My Heart is Touched to the Core! (Hawaii #4, July 22, 2013)

6:30 a.m. in Hawaii, Monday: the sky is cloudy and gray, the water is gray, dozens of surfers are waiting for that strong wave.  We have no early plans for today so I can take my time eating a simple breakfast of coffee and croissants.  I'm in my pajamas, on the balcony, taking in the panorama of sea, sky, and beach.  The waves are definitely taller this morning; the more skilled surfers are able to ride a good wave for up to 10 or 20 seconds.

One large grey Navy ship is heading east.  A "Matson" cargo ship is also heading east, more slowly.  The familiar black/red/yellow striped helicopter is circling around and around Waikiki Beach.  Seagulls are playing high in the sky.  We wonder why there don't seem to be as many seagulls on this beach as there are on east coast American beaches.  There are quite a number and variety of the smaller birds in evidence.

Several white yachts  ply the waters.  An outrigger canoe heads out from the shore.  With four paddlers, they are quite swift.  Sailboats are out far from the shore without their sails unfurled.  Another Navy ship is heading west, toward Pearl Harbor.  They are the quickest of the ships.  (And don't we want them to be the fastest!!)

There is a huge white cruise ship, the kind we see in TV ads frequently, and also in the (bad) news .  I wish I had thought to bring binoculars.  I can't see the name of the ship.

After a leisurely bath and getting dressed, I slap on the sunscreen (SPF-100), and head out into the shopping area.  My goal this morning is to walk back to St. Augustine-on-the-sea church to visit the museum, "Damien and Marianne of Moloka'i Heritage Center", featuring "Absolute Faith," an exhibit of exemplary courage and faith.  This is located in a building in front of the church, on the second floor of a store. 

The streets and sidewalks are alive with tourists and vehicles at 8:30 a.m. The sun is hot but the breeze is stronger.  Yet, I walk on the shady side of the street.  The museum is a cool relief!

A kind, friendly Franciscan nun welcomes me to the museum and asks if I'd like to view "the 7-minute video."  Oh, yes!  The video relates the story of Father Damien, a Belgian priest who came to the Hawaiian Island of Moloka'i in the mid-19th century to care for the lepers.  How tragic that, at that time, there was no cure for leprosy (Hansen's Disease).  Any person found with the typical disfiguring leprous lesions on the skin was shipped off to this island with no provision for return home.  Father Damien found the leper colony in deplorable condition.  A young priest, he labored for twenty years or so, building houses, a hospital, burying the dead, bringing order and a sense of peace and happiness to the afflicted.

Then Father Damien contracted leprosy.  The Catholic bishops of Hawaii and the United States put out a call for more help for the colony.  Sister Marianne, a young 26-year-old nun from New York, answered the call and brought six other nuns with her. She founded several hospitals in Hawaii and nursed Father Damien until his death.  As a nurse, I cannot imagine the primitive conditions under which those caring for lepers labored.  The bacteria causing leprosy is in the same class as the tough bacteria which causes tuberculosis.  Praise God that we have discovered cures for these horrible diseases!

The museum displays some artifacts and quite a few large photos of the patients and their families.  We are not permitted to photograph these.  There is also a very nice gift shop.  I purchase a crucifix and book about Sister Marianne, "A Walk With Saint Marianne Cope of Moloka'i: Reflections and inspirations from her life for our living."  Both Father Damien and Sister Marianne were officially declared Saints of the Catholic Church under the papacy of Pope John Paul II.

Everywhere I travel, it has long been my practice to buy a cross or a crucifix.  I have one large wall in my bedroom dedicated as my "Jesus Wall."  It quite inspires me daily at home.  I used to be able to tell you exactly where and when I bought each one.  Now my memory fails me on the oldest ones.  FYI:  a crucifix is different from a cross in that a crucifix has a replica of the body of Christ on it.  I am pleased with this latest addition.


On the way back to the hotel, I duck into several interesting shops and pick up some small souvenirs and also sandwiches for lunch.  We don't always have to eat out! I also see new birds: very large multi-colored parrots, up close and personal.  They are quite magnificent!

