Floating in Poipu

I am Cleopatra, laying on my barge, floating in Poipu. The large elephant ear palms are fanning my bronzed skin. I hear doves cooing, roosters calling from the banks, and fragrant flowers lightly scenting the moist air.

My husband sits in front of the TV, watching the SuperBowl XL. The appetizers are odd; bananas, oranges, peanut butter, lilikoi goats cheese and a little baguette. I must be dreaming!

Our condo is furnished with so much art, and parrots are not scarce. . . no wonder I'm painting them, I see them everywhere I look.




The day started normally enough. Church at Lihue Lutheran with retired Pastor Magnuson, in his wheelchair. His theme was, "God loves you, Deal with it!" Church went long, an hour and a half. It was so heartfelt.

I compiled every item in the fridge to come up witha 'fusion' breakfast, we're using up all the leftovers today.

So the end is near, but we're still 'sipping the Nectar' in each moment. . .

After church we drove by the sugar mill.. it's now an ATV Park. Sugar is out, tourism is in. The south shore is much more elite, golf and tennis clubs and shopping, I guess.




Our best morning ever is watching the Honu from the sacred fishing grounds. In no time at all we see turtles as old as St. Raphael's Church. that would be 150 years old. They kind of hang at a 45 degree angle in the surf, floating and body surfing. You can really see them well when the curl of the wave is translucent, they look like gigantic olive disks. And then A Monk Seal swam by. Yes, they are endangered. When they crawl up onto the beach, the biologists fence off the area with yellow tape. And this huge mammal scoots by like a cloud in the sky.

The afternoon is spent floating on my green plastic 'barge' (lawnchair).

After the big game we'reoff to Lawaii for our last dinner at The Beach House. Our best meal on this Island, ever. We share the macadamia nut encrusted crab cakes in a papaya black bean salsa with ginger buerre blanc. Dan enjoys the duck and I this mushroom risotto layered with baby spinach, and kauai tomato salsa.
Followed by the Molten chocolate souffle and vanilla ice cream. Mmm. . . too good for words.
Once Home we watch Desparate Houswives and Gray's Anatomy.

Tomorrow we fly home. We are happy to share our final sunset from the Beach House overlooking Lawaii Beach. It has been 16 days of heavenly bliss. Santosha~ deep contentment,



Mahalo Nui Loa Kauai,
Love Susan

The South Shore

We leisurely pack our clothes, music, movies, toiletries and food. Checking out at ten, we pause to drain the last of the rum into the last of the passion fruit juice and take one last long look at the whales, frolicking beyond The Cliffs.

To Hanalei, for a last long look, and an urgent trip to the Farmer's Market for more lilikoi goat's cheese, which the owner described as like 'cheesecake.' Better than I could do to link it to an earthly entity.

We try to buy a Hawaiian dress at Tropical Tantrum, because this is always so much fun, but the sale rack only yields one outstanding fit. And it's forest green! (Not to mention the astronomical price at even 50% off). No sale.

We have lunch at the Waimea Plantation Brew Pub. It is set on the sunny south shore, dry heat with cacti and bouganvilla, and all the palms and star lillies imaginable. Here is what Dan orders, the Thai beef salad:


He asked me not to let him order the hamburger, because he's been disappointed in it in the past. I have salad and fries. I can't remember what it feels like to be hungry we've eaten so bountifully. And we have reservations for after Mass at Pomodoro's in Kaleho.

When we check in we are surprised to have a two bedroom two bath condominium. I get lost in the space.With my limited sight, I don't quite know where I am in relation to so dark a hallway with so many doors. I ask Dan to call "Marco" every three minutes so I can be led to his voice. "Polo," I reply as I venture through the home. Dan unpacks his three shirts to the walk-in closet, I lay out my church clothes.

Then it's off to see the Honu (turtles) that float on the waves . It's a little windy by 3 p.m. so we bring beach towels to wrap up in. It's hard to spot their little necks reaching out of the surf, so we didn't try for a photo.

Mass at St. Raphael's was sweet. The Father asked that those who were celebrating wedding anniversaries in February and March to come forward for a special blessing. We were blessed and sprinkled with holy water. Then he re-wrote our wedding vows to say, "The Wife may now kiss her groom!" We did.

