Aloha Always Loves

By Virginia Beck

Miloli‘i sunset. Photo by Léo Azambuja

Nothing in 2020 was expected. The whole planet shifted under the weight of sorrow.

A tsunami of changes with no warning and no way to prepare. Unlike the nuclear alert, it was not a false alarm. We have suffered, some sickened and dead. Unforgettable, unforgiveable losses.

Yet no one to blame for global events. We can only forgive ourselves and give thanks for those who have toiled relentlessly to protect us. Those who helped. Those who fought the deep swamp of a drowning tourist industry.

A painful year, a year of loss, and of love. My ‘ohana lost family members, here or on the Mainland. Many lost income, jobs, businesses and futures. It seemed hopeless.

And then our mayor and the first responders, and the Department of Health doing everything they could. Our legislators in Congress, battling for funds, equipment, personal protective equipment gear to protect as many as we could especially our elders, our kupuna.

Sad to say it was not just the old. Our youth and keiki also suffered. Jobs were lost, teachers struggling to make education possible from home. Online. No equal access. Families learning that the Internet is for more than shopping and entertainment. Technologically smart family members started teaching and learning and sharing wisdom. Young teaching old. Kupuna teaching youth.

Who knew the Internet was a utility? The hub of communication, marketing, business and government administration. That it could be the glue holding us together on our tiny raft of an island, so far from anything.

Community groups came together in amazing ways to feed the hungry families, many unemployed for the first time and uncomfortable being the receiver instead of the helper.

Times like these are hurricanes that seem to strip everything away, until the truth, that yes, we do need food and housing and healthcare; but our most precious treasure is our love and our families.

Mike Teruya’s phenomenal bird photos have brought such joy, as I cannot visit Koke’e. I am trying hard to be “good” and stay home. I am shocked every day to see a 30-year-old in the body of an elder with white hair staring at me in the mirror.

Yet I long for the birds of the uplands. How rare and beautiful they were to ancient Hawaiian kia manu, bird catchers. With forest wisdom, they took birds only when they were molting and shedding their feathers. The courting feathers, no loss to the birds, and returned the birds to the wilds. Shy birds were caught with sticky bird lime (pilali). Feathers were safely removed, and lime removed carefully with kukui oil. Birds set free to raise more generations.

Virginia Beck

I pray we are only losing the things that can be replaced. My heart pinches for lost jobs. For struggling businesses. For our youth to see the future needs, and build it better.

My life has broken many times, my heart more often.

Yet a new life returns always, eternally finding new ways for us to grow.

Aloha always finds a way.

• Virginia Beck, NP and Certified Trager® Practitioner, offers Wellness Consultation, Trager Psychophysical Integration and teaches Malama Birth Training classes. She can be reached at 635-5618.