Spending Time
Aloha mai Ethnomads, Keili here!
Hope you are having a great National Keili Day! Grateful that I can enjoy the fruits of my labor and celebrate my birthday with my friends and family in a safe and happy home in my little zone of paradise. (:
Last weekend I escaped to go visit my tutu and papa in Kauaʻi. We got to see Kokeʻe and eat all the good food, and even made Chris a malo! and some mini kapa tools from a mango tree my papa cut. We want to try and make Konane boards from the wider slabs next! It is great to take a break and take some time enjoying the place that my great grandmother grew up. An island that was lucky enough to remain a little frozen in time (or at least, compared to Oʻahu!).
Birthdays offer a time for us to reflect. I could not be more grateful for the friends and family who have been there for me, supported me, and guided me along this path. With each decision we make, we carve a chip off da stump to reveal the thing we were destined to become. I still have a lot of chipping, sanding, and understanding to do. But I know that I have the right tools and some good guidance to nudge me along.
My friend, Kes, asks each year for my “lesson of the year”.
I believe this year has taught me to stick to it! Like the Opihi, we gotta stay with something once we commit. Life may get busy, grass may look greener, days might be hard. But to do a thing you decided in your heart was your kuleana and remain determined is something that we all CAN do, but very few CHOOSE to. So, I do what I can - even if it is just one little chip a day! Ive also come to find that moderation without judgement can help you remain kind to your self. Sorry, that was a ramble!
Here are some photos of my cleaning up Wailua beach in front of tutus house in the mornings/ my resume to be a papahanaumokuakea marine debris beach comber! LOL
-Keili
PSA: If anyone is looking for stuffs to do this Friday come to Chrisʻs Art Show at Kaiao Space in Chinatown from 6-9pm to see what he has been up to!
Unfortunately, I wont be making it to his opening night because my Halau Lehua Tuahine is having a fundraiser for Merrie Monarch at the Bishop Museum with musicians Robert Cazimero, Kuana Kahele, & Hoʻokena Kauakahi!
You can still get discounted tickets with my halauʻs code: TUAHINE40
Grab ʻem while you can! Here is the link.
Mahalo ke akua for another lap around the sun enjoying the many blessings and lessons this wonderful world has to offer. Mahalo to all the people how stick to their personal drive pushing them towards the ultimate goal and helping others achieve it too!