Off to Pomodoro for a wonderful Italian feast! Exceptional lasagna and manicotti. . . alas, no photograph. Then home to bed before the alarm rings, calling us to Lihue Lutheran.

There really is no Pose of the Day: This is Vasisthasana, strive to find balance in each day. "Sleep eight hours, work eight hours and play for eight hours." ~ Dr. Blair

Apparently our return to planet Earth is imminent.

This night, no sounds of crashing surf to sing us to sleep: a part of the weaning process, Hawaiian Aloha 2006.

Sweet Dreams ~Susan

Hanalei Aloha

Our last day on the North Shore dawns, tomorrow we will pack it up and move to Poipu, on the South Shore for our last few days. So it's not really over, just a day of anticipating transition.

The day is full of 'Nectar.'

Bikram yoga at 9:30-11 a.m. Here yoga is performed in a heated room, try 105 degrees! It is a series of poses, and a mild 'drill seargant' struts around directing the class. Between poses there are sit ups. I wasn't looking forward to this class, even though I chose it. (I took one for the team, so we have have a stretch of uninterrupted beach time this afternoon, and are able to attend a 4 p.m. concert.)

I am so glad the teachers name was Janice. It made all the difference. I told her I was visually impaired and described my field of vision. She was cool with it; gentle on me, and compassionate. I did my best and pushed through my fears. She afterwards told me I was an inspiration. A wonderful last class in the series of ten. I feel gratitute for Yoga Hanalei. Thet have the wisdom literature of Patanjali, the sanskrit and are upholding the 40,000 year old tradition of teaching. I did not receive the Yoga Sutras and Upanishads in my teacher's training. And I love the inspirational literature.

Today's Pose of the Day is Nataranjasana, or Dancer's Pose. You have never seen me teach this pose because I have never thought I could do this pose.

Here's what Janice said:

"Hopefully we learn to embrace those poses for which we have the most Resistance."

And, "We learn to move past our mind and past our resistance into the sticky (as in stuck) and muddy."

After Dan picks me up, we go home for a light lunch, Macaroni Salad. It's tradional Hawaiian faire. Dan adds diced onion, olives, and peas! A feast with Kauai tomatoes.

Then we're off to reacquaint with some favorite beaches: Lumahai and Tunnels and Hanalei Bay so Dan can dip. "The creature of Hanalei Bay" ooh!

We have snorkeled Tunnels until we know the underwater like the back of our hand. There are caverns you can enter through tunnels. We love seeing Angel Fish. Today we watched a dog swim out to sea, to be with his 'man' and then guide him back to shore, looking back to make sure the man is safely making his way to shore. Talk about inspiring.

We arrive early for Doug and Sandy McMaster's Slack Key Guitar Concert 4-6 p.m. The sounds are so soft and sweet they can lull you to sleep or bring you to tears. We heard Amazing Grace and Puff the Magic Dragon and old songs from paniolo days.

Dinner is a New York Filet and my ahi tuna, with baked potato and salad. A shiraz rounds out the menu.

I am exhausted by the sea the sun and the emotion of today,

It's a sunset photo and Mahalo~

Love Susan

Waves of Bliss

At 6:45, the light beyond my eyelids awakens me. I LOVE sunrise. And have missed far too many this past year, unlike Dan. With our days numbered here at The Cliffs I need to squeeze every last drop of nectar from each day; and we do.


We sit out on the cliff's edge, enjoying the high surf, and each wave as it breaks. The air is warm but cool rains are forecast for the islands. I decide to expand my horizons today and go to the Ashtanga Yoga class instead of the safe routine of Hatha Flow.

I've taken this 2 hour class in years past. It is comprised of a series of poses. Five minutes of downward facing dog opens the class, and I know I am about to perspire heavily (and go where I have not gone before). Cleanse in a word. . . . Purge! "Teachers love it when you cry." And I do.

After Dan gathered up what was left of me, we came home to regroup. The rains arrived at the biginning of class, and the pour was seriously underway. What to do? "Let's go swimming!" The rain is warm and the hot tub feels so refreshing to me. Dan loves the cooler pool. We take a few Pose of the Day shots. Todays pose will be Dandhurasana.


