Aloha, Chris here.
An inaudible chant is roaring in the right ear as the malanai sea wrinkles with foaming white. For nearly two weeks now, a big low pressure north of us has been sucking the atmosphere’s mana counterclockwise. The southwesterly winds have been consistently blowing. It is the season of Ho‘oilo (November to April), when the setting sun is making its way back from its southernmost point; Kealapolohiwakanaloa (Glistening pathway of kanaloa)
ho’oilo to kau figure
It’s strange to see trees groomed from the trade-winds, now stressing the other way.
In mental preparation for the next few months, a local kahuna encouraged me 10 days of fasting for mana. Simultaneously, our pastor encouraged a week of fasting for prayer. The hunger served as a reminder to stay awake mentally and spiritually… until the smell of moms baking fermented poi banana bread whisked through the air… we only lasted 3 days. However, I've got to admit, warm poi banana bread does increase the spirit! I’ve got much mental discipline to go. As much as one would like to be ceremonially involved in our climate, it’s challenging. Challenging to sit in peace when we are groomed to be constantly earning money. Challenging to sit still when theres so much “work” to get done.
broken albizia
We eagerly await the season to turn to Kau, (May-October) when the sun shines overhead and the ocean starts to heat up.
Then, niu trees will flutter in their usual sway and lofty ‘ōpua clouds will glide with the northeast breeze. However, these days seem more seldom this year. There are more scholarly uncles in this field who have observed this decline for a while now. Furthermore, a study published by Pao-Chin Chu at the university of Mānoa discussed how this decline in trade-winds could bring major changes to our eco system. In October 2012, “Northeast trade-wind days, which occurred 291 days per year 37 years ago at the Honolulu International Airport, now only occur 210 days per year” Chu, Pao-Chin. Decrease documented in frequency of Hawaii's northeast trade-winds. University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Retrieved Jan 25, 2024, from https://manoa.hawaii.edu/news/article.php?aId=5358 . How this change in winds will influence our soil, reefs and wildlife is an unanswerable fate.
kau
On a micro side of this islands story; our canoe, ‘A‘ā is still awaiting out of water in California.
She has a dream of riding the northeasterly path of makani home, where her service will be for contemporary menehune to navigate these changes. In the meantime, I am patiently searching for the right partners to help me accomplish this feat. Financially, we need enough to purchase and install an AIS system, Solar Panels, a verified Liferaft, Starlink, new rigging and a slightly modified cabin cover - safety essentials! Physical needs are just a hospitable spot to work in the Dana Pt/Laguna area for a few weeks in early March. As Ho’oilo turns to Kau, we hope to partner again with scholars of sustainability in Laguna, and depart home with something of value to bring back to our beloved community. With all these needs on the table, I now understand the need of fasting from distracting influences and being open to the blessings of the most high.
okinawan aunties fasting
“The full measure of a culture embraces both the actions of a people and the quality of their aspirations, the nature of metaphors that propel their lives”
- (Davis, Wade, The Wayfinders. House of Nanansi Press Inc. 2009, p. 33)
Please, if you have any leads on hospitable areas to work in the Laguna area during early March, we would be honored in sharing this story together. The minimal dimensions of space needed are 29’ x 20’. As always, Mahalo for reading and following our story. May your thoughts and ambitions be a fruitful sprout.
a’ā in laguna
-Chris
