Hawaii high speed: Is connection possible?

Before heading off to Hawaii, I asked the good people of Current what they wanted to learn more about while I was there.  The list was extensive. I won’t pretend, I got a bit stressed when trying to figure out how I was going to cover all of the topics and have enough time to have the experiences that would provide me the opportunity to speak to the topic I was most invested in: connecting to the land and people of that place.

As I write the title of this blog post, I hesitate. I think back to the high speed pace of my trip to Hawaii, and wonder how authentic I can be when speaking about my connection to that land. When I worked as a wilderness guide, I learned about connection, when I garden, I learn about connection, when I lived in the same valley in Nepal for three months, I learned about connection, and one of the prevailing themes I learned from each of these experiences is that it takes time, quiet time, to develop connection with a place.

So when Kelvin Ho sent me an email offering to facilitate a blessing at sunrise, I stopped worrying about if I was going to get enough interviews and see enough things, and relaxed into the idea that I was in good hands.

Kelvin met me at my hotel, and we headed out to the ocean. As we became acquainted, I felt instantly at ease.  Kelvin was a kind and gentle soul who spoke with a slow cadence, and a reverence for the land and the traditions of Hawaii. We stopped for a moment to listen to the earth breathe. No really, look for yourself! :)



I couldn't help but immediately open the can of worms and inquire about the role of the green movement and the surge of eco tourism. Kelvin shared, “The Green movement and eco tourism holds environmental sustainability as a guiding light for its awareness, action and interaction. The host culture here sees this as an awakening to a basic truth that the Hawaiian and all native peoples hold as sacred. That we as humans are not separate from the environments we live in. Recognizing and educating oneself of the huge impact that tourism has on these fragile islands is the first step. Realizing your presence here does make a difference, ask yourself what kind of difference you would like to make.”

Once reaching the ocean, we stood in the water, and faced the mountain. Kelvin explained that the process was similar to the tradition that might have taken place in Hawaiin communities: when a visitor entered a village for the first time, they would were introduced to the community elder or leader. In this case: that elder was considered the mountain. And so we stopped and acknowledged the mountain. Then Kelvin dropped me off a spot that overlooked the ocean to experinece  what he called a "wind out." I couldn't resist pulling out my camera so I would be able to share the experience with you.


I loved the paradigm shift. After flying 2,460 miles across the Pacific, the process of stopping, placing my feet in the water, my eyes and intention on the land, brought me into the present. And before I could think or plan: I was doing exactly what I wanted most: taking time to connect to the land. I immediately sensed the difference: it wasn't just the land, it wasn't just the ocean, it was the island, it was the people, and it was the history and the stories  of this place.  I could tell that two days on this island was not going to be enough, and found myself wondering how I was going to break it to my boss that I wanted to start working remotely…permenentlty...

We parted ways, and the next morning I woke before dawn to meet Kelvin for an awakening ceremony.



We met just as the sun was rising and began our morning by shredding Ti leaves as a way of making Lei that we would then wear during the ceremony. Kelvin explained that different Lei were used in different ceremonies, and that we were making a kind that was used as a vessel for intention.

On our way back to the hotel, we chatted about Kelvin's work with youth at risk and his efforts to  reunite  youth with traditional practices.

"The connection I offer here is to support the reconnection of youth at risk in the islands with the timeless wisdom and values of their native culture. To help them heal through the process of interaction with nature and learning the roles, skills awareness of conscious stewardship. Our program’s intention is to embrace the youth entrusted to our care, its cultural focus is to give a direct experience with and instill respect for unity.

In this time of economic recession it is tragic that everywhere our youths pay the price of having access to fewer services and opportunities. We (The Haleopip Organization) reach out for help and support from the green community and ecotourism to make a difference in the future of these sacred and fragile islands by supporting cultural sustainability."

I didn't have time to volunteer with The Haleopip organization because we headed to another island the next night.



But thanks to Kelvin, I did have the opportunity to connect with Kuai. So, do I get to eat crow? Is it possible to connect to a place when traveling at a high pace? Perhaps this is why people spend years of their lives meditating: so they can always be present (heh). The verdict is still out, but I can't pretend that the time spent in consious refelction deepened my connection to that place. I can't wait to go back.

"If the success or failure of this planet and of human beings depended on how I am and what I do,

How would I be? What would I do?"

R. Bucky Fuller

You can learn more about The Haleopip Organization at their website and can participate by volunteering while on vacation and of course they are accepting donations.