Monday, January 24, 2005
January 24 - Sudent comments about Visual Culture in Hawaii Interim
It was my favorite interim so far here at Calvin. Not only were we able
to experience all the wonders of four Hawaiian islands, but we were able
to learn the history of the lands through native Hawaiians, all the
while making great new friends with our fellow classmates.
—Natalie C
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My interim in Hawaii was hands down the best trip I have ever taken!
Adventure after adventure kept coming my way, and I know that I grew as
a person and stretched myself and my limits on this trip. Everywhere I
went I felt the spirit of aloha around me in the Hawaiian people as
they wanted me to feel welcome and share in the beauty of the land
around us. This land was paradise for me as I soaked up the sun, ate
delicious pineapple, met with aborigional Hawaiians, saw some of the
most amazing views of my life, experienced the spirit of aloha, and
made friends that will last a lifetime.
—Sarah D K
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Thanks so much this trip was beyond awesome!!! Bring able to be outside
and be compfortable in January is quite a blessing!! The sun and surf
were amazing to see how they work together in harmony and sometimes
aganist one another!!! I have never done so many spectacular things in
one trip ever before, from hiking to surfing it was a blast the whole
way through!!! It made me want to stay there for a lifetime!!!
—Ryan D N
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I have never had an experience like this before! While I was taking the
course, I learned that many of the plant life in Hawaii was brought over
by the Europeans. I learned that the aboriginal Hawaiians were very
symbolic because they didn’t have a written language. They used things
like their statues and the hula to communicate. I also learned that
although the influence of the Western culture has shaped the way Hawaii
is today, there is still an ever present feeling of pride and respect
for the way that Hawaii originally was. Many people are making efforts
to keep the culture alive! I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity
to understand this culture and land better!
-~Julie E
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This trip has been everything and more than I dreamed. To witness the
true culture of Hawaii with such amazingly wonderful people has been a
life changing experience. I have seen God’s creations at their finest
and am blessed to have had the opportunity.
—Kristi T
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This trip was absolutely amazing. It definitely put me in the stretch
zone. I learned a lot about much the environment is impacted in Hawaii
by those who live there in bad ways and how it can be impacted in good
ways too. I learned that the Hawaiian people are still somewhat bitter
about the way the United States siezed the islands of Hawaii and that
many of the people want to have the same privilages of Native
Americans, like having reservations, etc. I learned that there is a big
resurgency of traditional hawaiian culture being taught to the younger
generations so that it is not lost. It really almost was lost due to
U.S. businessmen and the U.S. government. The trip was amazing and I am
so thankful that I was able to go on it.
—Rachel H :)
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Well I could go on about all the little things that i have learned from
my experience in this Hawaiian Interim.
The most surprising thing that i seemed to learn about the islands of
Hwaii was that how different each island was from each other.
Although they all have the same basic historical background, the way
of living for each island was unique. Some islands like Oahu and
Hawaii seemed to be more modern and up to date then Maui
and Kauai.
—Chris F
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I learned a lot about the culture through the people we were around and
through the experiances we had. It surprised me how much asian
influence there was on the islands. I found it interesting to hear
about the belifs of people, and to find that each person really had a
seperate set of beliefs. It seems that the environment around them,
such as the ocean or the plants play a huge role in their lives as well
as their religion. I didn’t realise that each island would be so
different. They were different not only in climate and temperature,
but also in the amount of natives, and the way of life. I know I would
have missed out if I wasn’t able to visit all of the places that we did.
It would be easy to visit and never encounter the real culture of
Hawaii in some places. I am glad that we had the chance to dig deeper
and learn so much more.
Rachel S
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The Hawiian Islands are truly paradise. My three week stay on those
four islands enriched my mind on Hawiian past, religion, and mythology.
Not only did I gain priceless knowlege on the Hawiians themeslves, I
was able to take with me some great new friends and life long memories
that i will never forget.
—Jesse F
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In general: I learned exactly how much the people in my life mean to me. Traveling
for a month and being with all new people is fun and exhilerating, but
the people who are near and dear to me are home to me, and while I may
have 2 or 3 real ‘homes’ in life right now, the people are the ones
that make it home for me, wherever I am. I also learnd that even if
you’re in ‘paradise,’ it will not fix your problems. They follow you.
Thats why Hawaii is one of the places with the highest suicide rates.
About Hawaiians: They are diminishing drastically in numbers.
Over 1 in 5 of ever nativechild born there leaves perminantly, and they
are obviously overrun bytourists and people who want to move there
for the beauty and not eally the culture. The culture is dying, and there
are very few working to preserve it and pass it down to the next generation.
About Hawaii: Most of the plants and animals are not native to hawaii, but were
brought by missionaries, travelers, etc and along with those people
diseases and such were brought too. but for such a gorgeous set of
islands, it’s surprising that so few living things were there naturally.
I wonder how desolate Hawaii looked when settlers first came
to visit.
