Insights from Hawaii

Day 10, November 1

Wow, the first of November and the last day of our vacation. My husband's sister Theres flew from the Big Island to spend the day with us. It was very interesting to hear her talk about life on the Big Island. They live in an area where they have no running water and they are off the power grid. They get their electricity via windmill and solar panels. I noticed that she was very conscientious about making sure not to waste water from the kitchen faucet and about sustainable living in general.

We had an interesting thing happen during the afternoon. We stopped at a little outdoor restaurant to get something to drink while we were walking around town via the beachwalk. I don't remember how the conversation started but I was telling Therese about the ancient Hawaiian healing system called Ho'oponopono. I had just gotten to the part explaining that when any problems or disturbances enter one line, you simply accept responsibility for it and ask Divinity for forgiveness.

Dr Hew Len, the therapist who is currently teaching this healing system, actually used this process of clearing himself to benefit an entire ward of mentally ill criminals at a Hawaiian state mental hospital. The 4 simple key phrases for this unique healing system are: "I am sorry" "Please forgive me" "I love you" and "Thank you."

As soon as I said that, a middle-aged lady walks right up to our outside table. She zeroed right in on me and started loudly accusing me of who knows what. I was so shocked, I don't remember a word she said. So I just replied, "I am so sorry, please forgive me." She hurried away.

We sat there and looked at each other in awe and marveled at the timing of this incident. Did I attract her by talking about Dr Len's experience at the Hawaii mental hospital? This lady obviously had a mental challenge. Perhaps she needed to be forgiven, and then again maybe it was some fantastic opportunity for me to forgive. Who know. I am clueless. But that's the beauty of Ho'oponopono. We don't have to understand it all . . . Just surrender, let go.

Well, aloha for now . . . Back to Montana tomorrow.

Insights from Hawaii

Day 9, October 31

Halloween started today with costumes parading down the boardwalk mid-afternoon. Costume parties galore, apparently.

This colorful Chinese dragon was worn by 3 children. They did a whole acrobatic routine, standing the dragon up on its hind legs and then dancing around and engaging the spectators. We also saw a few Spiderman costumes, werewolves, Star Wars characters, Jokers, along with the usual witches and goblins.

I never really liked Halloween as a holiday. Growing up, it was actually somewhat scary in my neighborhood. We had some wild kids that were always looking for ways to terrorize younger kids. My own kids grew up in safer neighborhoods. That wasn't the issue. But I sure did not enjoy trying to make costumes for them. . . Oh well, this Halloween was unexpectedly fun. Halloween in Hawaii.

Insights from Hawaii

Day 8, October 30,

I was thinking today that most visitors call Hawaii "paradise." In Montana, we live next to an area called Paradise Valley. What constitutes a paradise place, a paradise experience? I know that the ability to see and experience the beauty of "paradise" actually comes from within each of us. If we didn't have a paradise within us, how could we experience any place as a paradise?

I certainly know or have met people both in Hawaii and Montana who certainly did not appreciate their "paradise" environment. In fact, they appear quite miserable. In fact, I have felt miserable at times when the weather is extremely cold and windy in Montana. I've heard some Hawaiian natives complain about the year-round heat (i.e., 85 degrees). So, I am reminded, of course, that we can create "paradise" or "purgatory" wherever we are. It just seems to be a littl easier to do when we intentionally create that paradise by going "there" on "vacation."

Insights from Hawaii

Day 7, October 29

I am very excited about what I am reading in the book Reverse Aging by Sang Whang. I am looking forward to writing a series of articles on this topic with info from Whang and other sources that have come to my attention in the past 6 months. I always pay attention to synchronicity because I believe it is a sign for me to take creative action.

In fact, this thought makes me wonder how many times things have come my way for a purpose but I was not conscious of them because I was caught up in the mind, various conditioned thoughts of past or future. Be here, be now.

I remember reading a book by that title in high school. It was kind of thought of as kooky, hippy stuff. But being present in the here and now is the entire focus of my day! Talk about full circle . . .

