Uke Ohana! (www.ukeohana.com) A ukulele retreat designed and coordinated by Melany Berry (and Duncan) of Full Heart Productions. Melany hails from the Pacific Northwest, but part of her heart resides here on Molokai at Pu'u O Hoku Ranch. Here is a photo from our first sunrise at Halawa beach and valley. It is a part of the 14,000 acre ranch and a part of each of the four days we immerse ourselves into Hawaiian culture, story, lore, language, land, sea and of course....music. Did I mention new friends?
Our first day we meet up with our fellow "ukusters"....at the Hotel Molokai bar and lani by the sea. Here, Lono leads the local Aloha Friday kanakapelia, or "everybody join together, play, eat, drink and sing together,"event. Lono, an awesome performer who is a local Molokai boy, is also our instructor for the next four days! I have a good feeling about this!~
 |
| Lono leads Aloha Friday at Hotel Molokai |
 |
| Head table for the local kahunas |
A beautiful Friday afternoon, a little sea breeze, Hawaiian music and fresh plumeria leis...oh, don't forget those tropical drinks!
 |
| Blue Hawaii or Mai Tai anyone? |
 |
| Everyone is presented with a wonderful flower lei! |
After several hours of basking in Hawaiian music and talent (Lono's)....we divide up into cars for the 45 minute drive along the Molokai coast to Pu'u O Hoku Ranch. (www.puuohoku.com) The name means "Hill of Stars" and as evening settles in, that it is.
 |
| Uke transport..... |
The ranch property (all 14,000 acres of it) welcomes us with a flock of Nene's on the grassy knoll. (Hawaiian national bird. Every trip to Hawaii, we are on the lookout for these rare and mostly flightless, large birds. We have only seen them one other time, and here as we arrive we find at least 10 right before us!
Dinner is incredible with a focus on sustainable organic food, much of which is local to the ranch.
 |
| Our chef, Amy! |
We fall asleep this night with sweet ukulele music drifting into our room from the main lodge living room. I'm sure there is a hill of stars outside my door, but truthfully, I am too tired to check on it.
Basically, this is how it rolls for the next three days at Uke Ohana:
At 05:00 Steve and Nan are up at at 'em.(yes, that's 5:00 a.m.)...or at least up...as we meet the crew that will go to Halawa beach area for the sunrise. It's a little rainy?....but off we go. When it's WARM rain it's all good.
 |
| Yes, we brought rain jackets. |
 |
| Skip, Debi and Duncan look up the valley |
 |
| Morning sun at Halawa |
 |
| Skip and Duncan....never leave that uke or voice behind! |
Arriving back at the lodge at 07:00 the coffee is just about done and it's time for a little leisurely coffee on the lani. Breakfast arrives at 08:00 and each meal seems yummier than the last. How can that be?
09:00 - 12:00 Lesson time
 |
| Owww.....scales!? What goes up, comes back down! |
 |
| A little coaching session with Lono |
 |
| Jane and Eileen....listen up! |
 |
| What now, Lono?! |
12:00 Lunch - How about some venison bar-b-que and fresh greens? Fresh bread, roasted veggies, iced tea....each meal prepared, served beautifully and delicious. What a gift. All we have to do is play music, learn, explore and sink deeply into Hawaii. Ok, I'm in!
13:30 - 17:00 - Afternoon outdoor adventure or stick around an keep the swimming pool and your uke company. Hard choices.
17:00 Pu pu's and Happy Hour
18:00 Dinner....DINNER!
19:30 Evening play along and finally....performance of the song you write this weekend! Gulp! Double gulp!!
This time of night fades magically each evening with songs into the night. And sleep...deep deep sleep, because....sunrise at Halawa happens at 05:42....
 |
| Good morning....sunshine...the earth says hello...and so do we! |
 |
| Wading across the estuary....up to our knees! |
No comments:
Post a Comment