Always Blessings

My dad playing dress up--circa 1940. Looks just like Bodhi!


E kala mai ia‘u--please forgive me.

It has been a while since I last wrote something on this blog. What a whirlwind March has been. Instead of transgressing into reasons why I didn't write, I will highlight all the blessings March brought.

On March 11--My dad, Rodney Arakawa, transitioned from this life we shared together. His soul was ready to make that walk over the rainbow. It was a blessing that my mom was here on the Big Island with us when my dad passed and she was able to get some support during her time here. I am so tremendously grateful to Kim for organizing many of the details that come up when someone dies. I was in Kona for nine days after my dad died and Kim held it together for all of us.

From March 13-21 I was in Kona for a Huna Workshop. It was an incredibly transformational week of study. One of the highlights for me was a trip to Volcanoes National Park. I had been to the park on many different occasions, but I had never experienced it the way I did with the Huna group. The energy I felt and the intensity of the connection to the place was amazing and life altering. If anyone is interested in studying Huna with the group--check out the Empowerment Partnership at nlp.com.

At the end of the workshop, Kim and Bodhi drove out to Kona to meet me and we stayed a couple of extra nights at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort. The hotel is a really fantastic property. The land belongs to Kamehameha Schools and they are doing a stellar job at preserving the sacredness of the site. Bodhi had a lot of fun being at the hotel and he also got a chance to have a trolley ride that took us down Ali‘i Drive. Fun, Fun, Fun. And it was a great way to launch his Spring Break.

Spring Break 2010 for Bodhi--It was his first Spring Break. No, crazy romps to Ft. Lauderdale or Palm Springs. It was a few days in Kona and park time in Hilo, Volcano and Kalapana. Bed time has been the usual 6:30, what a blessing. He's been growing up so fast.

Here's a little equation I want to share with you--
C>E
In this equation C=cause and E=effect.
Life is about cause and effect.
The question is, which side of the cause and effect equation are you on? Are you the cause in your life, or are you the effect of things in you life?
To gain maximum power, take responsibility for everything that happens in your universe.
On the cause side of the equation are results.
On the effect side of the equation are reasons--all the reasons you are not getting results.
I recommend getting on the cause side of the equation.
Equation is from the Empowerment Partnership.

Again--E kala mai ia‘u for the gap in the blog writing--March just zoomed by.

Happy Easter everyone!--Let's all celebrate the life force that goes on and on.

Got some Honey?

It was a wonderful Sunday for the Maku‘u Farmers' Market. The tsunami warnings had all passed us by, the breeze was cool and just a hint of light mist floated around on the air.

Part of our routine when we get to the market is for Bodhi to get his strawberry smoothie. We wait patiently in line as the smoothie maker throws in strawberries, freshly squeezed pineapple juice, ice cubes and a little bit of coconut milk into the blender and whips together a taste sensation that one sip will involuntarily make your eyes close and go, "AHHH. . ."

Ernie Cruz Sr. played country western music and captivated Bodhi with his fast guitar playing. Kim and Bodhi watched Uncle Ernie under the covered tent as I went about getting some veggies for us. I got a loaf of fresh, locally baked sour dough bread, a dozen eggs from happy local chickens, and organic kale and collards grown by local Hare Krishna folks. What a bounty of great stuff.

I bought a freshly made crepe chocked full with shrimps, spinich, artichoke hearts, avocado and lightly dressed with white sauce for our lunch. We sat and ate as Uncle Ernie crooned out a really good version of "Lucille". I couldn't help thinking of the the Frank Delima version--"Eh wot Lucille! You going leave me now? Da kids nevah eat yet, mango season not pau . . . Oh wow! Lau Lau!"

After lunch we walked around the stalls and Bodhi was thrilled to do some shopping. We found a guy selling all sorts of garage sale type items. Bodhi scored a free toy from the guy and bought a used copy of a Curious George book for a dollar. He was so excited about his purchase that he showed his items to each vendor booth we stopped at.

As we were about to leave the market, Kim took Bodhi to the bathroom and I waited outside of the restroom area. The sun had come out, so I put my sunglasses on to keep my eyes shaded.

As I waited a guy in his mid 50s, wearing an Indonesian batik print shirt, comes up to me.
He leans into me and whispers, "Hey man, you want some honey?"
He opens the plastic bag he's carrying and I see about five jars of honey. I tell him no thanks and explain that I already did my shopping.
He looks really disappointed and tells me,"Ah man--I was hoping to trade some honey for some ganja."
I was a little taken aback by what he said. I mean, no judgement on my part if he wants to smoke pot, but I had never been approached in that way before.
I just looked at him and said, "Sorry, can't help you man."

Kim and Bodhi came out of the bathroom. Before Kim could say anything to me, I asked her to step back and look at me objectively as if she didn't know me.
"Now look at me and tell me, do I look like a person that would have some weed on me?"
She stared at me for a moment then said, "Well. . . Actually. . . Maybe."
I laughed at her assessment and thought about how very interesting and inaccurate outward appearances can be.

It is very true that you cannot judge a book by its cover. It is especially true, I believe, here on Hawai‘i Island. At our local health food store you may see this grungy, grungy, dreadlocked couple with three snotty faced kids in tow shopping for groceries. When they leave the store, we see them all pile into a very late model Range Rover and zoom off. Trustafarians? Maybe, or maybe just people that would have ganja in their pockets. You never can tell.

There's this African American man in his 60s that walks around Hilo Town. He carries a big tribal looking walking stick and just cruises around. I would often see him sitting in front of Bear's Coffee. I always thought he was a homeless guy, until I was told that he is actually a world famous painter whose works have been displayed in the White House.

There are countless other eccentrics walking around Hilo Town that I believe have astounding and unexpected stories to tell of their lives. Michael Franti, lead singer of Spearhead, reminds us in his song, "Stay Human" that, "All the freaky people make the beauty of the world."

I believe the Big Island fosters a very live and let live environment. People feel free to express themselves without fear of judgement of what it looks like. I believe we all have a little bit of a freaky person inside of us that is desiring to get out. Let that person out, it'll feel so good. Nobody is watching really. People are too caught up in their own affairs to really care.

So dance like no one is watching
Sing out loud like you're in your car by yourself
If you have long hair, let it down and let it swing free
Show off those tattoos that have been hiding
Say "no" to the razor for a week--men and women
Laugh out loud
Be free
Nobody's watching--really

So do I look like the kind of guy, that would be carrying a bag of weed in my back pocket?
Who cares?