pot of gold

Upper Waikana Falls

Stone Stacking

The Road to Hana is a 64.4-mile stretch of amazing and beautiful sites and sounds of Mother Nature, including beaches, waterfalls, trails, woods and wildlife. The winding road has 59 bridges, of which 46 are one-lane roads that the locals have chosen to preserve rather than widen.

While it had inclement weather prior to our arrival, we were blessed with sunny weather, except for the day that we had planned to drive the Road to Hana. Others probably changed their plans that day, and while we debated on whether to continue with our plans, we were left with the choice of do or don't as it was our last full day on the island. Learning from law of attraction and gratitude, I noted that it would generally be less crowded, and at the end of any rainstorm is a rainbow. 

While many opt for tour books or tour guides, GyPSy Guide provides a self-guided tour based on GPS, a benefit of today's modern technology. Our stops were limited to the bursts of drizzle. In addition to the lushness during our drive, the thunderous waterfalls were rumbling, in some cases spilling onto the roads and bridges. The guide took us through the history of Hawaii from its initial discovery by the Tahitians to its statehood in the United States, including its evolution from indigenous religious polytheistic and animistic beliefs with a social hierarchy to the introduction of Christianity. 

While there is nothing magical about the town of Hana, representing one of the older traditional towns of Maui, the Road to Hana is more about the awe-inspiring journey to Hana, with the vast detours and adventures one can choose to embark to see nature in all its glory and the wildlife like monk seals and sea turtles.

Although the day was getting long, the guide suggested we go past Hana to see the 7 Sacred Pools, a misnomer for marketing purposes. As we were approaching the turn to Hana, the break in the clouds seemed to be calling us to 'Ohe'o Gulch where the pools can be found. As we climbed up the rocky trail towards the sea cliff, the universe reminded us that there is a rainbow waiting for all of us. Life is about the poles, to appreciate the highs, one must muster through the lows. Yet, in seeing the beauty throughout our journey to Hana, it was difficult for me to see the rainfall as anything but part of the beauty of Mother Nature.

 

puffs of cotton

Sunrise at Machu Picchu (a taste of heaven) was one of my favorite moments of feeling as if I could just reach out and touch the sky. The drive up to Haleakalā Crater and Summit had us on the edge of the mountain side with billowy clouds wafting by us. Tour operators offer bicycle trips up and down the national park. With  such narrow and windy roads, it required vigilance in avoiding the cyclists. At the summit, one can view the Haleakalā Observatory, which is one of the best locations for ground telescopes given the clarity, dryness and stillness in the air and limited light pollution. Although closed to the public, it is operated by the United States Air Force and University of Hawaii.

During the hike on the Sliding Sands Trail down to the crater, the fluffy cumulous clouds crept into the crater, inching towards the trail. On the way back, we were caught up in the misty wisps as we walked through remnants of one. At over 10,000 feet above sea level, as the heat source was setting, the temperature dropped significantly, yet it did not deter the crowds that congregated near the summit to get a glimpse of sunset on the island.

In the silence of the crowd, I found myself catching my breath as the hues of orange, peach and yellow imbued the sky. As the sun disappeared from the horizon and the crowd was dissipating, a cool breeze made the hair on my skin prickle, reminding me that I have angels watching over me.

rippling reflections

I am learning to appreciate the beauty and the signs from Pachamama and my spirit guides. One of my favorite adventures, especially during travels, is to explore off the beaten path. When the vendor who was selling concoctions of coconut water and local fruit near Wailua Falls recommended exploring what nature had to offer near what the locals called 'Loop Road', my ears perked up. With the limited cell reception and unmarked roads, a pin drop in Google Maps served as our target.

It was not clear whether we ever found 'Loop Road', but sitting on a massive stone, surrounded by the streaming water from a babbling brook, I closed my eyes, absorbing the sounds, scents and touch of the magic of Pachamama. Similar to the cats roaming free in Morocco (kitty litter), Kauai was infested with chickens throughout the island, whether congregating in parking lots or grazing on the side of the road. Yet what in modern times are considered more farm animals than wild animals, they were in their element with the rainbow eucalyptus trees and the towering albizias.

In my quest to find 'Loop Road', we got lost, or perhaps from a different perspective, were found when we chanced upon a secluded reservoir. On a cloudy day, the reflections of the clouds in the sky were clearly imprinted upon the crystal water in the reservoir. As I explore the universal laws in spirituality, it reminded me of who and what we manifest in our lives that serve as mirrors of ourselves, and the progress we've made as well as the growth that is yet to come. When I first heard it, I am not sure that I fully understood it but one of guiding principles of late is "I heal you; I heal me. I heal me; I heal you." Understanding that we are all connected (Law of One) provides an aerial view of my responsibility in raising the collective consciousness in my accountability to working on me and assisting those around me who are external reflections of my internal self.

shooting star

Understanding that nothing is coincidental often gives an interesting perspective in being present in the moment. A friend's faux pas had us booking our flights to the wrong island, and coming in on the wrong day with no lodging booked. Luckily, we took the last available room at a nearby hotel. 

Too chilly for the beach, we darted to the hot tub only to find it crowded. Laying on the lounge chairs by the pool, we practiced visualizing and manifesting an empty hot tub for a private session, imagining each couple leaving minutes apart from each other. 

Gazing up at the stars, I showcased my recent knowledge of different constellations and planets that he has shown me in the Mojave Desert or Cabo San Lucas. In a quick flash, a star shot across the sky. In the Sahara Desert (one hump or two), I had missed a shooting star that some had seen as I was looking at a different part of the sky. I was giggly with excitement at the splendor and took it as a good omen. As we turned towards the hot tub, the first couple started leaving. We got to christen the hot tub in our own private bubble.

cupid's arrow

When my house did not sell in 2018, I took it as a sign that my journey was not complete in San Francisco. While I had never felt like San Francisco nor my house felt like home (living love), I soon realized that my house was not selling at the price that I had wanted because I did not put the energy nor love into valuing it for the home that it could provide for me or for others, which served as the impetus for me to open it up to acts of love and creativity, such as sound healing and a frog's kiss.

While I saw that some new friends were looking for a venue for their wedding given the typical San Francisco weather, I had initially thought of offering my house but figured it was both too small and that I was a bit of an 'outsider' to act on my intuition. When the bride-to-be contacted me, it was a bit of a no-brainer althoughI had no idea what I was committing too, especially after it occurred to me that the guest list was significantly larger than what the house could comfortably hold.

While they have met a few times over the year, their love blossomed on New Year's and has been magical moments for a wizard and his goddess. While I found myself stressing over wanting to make sure that the wedding was a memorable experience for the bride and groom, my partner reminded me that providing the venue was the only gift the couple needed from me. Their friends rallied in order to provide homemade vegan cheesecake, the Temple of Fluff, license to officiate the wedding, and all the love and light to make the moment one to remember in a lifetime. I am blessed to have their love infused into the bones of an old Victorian that has the vibrations of the sound healing of Carlos Santana.