Grains of Sand

Monday, June 30, 2014

The all-embracing spirit of Aloha

Puna, a place on the Big Island of Hawaii, has always had a colorful reputation because of its "Punatics." It is quite difficult for me to describe what a "Punatic" is but there's something to be said when people no longer grimace when they hear someone called a "Punatic."

So when a stark naked woman decided to create mayhem near a grade school in Puna, very few were shocked. They simply shook their heads and said, "She didn't mean harm, she was just being a Punatic."

These days to be called a "punatic" can be a badge of honor. Afterall, some people are even proud to be considered as renegades from mainstream lifestyles.

The people of Puna have been so good at being Punatics that the other day they inaugurated a landing pad in Kalapana that was built for visiting extra-terrestials. I suspect that E.T. scouts among Punatics played a huge role in making possible the "Hawaii Star Visitor Sanctuary," as the landing pad is called. You see, the spirit of Aloha does not discriminate. Aloha is all-inclusive and all-embracing -- even to those from other galaxies. Please see related link below.

"Women of the Womb" chant to open communication during the launch of the Hawaii Star Visitor Sanctuary in Kalapana, Big Island, Hawaii. Photo credit: Hawaii Tribune Herald

Last Saturday, Punatics were at it again -- spreading Aloha -- this time among fellow Punatics.

Community organizations in Puna got together and distributed school supplies to keikis (children). The Neighborhood Place of Puna, a local organization, spearheaded the project which aims to "provide basic and essential school supplies to East Hawaii's at-risk children so that they can begin the school year ready to learn."

Other local groups readily helped. Among those were the Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset, Puna Lions, Men of Paa, Kamehameha Schools, Bay Clinic, United Way, HOPE Services Hawaii, Kua O Kala Charter School, and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

It took the whole morning to service the long line of parents and children but the palpable camaraderie among volunteers and the smiles on kids' faces were all worth the time and effort.

Here are some photos I took of the event. Most of them are unedited and untouched. I apologize for cutting off heads, torsos and appendages and for skewed and dark pictures.

The Neighborhood Place of Puna spearheaded the supplies distribution project

Members of the Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset

Those crayons look so yummy!

Some brought refreshments

Hawaii County District 4 council candidates Auntie Maddie Green and Auntie Emilie Naeole in a tete-a-tete.

Pahoa Rotarian Jane Gibson in action

Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan and former Pahoa Rotary Club President Alan Lakritz "shaka-ing"

Men of Paa in action

Incoming Pahoa Rotary Club President Craig Watkins and active community volunteer Ralph Boyea taking a break

http://neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/

Posted with Aloha

- By Ariel Murphy

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Sumthin' special

However my life has been or whatever turn I might have taken, I must have something good or I wouldn't have been touched by the photo below that I just happened to see on Facebook.

I celebrate not just the photography.

I celebrate, most of all, the imagination that made the photo look the way it is. To me, it looks like a glorious Allegro, with many and subtle nuances of the colors red and yellow.

It does take some imagination to look at a whole tree and manage to focus attention to the mesmerizing patterns and colors of branches and leaves.

I celebrate that, in all likelihood, I am not alone in my celebration. There are others out there who are also touched by a gushing expression of joy.

Yay!

- Posted with Aloha!
ARIEL MURPHY

Friday, June 27, 2014

Sight

Sighing in resignation, I said, "yeah man, sight has nothing to do with just eyes"!

- Posted with Aloha!
ARIEL MURPHY

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Still I rise (In memory of Maya Angelou, 1928-2014)

Maya Angelou passed on Wednesday, May 28. Below is a poem she wrote.

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise.

To know more about Maya Angelou, please click on this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/arts/maya-angelou-lyrical-witness-of-the-jim-crow-south-dies-at-86.html?_r=0

Posted with Aloha!