"Yoga is not for the faint of heart.
It takes response-ability ( or the ability to repond)." ~ Tara
"To change from the inside out, to be transformed by each breath; cell by cell." ~ Bravani

Todays class began with Ujjayi breath, constricting the glottis, and filling ourselves like a bullfrog. Moving from the inside out.

After our swim, it's off to lunch at the Hanalei Bay Resort. The pouring rain continues. Dan orders a hamburger, it's roasted red pepper and tomato soup for me. Then home for a little rest, it's a "blissfully stay drowsy" sort of day. The ocean is so choppy, even the whales are taking a holiday.

Truly, everyone is going deeper! We noticed birds under the chairs at lunch
Then Oprah, and the end of the lilkoi goats cheese on toasted baguette. I cannot describe its wonderful qualities in this blog. It would be x-rated. But the goats and dairy are located where we photographed Viparita Karani yesterday, on Kahuna Road. We will try to buy more.

Tonight we plan to grill chicken and toss it with mandarin oranges, avocado and Kilauea greens. We do watch TV each night, and keep up with the news, although floating just above the earth is an awesome privilege.

Today Bhavani also said, "To live humbly doesn't deplete you, it fills you." I like this. We actually 'do Hawaii' as simply as we are able.


Mahalo, Susan

Going Bananas

Well, for the first time we didn't sleep very well. Advanced Relax Deeply was so strenuous, my kidneys ached. And the sheets were tucked in too tightly, we could hardly move.

We began the day eating bananas (and pinepple and waffles). Watching the humpback whales go bananas. Three were breeching at a time. Pec slaps, tail slaps and head slaps! Bonkers and Bananas!








We retreated to the pool for a soothing and invigorating dip. I painted the little torch ginger by my chair, against the graying sky, while Dan read.






Yoga took the last ounce of energy out of me. The Pose of the Day therefore will be Viparita Karani, or Legs up the Wall. It is most restorative! You can elevate your hips on a folded blanket for a deeper abdominal experience.

"The body is the temple
The asanas (poses) its prayers." ~ Bhavani

"Keep the enthusiasm!
and relax . . . yoga is a process and there is no end point.
Sip the nectar in each moment." ~ Bhavani

After a slice of pizza and a salad, we headed for the Kilauea Lighthouse, the northern most point in the Hawaiian Islands. The whales were going Bananas, so was Dan, intently observing all the activity in the protected waters, where it's birthing season. The whales are an alluring aspect of this annual winter retreat. And here's a great photo of Hawaii's state bird, the Nene (Hawaiian goose).




Then we drove around looking for Hale Luana, the place where Susan Cowan and her Art Adventure will meet to paint next month. She began my love affair with watercolors last June.

Then a trip to the grocery so we can prepare fish tacos and mashed potatoes for dinner tonight. Dan will cook as I am out of energy.

Hence the importance of slowing down, putting your gorgeous legs up the wall and drawing the breath into your temple. Opening the channels of healing and compassion for yourself.

Hey, gotta go. Now the waves are going bananas; crashing surf and swells to fifteen feet.

Namaste, Susan with Joy

Spinning Dolphin Dan

Sunrise, heavenly sunshine.


We are up early and off to Moloa'a Bay. It's remote, except for a doggy who greeted us (a pale yellow colored lab with long curly hair looks like what our puppies would have looked like if Emmalou and Owen had 'married.') And then a tour bus arrived to view the movie set of Gilligan's Island, we didn't know this was a tour destination.



Dan has so much fun frolicking in the salt water, I catch him here, Spinning like a Bottlenose Dolphin. I am content to paint. And what I love is that nothing I try to paint holds a candle to God's paintings. I am routinely humbled in my attempts, though it's still fun and helps me ground and concentrate: a good discipline.



We have a feast of avocado sandwiches and organic (don't panic) red corn chips with mango bean salsa and a Pilsner Urquell.

Then we stop by the Fish Market to pick up a pound of swordfish to grill for dinner, and I take a few pictures for Sheryl Schulling, amazing botanical specimens.

We need a few grocery items, so we swing by the Farmer's Market for bananas and tomatoes, an avocado and an unexpected treasure: Lilikoi (passion fruit) goat's cheese. A scrumptuous pupu to enjoy as we grill. Today yoga is Relax Deeply from 5:30-7:00 so dinner will be stylishly late, and we'll be famished.