The most time in a store today I spent turned out to be in Hawaiian Quilts Collection in our hotel shopping area.  The store offers large and small quilted items in Hawaiian patterns.  I love hand-crafted, hand-quilted items.  I aspire to be a quilter like my grandmother Marie was.  I have quilted one piece, a pillow.  It took me so long to finish that I have no hope of ever completing a whole bed quilt!  I bought a yellow and white pineapple-patterned pillow cover and a Christmas ornament.  As the clerk and I were chatting, I found out that she had lived in Owensboro, Kentucky, at one time.  She knows the Lexington area.  Small world!

Our next challenge today is to buy a new camera.  My faithful old camera finally gave up.  Theresa and I get into the rental car and try to find Office Depot.  Even with internet direction and her phone's GPS, it is a frustrating process!  The streets are crowded, unfamiliar, with so many one-ways that we have a difficult time.  Finally we find Office Depot and the camera I want is not in stock.

Next challenge: find the nearest Wal-mart (God bless America and God bless Wal-marts!).  This also is nearly impossible to find.  We are, of course, used to giant SuperStores with equally super parking lots.  We cannot imagine where there would be a huge Wal-mart in this crowded city of skyscrapers.  It is there: an immense Wal-mart/Sam's Club store with its own multi-story parking garage!  We've never seen such a set-up.  However, our search is rewarded: a suitable Nikon "Coolpix" camera is in stock.  The well-informed native Hawaiian clerk explains its functions well and we are on our way back to the hotel.  We are under pressure to arrive back in time to be picked up for our next adventure: The Luau!

At 3:45 p.m. we climb up on a very fine bus for a one-hour trip north to Paradise Cove.  Our tour guide, a native Hawaiian young woman, Hama, is very efficient, very friendly and manages to have us all knowing each other before we reach Paradise Cove.  We have met so many fine folks from all over the world during this trip.  Yesterday, our favorites were a family from Australia, here in Hawaii 'for a month, by way of New York.'  Today we get acquainted with a family from Texas, associated with a university there.

As the evening unfolds, we are rewarded by an unequaled view of a glorious Hawaiian sunset behind breathtaking tropical coastal views.  Before dinner, we experience our choice of different activities: learning to paddle a canoe (we watch), learning to throw a spear (Theresa participates), learning to make a lei bracelet (we both do this, happily), listening to the native Hawaiian musicians and singers, watching demonstrations of hula dancing (Theresa goes for it!) and shopping.  I buy a pair of wooden "Island Pineapple Salad Hands."

Canoe instructions, Paradise Cove, Hawaii.

Theresa lands her first spear!

Jan and the Tiki Guy.

Theresa learns hula dancing moves.

The Roast Pig is in the center, buried, ready for "Presentation."

There are nearly 1,000 in attendance at this Luau tonight in Paradise Cove.  We are summoned to the amphitheater by a loud conch shell horn.  The roast pig is dug out of the pit, lifted onto a pallet, and carried on the circular walkway by two very strong men walking very fast.  The wonderful scent makes us realize how hungry we are.

Now we all proceed to the table and buffet area.  There are Hawaiian dishes and American dishes such as fried chicken.  I try the coconut custard for dessert - it is delicately tasty.  Next comes the show we have been anticipating, the dancers, singers, and musicians.  It is dark now.

Paradise Cove Show, on stage.

It is impossible to convey the beauty and professional expertise of the native dancers, musicians, and singers.  This is an intense experience of centuries-old culture from the Pacific Islands.  I am touched to my heart with the passionate love for Hawaii and America from all the Native Hawaiians I have talked with or listened to!  They are both proud of their history and proud to be Americans!

(So sorry I'm a slow learner with the new camera and couldn't even figure out the 'zoom' function!)

Theresa volunteered to get on stage and hula dance with the others!  (I couldn't find her either!)

Theresa displays her "Certificate of Accomplishment" in Hula Dancing.

The grand finale of the show was a native Fire Dancer. This energetic young man defied gravity, safety, and common sense.  I didn't even attempt to capture a photograph.  The moves with one or two sticks with up to the four ends of the sticks on fire, tossed in the air or twirling in many positions were wonderful!  I don't understand how it was possible to not set himself on fire but he was amazing!

After the fine show, the crowd slowly finds their buses for the trip back to Honolulu.  We are pleasantly tired.  When we're very close to the city, Hama entertains us with a hula dance to native music.  It is a religious experience.