Day 9
When I woke up yesterday morning the sun was shining. Even though it was 40 degrees F outside, the day had a spring-like quality. The vegetation looked so lush after several days of rain, that I decided to declare the day Hawaii Day. When I walked into my cabin, I put on a Hawaiian shirt and a feather lei. Then I placed this painting front and center. I purchased the art from a Maui artist when I was in Hawaii in December.
Next I pulled up my music player and decided that today’s workout would be to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Facing Future album. In his short 38 years of life, Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole’s became one of the most famous Hawaiian musicians. You have most likely heard his Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World medley, if not by him then, performed by one of the many musicians who cover the song. He was not only an extremely talented musician, but also a Hawaiian activist. You can hear that reflected in his lyrics. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
Facing Future has many wonderful tunes. In addition to Rainbow, I especially like his cover of John Denver’s Take Me Home Country Road and his own Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man. Lyrics for both follow, but I encourage you to listen to the recorded songs. The ones he sings in Hawaiian are also quite good. The Hawaiian language has a melody of its own even without being sung. But when it's sung, the resulting sound is something quite special. The sunny day later turned to rain, but I still held Hawaii in my heart well into the night.
Take Me Home Country Road Almost Heaven, West Makaha, high-ridge mountain, crystal-clear blue water. All my friends there sitting on da beach, young and old among them, feel the ocean breeze. Country road, take me home, to the place I belong, West Makaha, Mount Ka'ala. Oh, take me home, oh, country road. I heard a voice, in the morning calm, she calls me, as though to remind me of my Home far away. Driving down the road, I feel the Spirit coming to me, from yesterday, yesterday. All my memories hold Heaven on high, brown-skinned woman, clear blue island sky. Daytime sunshine, oo-ooh so bright, midnight moon a-glowing, stars up in the sky. I hear a voice, in the morning calm, she's calling, as though to remind me of my Home far away. We driving down the road, I feel the Spirits coming to me, of yesterday, yesterday. Almost Heaven, West Makaha, high ridge mountain, crystal clear blue waters. All my friends there sitting on the beach, young and old among them, eating fish straight from the sea. Country road, take me home, to the place I belong, West Makaha, oh, Mount Ka'ala. Take me home, oh country road. Huuhuu. Huuu-tah. Good fo' be back. White san', clean watah. Hô boy, the mountain...feel the makani... whew, what a place.
Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man Oh, tall is the tale of the mischievous one Who fished out all the islands and captured the sun His deeds and tasks I will unmask So that you'll understand That before there was a Clark Kent There was a Hawaiian Superman He fished out all the islands with a magic hook There would've been more but somebody looked He pulled morning sky, the sun he entwined To slow down his flight, so kapa could dry [Chorus:] Mischievous, marvelous, magical Maui Hero of this land The one, the only, the ultimate Hawaiian Supaman Oh Maui, Maui, Maui, Hawaiian supaman Oh Maui, Maui, Maui, Hawaiian supaman The secret of fire was locked somewhere in time So when the ahi died in the hale kuke, no way to re-ignite So off he goes in search of those who hold the information So that fire could be used by all the future generations He found that alae held the fire connection But his plan of deception fell short of perfection With no other choice he had to get mean So he squeezed alae's throat until she screamed the secret