He puko'a kani 'aina ... be like coral growing into an island

He puko'a kani 'aina. A coral reef that grows into an island. A person beginning in a small way gains steadily until she becomes firmly established. - 'Olelo No'eau

Papahanaumokuakea (Hawaiian) Marine National Monument 

(Click here to see how coral grows)

Timing

It is Fall -- Libra Season. With the seasonal shift taking place we shift our communications with you  from 'Aha Updates to He puko'a kani 'aina. He puko'a kani 'aina is a Hawaiian proverb an 'Olelo No'eau that embodies the essence of our journey. Slowly a coral polyp builds herself into a reef and reef into an island ... over time. The communication we have created has been a collection of words, images and imagined outcomes. Some of these clear and rational, others rambling and feathery like clouds untouchable by physical means they catch nonetheless, somewhere, somehow.

I put this Monday Morning Prayer together to acknowledge the priority of Spirit in a well-lived life; a reminder of how incredible a human life is. The quotation I used to begin the prayer came from an anonymously posted comment left on the original Vardo for Two blog (January, 2009). It is a timeless and relevant message. 

"As you evaluate your options, don't set aside the priority of what your spirit needs. Your body and mind draw health and strength from your spirit, not the other way around." - Anonymous

With the seasonal shift Pete and I will continue to do the work of building connection and community between Whidbey and Hawaii...slowly. The money you have entrusted us with gives us the foundation to grow like coral; a reef is in the making; building a metaphoric island a land bridge from here to there.

What?

We continue to prepare (we drove to Redmond yesterday to meet with my Environmental Medicine M.D. to get a check-up and include the man who told me ten years ago "this illness will change your life" in our  reef building. We will need necessary documents, prescriptions, letters from experts to transport us and the vardo safety across the ocean. My appointment yesterday begins the process of getting his expert opinions on paper.) We also work on connecting with potential community(ies) in Hawaii who are looking for kupuna elders like me and Pete to live with them. 
We make adjustments: those connections in Hawaii may take more time to grow into solid landing spot(s); if necessary we will find temporary winter camp here while the coral reef grows.
We pay attention (to everything!).
We rest and reassess: use these four Po 'Ole the quarter moon phases to assess our situation, mend nets (fix and make our car and the vardo travel ready), harvest the goodness of friendships with people and places here.
We give thanks: everyday ... geez what a trip! 
We safety pin ourselves knowing things/life keeps changing, and move the pin to allow for expansion or contraction. That's the big good news about living with Environmental Illness, you stay alive if you keep paying attention and make informed decisions that suit daily reality. Messy and unpredictable? Often but not always. Authentic? Yes. 

And yes, we keep making each other laugh despite the obstacles.

Pete works with the BLINKING, NO BLINKING lights

We know we need to move from the Langley woods by the time Makali'i (the Pleiades) rises and welcomes the New Hawaiian Year (November). Whether we have secured a place in Hawaii or not we will have a Plan Be and find a temporary next place to keep growing that coral reef. 


He puko'a kani 'aina. 

Happy Fall kakou,
xoxo Mokihana and Pete