony in a cave as the shaman beat her drum, we rattled, chanted and put forth our desires to Pele the fiery goddess of the land. I thought of Lucy, Kalani, Karen, Sue, Sue McClelland, Jude and Candy while I was there.

The altar we formed during Robert's workshop
with the freshly picked flowers
which we threw into the ocean at it's end.
It is said that when you do this you will return to Hawaii

We had intended to meet up with Anthony and dream with his dream group of 5 people afterwards but we were so filled up with what we'd received that we declined his offer. Good decision! During dinner I could barely keep my eyes open let alone keep track of the conversation around me. I fell into bed (with my clothes on) at 7:30 after setting my alarm for 9:30 p.m. Seven hours later, 2:35 a.m., I woke up. My alarm hadn't gone off so I went back to sleep, arising at 6 a.m. 

I had a wonderful, much needed shower in my new bathroom (I'd just moved into a new hale) and joined the remaining 3 dreamers for brekkie. Afterwards I headed off to life drawing.

Life drawing was held at the studio of an artist friend of Richard's (I'm pretty sure this is THE Richard who started Kalani in the 80's). 5 of us piled into his car and he drove us there. There were 6 of us in total - 3 from Kalani, the host and 2 locals. The models came in the car with us from Kalani. The couple (young lovers) did lovely poses together and though my drawing skills are really rusty, it was nice to put pencil to paper. An interesting effect results from the multi-coloured pencil I was using as you never know which colour will come up - gotta look for one of these back home or get some here.

We got back in time for lunch and I met up with Helen, the last of the dreamers. We went into one of the meeting places afterwards and I taught her FLYING (Lomi people know what this is). She is a dance therapist who was intrigued by my presentation the other day and asked if I'd teach it to her. Since it's been raining heavily most of the day outings are not too inviting so it was a perfect way to spend the time.

I'm sitting here on the bed as I write this. The new wave of guests are piling into their rooms. We now have an English dance group and a Ruslan (not Russian) yoga group. Never heard of the latter. There are so many different versions of yoga now! This makes the 3rd yoga group to be here during my stay. And, there are yoga classes going on throughout the day, offered by Kalani staff members. If you need a shot of yoga this is the place to be. 

On a sunny day looking down the road from
the entrance to Kalani 

I face booked this about that:  I am now the last dreamer left at Kalani :( We've been invaded by yet more yogis and today the English country dancers have arrived. Thank God for some real hefty, earthy bodies, all these reedy people keep floating around. This place was in need of some grounding :)

I've arranged to get a car on Monday morning and will head out directly from the airport to Kona at about 10 a.m. I'm in the process of getting the accommodation sorted out. Bill has to send the rental agreement in a different form or I have to get a print out to fill out, scan and send back to him. I'll probably go to guest services to see if I can use their printer/scanner. I'll spend the night at Kona and see what will swim with me there - turtles and colourful fish have been promised. NOTE: COLOURFUL FISH AND A TURTLE WERE DELIVERED! There is a surfing beach nearby too, but Ellie, the model, was there yesterday and said there wasn't any surfing going on at that time. I'll take whatever happens:)

NOTE: BEACH WHERE I SWAM HAS TOO MUCH CORAL AND TOO MANY ROCKS FOR MY TASTE. I FOUND OUT THAT A BETTER SURF BEACH IS NORTH OF HERE BUT THAT'S O.K. 

I'll keep the car for the rest of my stay and drive myself to the airport on Thurs as it works out well financially.

Tomorrow is an open day. I may spend it at Kehena beach, where I was the first day, or do the sauna, swim at the pool kind of day. I intend to keep it low key in prep for the driving on Monday. The trip to Kona only takes about 2 1/2 hrs, IF I don't get sidetracked by sites along the way! NOTE: I MANAGED TO MAKE IT IN 3 HOURS, LEAVING AT ABOUT 11:30 a.m. STOPPED AT SOME VIEWING SPOTS BUT WANTED TO GET OVER TO THE KAIHUA-KONA SUN AS IT WAS RAINING MOST OF THE WAY. AND, THOUGH I'D BEEN ASSURED SUN WOULD BE HERE IT WASN'T - BUT IT WAS ALL GOOD! I had put the offer out to people in Anthony's group to come along if they liked but none were available. 

Anyway, I should go as the dinner conch will be sounding. The budgie birds are chattering in the trees in front of my door. Whether they're budgies or not I'm not sure but that's what they sound like.

1 Turtle & 2 Piggies

No pictures tonight. Taking too long to download and I'm bagged. Goin' to bed. Goodnight all.

Off to the Kona side tomorrow - Mon Mar 12.

