Thanksgiving morning, 2005, Makaha, Hawai`i.

It was 8am and I decided days ago I would go for a walk around that hill (pu`u) over there.
So, get some coffee or whatever your drinking and come with me. . .

I just love seawater flowing over lava.

None of these pictures will do the experience justice, but it is my Thanksgiving gift to you.
Warm morning tidepools of Makaha along the way. . .
 Then we hit some sandy beach. . .7-11 is pretty much across the way from here.

As we get closer I get more excited because I have never actually walked around that rock.
 This is what it looked like looking back.
It was warm and clearing on an island Thanksgiving morning.

I arrived at the beginning of Lahilahi and began my journey to the unknown.

 These are called the healing stones. We have many such areas as this.
It is also said that those who touch these stones shall be healed.
I sat upon these sacred stones and said a Hawaiian prayer remembering and being grateful for all that I have:

Nâ `Aumâkua

Nâ `aumâkua mai ka lâ hiki a ka lâ kau.

Guardians spirits from the rising to the setting sun.

Mai ka ho`oku`i a ka halawai.

From the zenith to the horizon.

Nâ `aumâkua iâ ka hina kua, iâ ka hina alo.

Guardians spirits to my back, to my front.
 Iâ ka`a `âkau i ka lani.
To those in the northern position of the heavens.

`O kîhâ i ka lani.
Whispering in the heavens.

`Owê i ka lani.
Murmuring in the heavens.

Nûnulu i ka lani.
Reverberating in the heavens.

Kâholo i ka lani.
Running across the heavens.

E mâlama `oukou ia`u (iâ mâkou).

Take care of me (us).

E ulu i ka lani.
Allow growth in the heavens.

E ulu i ka honua.
Allow growth upon the earth.

E ulu i ka pae `âina o Hawai`i.

Allow growth upon the islands of Hawai`i.

E hô mai i ka `ike
Grant us the knowledge

E hô mai i ka ikaika.
Grant us the strength.

E hô mai i ka akamai.
Grant us the intelligence.

E hô mai i ka maopopo pono.

Grant us the understanding.

E hô mai i ka `ikepâpâlua.
Grant us the foresight.

E hô mai i ka mana.
Empower us.

Having said that, I walk in faith. . . .

 It’s quite a journey around this hill, if you can call it that.
It is rugged, slippery, precarious, yet breathtaking.
Once you get a feel for the place you realize how to walk upon such nature.
I felt competent because I do my best to maintain my fitness. . .mentally, physically, and spiritually.
It is the balance of these three aspects of our nature that one will need to arrive safely around this Pu`u.
At this point I’ve barely made a dent in my journey and decided, well, it was getting pretty unpredictable ahead.
So, I thought, well. . .I take a picture of me in case they have to come and find my body. . .hehee. . .j/k.

As I continued to carefully make my way forward, I stumbled upon this.

 Shooot! I’ll be back to “dip” in this secluded area. . .definitly!

This is another angle of this very secluded natural tide pool.

It appeared to be just about perhaps. . .3 feet deep. . .perhaps deeper in some areas.
If you keep going to the right it is like an underwater cave. . .there will be further expeditions into this area as
well.
I arrived some. . .half-hour later after I began my journey at what I would called the extreme west point of “the
rock.”

Here’s a pretty breathtaking view of the vastness of Hawai’i.

 The Pu`u in the distance is Pu`u O Hulu, but us locals call it Gorilla Head.
That is Nanakuli just beyond Ma`ili where I lived before here in Makaha.

Looking down from the craggy lava rock formation, I tried to capture the waves crashing nearby.
I could feel the effervescence of the oceanspray now and then.
There is no “trail” so your judgement, skill, and faith is up to you each step of the way.
 Ahhh. . .here’s what I’m talking about! It’s a bit further down than it looks, and it’s just me and God.
There was a splash of this wave crashing that got me right on the mouth, and I thought right then and there:
“I was just kissed by God!”
 As I countinued, now about an hour later around this island mountain, though small as it is compared to the
many,
I had to climb higher and decide each step myself. There was no apparent suggestion that anyone has been here
though I am sure there has been. It is not for everyone to attempt. I was wearing my now wet slippahs
thinking:
“Wow, one wrong step. . .and it’s all over. . .” but I also told myself: “At least I’d die doing what I wanted to
do.”

Having made it around to the other side of the rock, I found this sacred area, a hui hou sort of.
Rather, a place you may sit in peace and pray and meditate.
As you may see, there have been people here who have placed a stone to form this area.
I have placed mine and shall during each visit.
Ahh. . .I have descended back to the ground. It was good to take off my slippahs and get my feet back on the
sand!
This is still Makaha. So far I have walked perhaps and hour and a half to get here.
So far I’d say it’s been rather secluded and void of people.

That’s what I’m talking about!

This is the paradise I was speaking of about being on the other side of this pu`u.
 Something in me wanted to just strip and go for a swim!

Well this is the other side of where I was headed, around that little mountain.
Looks like I made it safely around the other side, and decided to cut through the wilderness to
get back home rather than continue to by returning the way I came.
 Oh yeh. This is a shot looking back from where I had come so far around and down from.
Knowing this is like an hour stroll away, I’ll be back. There are soooo many secret little places around.

By now it was like 9:30am and I wanted to get back and make some Thanksgiving brunch for Tina and me.
 So I headed into this jungle area to head home.
I had been through here before but there’s always something new to see.
Eventually, I made my way through and came out on the other side, which is more beach just heading home.
 Welcome to da jungle!

Well. . .that was my Thanksgiving 2005 morning journey.

It was like a 2 hour stroll over lava, gravel, rocks and sticks and stones. . .through tidepools and crashing waves.
But what a beautiful walk!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU!!

And Thank You, God.