The entire issue focussed on Maui. Below are poems, photographs, videos, and recommendations for this enchanted island.
Maui Fridays was held in downtown Kihei shortly after our arrival. It is like a huge street fair with emphasis on food, entertainment, arts, crafts, and fun with family. As would be expected it was very Hawaiian in nature. Next Friday, the event will be in another community. If all goes as planned, it will return to Kihei in four weeks. Enjoy this short clip.
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At Peace
Resting the eternal sleep
Bones now ashes
The body but a memory.
An adorned cross
.... stands in sand
.... near the beach once loved–
.... symbolizing one
.... who once walked the earth.
Comment: The Buddhist graveyard is beside the historic Jodo Mission in Lahaina. As you can see, the crosses are placed in the sand, no vegetation around them. Recent burials still had the leis around them.
Clouds over Maui
Grass damp
.... from dew and rain
Cool has entered the air.
White egrets glide and land
.... contrasting sharply
.... with the deep green perches.
The cove is flat,
.... no kiteboarders this a.m.
Few walk the beach.
This is a morning
.... for sipping tea, rejuvenate,
.... until the sun returns.
Comment: The day started with clouds and a crispness (by Maui standards) to the air. Few of the usual early morning risers were out walking. This simple poem describes the feelings of that time.
Meditation Room
This room hosts
.... memories–
.... ones that
.... one can reach out
.... and touch.
It possesses a spirit,
.... which descends
.... upon me
.... when I enter.
It is here
.... where my best days begin–
.... a place where peace
.... and dreams become one.
Comment: My meditation room is filled with mementoes from travels and deeply personal experiences. Often when I see them, wonderful memories flood my mind.
A Life Perspective
The dust of time
.... falls on each passing day.
No matter how hard one blows,
.... it settles into every crack and crevice.
Shiny surfaces become dulled,
.... yet for some it’s barely noticed.
Though many gears slow down,
.... clogging and ceasing to move,
.... surprisingly, others hum away
.... oblivious to the particles.
Sadly, most see only dust storms,
.... their vision blocked by blinding grains
.... of unhappiness and recrimination.
The glorious few revel
.... in the divine sunrises and sunsets
.... as the rays reflect off
.... the brilliant particles
.... suspended in the air.
Comment: Some weather the years with grace and peace. My mother is such a one.
Grave site at the Jodo Buddha Mission inspired the poem
In reference to the second poem
A familiar morning view–Hawaiian canoes racing
Woodcarver in Lahaina hard at work
Tai chi practice in Wailuku
The large Buddha at the Jodo Mission in Lahaina. A worshipper is shown placing a lei.
Kiteboarder enjoying the waves at Ho'okipa Beach
Vignette: Kung Hee Fat Choy
This traditional Chinese New Year greeting roughly translates into "Wishing you great happiness and prosperity!" While in Maui on February 9 we joined in the celebration for the Year of the Snake 2013. (On the Chinese calendar this is 4711.) Technically, the celebration was not to start officially until the 10th. Since that date landed on Sunday, the local Chinese descendants decided to start early. The celebration goes on for fifteen days. The opening activities held at the Maui Mall included greetings from the mayor, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, beautiful presentations by a dance company sponsored by the University of Hawai'i, a best traditionally dressed children contest, cooking lessons and contest, and the exciting traditional Lion Dancers with the appropriate firecrackers. Additional activities occurred throughout the island over the next fifteen days.
One is encouraged to wear something new, preferably in red. Red symbolizes happy active energy. Yours truly had on his new red tee-shirt with "Year of the Snake 2013" emblazon on it.
There are twelve celestial animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Each represent one of the twelve years on the Chinese Lunar Calendar system. The animals are used in sequence counting from Year 1, 2, 3 and up to 12 and then restart the cycle. The animals in order are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The Snake is the sixth in order. Hence, in the cycle 2013 is the Year of the Snake.
Historically, according to a University of Victoria in Canada's write up, "The Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day culminates in the evening Lantern Festival . . . New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. . ."
Special thanks to The Maui News, Thursday, February 7, 2013 and the website of the University of Victoria, Canada. Much of the historical information was obtained from these two sources.
Enjoy the clip below that gives you a visual perspective of the opening event.
(If you have an iPad or phone and cannot view the above, click here.)
If you have a guest vignette you would like to submit, please do so. Not only will I enjoy reading it, but if agreeable with you and space permitting, I will print it in a future issue. The vignette should be written in paragraph form and relate a personal story or event. Equally important, it should fit the overall tenor of this newsletter. Ideally, it should not exceed twenty lines. Please send to bob@poeticaljourneys.com.
Recommendations:
As always, when visiting Maui, we return to old favorites and discover new ones.
Here are some that we have recommended in the past and continue to recommend. They have withstood the test of time as well numerous visits. I have also added one new recommendation, Leoda's.
Cafe Mambo has been a favorite rec for over 8 years. Like the town Paia where is is located, it is a funky place that serves good food. I especially enjoy its 7 Vegetable stew with couscous.
Kula Country Farms: Though mentioned in the past this farm stand that provides fresh produce including delectable Kula strawberries deserves formal recognition. There is even a food truck to take care of you hunger needs. It is located Upcountry on Kula Rd. on Rt. 37.
Monsoon India in Kihei is only a .2 mile walk from our condo along the beach. It provides delicious food with magnificent views. It sets right next to a small beach. The service is friendly. If you can't handle hot spicy food, no worry, they can prepare the food however you want. This recommendation is based on numerous visits. The biryani is superb! (View from a window table.)
Leoda's Kitchen & Pie Shop 820 Olowalu Village Rd., Honoapi'ilani Hwy, Lahaina, is new to my list of recs. We had read many positive reviews and decided to stop in. Wow! What incredible tasting pies. We had the coconut cream. It was one of the best tasting pies I have ever had. These small 6 inch pies are not inexpensive ($8.75). However, we were able to stretch the dessert over two evening meals. We look forward to our next visit.
A repeated favorite of mine, if you love watercolor as I do, then a visit to Sherri Reeve's Galleryin Makawao is a "must add" to your list. Sherri's paintings are filled with vibrancy and details uncommon to many watercolor artists' work. She has done so many creative things with her art that any budget can afford examples of it. Sherri is often in the gallery and will sign her work, whether it be a large limited edition print or a small art tile. The picture below was taken during her store's 16th anniversary celebration on February 2. Congratulations to her on her success. The place was packed!
Beautiful snorkelingand kayaking beach near Makena Landing
This walkway runs along Kihei beaches for several miles. It is a great place to stroll
View from our condo that I wake up to each day
No visit to Hawaii would be complete without at least one rainbow pic. This one blessed us with its appearance during morning tai chi.
Non-touristy Baldwin Beach, great place for a stroll
ABOVE:Kihei, Maui: Our day almost always starts with 20-30 minutes of tai chi. From there we walk over a small dune and begin our beach stroll. This was the view we saw on one of our walks. The large island you see is Moloka'i, about 15 miles away.
BELOW: At least one sunset picture must be included when showing shots of Hawaii. This was taken from the grounds of our Kehei condo.
