How'zit, mahalo letting me talk-story...

I lived up-country Maui through the 80's for ten plus years, actually Makawao way, up Olinda Road near the Panioli Rodeo grounds amidst an old Avocado and Lilikoi orchard. I worked in woodworking/Finish Carpentry, then landscape maintenance the first few years, then got into volunteering with Easter Seals programs and eventually work with disabled in Summer camps and pulling together resources for the disabled hooking up with the Independent Living stuff, then worked mostly in Kahalui at the Psyche unit of Maui Memorial Hospital. I mostly worked night shift and came to lead therapy groups during the day. That screwed up my sleep till I learned self-hypnotism and went body surfing or surfing every morning at Baldwin after work to transition to home and sleeptime... Medicinal drugs didn't cut it...

Whole truth? I also was a gentleman (guerilla) farmer up Haleakala much the time there and really got to know the upcountry few know. I hunted wild pig as a boy and transitioned to silent bow-hunting as I learned where the feral wild pigs trails were. I took down more than I could eat, so I'd bring it in to work or give away to locals I met. Working at night I had long talks with my co-workers, and a few were native to some degree or Filapino... I learned how little I knew, mostly... but picked up some enduring things that continue working in me. The locals in turn introduced me to other locals and doing things with locals, like all kinds luau and fishing, etc. I also hung with haoli sorts and got into their worlds too.

Once when walking up through Kenai Peninsula, where I had a good friend living with her kids, I experienced an apparition/vision, not the first in my life, but this was so different... so local to the place... I began asking about local lore with various people... and in some cases was obliged with with some deep-going legend, especially at night with certain co-workers, and was even sent to various ritual-sites to observe various functions. This led to my own study in lore and the living doctrine.

Lots more to my little family world, my narrow road through the intersection of sacred and split in myself, and my connection to life there... So many experiences and people. Eventually moved to mainland again so the lady I was with those years could continue furthering her education, and she herself had learned much in terms of Hula that I soaked up osmotically. Both of us and her child left behind a big part of ourselves in beloved Maui. It didn't hit me till I left and a gathering of friends what depth of love that carried me.

Then there's the many pools, the fragrances, the underwater life, the gods whispering to each other through the wild ginger natural gardens way back in the (semi) old forests... I'm getting a bit sad about missing those country places now, so I'll leave it here...

Jerome

I promised myself a few weeks ago that I would only visit tribe occasionally; the online life was overtaking my physical life! So I'll just briefly answer this intriguing question: from my first visit to Hawai'i Island in the 80s, I have felt at home there. Kinda strange for a city girl ... anyway, at this stage, I am a hula haumana and haumana of the dance, music, culture, history, and arts of Hawai'i. The more I learn, the less I know.

I was away from Hawai'i for about 20 years. Upon my first return visit, landing at Kona airport, I knew I was back home.