A great reminder tool that Eckhart Tolle offers via his teaching to bring one back to the moment is simply to say to oneself "Am I still breathing?" then "Yes, I am still breathing." So simple, yet I find this is easy to remember and it really brings me--whoosh--right into the present moment and into my body (and out of the head).

The beach we went to today has a concrete wall about 75 yards from the sand that blocks the full impact of the waves on the shore. Many surfers and boogey boarders seem to catch waves out past the wall. The sides are blocked off by a rock jetty. Anyway, this large bay-like area is ideal for laying on a raft or for swimming. We purchased an inexpensive inflatable raft (available at the local ABC store of course) for just $2! What a deal for a relaxing experience.

Laying on the raft in the sun, perfect water temperature, with the sound of the waves crashing against the wall, occasional laughter of children, even the sound of seals. Not real seals--native Hawaiian men. Seriously, I don't know if it's some kind of ritual but I've seen a few native men swim into shore, place their face in the water, shake their head and make a loud seal noise. The first time I heard it, I thought for sure it was some kind of sea animal. So did everyone else around me. But then we saw the man doing his head thing several times.

Our evening involved visiting a few of the large local hotels again which offer free Hawaiian-style entertainment outdoors every night. It's unique to hear the different bands (usually 3-person) play the same popular Hawaiian tunes but each with their own unique style.

We've seen many hula dancers, but one in particular stands out. Her fluid movements and grace are like no other. I will post another picture of her here. Unfortunately, the photos did not come out that well. It's fascinating to watch how her hands tell the story of each song. What's unique, however, is how the movement comes from her entire body as a gently flowng wave, seemingly without effort. More to come . . .

Insights from Hawaii

Day 6, October 28

We woke up to a hazy day today, but it didn't really affect my mood at all. In fact, I actually appreciated the clouds today since I got a bit too much sun yesterday. I enjoyed a quiet day at the beach, with the sun peeking through the clouds occasionally.

Many times throughout the day I reflected on how peaceful it was to simply relax and be present, thoroughly appreciating each moment. It really comes down to an inner sense that "all is ok" in the world.

I've also been listening to a recording of Eckhart Tolle discoursing on his book A New Earth. His teaching really resonates with me at this time. I believe all spiritual teachers are wayshowers that help us understand the nature of our true selves and our inner purpose. Tolle's insights are showing me a practical way to connect with my Higher Self as my outer purpose unfolds.

I feel deep appreciation for all the abundance in my life at this time--my close relations, my basic financial needs met, numerous opportunities for self growth, and so forth.

We ended the day with a spectacular sunset at Waikiki Beach.

Come back tomorrow for more insights and pictures . . .

Insights from Hawaii

Day 5, October 27

The sun was shining bright and early today, which put a smile on my face! Perhaps some day the weather will not have such an effect on me, but for now I definitely appreciate sunshine.

Again, I felt such appreciation for my morning routine, the exercise, along with drinking at least a quart of our alkaline, ionized water before breakfast. I am so happy we invested in the portable water purifier/ionizer and brought it with us via our luggage!! We had to buy bottled water while traveling and until we set up our machine in our condo kitchenette. (My husband had to make a trip to the hardware store to get an attachment for the odd faucet they had.) Anyway, we noticed immediately a difference as soon as we started drinking this water again.

I started reading a book by Sang Whang called "Reverse Aging" and it makes so much sense!! The Japanese are way ahead of the American medical and even naturopathic establishment, especially when it comes to preventive medicine and even natural curative therapies. Today I decided to do an entire series of articles on the aging process from Whang's info as well as other sources I've been reading. I know it is entirely possible to slow down the aging process and possibly even reverse it, according to Whang.

Anyway, the alkaline, ionized water is at the center of Whang's recommendations for reversing aging, along with Far-Infrared therapies. As important as quality food and exercise are, he explains why these two tools are easier and more effective than diet and exercise. Anyway, more to come on this later . . .