—Melia F
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What I learned in Hawaii:
That many of the people still believe all the legends and myths
regarding the creation of the islands and the implications that follow
to this day.
How pineapples grow…
There is still a movement for Hawaiin independance that I would have
never even guessed.
The Interim was amazing. I was very anxious about how this would go,
but I had 19 amazing people with me that made Hawaii better than it
already is!
—Kyle V S
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This interim was an amazing experience that taught me a lot about the
Hawaiian culture. The aboriginal Hawaiians live the aloha spirit which
challenged us to show others our Christian spirit. I learned how
important it is to preserve and respect God’s creation for it is truly
beautiful and awesome in the Hawaiian islands.
—Elizabeth S
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I was expecting a different experience wen I got to Hawaii. I
didn’t realize that the islands were so different but I guess it’s
because of the amount of time that they have been there. It was
amazing to see how the people of each island adapted. I’m glad I was
able to experience the trip.
—Matt G
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I really don’t think that I can really describe entirely, in words, what I
experienced in Hawaii. There were so many awesome adventures and crazy
times. However, one thing that really stands out to me about Hawaii is the
diversity. Throughout the trip, so many times, I was shocked at the
diversity within the islands, and within each island itself. Diversity in
nature, diversity in lifestyle, and divesity in people. Before going to
Hawaii, I thought that the islands would just be beautiful and tropical.
however, while they certainly were this, they were much more as well.
I learned about the history of the islands and of the people that inhabit
them. Talking to aboriginal Hawaiians was really an interesting experience
because it showed me a culture and a people that I had never encountered
before. I realized how the tourism industry and visitors have affected
Hawaii. These encounters were very meaningful to me and are parts of the
trip that I will never forget.
Annalise D Z
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During visual culture in Hawaii I learned a great deal about the culture
of Hawaii, visual storytelling, and about myself. Though all students
experienced mind blowing sights and incredible adventures the best part
of this coarse was the people. We all got along so well and I could not
imagine a better group of twenty people. I will forever remember the
fun times I had in Hawaii and the special people I spent this time
with.
—Peter S
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1. The Hawaiians regard the land in which they live as a sacred place.
2. They also try to live aloha which means they have respect for each
other and that they will stop whatever they are doing to help others.
3. The Hawaiians strive to pass on their heritage to their children.
They want their children to carry on the old times.
This was an awesome interim because not only did I learn about the
Hawaiian culture, I learned how to deal. I learned how to work with a
large group of people that come from many different backgrounds. I had
the greatest time on this trip because I grew so much thanks to the
experience and the people I was with. I will surely miss these people.
We will always have the common bond of Hawaii to unite us.
—Sasha W
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1. Hawaii is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined; it is like
a small taste of Heaven on earth.
2. Many aboriginal Hawaiians strive to live the Aloha Spirit, showing
kindness and compassion to everyone; this served as a challenge to
examine my own life and evaluate how I am reflecting Christ.
3. Our group was amazing! I have made lasting friendships that I will
cherish forever- not to mention the unforgettable memories and
experiences we shared along the way.
—Katherine H
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January 23
Aloha once again
It was grey and still dark when we landed at O’Hare. Zoned out we sat like zombies from planet “X” in the terminal. Dozens of others slept overnight in the waiting area, stranded by the snowstorm that had come through the night before. The baggage handlers unceremoniously dragged luggage out of the belly of arriving planes. We studied their wispy vapor trails in the crisp Chicago air. It made us long for Honolulu. Remind me once again: why do people live here? Downloaded images from student flash cards and watched movies we shot in Hawaii on the floor. We’re all sort of silly and giddy from wearyness. Everything not only seemed funny. It was funny. In vain I attempted to sleep a bit on a bench. The flight to GRR was 30 minutes late. Not bad considering those who had come in 12 hours earlier. Almost all the students slept on the way to GRR. The flight was hot and stuffy. But who cares? Hot seemed fine to everyone. A brilliant sunshine greeted us at the airport. All our bags arrived. Yahoo. Parents and friends were a sweet sight. All this snow will take some re-adjusting.
Thanks for hanging with us these past days
frank
Saturday, January 22, 2005
January 22
Aloha everyone from Honolulu.
