The Joy of a Blessing

When Vanessa was married fifteen years ago in Hawaii, her ceremony didn’t include a Hawaiian blessing. Last fall Vanessa wanted to honor her love for her ohana (family) with a beautiful ceremony performed at their wedding spot.

Sometimes the best plans aren’t actually plans. Three weeks before I departed for Kauai, I had the idea to have this ceremony. I wanted a way to honor my family as well as my respect and love for the islands.

Posting in one of the Kauai Facebook groups, I asked for help finding a photographer and a florist. Whenever possible I try to support women-owned businesses. Bonita Hensley’s photography was stunning and captured the essence of our family. This was also the first time I have ever worn a haku. This crown of fresh flowers made me feel pretty.

Chelsea at the Sheraton Kauai had been very helpful in the search for a kahu. Our kahu, Jade, was an amazing wahine. Her joy and knowledge made the ceremony memorable. The first part of the ceremony involved Hawaiian sea salt, and not just any sea salt—this had been harvested up the road at Salt Pond. What is important to note is that the only way non-natives can touch this salt is if it is gifted. Real Hawaiian salt is sacred and can never be sold. We each took a pinch and rubbed it in our hands, then we sprinkled the pa’akai back into the earth. Paʻa means solid or hardened and kai means ocean water. When you gift paʻakai, you’re wishing that person good wishes and you’re solidifying your relationships.

Next Mr. Aloha took water and cleansed the hands of each family member. We then kissed, but we also touched noses, honi ihu. This is a traditional method of greeting one another, whether it's a man and woman, two men or two women. It allows both people to exchange breath, which is the supremely important life force in Hawaiian understanding, and also share scents and conveys a closeness in the relationship.

We finished our day where our wedding reception was fifteen years ago with a delicious prime rib dinner at Lava Lava’s. Mahalo again to the Sheraton Kauai for giving us another memorable event.

“May there always be Tradewinds behind you, Rainbows above you, and Aloha all Around you.”

— Kauai Blessing

Big Island or Bust!

I am sitting here wishing I was back in the Cabana Bar, writing my weekly column while the ocean breeze refreshed me and the tropical drinks were close at hand. Those six weeks in Kauai were some of the most memorable moments of recent years. It’s hard to believe that it has been six months since we came home.

View from the Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai

 Which it must mean that it is time for another Hawaii trip. I don’t know how I can be envious of everyone else’s current trip to Hawaii when we were gifted with that time in Kauai, but that’s the thing about Hawaii for me. The mana (energy) that I feel when I am there draws me back. I simply feel better when I live closer to the ocean and the land—the allergies disappear, the stress is almost non-existent despite the three kids we travel with, and the happiness factor is off the chart every night at sunset. In fact, Hawaii is continually rated as one of the happiest places to live, according to Gallup’s annual National Health and Well-Being Index.

 I was a stressed mess before we left on our last trip. I had quarantine backup plans and didn’t feel like I was going on vacation until everyone’s negative COVID test came through. It’s been a bit more laid back this time. In six months, San Jose now has more testing facilities (thank you Carbon Health). In fact, I booked today for next Monday and had my choice of time slots for the swab test.

 The kids are still refusing the swab, so we went with Vault again for the spit test (they are a trusted partner of the Safe Travels program). The interesting thing with Vault is that they have now paired up with local Door Dash drivers to deliver the tests. I was bugging my husband yesterday to order the tests, thinking that they would be overnighted here from the East Coast. Later that afternoon, the doorbell rang and there were the four Vault tests. I had hoped that Hawaii would allow vaccinated travelers to skip the testing, but I knew that was a pipe dream for June. We plan to actually vacation in Kauai in November and hope testing will be non-existent then.

 What? You are going to the Big Island and not vacationing? We are still embracing the work anywhere mantra. It will be a bit more challenging this time as Hawaii will be three hours behind the West Coast, but summer camp is so expensive for three kids, I would rather figure it out and be somewhere the whole family can enjoy. Plus, the next Lives Aloha kit is all products from the Big Island, and I plan on meeting with many of the makers who craft their tasty and beautiful items.

 So, if I’m not worried about testing, what am I worried about? The rental car. The good news is that I booked fairly early on, but the price of the minivan for two weeks is the same price we paid for an entire month. The reports in the various Facebook groups differ so much. Some people have no problems and others are stranded. My neighbor is a flight attendant. She and the crew waited an hour and a half to get a lift to their hotel. Because she is such a frequent flier, she has a shuttle on speed dial and had to call in a favor to get a pickup. I have no desire to be waiting hours at the airport with three hangry kids who have been up since 5 a.m. My advice is to check rental car availability before finalizing your flights.

 The rental car shortage has created complexity on both sides of the trip. As I wrote about last time, one of my favorite tricks for our large family is to rent a minivan the night before from our local airport. My inner control freak prefers not to be waiting for an Uber or a shuttle. The cost of a rental, even using Costco is 3x more than it was in November. It is crazy. Thankfully, my other neighbor who also has a family of five has offered to get up early and drive us.

 Packing for two weeks rather than a month is infinitely easier. There will be no school supplies (yea!), no cleaning supplies (fear of wipe shortage), and no special utensils (avocado knife and pineapple corer).  We will be splitting our time between a hotel and a house. I thought it was the right blend of a little vacation time with limited space and more work time with a larger space. All of the sunscreens we are packing are reef-safe. One of my favorites from Hawaii is Kokua Sun Care. Reusable shopping bags are also great to bring, but they are also fun to buy, a bit of aloha that I get to take on my mundane mainland grocery store trips.

 I will also be prepared for long waits at arrivals, whether it be getting through Safe Travels or renting the car. It will be a while before Hawaii returns to its worry-free and aloha-filled self. Until then, I just need to go with the flow.

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