The first few mornings I walked/ran for at least an hour and then did a few stretches. But today I was more inclined to just walk for 30 min. and spend more time doing a full yoga routine. I have been a yoga teacher in the past, but somehow I kind of slipped away from my own practice since I have not had the space to teach classes.

Through my morning routine I've discovered that I have been kind of out of touch with my body, since I am not as active in Montana as I used to be. I know that I will be increasing my level of exercise when I return home.

At 53 years old, I am accepting the aging process, but I know that I will feel healthier and better about myself if I can stay in better shape. I am looking forward to doing even more research on aging. I believe we should be able to live much longer in good health.

The afternoon was fairly uneventful, just more sunning, swimming, reading, walking, meditating. I feel completely relaxed and open to the simple things--watching the pigeons, enjoying the children playing in the sand, watching the expert boogey boarders, and just the subtle changes of the day,.

We ended the day with dinner at the Outrigger Reef restaurant called "Shore Bird"--a must visit if you ever go to Honolulu. It is a lovely open-air restaurant right on the beach. They even have sunset specials. They offer a fantastic salad bar with every entry. You can cook your own steak or fish or shishkebobs on a large grill with expert supervision.

After dinner, we stopped to listen to a Hawaiian band and watch a hula dancer. . .

Insights from Hawaii

Day 4, October 26

Look at this "bird of paradise" flower! Unfortunately, this photo does not do it any justice. The details and intricacies of this flower are breathtaking.

We woke up to a cloudy day this day. The forecast showed sunshine all day, but the satellite via internet showed rain . . . I still did my morning routine since it was not raining yet . . . and as always, it was still warm outside.

Initially, I struggled with feelings of disappointment about the rainy weather because I so appreciated the sunshine and warm weather. I think the depressing feeling came more from the thought "what if it rains all week?" We have friends who went to Kauai last year and they said it rained all week. That's tough.

I quickly became aware that the mind was doing its thing again--worrying about the future. I brought my attention back to the present moment and accepted the weather for what it was. I realized it was important to let go of any expectations of sunshine and allow myself to make the most of whatever weather we were given. It's not like we had any control over it anyway. Living in Montana, you certainly learn not to depend on nice weather for your happiness--unless you happen to LOVE cold, snow, and wind 8 months out of the year. Why should a vacation be different? Besides, unlike Montana, Oahu is always warm--rain or shine. That really makes a difference for me.

By noon it was pretty clear that the weather was going to be cloudy and rainy most of the day. So we decided this would be a good day to drive around the island. We got in the car and headed for the north side of the island, or North Shore, where many of the world famous surfing beaches are such as Sunset Beach, Waimea Beach, Bonzai Pipeline, etc.

The drive was nice, especially since I was passenger, not driver. I enjoyed looking at all the landmarks and driving through the small, older cities via the original highway. It's interesting to note how the population is so concentrated in just a few major cities on the islands. The rest of the island looks very native, historical, with old huts or cottages turned into shops lining the highway.

On the way to North Shore, we decide to stop at Dole Plantation. Again, I was mainly attracted to the plants and flowers surrounding the tourist attraction. We are not much for tourist sites but it looked so inviting and we could see fresh fruit stands. We enjoyed walking around the gardens, looking at foliage and flowers, taking pictures via the life-size displays. (See hula pineapple girl) We actually had a lot of fun.

The Dole site offered garden tours and a plantation train but we decided to watch a pineapple-cutting demonstration instead. The demonstrator was a very sweet and gracious Hawaiian lady--and the samples were delicious!

Soon we head for the North Shore beaches, stopping at a few along the way. The waves were large, but not nearly as big as they get in winter. Apparently they get 30-35 foot waves! Surfing competitions are mainly in December-January, and I would love to see them, but of course that also means more stormy weather--less conducive for my kind of vacation.