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Thurs March 8

Excerpt from letter to Rod:

It was another amazing day. 

The dream work wrapped up this morning. Kim and Louise, my Canadian friends, left this morning as they were heading for the Kona coast and wanted to have lots of time to explore the places along the way. They have been a real riot! We laughed so much during our jaunts to the tide pools and the market last night. I'm very grateful for their generosity in including me in these adventures. 

On the last day of extended dream workshops Robert has the participants each do a short presentation inspired by their dream experiences. When I was flying at the point I had the image of many others flying along with me. I was also moved by uncle Harry's Ho'oponopono presentation at the Emax and I wanted the others to hear some of the Hawaiian music. So I brought in elements of all 3. We did some ha breath, some ALOHA with feeling and then I demonstrated the flying and the symbolism behind it and invited others to join me to fly to the music. A number of people jumped in while others "held space". It was a lot of fun!!!

I was planning a "kick back" day today but over lunch one of the dreamers asked me if I'd like to go to the warm pools with her and another dreamer. I jumped at it. We'd heard how nice it was but upon our arrival found a large pool walled off from the ocean with an opening for the tide to come in. The waves could come over the edge but it was very structured; a big shallow pool with steps and ladders into it. Not what we expected. So, we went back to the tide pools. (I heard from a local guest that she used to do Watsu and Water Dance in the pools before they became structured and popular.)

Though we put in at a different spot than the other day I found myself beckoned back to the thermal area. I'm so glad I heeded the call! I saw a fish that seemed exceptionally big to be in here and as I looked closer I realized it was a turtle. AMAZING!!! 

He wasn't afraid of me at all and in fact came quite close to me. He did have a bit of a beak and I was a little concerned at first. But, he was just casing me out, I could see it in his eyes. When he determined that I wasn't a threat we just hung out together. I didn't follow him when he dove down as I thought that might be too invasive but instead floated on the surface enjoying the view of him below me. He'd come up and take a breath of air once in a while and I'd lift my head out of water to see his head poke up. When another swimmer came upon us, the turtle decided it was too much and he tucked himself into a little underwater crevice so I left to give him some space. 

Sylvia, Simon and I talked perching on the rocks as the tide came in and waves broke over the rocks while, in the distance, a number of awestruck snorkelers floated in the pools. 

We had dinner with the 3 other remaining dreamers and then Sylvia and Simon had to leave for LA. She off to Robert's dream workshop at Mosswood Hollow in Seattle and he to LA and then to Peru for a few weeks to study with a shaman there. On our way to the dining hale we saw 2 of the wild boars that reside here. They are really cute and kind of take off at a gallop like little prehistoric wild horses.

Ho'oponopono, donuts & lava fields

I'm sitting at Hale Aloha being pestered by a mooching, short-haired black and brown tabby with a demanding cry as I lick locally made ice cream (tonight's choice is ginger) off of my wooden spoon. Today the rains came with a vengeance but no worries as I'm in paradise and there's always lots to do, or not do, if one so chooses. As a friend of mine says, "It's all good".
I bid farewell to a fellow dreamer a few hours ago. I am now the last of the dreamers left at Kalani and it is bitter sweet. Places like Kalani and workshops such as dreaming reveal how quickly and with what strength one can attach to others and call them "friend". In this safe, respectful atmosphere, the intensity of awareness that we are all just passing through prompts us to share stories of the past, our hopes and dreams for the future. We act from the best of ourselves, co-operate, show kindness and help each other as we can. So we see each other as "friend".

Wed Mar 7

We're in the second last day of the workshop with Robert and our dreams are starting to spill over into each other's lives - past, present and future. Last night snippets of dream images, words and concepts intended for someone else make their presence known in my dreams. Over breakfast a fellow dreamer recounts a dream she knows has a message for me. In the magical way of dreams, her dream becomes central to my experience of the morning journey to the land of the ancestors that Robert has assigned.

I am reminded again and again that in working with dreams (even those with "heavy" energy) when we maintain a sense of play, curiosity and courage, they will ultimately bring us to a place of wisdom and wholeness. Dreaming on it's own doesn't necessarily do this. Bringing the dream's energy forward into our "real" life transforms our attitudes and our life.

LETTER TO ROD...

An amazing day today. I stayed up far too late last night writing. Got to bed at about 12:45 but was up at 7:30. My clothes from the other day are finally dry which makes me very happy. I'm glad that I took so many sarongs as they've really come in handy and dry relatively quickly compared to other items. Cotton socks take the longest!

The dreamwork has been really fascinating especially what happens over 5 days - real transformative stuff! We get to know each other's stories pretty quickly and so see the effects of the work in those "ah ha" moments of realization. 

Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim gave a Webcast from the Emax centre. There were over 70 people attending in person at the centre and approx the same number on the web. He spoke on Ho'oponopono a practice, or rather a Hawaiian way of looking at life, bringing things into right relation, and forgiveness. Then he opened up the floor for question and answer. It was so good to hear him again. He's got such a lovely, gentle, compassionate spirit and has such joy - he's kinda like a laughing Buddha in physical appearance as well as attitude. I didn't talk with him afterwards. I studied with him once a few years ago. He has thousands of students and I'm hardly memorable.  Many from the audience wanted to talk to him about personal concerns and it seemed only right for them to make the connection with him. I am glad to hear that he lives in Buffalo for part of the year which would make future studies with him possible.

the market at uncle Robert's

After the session this afternoon, Anthony, a workshop participant who's become a tour guide of sorts for the group, suggested we go to the market in a town not far away. Louise and Kim were kind enough to take 3 of us in their car. The market took place on uncle Robert's land. Anthony told us that uncle Robert's son died recently and there was an outpouring of community support during the memorial service. This was evidenced by the pictures still posted all around the market. Hawaiians live in community. As I learned the other night, they are all about relationship. 

The market has an amazing array of foods of all sort. I had Thai curried pumpkin chicken with rice, a ginger lemonade (very gingery) and some of those little warm sugar donuts. If it's any consolation I thought of you while I ate. You'd have loved it! 

We met up with a friend of Anthony's who has suggested a reasonably priced place for me to stay overnight if I go to Kona. Everyone's recommending I stay overnight. I gave her my e-mail and will wait and see what happens with that. I have to check out car rental. It helps having driven with the girls to see what conditions I may find on the roads (they were the Canadians that took us to the tide pools). 

Moonlight on the waves at
Kalapana Beach

After we ate we explored the market some more with the sounds of the Hawaiian band in the background. Most of the wares consisted of food and handmade jewellery made of beads, semiprecious stones and wood. I was tempted by one item but it seemed a little steep. I can return next Wed night if I really want.

A real highlight was walking on the relatively recently formed lava field. The last flow that claimed the formerly extensive black beach happened in the '90's. Tonight the moon was full and so the rocks and our path were fairly well lit. It felt like we were at the end of the world or on another planet. We ended up overlooking a black sand beach dotted sparsely with young palm trees. We sat watching for some time, mesmerized by the sight and sound of the rollers crashing on the rocky shore. As we looked back to the land we could see in the distance the orange glow of the active flow on its way to the ocean about a 20 minute drive away. 

We drove home in true Canadian style eating donuts.

Tomorrow is the last day of the dream workshop and I will be sad to see the others leave as most will be heading out in the afternoon. Two have late flights tomorrow night. Four others are staying on a bit: two leave on Fri, one on Sat and the last on Sunday. 

I'm writing this from the kitchen in the hale in which I'm staying. The crickets are chirping, the "crokies" croaking and the gekos make their presence known now and again. And, I have just caved and am eating the last donut as I write this.

Tide pools & hula

Tues Mar 6/12 

THE POINT at the foot of Kalani

By the end of the class last night a belated case of jet lag came over me. Barely able to keep my eyes open, I sleep walked my way back to my hale and immediately fell into bed and into dreamland at 9:45 with thoughts of getting up early.

Amazingly, I got up at 5:45 a.m. this morning and walked through the darkness to the point where, a few days earlier, I’d strewn some of Mom’s hair. Her dream of Hawaii was so big that it brought me here. So I brought a little bit of her to this place that was close to her heart. Though she never set foot on this soil, some of her DNA will always be here. 

My intention was to fly (my lomi friends know what I'm talking about) and see the sunrise. I chanted the sun up and sent a big aloha out to those I love – Rod, Lucy, members of my family, my Lomi Ohana, Harriette and Birgit, Kahuna Harry and 2 elderly clients I’ve thought about while in Hawaii – Evelyn and Liliane, amongst others.

The sound of the waves set the beat as I flew, a solitary figure silhouetted against the ocean beyond. As sunrise approached a number of people had migrated to the point taking up spots here and there, some in view while others stood in the shadows.  Though there were only a handful of people physically present the area behind me was teaming with activity.

Each time I stepped back into the future, glimpses of figures would catch my eye for an instant. Yet when I tried to capture them in a longer glance, these wisps of past and future would playfully disappear. The dense energy the embodied mingled with the "glimmerings" sharing a sacred moment in time.