- ARIEL MURPHY

Monday, May 26, 2014

Thinking of Michael, a veteran, during Memorial Day

My best friend Michael Murphy, June 28, 1944 - May 26, 2006

Michael Martin Murphy III was born and raised in Newport Rhode, Island. He graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis and did graduate work in Communications at the San Francisco City College. He was in the US Army during the Vietnam war.

Staying first on Oahu and then here on the Big Island, Michael had been living in Hawaii for close to 30 years until he passed away Friday, May 26, 2006 after years of battling cancer.

Before he became a realtor, Michael worked in and co-owned a law office with his late wife Sheila Anne Murphy, Esq.

He was a member of the Keaau Christian Fellowship (a Hilo Baptist Church mission) and before that the Spring of Life Community Church (a mission of the Hilo Missionary Church). He was an ardent supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous, Feed the Children, World Vision, the American Bible Society, and missionaries in China.

One of Michael’s favorite sayings was: "It's all good."

Below are more pictures of Michael.

As a young boy

Deadly

Eating "balut"

Unexpected

With dancers after watching a cultural show

On my desk while visiting me at my old office

Doing yoga

Wedding reception

At the Bellagio, Vegas, 2004

At La Jolla, CA 2005

Goofing around, Christmas 2005

Our dog, Nui

During his last birthday celebration, 2005

- Posted by ARIEL MURPHY on Memorial Day and Michael's death anniversary

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

An old soul

She was born about 60 years ago; but I believe that wasn't the first time. Judging from her wisdom and insight, Carol must certainly be an old soul. What she told me today must have only come from having had numerous ring-side views of life and all it brings and does to nurture or kill faith in another person.

"Focus very hard on what you really want and then go for it. Doesn't matter what you choose, just make it something that makes you feel good not bad," Carol said today, the anniversary of her birth.

She was born about 60 years ago; but I believe that wasn't the first time.

Posted with Aloha!

- By ARIEL MURPHY

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Two tutus on a 'tooter

When I saw the photo below of two "tutus" on a scooter as my friend Ken's profile picture, I thought that I just have to share it. The photo perfectly says what living in Hawaii can do. I firmly believe that my relocation to Hawaii was pre-ordained -- that I am meant to be here for very special reasons. I know now that one reason is to gain my own appreciation of life (and whatever it brings), love, as well as my relationship to the "whole everything."

The photo below totally resonates with me. I may be riding on a small scooter but heck, I can choose to ride it with exuberance, grace, enjoyment, laughter on my face, my sister's warmth next to me, and a lei of flowers on my head.

The picture speaks loudly of Aloha!

Can you hear it?

Posted with Aloha!

- By ARIEL MURPHY

Friday, May 2, 2014

Steel magnolia

I made a day-long trip to the other side of the island yesterday with a very good friend I have not known for a long time. It might sound strange describing someone I don't really know well as "very good"; but considering how she has so far put up with me, my friend cannot be any less than very good. Also and if this makes sense to anybody, my very good friend's spirit is "fragrant" to me. I consider that to be her main attraction.

My very good friend and I got to know more about each other during our trip.

I did not, for example, realize until yesterday that my very good friend -- who is always gracious, cheerful and funny whenever I see her -- has had major misfortunes in her life. Until yesterday I had no clue that her only child committed suicide. She had had to give up a business she had built painstakingly from the ground. She had gone through the ordeal of having her home taken away from her.

My very good friend shows no mark from the blows life has dealt her. On the contrary, she has, about her, more love than rancor.

This morning I took a picture of two magnolias. They reminded me of my very good friend -- a huge, beautiful and fragrant steel magnolia.

I am grateful for the day's lesson. There is always a choice -- either wallow in bitterness and misfortune or opt to nurture joy and attract more reasons to be joyful about.

I am sure that living in Hawaii has much to do with my friend's attitude towards life. There is after all in the spirit of Aloha an intrinsic faith in the enduring goodness of the Universe.

