This Saturday was the Ha`iku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival. A celebration to benefit the local Elementary School, Community association and boys & girls club. Visitors to the island joined the local community for a fun day of music, craft, play, food while supporting our keiki (hawaiian for children), here in Haiku. The money raised throughout the day helps the school & associations pay for their expenses, field trips, events and more.
Under a tent was the Native Hawaiian Plant Society, where volunteers had set up a beautiful Lei and Haku making station. They provided everyone who wanted to seat for a moment with beautiful leaves, ferns, flowers and walked newbies through the process of making their very own flower crown.
When we walked into the tent my friend was sitting there making her Haku and while I have made many leis in the past, I had never made any Haku yet. So I sat down and started crafting my own, threading ferns and leaves together, letting my thoughts do their daily wondering, peacefully. Manech was quite unexpectedly both quiet and patient which made the moment even more special.
I wore it all day. From the festival to the grocery store to the beach. I realized these do hold magical powers, especially when hand-made with native plants. People SMILED. I mean people tend to smile easily around here but there it was like everyone was contaminated by some uncotrollable-happy-smily-virus as I walked by. And it fell so good. It lifted my spirit way up high all day. It was much needed and had a healing effect on my somewhat tortured emotions from the past few weeks. I am not exaggerating and suggest you try this wherever in the world you may be living. By yourself or with your child. Whether you're a boy or a girl, flowers don't care. Go pick what's out there growing in your yard, in the park, in the forest. It doesn't have to be the prettiest poppies. It can be very simple. A simple remedy for happiness.
(Oh and do send a photo my way if you happen to make one. Would love to see it!)
Under a tent was the Native Hawaiian Plant Society, where volunteers had set up a beautiful Lei and Haku making station. They provided everyone who wanted to seat for a moment with beautiful leaves, ferns, flowers and walked newbies through the process of making their very own flower crown.
When we walked into the tent my friend was sitting there making her Haku and while I have made many leis in the past, I had never made any Haku yet. So I sat down and started crafting my own, threading ferns and leaves together, letting my thoughts do their daily wondering, peacefully. Manech was quite unexpectedly both quiet and patient which made the moment even more special.
I wore it all day. From the festival to the grocery store to the beach. I realized these do hold magical powers, especially when hand-made with native plants. People SMILED. I mean people tend to smile easily around here but there it was like everyone was contaminated by some uncotrollable-happy-smily-virus as I walked by. And it fell so good. It lifted my spirit way up high all day. It was much needed and had a healing effect on my somewhat tortured emotions from the past few weeks. I am not exaggerating and suggest you try this wherever in the world you may be living. By yourself or with your child. Whether you're a boy or a girl, flowers don't care. Go pick what's out there growing in your yard, in the park, in the forest. It doesn't have to be the prettiest poppies. It can be very simple. A simple remedy for happiness.
(Oh and do send a photo my way if you happen to make one. Would love to see it!)