We make one more stop on the way home at a very quiet beach on the east side of the island. It was still cloudy but not raining. Looking at this photo (below), it looks like it would be chilly out but in reality it was probably about 75 degrees. Very comfortable. We talked and read for a while on the beach and enjoyed the peace, then drove back across the island via the Likelike Highway, observing the thick rainforest and odd-looking flat-topped trees. Another peaceful day in paradise.

Come back tomorrow for more pictures and insights from Hawaii . . .

Insights from Hawaii

Day 3, October 25

I am thoroughly enjoying my morning routine, getting up early, taking a long walk, stretching by the beach, returning to the condo for homemade breakfast on our lanai. Something about the beach & warm weather that makes it so much easier to get out of bed early. I guess not having to go to "work" makes a difference, too . . . even though I usually don't feel resistance to my work at home. I bought a white straw hat today at one of the local "ABC" stores, which are on every corner (without exaggeration) of Waikiki Beach.

After breakfast I walked to the International Market to look around. There was so much stuff, it was overwhelming! I ended up not purchasing anything. But I did get some ideas for a few small gifts for family members.

Alan and I met up as usual for lunch and headed to the beach. As I mentioned earlier, our intention for this vacation was not to have to "do" anything. We were content to just relax and keep it simple, with little desire to "see the sights." If we spontaneously wanted to go somewhere or do something, we would but we decided not to plan any excursions.

We came to Oahu about 5 years ago and did numeous things, such as snorkeling at Haunama Bay, climbing Diamond Head volcano, driving around the island (mainly to see the world famous surfing beaches at North Shore), hiking in the Pali rain forest, visiting a beautiful Buddhist temple, touring General Fong's plantation and gardens, as well as visiting other tourist and historical sites. So we just didn't feel the need to plan on "doing" anything this time. This was our "being" vacation.

So if you are reading this, I realize you might find it somewhat boring. How much can be said about "being" anyway? We'll see . . .

Oh by the way, let me apologize right now for any typos. I don't plan on proofing or editing any of this.

After a quiet afternoon on the beach, we decided to cook a simple dinner at "home" for a change. We settled on wok veggies, rice and leftover fish. Of course, we ate our meal on our little patio that had a table for two. In fact, we ate all our home meals there. The view of the park and beach was exquisite and the temperature in Hawaii, rain or shine, seems to vary no more than about 10 degrees. About 70-75 evenings and 80-85 during the day. I wondered if I would get tired of such consistent weather, with little seasonal variation--but I don't think so.

After dinner we walked along the beachwalk. Various entertainers play music outdoors in the larger hotels. So we went to the Sheraton Waikiki and listened to a Hawaiian man with a crystal clear voice sing familiar songs, as well as traditional Hawaiian songs. On the way back to our condo, we saw numerous street type entertainers playing drums, ukuleles, or pantomiming. Most of them were all very good actually. This man would hold absolutely still like a statue until you put a coin in his bucket. At which point he would start his little dance routine to greet and thank you.

As in most populated areas, Waikiki Beach has quite a few homeless people, some of which carry on conversations with imaginary people. It appears very odd of course, but I realized that most of us carry on conversations with the "imaginary" person(s) in our own heads all the time. I guess we just have the presence of mind and social etiquette not to have those conversations aloud. That thought kind of makes me smile, you know. Not that I think other people's mental health issues are "funny" but that perhaps we are really not that much different.

It also made me wonder what type of traumas or life experiences does it take for any human to reach that point? Certainly these people have suffered and I imagine they have done the best they can to survive. In fact, I really marveled at how well they actually do survive.

I wondered if they simply don't want more for themselves or if they believe they don't deserve it?

I saw an Oprah show one time in which a homeless man was essentially given about $100,000 I think it was, as well as job opportunity, counseling and support, and so forth. To make a long story short, he ended up spending all the money within a short time, lost friends and family members (who wanted more money from him), could not keep a job, and ended up feeling more bitter and disillusioned with humanity. In fact, he said the money gift was the worst thing that ever happened to him. He was not appreciative at all of the opportunity or the experience!

