Summertime, Together Again

By Virginia Beck

Chandley G. Jackson is seen here enjoying a sunset at Miloli‘i, Napali Coast last summer. Photo by Léo Azambuja

Summer Vacation! Beautiful skies are gracing the Islands, spreading the heavenly blue above, and the holidays from school are unleashing our keiki for summer fun, art programs, surfing, and ocean awareness programs and camping. The great outdoors lets them release their wild energy.

Our beaches have been a safety net for Hawaiian families, packing up and spending the day or days camping, swimming, fishing, picnics and gatherings of enormous multigenerational families escaping the heat to awnings and tents by the ocean. Often spontaneous music floats by.

Local houses are small by Mainland standards. Until the last 20 years size this was not a problem because folks always socialized outside. Air conditioning was open windows and doors. Generosity is a cardinal value of the Hawaiian culture, and sharing food is essential.

Which is why everyone brings enough for 20 people! Leftovahs!

In Hawaiian culture, food is given to us by the land, the ‘aina, and the ocean, or moana. It isn’t ours. It is given from the ‘aina to share with others. The name Moana was chosen for the movie to show the power of the ocean. The adventure of a rebellious young girl coming to grips with her destiny, being chosen by the ocean itself to perform a heroic act.

For Hawaiians, the ocean was far more than a massive body of water; it was alive with power and life, the marine life, and the Hawaiian god Kanaloa. It granted such bounty to the humans who respected the power of the waves. It sustained their lives.

For a life uplift, I simply listen to Auli‘i Cravalho singing the reprise version of “Who knows how far I will go.” Moana is facing the unknown.

None of us know what lies ahead, and reality reminds me that I have little control over what is before me. Faith is what keeps me going forward. Particularly when I have ran out of faith in my own abilities. Faith is for when we don’t have any. We just trust life itself.

The generosity of our local communities, their goodwill and kindness, true aloha, revive my spirits whenever I have been doom scrolling the news, or have been inside too long. My husband knows to drag me out for a walk. Day or night, rainbows or stars show up.

The beauty, our children, and the glorious skies of Kaua‘i refill our hearts with renewed love and energy for whatever comes next. There are no experts on the future, despite the claims of the media.

All our great technology and algorithms cannot predict the future 100 percent accurately. It will not save us. What will, are the simple everyday miracles. The tiny ones. Be on the lookout, or you might miss them!

Virginia Beck

Amazing how many little miracles happen every day. I like to think of them as love notes from God! Someone letting you into traffic. The child who spontaneous rushes to run over to help pick up something dropped. A new orchid blossoming. A seemingly dead 22-year-old Bonsai suddenly reawakens. Someone loves you. Or does a favor you didn’t ask for.

Or my husband shows up with roses when he knows it’s a tough day. In the end, it is not the technology that will save us. It is each other. Friends. Even strangers who step in to help without waiting to be asked.

This is the true spirit of community, one of Aloha.

• 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.