Pictures of being cast out of eden: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan22/index.html
Bonnie got up @ 5:00 AM and took several girls hiking in the pre-dawn darkness up Diamond Head. Piece of cake after the expedition on Kauai. They were greeted by hundred of tourists at the summit. The sun was as beautiful as ever when it rose. I can’t imagine that without the chilling weather of Maui. Did some laundry, downloaded student images, stripped the rooms, helped students check out this morning. Everythings seemed to be awfully easy after all we have gone through. It has beed a fascinating experience once again. Different from last year but wonderful in many ways. Watched relationships develop where once there were none. Bonds of friendship forged from common experiences will stay with the students for a long time. They’re already planning a reunion party. I watched personalities grow and then some. All of us agree that we were stretched in ways we did were not aware of at the front end of this interim. Coming down Mauna Kea I shared how these interims stretched me. I started with Hebrews 11. Each person in that Hall of Faith did things by faith for which they were commended. They were not perfect people. In fact if you read the account of each you will find that there were some you may think should not even have been in that chapter. But they are. And deliberately so. For it is not their flaws that were recalled. Nor their sin. But rather what they accomplished by faith. Likewise these interims are genuinely steps of faith. I construct plausible fiction and pray it will work. By faith students sign up. And by faith it comes together day by day. We commit each day in group prayer to God. We welcome Him into our lives and activities as the audience for whom we live and in whom we find our purpose. Quietly He doesn’t need to enter into our day. He is already there. In every part. He is before us, behind us, above us. He holds us and is delighted as we walk in His light with each other. Yes I am weary beyond words. It is something I share with all of the students and my wife. But we are also enriched often beyond words. Yesterday the students simply did not want to see more or do more. It was as if they too had had enough. Hmmm. Sweetness to my ears. Mahalo Nui Loa for putting up with my ramblings.
Frank
January 21
See pictures: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan21/index.html
Friday came earlier than most wanted it to come,. By 7:45 we gathered for prayer by the vans, By and large the students looked awful. Later I found out only a few had breakfast. The walkie-talkies were silent out to Pearl Harbor. Sure they wanted to go…but so early? When we got there it became obvious why we came when we did. Streams of tour busses filled with tourists from the other side of the Pacific came rolling in. Our wait was a bare 30 minutes before we were escorted into a theatre. Heard from a man who was barely 9 when the “Day of Infamy” took place. Outside the theatre vets from “The Greatest Generation” were manning tables, answering questions. It was a very moving to see these heroes still with us keeping history alive. I skipped the boat trip to the Arizona this time. Tried to figure if we had time for Mighty Mo & the Bowfin sub. By the time the students were back they had little interest in either. Suggested we head over the NorhShore. They agreed. Then the rain came on – strong. Made it to the Dole Pineapple Plantation but lost a van along the way. Apparently they had stopped at MacDonald’s for breakfast. Aha! Rain rain and more rain. Made quick work of the Pineapple trap. The miles and miles of acreage under pineapple cultivation was impressive. Arrived in Hale’iwa around noon. Still raining. Some students were asleep in their vans. Can it be that wore them out? Ha! It must be the hours they keep. Found a funky dive for lunch. Some wanted to return to Honolulu right away. Three intrepid vans made it to Wiamea & Sunset. Walked around that awesome shore but the surf was soup. Not a surfer in sight. Red flags warned us not to venture in. The big waves came through two days earlier. The movie “Riding Giants” that the hostel was showing that evening would have to do. Back in Honolulu it was sunny and dry. Not a single complaint from any of the kids. All of them without exception are in good spirits. But none are eager to come home. Cannot image why. Bonnie told me how excited she was at the though of going home. As for me, I am quietly thrilled as well! Sasha’s ear has almost healed. Mat Gort’s sickness has left. Some are determined to get up with Bonnie @ 5:30 AM and hike up Diamond Head in the morning. Cool. I will be thinking of them as I nurse a Starbucks on Kalakaua near the beach.
frank
January 20
For pictures: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan20/index.html
Everyone had a chance to sleep in till 8:00 AM. Want more? Not in this paradise. Not with this Calvinist. Did I notice some reticence to embrace this venacular of Calvinism or was that my imagination?
Captured some awesome images of clouds & light. Noticed however that are some people shouldn’t be wearing some of the outfits they had on. I wondered if they glanced in a mirror prior to leaving their condos. Perhaps it is a nuance from the mainland.
Arrived at the Bishop Museum 9:45 AM. Greeted by the director of Education with whom I had arranged some interactive learning about visual culture.
The students all constructed miniature surfboards out the same material from which surfboards are made. It helped them understand why they are shaped the way they are. Great fun. Next came the Hula lesson from an aboriginal Hawaiian. Genuinely informative. The Polynesians had an oral culture Hula was one way of passing down generational information such as lineage, familial events as well as cultural stories. It looked good from where I was sitting. After hula, students learned about Kappa cloth. We sat on the floor the Polynesian section, were given several reams of the Kappa cloth and were educated on its importance in Hawaiian culture. Students really enjoyed this session asking questions about how long it took to make, and how one kept it clean. Good time.
Barely had time for lunch in the Museum cafeteria. Off to the I’olani Palace for a 2-hour teach-in about the history of the Hawaiian royalty. Fascinating how we acquired Hawaii & annexed it as a state. The story has tragic parallels to other native Americans in the West. We were all given cloth slippers and escorted though the only palace on American soil.
Made it safely back to the hostel in time to catch a bus to a luau.
