Ka Piko O Wakea: Spring Equinox, Attending to Tides, Ceremony

Kalei Nu'uhiwa (Link to this audio podcast to hear Kalei speak about 'Kaulana Mahina' the study of the Lunar calculations of the Hawaiian Moon Calendar) keeps the 'Aimalama Facebook group updated with monthly kilo and 'atmospheric activities' for the new month. Here's what she posted the other day:

"Atmospheric activities we can expect are: Piko o Wākea - Equinox scheduled to happen on our heiau between  March 20-22. We also have a partial lunar eclipse scheduled to begin on March 22nd at 11:30pm, will peak around 1:45am on the 23rd and end around 4:00am the 23rd. Check out the website below for more information. Hawaiian names for lunar eclipses are Pō uli, Mahina Uli, Mahina ʻUla & Malama ʻUla. Chant to pray for health during a lunar eclipse: 

                  I Hiʻiaka paha ʻoe i Hiʻialo,        Perhaps it is you the perfect reflection in regarded health

I Kakahiaka nei,                        For this particular morning 
I ka lāʻau a ke kaukau aliʻi,        For Strength (through medicinal herbs) for the loving chiefs
I nui ke aho,                               So that breath of life is lasting    
A hiki i mauli ola,                        Until spiritual well-bing is achieved
I ola iā Mahina uli,                      Life granted through the dark moon (lunar eclipse)

I ola iā Mauli ola ē.                     So that your essence remains intact.                    

Mahalo nui loa e Kalei for sharing the pule/'oli and the beautiful imagery and poetic translation!

 http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2016-march-23

I gather information, and timing like Kalei's updates to create ceremony on Piko o Wakea, Spring Equinox, happening in Washington, where we live, on Saturday, March 19, 2016. That means Sunday will be the first complete day and night of Spring.

But, for me, it is valuable to become familiar, and acknowledge the shifting effects of the Universe on my life. It is one thing, or one culture to say 'Spring has come'; it is another to say 'as the sun's rays hit the piko (equator) of the Earth on which I live, I create 'ceremony' consciously and respond as Pualanai Kanaka'ole Kanalele implores.

"We, as Native Hawaiians, must continue to unveil the knowledge of our ancestors. Let us interpret for ourselves who our ancestors are, how they thought, and why they made certain decisions..." 

One of the things my husband and I promised ourselves this year is to 'become more aware of the tides.' We are tidal people. We are both born water signs astrologically. We live on a very large island surrounded by large bodies of water. We live at the North-Western tip of the Pacific Ocean. So to keep this promise, and expand our kilo practice, I am paying particular attention to the tides.

tide. Au, kai. 

To give you an idea of what info and timing I'm considering

Here is tide, sun, moon and Equinox timing for Saturday, March 19, 2016

Moonrise 3:51 PM (Mahina will be up ... even if the clouds hide her, for 4 hours before sunset)
Sunset 7:22 PM
High Tide 3:00 PM (Ceremony of thanks needs to begin while the tide is flowing into full; so before 3 PM)
Low Tide 9:23 PM (Ceremony releasing all that is no longer needed/pono/useful in our lives should be offered to the outgoing tide, after 3:00 PM until 9:23 PM)

Equinox Exact 9:30 PM, Saturday March 19, 2016

The ideal ceremony would begin while the tide is flowing. I am thinking we can begin at 2:00 PM at Sunlight Beach.

 These photographs were taken at last year's Fall Equinox from Sunlight Beach, Whidbey Island.

Gather and set up shortly before 2:00
Begin chanting E Ho Mai at 2:00
Chant Pule Ho'ulu'ulu
Read the Onandaga "The Words That Come Before All Else"
Cleansing Ceremony to offer and release to the outgoing tide after 3:00
Mahalo Ke Akua e Na Aumakua

I hope this post, and the thought process involved in creating our 'homemade' ceremony inspires you to create ceremony for your self and your 'ohana.

Aloha nui,
Mokihana and Pete

Lunar New Year Celebration

 Another occasion and good time for sharing ritual ... we shared the la'i (ti leaves) and wove stories to share with one another

The Safety Pin Cafe opened it self to friends on Whidbey Island at 'the prairie front' and we had very good fun. Click here for more pictures.

Gung Hee Fat Choy! 

'AIMALAMA Keynote Address(es): Aunty Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele and More

Last September 25-27, 2015 the first 'AIMALMA Conference was held on the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus. One of the goals for our gathering place Ho'omoku was to serve as a HUB site, a remote live-streaming location where members of our Whidbey Island community could see and hear Pacific Islanders describe their traditional practices. (Whew, that's a looong sentence! Well, never mind.)

We did host and participate in this watershed occasion. And today I received a FB update and the long awaited video download of Dr. Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele's Keynote address. I woke early, and found the email and the link to this video. The hour-long presentation is a gift, a manifestation of Hina without doubt; Hina the epitome of the feminine.

UPDATE (2/1/2016)

Here is the link to the video presentations from the 'Aimalama Conference.  The keynote addresses include:

Aunty Pualani Kanaka'ole's opening address about who and what Hina is is such food for the mind, body, heart and soul. Enjoy it!

Rereata Makiha's presentation explored my appreciation for Hina's affects on the tides.

Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa's summary presentation provides a forward looking action plan to fold into one's personal and community vision of utilizing tradtional practices to readapt to climate change.

Mahalo nui kakou to Kalei Nu'uhiwa, Scotty Wong, and Malia Nobrega-Olivera for making this video presentation possible!!