The pictorial focus is on Maui, HI. One poem is related to the Islands and the second, a prized possession.

 

 

 

.........Keanae Congregational Church just off the Hana Road

Opening Comments from Bob

This Page: This page's pictorial focus is on Maui. The first poem Too Long touches on a Maui experience while the second Prized Possession speaks to a fond memory. The Two Mile Lei relates to a noble but sadder topic.

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Ocean going catamaran anchored off of Lahaina, Lanai in the background..

Two Poems this Month

Too Long

Mesmerized,
      sitting on the veranda,
      I stare at the half moon.
How long has it been
      since I have taken the time
      to pause and savor
      its lunar beauty?
The palm leaves
      bisect the reflection
      while stars,
      unhindered by smog,
      glow brightly
      in the tropical sky.
The sun waits
      to peak above Haleakala,
      allowing me moments to revel
      in my solitary pleasure.

Comments: No comments needed though I believe sometimes we forget to take time to savor the beauty that is around us daily.


Prized Possession

A piece of ceramic,
      colors faded by years,
      sets on my bookcase.
A mock horseshoe
      encircles the horse’s head.
A worthless piece
      won at a carnie stand six decades ago.
Yet, it remains
      one of my prized possessions.
Won by my father
      during our family’s annual trip
      to the New Washington Street Fair,
      I being home sick.
It remains a symbol
      of my father’s love,
      having played a rigged game
      he never allowed us to play,
      to bring home a memory
      he thought I could never have.

Comment: Funny what we cherish in life! It is often something that comes from an act of love and has little monetary value but lasting memory. I was twelve when I couldn't go to this yearly event which I always enjoyed. My father, a man of the 1950s, seldom showed physical affection but demonstrated his love through actions such as described in this poem.

 

Our son Craig and family visited us for a week making for a perfect time.

 

Lahaina, Maui: This banyan tree developed from an 8 ft. transplant in this whaling village in 1871. It now covers over an acre. On Sundays, when the cruise ship is in, there is often an art fair below its limbs.

 

Pictured, the ceramic piece discussed in the poem.

 
 

Whether a child or an adult, a visit to the Maui Ocean Center provides an enjoyable, educational experience.

Looking out from Lahaina, Maui, toward the Island of Lanai, once a huge pineapple plantation, now the home
to two mega-resorts. Most of the few roads on the island require a four-wheel vehicle.

Click here to enjoy a short video of The Drums of the Pacific Luau held at the Hyatt Regency in the Lahaina area.

Click here to enjoy this exciting group, 808ukejams.com, that meets every Thursday to Uke jam and enjoy song and hula–led by Jarret Delos Santos.

 

Click here to hear beautiful music that is enjoyed each Sunday at Keawalai Congregational United Church of Christ.

 

Vignette: The Two Mile Lei

The ti leaf lei was actually 2.1 miles in length.(You see a small section of it pictured below.) Students, teachersDoug & I relaxing, and volunteers from across the Hawaiian Islands worked to tie and weave each leaf into this beautiful symbol of beauty and hope. What was the occasion–not a happy one? It was woven to send "aloha spirit" to the surviving students of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Once the lei was finished a contingent of Hawaiian students and adults flew it to Florida where it was reverently presented to the student body.

I was privileged to hear Anthony Pfuke, high school senior, one of the organizers of the event, and rising musical star, speak regarding the project and asking for volunteers to assist in the weaving process. He also played for the group the original song he wrote and later sang to the student body.

This was not the first of such leis to be created. Another was delivered to Las Vegas following that horrendous slaughter.

One has to be fully familiar with traditional Hawaiian culture to understand the significance of this outreach. "Aloha" means a gracious welcome but also goodbye. But it is hard to translate the complete meaning into words for it encompasses far more, feelings, welcome, love, compassion, and peace, to name a few. The leis themselves signifies the spirit of welcome and love woven into each twist and tie, in this case over 133,000 ties.

Let us pray that no more leis need to be made and sent to victims of senseless slaughter. Instead, let's enjoy ones of welcome to these enchanted islands..

 

Makena Beach, Maui: Of course if you are in Hawaii, you need to enjoy some beach time. This is one of
the last undeveloped beaches on the island.

Kahului, Maui: The west mountains, in their magnificence, are in clear view

Upcountry Maui looking down toward the Pacific below. The white colored white buckets partway
down contain strawberry plants.

Recommendations:

    

Longhi's, located on Front Street in Lahaina, is a
wonderful place to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner
This upscale restaurant has been in business for over
four decades. Expect to take your time fine dining.
                                     

Grandma's Coffee House: Doug Court, who was visiting us
for a week on Maui,
enjoying a light treat at this delightful place
in Kula, Upcountry, Maui. "Grandma began roasting and blending
Maui Organic coffee in 1918. It wasn't long before Grandma's house
became the place to go for a cup of coffee and to "talk story". It is
now four generations later and coffee is still in our family." Of course
Doug had coffee along with the treat. By the way, the pastries are
delectable!

Click hereto read many recommendations from the past!

 

View from southeast Makena peering across the bay

Above: View of my tai chi beach area
Below:
A gorgeous courtyard on Front Street in Lahaina, Maui.

 

Above: Traditional war canoes and modern catamarans near Lahaina.

Below: On a cloudy, rainy day Doug and Janice are pictured at the entrance to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park,
a small roadside park in Keokea (makai), Upcountry. Sun Yat-Sen is considered the father of modern China.
During his formative years he lived on Maui with his brother, a wealthy landowner who later helped fund
Sun Yat-Sen's efforts to overthrow the Qing Dynasty following his return to China.Yat-Sen served as the first
provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912.

 

 

Above: Palm stand on the way to morning tai chi
...........................................................................Below: We close with a Maui sunset, 75 yards from our condo.

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