Arrived and had a group picture taken. It was a comic tourist trap. Tahitian fire dancers in western make-up came on stage. The routine seemed as if it had passed a high water mark earlier Vegas. We barely made it through the main dish when the rain began. They told us it was a blessing. In retrospect I had to agree. Too bad we didn’t get to see all of the performances.
The students took it in stride, Took them that evening to do some karaoke. Woof. Woof. Had a blast. Bought three pitchers of Sprite. Others wondered how these kids could have some much fun on Sprite. But I had to prove that one can. Amazing how these kids will belt out some songs together from my generation. It was all too humorous for words.
Catch you later.
Love
Frank
Thursday, January 20, 2005
January 19
Aloha everyone:
For pictures: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan19/index.html
Hard getting the team up today. They must not be keeping the same hours that I am.
Assembled most by seven for bagels, cream cheese, peanut butter & jelly. Stand-up fare for a class in motion.
Headed out to Waikiki in the first rays of the Pacific sun. Partly cloudy skies with a hint of rain on the horizon. Met Herb Cuban and his beach boys behind the police station. Eighteen soft-tops were on sand. Students were matched by weight & height.
I noticed Bonnie wasn’t there.
The students were beginning their first surf lessons on the beach: lying on the boards. Paddling, Up. Squat. Crouch. Stand. Bend those knees!
Then came Bonnie with Mat Gort. He looked ill yet, determined to surf, grabbed a board and like a sleepwalker went through the motions. Bonnie told me he had chummed that morning. Hmmm. Kept my eye on Matt.
Off into the surf! Stayed behind to shoot pictures with my new zoom lens. Negotiated a deal with a former NFL photographer who had a 1200 mm zoom to capture the kids standing up.
The sounds of delight. The shrieking and laughter were quite discernable over the din of the crashing surf.
The antics: getting up, falling down, crouching, squatting: all captured on a chip. Solid gold memento.
Then the kids straggled in. One by one. Arms dangling. Lame.
“The arms are the first to go” said Herb.
Well I remember from last year when I chose to go out with the students.
Their faces however were exhuberant.
Thrilled having surfed the waves of Waikiki.
It was the first time they stood up on a surfboard. Exhilarated they headed back to the hostel.
Matt did surf and was doing better as we left the beach.
Students went their own way in the afternoon. One could see they needed the break.
Some went to the Aquarium. Some to the Zoo. Still others to see friends from Kalamazoo!
Cool.
Walked to a grocery store with Bonnie and hauled back more breakfast foods for the students.
Tried to start up several conversations only to be given Japanese answers with great smiles.
Cross-cultural engagement here is not limited to aboriginal Hawaiians.
Walked around the neighborhood. Checked out several other potential places to stay. Oh dear.
By all observation we landed in the one that is cleanest.
Off to the sack.
Love to all.
Frank
January 18
Aloha everyone.
Today we’re off to Oahu. Kind of tough being kept awake by a monotonous monotone “bong” from a wind chime outside my window. Almost risked life & limb to quiet the thang down. Whoosh! At 4:28 AM the cars started roaring along Highway 11. So much for sleeping in. They can’t all care about their Pea berry Kona coffee beans at that time in the morning. Or maybe they can.
The kids were great: packing up (once again), assembling for prayer and then heading out for the Kona airport. Some were still a bit groggy from yesterday’s wild Zodiac excursion. The luggage of some in our interim class has started to grow. Perhaps it is shoppers?
Some have chucked the sneakers they used in Kauai on that awesome (dreadful to others) hike. The iron oxide in the Kauai dirt sticks around long after one is impressed with it.
Not a grumble that I have heard, which doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any. Just that I haven’t been aware of it. They have all adopted my wife Bonnie as the Mother of the Year! Ha. Good to have her along, even if she wasn’t fully cognizant how intense the labor was going to be,
The flight to Honolulu was wonderfully uneventful. The Map Quest directions I had pulled down earlier were a “must’ for Honolulu traffic is worse then that of L.A.
The Hostel is one block from Waikiki. There are those who like this and there are those who tolerate this proximity. The hostel looks more like another Siagon tenement hotel. Parking is behind a heavy metal gate. A large screen TV blares out CNN. Strange: This is the first news I have seen in several weeks. It appears to be almost the same news as when I left on January 4. It made me pause and wonder. But ahhhhh: 78 degrees & a light southerly wind.
4:00 PM finally got the students checked into their rooms, When the manager heard we didn’t want Co-Ed rooms she printed out notices that men were not allowed in the girls rooms. The common area was the place to meet. These folks were keenly experienced in world traveling college students. They read the riot act about underage drinking on the premises, Whew. Heavy. Our kids respectfully took it all in. Later I heard some colorful tales about other schools who came through the hostel.
We walked the Waikiki Beach front in a glorious sunset, it was good. We were within budget. No one was seriously hurt or sick. All were (once again) adjusting to new digs, Ha! The silent agenda: Calvin’s dorms look better all the time. And those home cooked meals? Something one pines for…even in Paradise.
