Showing posts with label Hawaiian Style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaiian Style. Show all posts

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Makinsee's May Day

May Day here in Hawaii is a wonderful opportunity for the Youth to Celebrate in Native Polynesian Dance and also other cultures as well.
My youngest daughter Makinsee participated with her class in representing the Island of Hawaii.
Their colors and flowers are all very traditional.
Her lei and head piece were hand done and the flowers and plants come from the Volcano on Big Island.
We have  truly loved being part of our heritage, I feel really honored and blessed for my children to have the opportunity to know their roots.The best way for me to Honor my Father,and his Mother,my Kapuna(Grandmother) and her Mother is to teach and share with my daughters.

Hawaii is my heart, no matter where I am...
All My Aloha
Brandi

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

BACK TO MY LITTLE GRASS SHACK IN HAUULA HAWAII....

It has been a whirlwind trip to drop off my son Travis and we are all home safe and sound. The weather is a cool 70 degrees and a lovely breeze greets me through the palm trees.
I missed the ocean being so far from it in Idaho and Utah.

I had to get right in the water, it was clear and warm, the water is very healing here. I think it has a lot to do with the Aloha Spirit in the Islands.

Did you know that when the Islanders use to greet people, they would put their forehead against yours and you would  breathe in at the same time. It was to breathe in part of your spirit and share theirs with you.

I love the Spirit of Aloha and all that it stands for, it is in the breeze, the crash of the waves. the quiet reverence of the emerald green mountains..the air is filled with Aloha.
The sound "Ahhh" is the appreciation for breath..,.Alo means the presence of God with us and "ha "means breath, Hence the forehead to forehead custom.

I have just shared with you one of the secrets of Aloha......
Aloha Nui Loa

Thursday, March 25, 2010

My Favorite Artist of Hawaii



This is the work of Kim Taylor Reece, He is my Favorite Artist in the islands of Hawaii. He has a way of capturing the essence of the Beauty(Nani) of the Hawaiian and Polynesian Culture.
I would like to have a few of his pieces in my guest room someday when I am retired and I can share with my visitors, some the finer things of Hawaii, the classic ancient  Hula is something to preserve and enjoy, it is the true center of Aloha.
all my Aloha
Brandi

Monday, March 1, 2010

Tsunami Evacuation in Hauula, Hawaii

WILLIAMS FAMILY -HAWAII TSUNAMI EVACUATION 2-27-2010


Does this look like an evacuation or Camping with friends?
Well I have to say it was more like camping last minute with great friends and lots of music. food , laughter and lots of visiting.

We had someone pounding on our door at 5am!! We were packed for evacuation in 45 minutes, we also packed for any chance of robbery while we were absent with the evacuation. It took a bit of coordinating, but each family member really pulled together. I am so proud of my Family!!!We gathered for a family prayer before departing our home that may or may not be there if the tsunami hits?
We gathered at our church building,built up on the hillside of our little town of Hauula. The Bishop of our church was stationed at the bottom of the driveway entrance, greeting the church members and community
as the procession of cars drove into the safe harbor of the parking lot around our Church building.People had smiles and were genuinely happy to see each other.
No arguments, just team work. It was surreal, were we really going to have a Tsunami?? we had to be prepared for at last three days, food,clothes and water, tents,sleeping bags etc...Travis my oldest hooked up his stereo to his converter and his car battery and speakers, Reggae music began to move through the air and people were dancing as they walked by to visit!!
Even our Boxer Duke, relaxed in the back of our old Cadillac with Nana,with no worries.
As I took calls from the mainland of worried family and friends, they were startled at our ease and peaceful spirits! My dear sister Holly cried when she heard my voice,I was taken back at her fear? Then it hit me , we were really in an emergency, but we were truly fine!!
We were at ease , we were safe, together and grateful for our blessings. We could of been worried and fretting over what could of happened, but that would of only brought uneasy emotions and unneeded stress.So we spent the next 8 hours fixing meals out of our coolers, sharing with nearby friends and snapping pictures off and on.
By 2pm, we were given the clear sign to return to our homes, our being 42 steps from the water, it was a miracle and we had just lived through it!

As we waived goodbye to our fellow neighbors and church members, we all had such a huge sense of relief and gratitude for the blessings of the day of safety and the love of our fellow friends and neighbors.

As we got home, the kids were exhausted!!! The emotional buildup of a possible trauma had found it's peak and they all headed for their beds. Not before we unpacked of course. They grumbled a little but not too much, it was so nice to come home to peace and safety. As I walked in the door, I knew that our home was not robbed or visited by any unwanted strangers. This brought tears to my eyes as my mind raced back to July when we were robbed on a Sunday while being at church.

