SOT808, there is still another thread that was compiled and the mods grouped posts from different Hawaii related threads into one. Having our own sub forum is good. Yes, we are USA, definitely not the Mainland though.
peace/love
-repost-
Ah, Ulupo Heiau... Were Menehune ETs? I've often wondered? I have a story from that sacred spot, I'll save it for another day.
I learned to swim at Kailua YMCA in a Summer Fun program. I moved to Kaneohe in 1971 from the San Francisco Bay Area. I was an impudent little tow head, rejoining my Father's side of the family after my Mother's untimely passing on. My Mom's side of the family were all Hippies, Pop's career military.
It was difficult.
Fast forward to my first year of college at Windward Community College. I was majoring in liberal arts, table tennis and fine Hawaiian buds. Mostly the last two.
In those days, the Haiku stairs were way off-limits. The US Coast Guard was custodian of the property, they were still running their ULF Omega station. (Google that for a kick sometime...) So one day a couple friends and myself decided to cut classes and make the hike up to the top of the ridge.
For PA community members we are talking about the most breath taking place of natural beauty I have ever seen. Haiku Valley is a valley of 2K' sheer crenelated cliffs covered by dense foliage. The government decided to stretch aerial antenna across the valley, from ridge to ridge. I leave you to your Googling for the purpose. Today there is a effing freeway that runs through it's heart.
Back to my story... We loaded up our backpacks with beer and food and a bong and embarked on our journey. Here's where the journey got ugly.
Disrespecting the land, I thought it would be cool if I dislodged and tumbled some giant boulders into the forest below. We were noisy and probably left beer can empties along the way.
On the way down I almost fell to my death. It was a miracle that I didn't. I slipped in loose dirt and through some kind of super human effort managed to grab a railing at the last minute. I would have fallen hundreds of feet and crashed into treetops and rocks.
Thinking nothing of it all, I continued in my self absorbed existence.
I was riding my bicycle to school and around town. I almost got run over a few times, crashed when my brake failed and got very ill, all within a few days. I was filled with a sense of impending doom. I felt very uncomfortable when I was at the college campus, which is right at the base of Haiku Valley.
I mentioned this to a friend that was of Native Hawaiian descent. He was like,"Dude, you have to come talk to my Mom..." His Mother was Napua Stevens a very popular Hawaiian music entertainer in Waikiki in the 40s and 50s. She was quite old by then and was writing about Hawaiian cultural beliefs and history.
I told her that there might be a connection between my wonton destruction of pristine land and my spate of 'bad luck'. With love, she explained to me what I had done. She spoke of ****** off spirits and my need to make amends.
She told me to go to Sandy Beach and collect some salt from the tide pools, meditate on what I had done and come back the next day. I did and when I called on her the next day she had a tapa cloth bag filled with red kahili ti leaf stalks and an olena bulb. She explained the importance of each item. She instructed me to go back up to Haiku valley where I had tumbled the boulders plant the olena and ti, sprinkle the salt and pray for forgiveness to the spirits of the valley.
Filled with dread, I did these things. By the time I was finished my sense of impending doom was lifted. I had no more near death experiences in my daily life. I recovered from the sickness I was illness I was feeling.
Since then I have hiked often, all over Oahu. I feel love from the land, feel cradled in it's embrace even. I bring offerings. I'll bring fruit, papaya, mango, guava all collected by myself and leave them on little 'altars' I make.
I thank whatever forces are around me for providing me with such a beautiful place to be.
To this day I volunteer for beach clean up, stream clearing and trail maintenance opportunities. I am all about helping others and protecting the land. What else is there really?