Torches are burning everywhere. There is a festive laid-back spirit in the evening air. My weariness harkens, I am turning in early again.
See you in the morning.
Love
Frank
Monday, January 17, 2005
January 17
See the pictures of our day along the wild Kona coast;
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan17/index.html
Didn’t know for sure if we were going to be able to get out on the Zodiac Rafts today. Yesterday a high surf warning kept. Ryan DeNooyer from renting a surfboard. I felt bad for him. He was genuinely counting on shooting some of those gnarly ten footers.
Called in @ 6:30 for the all-go signal. The rafting company recommended we come on another day since they were having trouble launching the zodiac rafts. However when they heard we were on our way to Oahu tomorrow they agreed to the adventure. Got the bone weary students up, ate some breakfast and prayed together once again.
The tiny pier in Keauhou Bay was creaking in the violent surf as we approached the zodiacs. Gingerly we stepped in and stowed our cameras and gear.
Then off we went into the wild Pacific. Ten and fifteen foot waves came rolling toward us and magically melted beneath our tiny boat. The captain gunned the twin 150 horsepower Hondas and began to ride the angry sea. At twenty knots the screams came, We’d rise up and slam down the face of wave after wave. The sun was dead ahead as we headed for Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park. There we saw the flat lava beach that we had walked on several days ago overwhelmed by massive swells of surf.
Waves with 15-20 foot faces swelled up, slammed into the lava coast and disintegrated into 100’ mountains of spray. Blowholes blew the froth even higher.
We approached the bay where the Hawaiians killed Captain Cook. The surface was flat. There we understood why Cook chose that bay to repair his boats. A white pillar had been erected to commemorate where he was killed. Some of his sailors were in the tender when the skirmish occurred between Cook’s men and 3,000 Hawaiians who met him at this point.
Conjecture has it that Cook could not swim and may have motioned the crew in the tender to come and get him. With 3,000 angry Hawaiians on shore the message may have been mistranslated. Cook was cooked, his flesh stripped from their bones and sent out to sea. His bones: prized for their “mana” and kept by for as booty. The natives returned Cook’s hands upon the insistance of the crew.
Snorkeling was better here than at Molokini off the coast of Maui,. There were so many yellow fish here at one time that it was known as the”Gold Coast”. Spotted several Sperm whales once again who were nursing their young. What a spectacle to see the leviathan lounge in her environment.
Then we hugged the coast back up north enjoying the massive breakers as they pounded the foreboding black lava cliffs.
Students were tired when they came back. Some scrambled the remaining eggs for lunch, showered and headed out, to the beach. Others to find new smart cards for their cameras and Kona coffee. Tomorrow: Off to Oahu. Catch you from Honolulu soon :-)
Love
Frank
January 16
Aloha everyone:
Pictures of Mauna Kea: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan16/index.html
Well, it was sort inevitable, the group split in two today. Half wanted to chill, the half were ready for “higher” education. Picked up a 15 passenger 4WD van and went up Mauna Kea, the 13,796-foot mountain where the Keck telescope resides. Saddle road was awfull. Rough and nerve wracking. We hung left and turned up that awesome mountain.
Stopped at the Visitors Center to eat our lunches and acclimate to the elevation. KaHaleLauKoa, an aboriginal Hawaiian met us there and lectured on how Pele the goddess of fire came to these islands. Fully dressed in native garb she shared with us the titanic struggle it was for Pele to find a home on the Big Island after several failed attempts on Maui and Oahu. The lecture was punctuated by several native chants, which she belted out with mischievous delight. By 1:00 PM Justin, a specialist from the MKSS came and led us up the mountain.
The washboard road was chocked with dust from many native Hawaiians riding up the mountain ahead of us. We followed. Jaw chattering, palm sweating, sucking air, gawking at the drop off. As we neared the summit, dozens of Hawaiians had stopped on each side of the road. With undisguised glee they were shoveling snow into the back of their pickup trucks. Why? To take down the mountain to their families later that day. Snow drifts as tall as our van lined each side of the road as we neared the summit. The temperature fell to 37 degrees. Hard-core snowboarders were launching off into the white oblivion below. Finally parked the van at the summit. Felt light-headed as I climbed out. Justin told us that the atmosphere was 40% thinner than at sea level. The radiance of a brilliant sun made everyone fall silent. I tried my best to listen to the instructions of the guide. No running. Walk slowly. Drink water. Everything seemed to go into slow motion. We entered into the telescope dome of the University of Hawaii. It was chilly, Justin tried to explain the virtues of its nuances. We stopped at the stairway and went up step by step. Stopping on each stair to catch our breath. Looked out and saw a band of fluffy clouds hug the mountain 5,000 feet below. Felt like we had landed on another planet. Majestic! No use lifting eyes to the hills were half way to heaven. What an awesome God we serve. Who can know Him or comprehend these works of His hands? Drove about 200 feet to the Keck telescope - another massive instrument with hexagonal mirrors - which captures the faintest starlight millions of light years away. Listened carefully for as long as I could. Lasted about an hour a half. Found the highest bathroom in the USA a welcome relief. Saw Japan’s Subaru, Chile’s Cerro Pachon, Canada-France-Hawaii telescope, James Clerk Maxwell and Caltech’s Submillimeter Observatory from a distance. Nuff said.
