ROAD TRIP DAY 2 - Shhhh, dolphins sleeping

I returned home from Hawai'i at 5pm last night, Fri March 16th. As I get oriented, settle into home and responsibilities once more, I look ahead and wonder how can I keep the spirit of aloha alive in my heart, how can I greet daily life, the future and act from that place of openness and love. How can I keep from falling back into old non-productive patterns of: thought, emotional responses, and action?

In aloha (being in love and being happy with...) everything evolves organically from a place of surrender to higher direction. Hawaii by its very nature is aloha. In this place, new land literally is being created by the second as the lava flows into the sea. As the pop saying goes, resistance is futile.

The card I drew today from the Journey to Kanaka Makua cards was, appropriately...HAWAII.
Its message for me is to find and move from my centre. " There is a sacred place inside, your spiritual home, go there."

So, while I am in this process I'll post the remaining e-mails to Rod over the next few days and more pics from my travels. I hope you enjoy.

IN THE SPIRIT OF ALOHA
NANCE

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E-mail to Rod March 14

I've just come in from a sauna and star gazing under a cloudless sky. It's brilliant out there tonight!

I arrived back at Kalani just in time for dinner (6PM our time 12PM yours) and hula class at the Emax. Lots of the English country dancers showed up and they picked up the steps and direction really quickly! Jonathan the instructor was really humbled by their enthusiasm and ability as last weeks class was a little klutzy. I got the transition into the last steps this week, so I'm pretty pleased with my progress. There was an AMAZING young woman in the class tonight - I suspect she's a real hula dancer. NOTE: I ran into her on Wed morning. She is a volunteer at Kalani working in the kitchen and has been taking hula with Anthony for about 2 years. WOW could she ever move her hips - she was like butter, so smooooooth and she floated, her steps were so light but grounded. The way she worked her feet was key to the total effect. It shows just how one can finesse something so simple and make it magical.

Kealekekua Bay and the view from Mike's rentals
kayaking destination is the green area across the bay

Anyway, this morning I got up about 6:30 and was on the road by about 7:30. I took pictures of THE FISHBOWL the beach where I snorkelled yesterday and went down the road about 30 mins to the COFFEE SHACK which has a fantastic view of the whole coast. I had French toast - made with macadamia nuts and other goodies. Service was 2 pieces of thickly sliced bread with maple syrup - I took 3/4 of a slice for the road and got to Kealekekua Bay where I hoped to see fish and dolphins. 

I rented a kayak (for $30) the kind that you sit in a shallow uncovered cockpit and headed out to the bay. The guy at the rental place told me where to head to and that I could tie up the kayak to some overhanging trees or put it up on the rocks. I was pulling it on the rocks when a guide stopped me. She told me that the plastic gets scraped off the boat and the fish eat it and it can kill them. Duh! I should have gotten a permit (online for free) which would allow me to tie up. I suspect the site also educates you on the ecology of the area and how to protect it. No permit, you tow your kayak behind you as you swim. She said that it's actually a lot better to do this. I thought it was going to be difficult but she was right it worked out brilliantly.When the hoards came (multiple kayakers and a huge boat carrying lots of very rambunctious people) I made a quick and easy get away into the bay. I loved looking down as I swam and seeing bright blue rays of the sun pinpointing to a place deep, deep below. When I got tired I just hauled myself across the boat and floated til I decided to swim again. And then I paddled for a bit; exploring.  I was a little disappointed when there were no dolphins but I thanked them for their presence anyway.

I then went to Honaunau Bay (The city or place of refuge) aka TWO STEP so called because it takes 2 steps to get into the water. I parked away from the bay and walked the short distance down a one way street to the beach. This is one popular spot. Not at all what I'd pictured considering its solemn history http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/city_of_refuge_snorkeling.html

A sign was posted saying that this was a dolphin retreat area. They come into protected bays to hang out and rest during the day as they go into deeper waters at night to hunt. People are not to "swim" with the dolphins. There were a few far off in the bay when I went in and though they were Spinner dolphins there wasn't a lot of the spinning behaviour going on, just gentle cresting with the occasional leap of a young one. 

There was an abundance of fish and coral. The shoreline dropped so abruptly and the water was so clear that it was difficult to get an idea of depth. I swam over the white sand below and over a message of ALOHA spelled out in cinder blocks and newly formed coral. A diver approaching the message revealed the depth to be about 50 feet at this point. NOTE: depths get to over 100 feet.

I was drawn to a few snorkelers floating blissfully in an area. As I approached, I noticed shadowy big fish far below. Dolphins! We just floated and watched them as they hung out with us. I was surrounded by them; too many to count. They moved in clusters in the pod moving in sync like schools of fish do. A little baby lept out of the water almost hitting a snorkeler. Quickly after her scooted back snuggling securely under its mothers belly. 

During my hour long love fest they'd come close and then glide off and return from deep below or a different direction. At one point I heard someone chiding a woman for chasing them, he said "Why did you do that? They have the right of way you know!" I loved that!

NOTE: The next day the beach masseur told me that they kind of move in circles. A native Hawaiian English country dancer said that they were sleeping and that's why they weren't spinning or leaping.

I'm so-o-o-o-o mellow; still floating over that experience!!! I'm more than inspired for my water dance session tomorrow. It's going to be amazing.

See how tiny those people are in the pic
and how fit this guy is
it's a lo-o-o-o-o-ong way down!

I took my time driving back marvelling at the ever changing nature of the scenery. I was not intending to go to SOUTH POINT (the southern most point in the USA) but when I saw a 12 mile sign on the road leading there the car just turned in. The way down is grassy and barren, like cattle country with windswept trees and the ocean spreading out in all directions. 

I walked to the edge. The cliffs, about 80' high, serve as leaping off points for kids to pitch themselves into the ocean. "You gotta do it" a young man high on the experience exclaimed. He showed me where to climb back up. If you're concerned about the height work your way up to the top by jumping at lower ledges and move up incrementally. I WAS tempted but seeing the age and fitness levels of these projectiles, realized that MAYBE I should skip it. After all I don't want to miss hula at Kalani tonight!

This was a most incredible day!!!

I'm going to float off to bed now.

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.