10th week -- Merrie Monarch week

Our friends, Karen and Stan Johnsen, were our visitors this week. They have led many Sierra Club outings to the islands, and know how to get around better than we do. Their first stop: the Island Candy place that makes and sell cookies and candies, including hand-dipped
chocolate macadamia nut shortbread. Yummy! Free samples are a draw!

That evening we had a barbeque at one of the beach parks -- a beautiful way to start their trip with us.

They planned their time with us to coincide with the Merrie Monarch Festival -- the annual hula competition week in Hilo. There were hula demonstrations and competitions every day Wednesday-Saturday. Many free demonstrations at the hotels, (with ocean-view backgrounds) and craft events throughout the community.

We were able to get tickets to the evening competition events through someone in the church, even though the tickets are sold out the day after they are put out for sale -- the end of December!

The evenings began with the conch shell blowers each night, then the royal court (elected king and queen) procession. Each of the hula competitions begin with an ancient Hawaiian chant and drumming by musicians, then the dancers themselves chant out the story. Some of the dances are from the ancient Hawaiians; some are the more modern graceful dances. The first night there were 12 beautiful young. Friday and Saturday evenings are women or men groups (up to 32 dancers), with amazing skill and precision. Their outfits and leis are beautiful -- all researched for authenticity and made by the dancers. The sound, aroma, and sight is something to behold. It is quite a cultural event. The audience also dresses up with floral pieces in their hair or around their neck, with many aloha dresses and shirts.

On Saturday there was a big parade -- it included 91 entries. We heard 10,000 people come into Hilo for the week-- not sure it was quite that crowded, but it is a big deal!

One of the special treats this week was being invited to Rev. & Mrs. Yamane's home for a Japanese meal. Rev. Yamane is a former, now retired, minister of Church of the Holy Cross. Mrs. Yamane made the most delicious tempura dishes, cooking some of it at the living room table. We feasted! It was very interesting to hear some of her stories of growing up in Japan during the war. She remembers, as a child, they were afraid when the American soldiers came after the war -- afraid they would take all the women and children and rape them, because that was what she had learned the Japanese soldiers had done to captives in other lands. They were so surprised at how kind the Americans were. When she was in high school, her grandparents who lived in Utah, and who had lost a well-paying job in the States because he was Japanese, somehow got enough money together to send for her so she could be educated in the States.

Early in the week John and I had a chance to go to the north coast of Kohala. for a day-- beautiful views. And the best white sand and swimming beach on the island is at Spencer on the Kona side. Another great day in Paradise!

9th week in Hilo - Easter Week

One of the most exciting adventures of the week was the Earth Day Field Trip I organized for the members of our church. Almost 30 people went with us for a tour of Geoff and Lyn's 2 1/2 acre organic, eco-sustainable farm -- about an hour away with part of it over a very bumpy dirt road. (Geoff and Lyn were directors of the Harvest for the Hungry Garden at the church I served in Santa Rosa -- Christ Church.) They bought this property in Hawaii nine years ago. It has been an extremely labor intensive operation as they had to clear the area of overgrowth and lava rocks, and work with the soil for it to become productive. It has been turned into a beautiful example of what is possible. The commitment of Geoff and Lyn to live off the land, and to leave as little a carbon footprint as possible, is an inspiration. Most of us went away in awe of their determination and energy. They are so knowledgeable about plant life, medicinal qualities of the plants, soil composition, composting (see worm compost below) etc. They even treated us to food they had cooked in their solar cooker, plus fried sweetbread fruit, and juice they had made from their fruit, herbs and rain water they collect. They had a display of products they have produced (mostly for their own use) and cooking equipment they use without electricty or gas. It was such a great afternoon.

But mostly our week has revolved around church activities leading up to Easter. I helped (more like observed) with the installation of the paper cut lilies for the sanctuary. We were also part of the Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service. John was asked to do a reading from the King James Version, a stretch for him!

On Saturday there was an Easter Egg dyeing event -- lots of fun. It was even more fun watching them find the eggs on Easter morning.

Easter Sunday was a full worship service, with the Chuuk choir (Micronesain group) and the Church of the Holy Cross choir, along with great organ and trumpet music. I did a fun Children's Sermon, cracking an egg that hadn't been boiled on one of the kid's heads. (I had blown out the inside, so it was "safe.")

A special event during the week was the performance by the preschool of a program that featured the history of the peoples who came to the Hawaiian Islands -- complete with music, dance and costume. They were adorable. Afterwards, a traditional Hawaiian meal prepared by women of the church.

We did have one afternoon to explore more of the area with James Yoshiyama, a member of our church, who loves to take people hiking. We went to the petroglyph area in Volcano-- a place he knows well because he helped map the area when he was in college. He is a wealth of knowledge about the environment and culture.



We had a short visit this week from my brother Kim and sister-in-law Jeanette, both on their Easter break from teaching in Visalia and Dinuba, CA. They needed R&R time, so we only did a little touring in the Hilo area, but did manage a trip to Volcano National Park and the orchid market. I'm always amazed at the variety of landscapes in the Park -- from fern groves, to interesting patterns in the lava beds, sometimes with little plants emerging from the lava, the lava tube, and seascape, including the road that was blocked by the lava in a more recent lava flow -- one I think I witnessed in 1991, walking on that same spot when the lava was flowing nearby.

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The island continues to amaze us with its diversity. We can hardly believe our time here is coming to an end -- we fly home May 12. One more set of visitors -- Stan & Karen Johnsen from Palo Alto -- our Sierra Club friends who have led many Sierra trips to the islands. They are coming in large part for the Merrie Monarch (Hula) festivities that take place this next week. It's a huge deal here -- more about it next week!