At 3:00 PM we were off down the mountain.Met dozens of native Hawaiians playing in the dazzling snow. Filling their trucks. Boogie boarding down the several slopes. It looked like good fun until we saw that at the end of the snow sharp black lava greeted them. And there was no ski lift to take them back up. Did get out to throw some snowballs. Amazing how wonderfully it brings out the kid in all of us. No, we have not forgotten Michigan, nor Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California. Though I might add that snow as an option is something I relished. Rattled down the mountain behinds several trucks filled with snow. Water spewed out their tail beds as if by design. The race was on to get to the beach on time with whatever was left for the rest of the family to enjoy. We joined up with the other half of the students in Kona…wishing we had taken our shorts along for it was very warm and muggy that evening. Yes we were tired to the bone.
Love
Frank
Saturday, January 15, 2005
January 15
Aloha!
Today’s pictures: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan15/index.html
Today started off well. Students did appear a bit more tired than usual. Must be an accumulative tiredness. Some were up until 2:00 AM…doing what students do.
Packed up and prayed. Launched out around 9:45 AM. Drove south in the direction of Mauna Loa. The landscape was awesome. Lush. Rugged. Strewn with large chunks of lava.
Stopped at Mark Twains’ Monkey Pod Tree. Turns out was a second generation descendant of the monkey pod tree reputedly planted by Mark Twain during his visit here in 1866. It is in Waiohinu just west of Na’alehu on the main highway 11. Mark Twain was here on a writing expedition and wrote many articles and letters while here…
At the 104 mile marker swung down to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, the Place of Refuge, probably the most visited Kona tourist site out of Kailua.
I recalled where we had lunch last year. Sweet spot. In the sun. So Polynesian. Walked on the lava out to the tide pools were some students found 6” long snails basking in the warm salt water.
After lunch we visited the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau and saw a giant sea turtle basking in the sun.
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau is historically very significant to Hawaiians because they too needed a place to flee to when they broke Kapu; the laws of the land.
In Pu’uhonua o Honaunau no one could touch them. There a priest would absolve them from their misdeeds.
Over the centuries many a prominent chief’s bones were buried there. This bestowed on Pu’uhonua o Honaunau the perception as being a center of great mana: spiritual power. Hence its authority in Hawaiian culture.
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau is barely 3 miles miles down the coast from where Captain Cook confronted 3,000 angry Hawaiians. Was Cook fully aware how sacred the location was when he moored his ship for repairs that fateful day?
It was 90 degrees and the students were wilting! Tried to find the Royal Kona coffee plantation but arrived at the hostel instead. Checked in and everyone crashed. Some showered but most languished. Finally at 3:30 we were able to move on up the Kona coast to a Kona coffee farm for mac nuts & coffee.
From there, off to Kona. Still very warm here. It is similar to Lahaina in that is has the same tourists traps. We’re meeting to students at 7:30 PM
love to all
frank
January 14
See the pictures of us learning from the Hawaiian Kapuna:
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan14/index.html
Friday the 14th started out well. What in the world is a Kapuna? The kids were surprised when more than 40 elderly Hawaiians met them…formed a circle, held hands and committed the Kapuna meeting to the Lord.
Then the fun began.
Some groups made flower leis, others sat around learning how to braid more flower stuff.
Others learn the Ukelele.
Still others the basics of the Hula.
Kapuna’s 90 years and older were swaying right along…having a blast with the kids. One 96 year old man did it with such grace and style. It was a delight to see them. And be with them. Not only did the kids love it but the Kapuna themselves really took to the students. It was remarkable the affection that developed.
Tropical fruits were served. Then we all had to perform the hula together. Yes I shot video. They also explained as they went the story that they were telling with their hands, arms and legs.
One needs to be reminded that the Hawaiians like the Tahitians had an oral culture and that the visible expressions of the culture were the hula the lua and the lei.
Our students also performed a song for the Kapuna: “Lord I lift your name on high…I just love to sing your praises” Several Kapuna were in tears when they were done.
They all lined up @ noon and hugged us affectionately. Then it was over. The director showed us to the sacred Coconut Park in the bay…and we were off to the Kuhio Plaza for lunch.
After lunch we visited the Macadamia Nut factory. Indeed…well worth the trip.
Then onto to the shore where we found a place where locals sit in a warm tide pool.
Not exactly your tourists spot. Alas it was water and the students were tired.
Got a call from the person who set us up with the Kapuna. It appears that a local Hawaiian woman had invited us over to her house to learn a bit more about Pele the goddes of fire.