The thick cloud cover provided the rising sun with a subtle awakening. Shortly afterwards only a few others and I remained as a gentle rain began. Within minutes the skies opened up releasing a deluge upon us and we scrambled back to the dining area for shelter. I arrived at the dining hale totally saturated from head to toe. I was slightly chilled the rest of the day and I wondered if the hand washing from Sunday morning still hanging damply in the bathroom would ever dry. 

resting at the feet of the Buddha

After lunch I hitched a ride with 2 other Canadian dreamers and a local resident who’d offered to act as our tour guide. He was excited to share the beauty of nearby tide pools. We swam into an area rich in promise for prompting luminal states. A shimmering layer of warm, inland waters thermals float on top of the cool salt seawater. It’s like I’m swimming in a clear B52. This effect changes to one of viewing the tide pools' inhabitants through jello when we get closer to the source of the heated waters. When I engage my arms in any manner or follow too closely to the action of our guide’s flippers, a filmy cloud surrealistically blurs my surroundings to such a great extent that I seem to be swimming inside a cloud. Colourful fish of every description swim so non-plused by our presence that I feel like I’m just one of the gang.

Hula class tonight was hysterical. So much fun and laughter! And, I’m discovering that there are songs and chants for every occasion. The instructor leads us on basic movements. When we get the hang of each step combo he accompanies us with the chants and plays his double-headed gourd drum. The transition from one set to another surprisingly simple one causes great chaos and gales of laughter. As we float off in different directions many soft collisions result.

As I walk back to my hale I feel so blessed to be in the presence of such gentle, loving people - all that have come together in the spirit of Aloha.

Tomorrow Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim will be here speaking on Ho’oponopono. I'm very excited about this; I didn't know he would be here. I'm thrilled for my fellow dreamers because they will be inspired by his gentle spirit and loving heart.

Turtles Goin' Holoholo

Mon Mar 5th

Turning left from Kalani's entrance, a 15 minute walk will take me to a clearing overlooking the ocean where the volcanic rocks are large and smooth enough to perch on and engage in the fine art of wave gazing.

As I walk I'm enveloped by the sounds of Hawaiian chants. There is no i-pod attached to my ears; no music playing in the hales I pass nor from any physical source as I make my way to the ocean. These chants in words I recognize but can't interpret are an echo of an ancient tone released from Hawaii herself. The spirit songs she has taught to the inhabitants over eons and which have been chanted back to her by many generations.

I was told that this point is a good vantage point from which to watch the turtles, so I settle in. It's quite a ways down to the surf that pounds the rocky shore with such force that, I swear, shakes the cliff edge upon which I'm sitting. This place is alive with past, present and future all melding together. I don't know if what I'm sensing is a physical reality or other, and really it doesn't matter in this magical place. Is it the waves force, the nature of the volcanic rock, or even the powerful energy of the land that vibrates through me? I have since been told that the very impact of the ocean against the lava rock provides great healing due to the release of negative ions. I drink it in.

Having assured myself that the rocks beneath me aren't about to give way and fall into the sea I eagerly search out the turtles. Just when I'm about to give up I notice a flat brownish disk in the water. Then a head pops up above the foamy surf and limbs become visible poking out from the shell. That the turtle's being carried by the waves is obvious yet there is definitely an intent behind the path he takes. How can he not be smashed to bits by the jagged shore. The counter swirls formed as the waves return to sea against those advancing must catch his shape and buoyant form and in effect lift him up. Add the incredible power of his legs and voila, the perfect requirements needed to survive and maneuver in the ocean's power. He and the other turtles who've joined him are "playing in the surf" exactly mimicking the ceramic tile turtle in Loren's shower room.

Tonight I went to the Hawaiian culture class offered in the Emax. We are taught some basics of the language. Hawaiian is a descriptive language centred around relationship to the speaker. My favourite words of the night are: holoholo and ahi.

Holoholo roughly, as I understand it, means "going around". The teacher says that if someone is going fishing you don't say, "Hi, going fishing?" cus if you did the person would pack up his gear and go home. For to say going fishing has the effect of cursing or jinxing the venture. Instead you use, "Hi, goin' holoholo?" because you both know he's going fishing so there's no need to state the obvious and mess up his luck. (Take note fishing friends and family on Vancouver Island).

Ahi means fire and a type of fish (and probably more than that). The teacher asked why ahi meant fish and some students answered because maybe they were red like fire, which I thought was a good guess. But, he said no. What happens when an ahi is on the line? They go deep into the water really, really quickly and with great force. You have to let the line out and let it play til the fish gets tired. In days gone by there were no elaborate fishing reels to let the line out, the line was held in one hands. So, the fire was the burn of ones hands if one held on too tight.