Of course, this was just one man's experience but I think it reflects how important resonance is. If someone truly does not want or believe they deserve to have more, they probably never will have more or at least may not be able to sustain a "better" life.

I've heard other such stories of homeless people, such as the famous and wealthy banker (I don't remember his name right now), who was portrayed by Will Smith in a fairly recent movie. This man had a young son he was caring for and he went from homelessness to riches under seemingly impossible circumstances. If it wasn't for the love of his son and his strong desire to provide for him, would he have been able to achieve what he did? Did the love for his son give him enough belief in himself to be able to attract the right opportunities?

The human spirit is amazing. Sometimes I wonder if I would have the strength and fortitude of so many others, such as this homeless man, who have survived and left a legacy of hope for others. I live by the grace of God. I truly believe, we never get more than we can handle.

I had a friend who lost everything she owned when her house was burned down. The thing she grieved the most were her family pictures, especially those of her children growing up. I have to admit, since then I have always put my picture albums in another location (outside my house) when I go on vacation.

Do you ever wonder what you would do or how you would react if everything was taken from you? It's a scary thought for most of us. But I sense that I would survive and perhaps even thrive. I trust that the Universe will provide for everyone as long as we meet Spirit at least half way in vibration.

I know we live in an energetic world. Like attracts like. Releasing negative feelings, letting go of the condititoned thoughts that play like broken records in an attempt to keep us "safe and secure" in the sameness of the egoic consciouosness is the focus of my daily spiritual practice.

Pursuing freedom from the limitations of the egoic mind to allow the joyful, creative expression of Spirit is my current purpose. I know that as I become more conscious, more aware of my thoughts and feelings, my outer purpose will unfold more completely. I am choosing now to be patient and appreciative of this process, and of letting go of the need to "get there." I am not sure if one would even know in this physical realm if one had truly "arrived" at some state that could be considered "mission accomplished." What do you think?

More insights and pictures to come tomorrow as I continue to type from my journal and upload pictures. As you can tell, I am not much of a photographer. In fact, I usually don't like to carry a camera. The camera I have is just a small, digital camera, but I hope these pictures will allow you to enter the space of Oahu . . .

Here is a picture of some of the buildings of Waikiki beach on a partly cloudy day . . .

The large pink hotel is a classic.

Insights from Hawaii

Day 2, October 24

I got up early today and went for a long walk (one hour) along the beach, through Kapiolani Park, and up Diamond Head road. Alan and I decided that we would kind of do our own thing in the morning (if we felt like it) and then spend the afernoon and evenings together. I like to walk and practice yoga; he likes to run and practice golf. So this was a happy medium and a good balance for us.

My daily intention is simply to be conscious and to experience life here without labeling or judging. I noticed immediately on my walk that I was really drawn toward noticing the foliage. The plants and flowers are extraordinary, so different from Montana. I hope to take some pictures. I stopped frequently to look at them and drink in their beauty.

Right outside our condo are some gorgeous yellow flowers (I will include a picture here if I can figure out how to do it). I am inspired to paint these flowers in water color when I get home. I've been wanting to do some water colors again (put aside since college) but was not inspired enough to do so till now. We'll see . . .

After our morning venture, Alan and I meet up and set out to find a place for breakfast since we have not had a chance to go grocery shopping yet. (The condo does have a small kitchen.) After much walking around Waikiki we find the perfect place, an outdoor buffet restaurant surrunded by waterfalls and a fish pond. The food was wonderful--some standard American fair, but mostly fresh Hawaiian fruits and vegetables, as well as many steamed veggies, rice, fish, tofu, miso soup, salad bar and many interesting condiments.

After breakfast, we continued to look around at the shops, which in Waikiki Beach are fabulous. I usually don't enjoy shopping at all, but with all the beautiful Hawaiian fabrics and gifts, I enjoyed the adventure. After much walking, we made it back to our condo and later went grocery shopping. The food in Hawaii is very expensive (close to double what it is on the mainland), but we got what we needed for breakfasts and lunches for the week.