Posted with Aloha from Hawaii!
- By ARIEL MURPHY

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Scenes from Hawaii's Merrie Monarch 2014 (Ho'ike)

This time of the year is extra-special for the people of the Big Island of Hawaii, where I live. This is the time when the Merrie Monarch Festival, the most prestigious of Hula competitions, is held. People not just from the other islands of Hawaii but even from other parts of the US as well as those from other countries flock to the city of Hilo, the Big Island's capital. They join or watch the competition, exhibit the skills of their own dancers, check out the local vendors, sample local food, join the street parades and, just enjoy the festivities.

As early as 6 months before the festival, tickets to the 3-day competition (Thursday through Saturday) are sold out. Fortunately, festival organizers designate a "free" day (also called Ho'ike Day) on the Wednesday before the competitions. During those Wednesdays, "halau" or hula groups as well as other cultural dance groups dazzle the public with their performances. I've seen dance groups from Mexico, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Samoa, and Tahiti perform in past years' festivals.

Due to the limited seating, the venue supposedly only has about a 3,000 seating capacity, people line up as early as possible before the gates open. The Hawaii Tribune Herald reported that people started lining up at 4:00 AM yesterday

for the 5 :00 PM show. Many were in Hawaiian or aloha wear.

I was one of those who donned aloha attire and joined other Hawaiiana lovers in being part of the Merrie Monarch's Ho'ike yesterday. I took pictures knowing that no amount of words can convey the excitement generated by the festivities. Patiently standing in line waiting to be admitted to the Edith Kanakaole Stadium in Hilo, venue for the performances, was not, by any means, boring. I took pictures. Except for the first photo, all photos below are mine and untouched. I thought I'd skip editing the photos and post my blog before the story gets stale.

Children doing the Hula during the Merrie Monarch kickoff activities Sunday, April 20, 2014. Photo source: Hawaii Tribune Herald.

Early during the day yesterday, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, I went to the Edith Kanakaole Stadium to take a look. Except for a few who were setting up for the afternoon's performances, the stadium was empty.

By 5:00 PM yesterday, the stadium was packed

Craft fairs all over Hilo town featured vendors from all over the state. Shown here are bowls hand carved from Hawaiian wood.

Jewelry from tiny shells found on the beaches of the island of Niihau are highly priced for their rarity. They are also difficult to gather and use for jewelry. For more info please visit http://www.niihauheritage.org/shells.htm

Baskets, purses and mats hand woven from Lau'hala leaves and palm fronds were available from the craft fairs.

Also being sold in the craft fairs are weapons and work implements the Hawaiians of early times used. The instruments are made of wood, bone and teeth (usually shark).

Shown here are gourds (ipo) of various sizes. The ipo is used not only as containers but also as percussion to Hula dances, especially the traditional kind (Kahiko hula).

Many women wear hats (a missionary influence) during the festival. Hats shown in the photo are all hand made.

Some of the highest priced hats are decorated with bird feathers. In ancient days, members of the Hawaiian royalty distinguished themselves from the hoi polloi by wearing feathers.

One of my favorite vendors sells pendants carved from bone, teeth (usually shark), and even fossils

Pendant made from intricately carved bone

Fresh leis and hair adornment hand made from all kinds of local flowers and foliage abound for sale during the festival. They are not as available at other of the year. There is a local saying that it rains during the festival because many Lehua blossoms (from Ohia trees) are plucked to make leis. Check out this link:http://www.niihauheritage.org/shells.htm

People line up during the "free day."

Visiting each other while in line is a common practice and a nice way of spending time that could otherwise be challenging.

People don their Aloha attire especially during the Merrie Monarch festival. Note the Polynesian motif on the dress and the flower hair decor.

It is a common joke that Hawaii is Japan's most popular prefecture. At no time is that more noticeable than during the Merrie Monarch festival when Japanese tourists descend on the Big Island to perform, watch, enjoy, shop, make local business and tourism establishments happy, and contribute to the local economy. Arigato! Note the hair adornment worn by the lovely ladies.

She may be wearing shorts (which was quite appropriate for a warm afternoon) but she was not going to be caught dead without her lei, floral hairpiece, and a top with an aloha-design.