All was well and we were home
We gathered for Prayer to give our thanks for being alive and safe and together....
All my Aloha
Brandi
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Sunday, January 24, 2010

It's True...Only 42


As I promised in my post about the sweet scents of paradise, I only have to walk 42 steps to the water.  This is photo is taken from our upper deck above our garage.Just to the left of the photo is  the Plumeria  tree that exudes the sweetness I enjoy on a daily basis.


These next two photos are of the beach that is just there beyond the car in the first photo.
this is looking south east to towards Honolulu.
The clear water is very warm, as you can tell in the first photo
the highway runs along the edge of the beach. It has to be one of
the best drives I have ever had the pleasure of taking on a daily basis.


This view is to the North if you were heading towards Laie,Sunset and Haliewa.
This is the beach I wrote my friends name in the sand .
I walk this beach frequently, sometimes my footprints are the only ones in the sand,depending on the time of day. I love being alone on the beach,just soaking in all of the natural beauty surrounding me. I try to clear my mind and just enjoy the moments of peaceful ,lovely, paradise.

I want you to know that I am a firm believer in living your dreams. Living in Hawaii has always  been a dream for me, it's on my bucket list. Does living ones dream come with out sacrifice? No, nothing is ever really perfect, yes even in paradise. I will say that it is however, worth it...to achieve the dream. Maybe it's everything you wanted or maybe not, but the incredible part is the journey, not the destination.

I don't know how long we will stay in Hawaii, but it has been an incredible experience. I am most happy that I can say, it was one of my dreams and I lived it! I hope you will be inspired to contemplate your dreams...and go for it! The hardest part is making the decision, the rest will follow.

I did it! and I shared it with the ones I love the most....do you dare to live your dreams?




Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sweet Scents of Paradise


These are a few of the Plumeria's that grace my island.
Tonight ,as I walked out in my yard ,I could feel the ocean breeze gently pass by me. This rare "cool" breeze was accompanied by the sweetest scent of Plumeria....ahhh...hmmm..! It actually stopped me in my steps and I inhaled deeply to be sure I wasn't imagining it? I took another deep cleansing breath , looked up at the dark evening sky peppered with sparkling stars, I could hear the faint sound of the waves quietly meeting the shore. I completely submerged in the moment , it was truly magical. My front door is exactly 42 steps to the sandy ocean.It's a dreamy spot all in it's own way...
Stopping to take in the sweet scents of paradise was just what I needed at the end of a better day. My families safe return from the days events of  comings and goings from every direction was a welcomed relief. We closed our day with a  warm bowl of homemade Macaroni and Cheese,  tossed greens and a Ham Panini . Our family prayer was filled with hope and help for Haiti coupled with immense gratitude for all the blessings in our life. Focusing on just being grateful  in the now, for what we do have and not focused on what is lacking. Our Family home evening  was centered on Honesty. It is really amazing to listen to my young adults and teens discuss what honesty means to them and how it directs their lives for the good.
Tonight . " My cup runeth over with the sweet scents of Paradise".
I'm sending you all the sweet scents of paradise....Aloha nui loa

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Club'n it!!
















So fun to BBQ with friends at the Kaneohe Bay Yacht club! We were all together and we really had a nice time..time seems to be ticking by for Travis, he has his papers turned into the Bishop,we are awaiting the final interviews before they are submitted to Salt Lake. I wish he knew how much he will be missed, but time is the best teacher in many ways. The evening was very nice and we Thank the Kehauolopua Family for including us. We hope to see them again before we leave. Mahalo

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Full Circle

I love this beach!!
It is perfect not to crowded,clear water and perfect for snorkeling,and excellent location in North Shore. It seems that when I am at the beach I am grounded and really quite happy.I think because I grew up on the Ocean and so it feels very home-like. I have an immediate sense of peace.... It is amazing to me how important it has become.I guess because my world is filled with so many different things now verses when I was a kid growing up, that I treasure my moments with the ocean whenever I can..it's my new North Shore office!!lol..So in many ways I have come full circle and it feels good to be home again......Aloha

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

April Showers


We have had an incredible amount of Rain this season! Hawaii seems to be sunny and rainy all in the same day, pretty typical.But this season has been especially wet. We went to the beach on Saturday all of us except Al, he had to work.But Saturday was a picture perfect Hawaiian Day.82 degrees, slight breeze, water was turquoise and clear. The next 3 days absolutely poured sheets of rain.This bird of paradise is a reminder to me how fabulous the Hawaiian Islands are.Even when it pours, it is still the most lovely place to be.Paradise....