The condo manager was nice enough to specially purchase a nice blender fofr us. So we brought our Schulze Super Food (powdered greens) and intended to make a SuperFood fruit smoothie for quick lunches. It turned out to be a great idea. The first one we made included apple juice, banana, pineapple and papaya, along with the SuperFood (which, by the way, is 40% protein). It was a delicious and quick healthty meal that satisfied us for hours.

We spent the afternoon at the beach, mainly swimming and reading. One of my favorite things about Hawaii is the perfect water temperature. I don't like cold water. The oceans and bays in Hawaii are refreshing but warm enough to swim for a long time.

Throughout the day I was in perpetual appreciation for the sunshine, the sand, the water, and the diverse people on the beach. It was interesting to listen to all the different languages being spoken, especially Japanese and European.

That evening we went to a small local fish place for dinner, watched our first sunset on the beach and talked about our goals and dreams.

More to come tomorrow, as I type from my journal and upload more photos . . .

Insights from Hawaii

Day 1, October 23

My husband Alan and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary by taking a vacation in Hawaii. I intend to just share a few of my insights on this trip, especially those related to wellness. So this is not intended to be a trip itinerary, but rather a spontaneous expression of any insights I may want to share. A big part of this blog has to do with spirituality and the journey of personal development.

We checked in for our Horizon Air flight that afternoon in Bozeman, but Alan was not able to check in for his connecting flight in Seattle on Northwest Airlines. The Horizon Air rep said he could easily check in at the gate in Seattle. So we took his word for it and made it to Seattle. However, since the plane from Bozeman was late, we arrived at the gate in Seattle 20 min. before departure. Apparently, NW policy now is that if you do not check in at the gate 30 min. before departure, they give your seat away. They said the plane was full, and they blamed Horizon.

I started to feel anxious and upset. I got caught up in the drama at first, but then I took a step back and became more conscious of what I was thinking and feeling. I heard a bit of irritation in my voice with the gate clerk. I quickly used the emotional releasing technique I have learned called the Sedona Method. Without getting too involved in explaining it, I will simply say it involves asking yourself 3 simple questions when experiencing emotional discomfort.

Shortly thereafter, a man on the plane volunteered to stay back to get a flight credit. So Alan was given his seat and we got on the plane at the last moment. Victory! Next challenge is that we were not able to sit together. Again, I noticed my thoughts starting to create a drama about the situation, wondering if this was a sign for what the vacation was going to be like, etc. , etc. It's amazing what the mind will do and how the thoughts will pop up to generate negative feelings out of nothing. I let the thoughts go, and simply decided to accept the situation, feeling grateful that we both got on the same plane!!

With the spiritual work I have been doing lately for my own wellness, I clearly know that the center of my journey is to bring awareness and acceptance into the present moment as much as possible. My mantra to my own egoic mind has been, "Peace, be still and know that I am God." So I speak it from identification with the conscious part of myself that is one with Spirit, one with all life. I revere the stillness, and the inspiration and creativity that comes from stillness.

I have experienced this state of being as joy, love, peace, acceptance and probably every subtle expression of Spirit that there is. This is my inner purpose, and I look forward to see a greater unfolding of my outer purpose as I embrace more fully the inner purpose.

We safely arrived at our condo in Honolulu, Oahu, about 10 pm Hawaii time. The owner/manager is a sweet man and was very gracious to make sure we had everything we needed. We were in a small condo a half block from Waikiki beach and right across from Kapiolani park. We booked this condo because of the convenient location--close to beach, restaurants, golf course, walking/running trails, a park and entertainment. We used http://www.vrbo.com/ (vacation rentals by owner) and have found great rooms and good prices for this and other vacations. You might want to check it out sometime.

The view of Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head from our lanai (patio).