Grains of Sand: July 2014

Thursday, July 24, 2014

All we have to do is listen!

Yesterday was not a bad day at all for a realtor like me even if a client who wanted to buy raw land wanted me to make an offer on a listing that I discovered was already in escrow with a fully executed contract and no longer for sale. My client, who unfortunately ignored the list of still available listings that I gave him, was about to board a plane back to Las Vegas when he asked me to make the offer. It was too late to look for a possible replacement listing. And then the lockbox in the house I was showing another client wouldn’t work. I had to make a mad dash to the listing office to get a key.

I thought that yesterday was a day for me to be annoyed.

To my delight, being loving and ever full of surprises, the Universe thought of brightening my day. When I went to the house of a friend for the first time, my spirit was refreshed by what my friend Sherri has in her 3-acre yard. Atop an imposing Banyan tree was a two-room tree house complete with a very large bed, a hammock and even a composting toilet . The yard has at least 4 rabbits, 3 bunnies and a collection of friendly white silkie hens joyfully having the run of the place.

But having lived most of my life in a large and congested concrete jungle of a city where seeing farm animals was rare, I thought that the crown jewel of my friend’s yard was an area with two natural and organic lawn mowers -- a donkey and a goat. Please see the photo below taken through my many-times-smarter-than-me cellphone.

It was as if the Universe was telling me – Don’t get annoyed over setbacks and kinks. They are temporary and even only illusory. TRUST! In the meantime, here, look at this eye candy and soak in the beauty of the aina (Hawaiian for land).

The Universe speaks! All we have to do is listen.

I am grateful!

Posted with Aloha!

- ARIEL MURPHY

Friday, July 11, 2014

Turtle Independence Day+

Friday, 4th of July, last week saw a group of friends and I driving over from the east side to the south-west side of the Big Island. We were present for the "Turtle Independence Day" ceremonies in the morning. In the evening, we danced to the music of a band that we like a lot. And in between, we relaxed at the beach.

It was my first time to be at the Turtle Independence Day ceremonies although the ritual has been going on for 25 years now.

At the Mauna Lani Resort along the Kohala Coast four adult green sea turtles were released into the ocean. But it wasn't that simple. Of course. Nothing in Hawaii is simple when it comes to the environment. "Aloha" and Nature are simply inextricable.

The turtles were released, one by one, into the ocean after a winding procession from their "pool-home" to the sandy beach of the resort and finally to the waiting blue Pacific. There was pomp-and- circumstance galore -- Hawaiian style.

Conch shell blowers looked up to the brilliantly blue sky and let out their haunting call as the leaf-wrapped cart containing the turtles lumbered its way to the beach.

Although many like me ignored the beating sun and walked behind the cart, there were already people in vantage positions lining the beach and even soaked in the ocean. Some said that nobody better block their view. They've been in their places waiting patiently since the crack of dawn.

A halau (cultural group) danced traditional Kahiko hula to drumming and chanting. I didn't understand a word. But from the hand gestures and the tone of voices, I imagined them paying homage to the Honu.

The ceremonies fascinated me. Fortunately, I managed to remember to bring my camera. But I wanted to kick myself for forgetting my wide-angle lens.

Below are some pictures I took of my day.