FrogLanding Blog: Uke Ohana 2016!!

Friday, June 3, 2016

Uke Ohana 2016!!

OHANA. A Hawaiian word that means "family." Uke Ohana Molokai means, ukulele family on Molokai. This is our second trip to this special Hawaiian island for this event organized by people we now call friends, Melany and Duncan Berry. There was the thought "Do you repeat an event?" (In this case, a ukulele camp focused on All things Hawaiian....ukulele, music, food, legend, language, history...and the answer is...."No two moments the same." Or, YES!

It's a scenic flight from Maui to Molokai on Mokulele Air!

Who do we find at the gate?? Melany of course...with the perfect Hawaiian welcome...a beautiful lei crafted on Molokai!

We return to Pu'u O Hoku Ranch once again to find an awesome dinner and wonderful evening filled with hula and Lono Music providing the MUSIC. Here's a glimpse of the view from the lodge.

Breakfast is just as yummy!!....

...as lunch...and dinner!!

And then...there is the music!

Each day begins with an early morning trip to Halawa Beach to witnesses sunrise.

A little sunrise inspiration for songs to be written and sung on our last night together. Here is the beginning of "Molokai Magic" for Nan.

And for "Halawa Stones" for Steve.

Each day we return to coffee on the lani, a great breakfast and by 9:00 a.m. and then a morning lesson with Lono. (add in a few good talk story sessions)

One afternoon we hike to The Grove with Lono to be present in the kukui trees and listen for the wisdom filtering through the sea of green leaves above.

Another afternoon we hike up the Halawa Valley to the majestic waterfall and pool. We set tea leaves into the water and wait for permission to immerse ourselves in the cold, clear water.

And quite a hike it is!

Try as we might, we never do see the face of "the old man" in the waterfall. Do you?

There are magical evenings of hula presentations, songs and more story telling, ukulele music and always back to the sunrise mornings and Halawa Beach.

The days....