Sinking Into Molokai'i

Lessons happening here....

The days merge into one another with morning lessons and afternoon adventure trips.  Lono laces his musical instruction with story telling and the songs come alive with words woven into tune.

What goes Up....comes Down...with scales...and other things too.

Jennifer and Susan working it out....

Nan...working on her song creation!  (who can pass up a banana peel lounger?)

One afternoon outing takes us on a tour of the farm.  We find vegetable gardens, fruit trees, honey bees, the round up horses, a commercial grade kitchen and freezer space...and yes, wild pigs that wandered onto the property.

Kinda cute and very interested in us!

Steve is missing the pups at home and the farm border collies help out.

Brown Beauty....two of them.

Then it's off to The Gove.  This beautiful space of over 250 kukui trees shades us with "Waves of Green."  WOW!  I suddenly have a title for my song!  Yes, I am actually doing my homework here!  I begin to hum a little hum...and the words flow into my head....Waves of green, Washing over me....Blessings pouring down, washing over me....soaking INTO me!  And so it begins....

Another story....told in The Grove

Kim and Sheri telling story with hula

Lono and Duncan in The Grove.....Blessings pouring down....

Permission to enter this place steeped in history and legend, to stay for awhile...is a very special gift.  We feel a spiritual presence drifting around us...and there is time for considering the healing graces of this space and place.

Strum-i-ty, Strum Strum!!

Another afternoon five of us grab our packed lunches, water bottles and backpacks and head off for a hike up the Halawa Valley where we are promised a swim under the amazing Mo'oula waterfall.

Church marks the way to the trailhead.

Good thing we have a guide along!

I can see from the beginning, no problem getting in my 10,000 steps today!  And the steps trace the trails of some of the 10,000 first Hawaiians who lived in this valley so many many years ago. Walls and terraces are visible as we walk over and around them.

Steve and the giant leaf along an ancient rock wall.

Mo'oula Falls in the distance

Ok, just totally beautiful!

Imagine the work in placing these rocks.

Cold....but great!

Yay!  We made it!!!

Then, of course....there is the other half of the 10,000 steps...the same path, but in reverse.  And no refreshing swim at the end.  There is another surprise awaiting us at the ranch...and happy hour...and...tonight we present our individual songs.  Gulp again.

                                                  The way UP..........is the way DOWN....

Upon our return home.....we find the special surprise.  Melany has arranged with Rainbows of Molokai to do a pigeon release for us....many many pigeons...in the colors of the rainbow...take flight over the grounds of Pu'u O Hoku....just for Uke Ohana!