After enjoying my yummy macadamia nut sticky bun in the Gold Floor lounge, it was time to meet the gang in the lobby for an adventure planned by the Medtronic crew. The day was hot and humid…. Which makes perfect sense seeing as we are on an island that has active volcanoes. It felt like when you step outside after taking a shower, you are immediately wet again. Well I guess that is what men feel like seeing as women are delicate little flowers that don’t sweat…. We glisten. I am digressing again.
We turn down a dirt road and see a large canoe with the word Makali’i written on the side. I thought, “That is a big boat just for fishing.” Boy was I wrong! The vessel that we were gazing upon was a double-hulled voyaging canoe that is apart of the organization, Ni Kalai Waa, with a mission to teach Hawaiian cultural values to others. The crew is currently preparing for a trip around the world with no navigational instruments on board. Yep, you read that correctly…. Nothing but what their ancestors used to get to the islands, such as stars, waves and even birds. They will live off the ocean and rotate crewmembers to control the ship during all hours of the day.
We are greeted by a man who the crew called “Uncle Chadd”, which I thought was interesting because there seems to be many Uncles and Aunties on the islands. He described what we would be doing on the canoe that day, which included sanding down the wood for the Makalii’s upcoming trip. I was a little confused until he explains why would be participating. Uncle Chadd describes, “Being a part of a community, we have a responsibility to care for each other; everyone has a part and a function, we need each other. To be successful, we don’t just sail for us, we sail for the whole community.” He then goes on to call the canoe their mother, and the crew his family (Ohana). Their goal in life is to learn from others and teach others.
“The ocean doesn’t separate us, it connects us… it is a bridge”, Uncle Chadd details. By us working with the crew that day, we were becoming apart of their Ohana. He says, “A part of you remains, even after you leave, you continue to share.” This essence that we leave behind on the island is our “Mana”, our spirit, which will be on the canoe during their voyage. Just like the charitable work all of us Honorees do, we leave a little piece of us behind to help others. We may not be physically there, but our presence can still be felt.
Uncle Chadd reminds us, “Make most of your time, because you never know if it will happen again.” This resonated within me for days after our Makali’i adventure. I was quiet most of the van ride back to the resort. Not because I was hot and tired, which that was a given, but because it made me reflect on my life at that moment. Through the pain of loss and the fear of what the future may bring, I felt calm. Regardless if something hurts, I want to experience it…. I want to experience life, because I am here to learn and teach. Who would have guessed this epiphany came from adopting a family, and sanding a canoe.
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It was a privilege to work on the canoe and learn from the sometimes bashful crew (family.) I have always wanted to be far at sea to look up into the night sky and feel the embrace of the Cosmos. You can learn more and become part of crew at: http://www.nakalaiwaa.org/