I first visited Hawaii (Kauai) for the first time in 2005 and I was in awe. Its natural beauty was unlike anything I'd witnessed in any of my travels. It just unfurled everywhere. Wild and free to be. There was so much to take in and explore. And I did. Every. Day. To the fullest. And while Hawaii's breathtaking scenery is amazing, it's her spirit that grasps my heart and simply won't let go. Hawaii's spirit. Aloha. To many, the word Aloha is simply a greeting. But to those that really want to hear it, it's so much more. The breath of life. Aloha is love. Aloha is reverence for all beings. Aloha contains all of the knowledge needed to interact with the natural world. It is a way of life. Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain - it is my pain. When there is joy - it is also mine. It's deep reverence. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. This is Aloha. And you feel it! You feel it in the taro fields. You feel it meandering on her dirt. You feel it in the spray of her waterfallls. You see it in her fully saturated rainbows. You see it in the eyes of those that choose to take her as their home day in day out. It's everywhere. And now I hope to pass it on to you.
Join me over the next few posts, where I share a collection of photographs from my travels to the Big Island, Mauai, and Kauai, and perhaps a few observations I made along the way.
0 Comments