Ohana - and Humanism

The world would be a better place - if we treated everyone as family. 

The other day - my son and I went on a day trip. We decided to go play miniature golf in Orlando. We played 54 holes of min-golf. For dinner, we went to the Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World - because - why not?

When we walked in - a woman greeted us - gave us fake flower leis and called me cousin. I went to college at UH Manoa in Honolulu Hawaii. So we chatted a bit about the last time she and I had been home. She recommended a meal for us and gave me a hug.

In the lobby - an older woman was making leis. They were beautiful and I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had worn a real lei.  In Hawaii - your friends and family get you leis for special occasions.  You walk around wearing them and everyone you meet (including total strangers) know it's a special day for you and they ask - and celebrate whatever it is with you and share in your joy and love.  When you wear a lei, your day is filled with mini-celebrations all day. It's a wonderful tradition and I honestly do miss it.  I miss sharing in the joy and celebrations of - everyone really.  

 Anyway - I went up to Lei Auntie and we spoke for a bit about how we miss the islands. Then my son and I got dinner, wandered about and then got ready to leave.

I spoke to Lei Aunty again about how beautiful her work was and she gave me a lei for myself and my husband. She said - she makes them for honeymoon couples and even though my hubby was not with us - and we have been married for 20 years, she loved that I wanted to give him a proper ti leaf lei so she just - gave them to me. 

As we exited - I thanked the cousin who welcomed us and gave us our fake flower leis. I thanked her for being kind and her recommendations on dinner and gave her a hug.

On the way to the car, my son asked me - was she really my cousin?  I said no - just in Hawaii - everyone your age - is your cousin. People older then you are aunties and uncles. Everyone is Ohana or extended family.  

He said - the world would be a wonderful place if everyone adopted this attitude. He's right. Which is why I am a Humanist. I view everyone as part of my extended family. We are - all related after all. 

Tell me everything is gonna be alright!

Today is International Love Song Day. A day to think about your favorite love song, because, lets face it, the world would be a much sadder place without love songs.  As I was thinking about what my favorite love song is - I thought - well, what’s my favorite Beatle’s love song?  “I’ve Just Seen a Face” is one of my favorites.  I like it’s simplicity and innocence.  Then I thought, maybe a Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet song might be my favorite.  And I immediately thought of “I’ll Fly for You.”

But as I was thinking about this - I realized, nothing beats a Hawaiian love song.  I literally can spend all day listening to Hawaiian love songs. And then I have trouble.  There are so many I love, that none immediately jump to mind as my favorite.

Do I choose something from Cecilio and Kapono? Goodnight and Goodmorning is certainly one of my favorites. But so is pretty much every song they ever recorded.  Song for Someone, Lovin in your eyes, or About You, come to mind.  But why limit myself to C&K?  Why not go with You Ku’uipo, which is one of my all-time favorite songs. And by all-time favorite, I mean, if all I could do is listen to this song for the rest of my life I would be ok with that. But then how can you forget Far Too Wide For Me by Peter Moon and Patrick Downes? Anyone who’s lived in the islands goes to complete mush when they hear that song. There’s a reason it’s used in the telephone commercial.

But then I realized, no, I know the best love song in the world.  Danny’s Song by Loggins and Messina but sung by a Hawaiian. Every band in Hawaii covers this song. Pretty much every show is ended with this song and everyone in the audience sings along at the top of their lungs with tears in their eyes as they do so.  It is one of the best love songs ever written. Everyone can relate and once you’ve experienced the joy of a community sing along to it, your life will never be the same again.  So there you go. Don’t believe me?  Here is a video of Kapono in New Orleans in 2007 with the crowd singing along. 

Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey. Everything will bring a chain of love. And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes and tell me everything is gonna be alright!