Drove back to the hostel, showered and headed back to Hilo. Stopped by Pizza Hut and received directions to this woman’s house. It was pitch dark…but we found it.
She greeted us from afar with a native Hawaiian chant. Invited us in and spoke to us at length for about an hour about Pele and other Hawaiian myths. Leina Lei was her name. Then she too ended with a Hawaiian chant. It was good. A nice way to round out the day.
Back to the hostel. I was ready for bed. The students however turned the car lights on and played horshoes in the yard till midnight.
Others fell asleep in the couch watching another movie.
Catch you on the flip side…as in Saturday
Frank
Friday, January 14, 2005
January 13
Aloha on this side:
Photos of our time at the Kilaeua volcano: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan13/index.html
Today was awesome. Got up to the smell of bacon and eggs. Jesse Foppema a wonderful leader of our team was up early and cooking up a storm. I had asked the hostel owners for some breakfast foods as we did last year. nice change from cereal. Prayed again for protection, harmony and love in the team.
Hopped in the vans at 9:15 and rode up to Volcano National park. Everyone was in great mood.
Arrived at the U.S.Geological Survey and asked for the lead Geologist to come and speak to us. However he was tied up with folks from the Smithsonian. Hmmmm. A local Geophysicist came and spoke briefly to us. Though he was Hawaiian he had been educated on the mainland. Nice guy but it was obvious he did not want to talk about native Hawaiian beliefs. Hmmm. We went to the bookstore and picked up literature about Kilaeua. Amazing factiods that I won’t bore you with here.
Headed for lunch at the Vocano House, then onto the steam vents. Last year the kids loved these. This year they were grossed out by them. Just some sulphur gas coming out of the ground. All great fun…but…different strokes…
Johanna left her camera in the restaurant. I headed back with her but it was gone. Filled out a report at the visitors center…She was rather quiet to say the least for the rest of the day.
Drove to the South east Rift rim. Played on the lava and into Kilaeua for about 30 minutes, then moved onto Halema’uma Overlook. Here many sacrifices had been left by the worshippers of Pele the goddess of fire. We shot a group picture at the rim. It was sunny. Steam rose from the floor of the caldera. It was other earthly again. So bleak. So awesome. No wonder the natives perceive of it as spiritual. There is a spiritual intensity there.
From there we drove 20 miles down to the coast. Dropped 3,000 feet in 15 minutes. Wow. Right through a massive lava field. There we walked to where the lava had spilled over the road on the way to the ocean. It was sunny with a stiff wind. Sat next to a “No Parking” sign that was buried up to the sign itself and shot a group picture.
Then we walked back. Some of the girls had injured knees from the Kauai hike. Some were still wearing slip on thongs,,,,not attire for a hike in lava. Most of us were simply weary. So we headed back. Stopped at the Thurstan Lava tubes. Hiked into them and then some for 1,000 feet with only our flashlights. Wheeeeeee.
Stopped back at the Visitors Desk to see if someone had turned in Jo’s camera. They did ! ! ! We were all delighted.
Bonnie had stayed behind today. She had seen all this before. When we came back she had made supper for us. A home cooked meal was much welcome.
Basically that’s it. One can feel the tiredness accumulate in the kids. All good. They are all watching Indiana Jones on the VCR tonight. The hostel has 400 titles of movies to watch. Better than wandering the streets of Hilo.
love to all
Frank
January 12
aloha everyone
I am sitting on the floor of a Chapters Bookstore in Hilo.
Got 6 of the women out shopping tonight….and I have a scant 30 minutes to get a jot off to you all.
Yesterday the 12th was a “Travel Day” Wonderfully uneventful from Kauai to Honolulu then onto the BIG island.
Melia Fast was so kind to strip her bed at the hostel. Took little notice of her suitcase. By the time we got to the airport…she wondered where it was. Suitcases rarely develop legs…and in Hawaii there is no exception. We panicked for few minutes started to head back from the airport, called the hostel and they said it was still sitting out on the lawn…where she had left it. Ha! No good deed will go unpunished! The hostell graciously brought it to the airport. Aloha Air had already checked us in…all went well…though later she left her journal on the plane when we transferred flights in Honolulu.
Arrived in Kona on time and then some. Sweet balmy Polynesian breeze greeted us. Picked up the four vans…and rode to Hilo in record time. The landscape was so dry. By the time we hit Hilo it was wet and cloudy. Came in early so we checked into the hostel early. Nice quiet place in the boonies.
Came back to Hilo for supper: A local dive. Not bad. A Starbucks next door was attractive to all. Others found Hilo Hatties and Macy’s equally as attractive.
Slept soundly…it was chilly @ 2,000 feet up from the coast.
see you on the 13th..
Frank
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
January 11
Aloha!
Photos: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan11/index.html
Back from the Kalalua Trail on the wild Napali Coast! It has been storming here these last couple of nights…so we were dubious at best wether a hike on the Napali Coast was even possible. The hostel owner, Ernie and his manager came at 8:00 and everyone was ready to roll…so off we went.
