.a bit of home.

Some days, I get home sick. After digging through some of the boxes we still have in our basement from our move here last summer, I happened across a tall, glass jar filled with sand and seashells. The sand I remember collecting from a beach back on Kauai, prior to me moving to California. I honestly don't remember which beach it was that I took the sand from! It doesn't matter I guess, although I can almost say with certainty it was Poipu. Maybe. I look at the course grains of coral sand and I'm immediately transported back to a place where the waters are sparkling blue topaz. The light fabric of my pareo dances on an ocean breeze. The gentle murmur of people enjoying the delights of the beach swim in the soothing sounds of waves breaking on the shore. The scent of Coppertone, salt water and barbeque fill my nostrils. My stomach growls. I can almost feel the sun . . . almost. ::sigh:: I miss the beach. ::sigh:: I hate being home sick.

.may day is lei day.

Lei Maker by Theodore Wores

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii
Garlands of flowers everywhere
All of the colors in the rainbow
Maidens with blossoms in their hair.

Flowers that mean we should be happy
Throwing aside a load of care
Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii
May Day is happy days out there!

Today is May Day back home in Hawai'i.  Everyone is most likely wearing a lei, a garland made up of fragrant flowers and foliage, sporting aloha shirts and pretty mu'umu'us.  As a kid, we celebrated May Day each year with festivities in our schools, commemorating the Hawaiian culture and monarchy.  A complete royal court would be selected from amongst the students, usually by the students.  The court would consist of a king and queen, a prince and princess from each of the eight islands dressed in garments of a color specific to their island, ladies-in-waiting, and torch bearers.  Before the celebration would take place, a kupuna, or priest/priestess, would enter into the arena, chanting in Hawaiian, asking for blessings from the gods.  Once everyone was situated, the dances would begin!  Each grade level would practice a specific dance, usually the hula, and perform it on May Day for the royal court.  One of my personal favorites was dancing "Rocka Hula" by Elvis Presley in the third grade!  I loved it!  May Day was and is a wonderful day to celebrate the diversity and beauty of Hawai'i. To see a tribute video to lei making go here and an amazing hula performance here.  

.homesick for tradewinds and blue waters.

It never fails.  Early spring on the Mainland is ALWAYS the time I get really homesick for Hawai'i.  I know, I already hear you.  "Why did you leave Hawai'i?!"  Very simple.  It's expensive.  Mostly though, it was because I wanted to start a new life in a place different from where I grew up.  I left the Islands when I was 18, right after high school, moving first to Los Angeles.  Talk about culture shock!  From there, I traveled to many other parts of our country.  I love that.  Being able to drive and be in a completely different place than you were just a few hours previous.  However, this time of the year, the winds seem to be calling, reminding me that there is a beach with nice, thick coral sand waiting for me to chill out on.  I miss the ocean.  SO much!  And the food!  Oh, don't get me started on the food.  Manapuas.  Huli huli chicken.  Li hing mui.  Opihis.  Tako poki.  Ahi poki.  Guavas.  Passion fruit juice.  Laulau.  I could go on but I am already salivating to the point of forming a puddle on my kitchen floor.  ha!  [sigh]  Thankfully, I have some friends who are photographers back home so I can easily check out their websites to see what beautiful images I am missing out on.  [deep sigh]  Check them out here and here.