The north shore of Kauai recieves more rainfall than any other Hawaiian Island. I heard it received more than 436” last year. It’s lush and looks more like South East Asia than anything Polynesian. There were what looked like like rice paddies from a distance. I understand that is where they grow Tarro Root, an island favourite that tastes like wallpaper paste. Ask an islander if he agrees and she or he will tell you, “Don’t know…we generally don’t taste wallpaper paste”
Wayyyy too coool.
We approached the end of the road. It was windy and overcast. Parked the vans and headed for the Kalalau Trail head.
Then our hearts started racing! The trail was steep. Rocky. Slippery. And then some. Over roots of strange plants, through river beds, dense jungle and a plethora of slick rocks. One misstep and it was adios amigo. Then there was the mud. We saw people coming back from the hike: silent downcast eyes, glum…and we wondered, “gee what do they know that we don’t?”
We found out: Mud & more of it! Hiked for two hours to a beach so deserted so rocky that it looked like it was from another planet. 15 foot waves crashed into a lava stone strewn shore. A posted sign warned us that 28 people had died in the undercurrents. There we sat and ate the Subway sandwiches we had purchased earlier that day in Hanalei. Each bite was sacramental. We mulled over them slowly savoring the moments.
Bonnie however was hurt. Her knees simply gave out. She asked not go forward the waterfall which was another 2 miles.
I have 30 years invested in that trooper I sure wasn’t going to let her go back by herself. The rest went forward to the waterfall with our guides Mike and Ernie both from Kauai. We prayed and left the students.
The way back was equally treacherous. Bonnie slipped and fell hard several times. The terrain was rough beyond words. Last year it was all dry but this year. Scary. We met a group of 10 students from Messiah College coming up. Stopped to chat. They were on a Wilderness in Hawaii interim course hiking to camp at “the” waterfall at the end of the 11 mile hike.
Whew.
Better them than me.
Mud and more mud everywhere and places where you wish it wasn’t. Crossed a stream and a river. Slipsliding. It made me wonder if I was in my right mind doing this. But we pressed on.
4 hours later we emerged. Tourists at the trailhead gawked at us. All we could do is smile back with muddy faces. Ha! Later we learned that many come back so glazed and frightened by the experience that they needed several days to recover.
The scenery however was simply breathtaking. Steep overgrown cliffs rose to the sky on one side. 1,000 foot drop offs on the right side into an majestic ocean. “Oh God, who are you to make such spectacular scenery?” Humbled to the core, we fell silent in the face of His majestic creation. “Who would not fall down and worship?” or “Why is it that I do worship Him in light of this?” From general to specific and from specific to general and back again. It all sings doesn’t it? Ha! What a trip!
Back in Kapa’a Bonnie headed to a local laundromat hoping to leave the Kauai dirt. Not a chance! Its sticks like glue! Off to Safeway to pick up sandwich foods for lunch tomorrow.
Students are all doing great. Small accidents but nothing serious. The men gathered and helped the women accross the river streams. It was gooood! I was thrilled by their caring gestures. Downloaded another Gigabyte of pictures this evening. Most have headed for the showers. Bed beckons. None can resist. Sweetness!
love and affection
Frank
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
January 10
Aloha everyone:
Photos: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/hawaii/2005/jan10/index.html
The Hostel has opened a portal for the students these next few days. Today was our kayak trip up the Hule’ia River. Whew! It was hot since the wind was not up. We were all given some paddling lessons and away we went. Learning how to push instead of pull with the paddles was a major feat for many of them. But they hung in there and arrived at the rope that Harrison Ford swung on in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Great fun! Even Bonnie swung on it. Wow. Gotta commend that fine feathered bird! We hauled the styrafoam coolers up the hill where we had lunch.
Paddling back was easier since the wind was in our back. The majestic Ha’upu Mountain range was on our right. The range is a lot like the mountains of Tahiti. In fact many filming companies come here to shoot scenery that pretends to look like Society Islands. Why not? Just another overgrown Pacific island overun by roosters and geckos.
Went to Coldstone for ice cream upon our return to Kapa’a. It seems like it hit the spot. Some of the students went to the beach that afternoon while I drove 5 to the Kapa’a Laundry. Yes, laundry in Paradise. Well, someone has to do it. Bonie put together dinner…which we ended up sharing with others who came through the hostel today. Great fun.
God has indeed been good. Protecting, shepherding, encouraging, healing, and filling us with His love when our love fails us. It is so good to see the harmony among the students. And I believe it is a direct answer to prayer. Everyone we meet is impressed with these students. Their kind gentle demeanor is a testimony to God’s grace everywhere we go. My heart is filled with immense gratitude for each family that sent their son or daughter along with us. We are blessed and are eager to bless everyone we meet.
Love and affection from Kauai
Frank