The Pose of the Day is Camel Pose or Ustrasana.
"Some think stiffness is in the body. Yogis believe stiffness is in the mind.
What are you holding onto?, they ask. Surrender!" ~ Bhavani



"Yoga is all about creating space. The mind, the heart, the rib cage to allow the breathe to be full, the blood vessels to soften and dilate, the vertebras to lengthen and separate, allowing for spongy discs to be full, not compressed. And the joints to open and be spacious." ~ Tara

Enough blogging for today, it's habit forming. And will make a nice journal when printed.

Mahalo Nui Loa, Susan

All of the yoga students said, "Huh?"

The mysterious quote of the day ...
"The Universe was drowning in the Light of the Soul's Divine wine . . . " ~Tara reads Hafiz, Persian poet extroidanairre
Surrender to that! It made savasana a fascinating meditation.

The day began at the pool, swimming and floating under beautiful, blue skies.
Then Yoga class, quite vigorous, so many new flow sequences and poses I have never experienced.
Lunch at the Hanalei Mixed Plate, then off to Hanalei Bay for painting and Dan enjoys the Surf. Too rough to do much of just bobbing around, which I (Dan) like best, but after a while I got up enough confidence to do some body surfing. Came out of it invigorated, slightly sore and slightly sunburned. Here's Dan (hard to see) in Hanalei Bay. This one's for you, Gail:



Dan is so at home in the Bay, when he returned to our blanket, I painted a home on the shore:




We have just enough time to shower away the sand and cool the reddened skin before the Welcome Reception.
Here is the pose of the Day...Virasana or Hero's Pose. Mostly beacause after two days off the mat, I was somewhat fidgety today, so here's a simple grounding pose, always surrendering and turning into the breath to calm the vritti (monkey) mind.

Does anyone out there need a sarong? I am dying to go shopping although I don't need a thing. They come in a dozen colors and are only $5.99; in red, hot pink, baby pink, orange, yellow, lime, aqua, navy and black. They have a little batik print at the edge. Soft, and not sheer. I can even find you a matching silk lei, for about $2, for your next luau.

Here is a whale photo, my they were busy off the Cliffs this morning. This is the best picture I took. And a photo Dan took of sunset this evening from our lanai.




Aloha,

Susan and Dan

And all God's children said, "Huh?"

Not all God's children said Huh, but we did. After listening to a particularly confusing epistle reading this morning (First Corinthians 8: 1-13. Help us here. Anybody? We usually catch on pretty quickly, but not this time: It has to do with eating, and not eating, and eating meat, and not eating food offered to idols. And some other stuff.).

That was at Lihue Lutheran, which today celebrated its 125th anniversary with a two-and-a-half-hour festival service, followed by a luau for 500 people. The bishop of the ELCA, Mark Hanson, preached, and the bishop of the Pacifica Synod, Murray Finck, presided. We felt privileged to be there.




Every table for eight had a flower arrangement; there were palms and flowers all over the place; there was music and hula dancing and drums; and a menu of kalua pork, teri chicken, mac salad, one scoop rice, lomi lomi salmon, cellophane chicken noodles, and poi, which Dan thinks is the Hawaiian Lutheran version of lutefisk. You have to eat it.

And the cakes! Lilikoi. Guava. Mac nut. Halupia. Some form of decadent chocolate. They were fabulous.

Dan wound up the courage to talk with Bishop Hanson, and thanked him for keeping the ELCA under control, which must be very hard to do. Dan explained that we had been on staff at Holden Village for a year but were only able to last six months because of all the overt political overtones and activism. The bishop was very gracious and understanding.

Now, a few words from Susan:

A sweet day. Wafffles on the lanai, after waking to an alarm clock! We have been anticipating this worship service since we were invited a year ago. It was elaborate, in food, music, dance and flowers. A beautiful blend of Hawaiian praises (pules) and old standard hymns. Then we head for home, driving past the Sleeping Giant, which watches over the Old Kapaa Town. Which reminds me . . .

The Pose of the Day is Anjali Mudra, or Namaste. (No pose . . . you know I always take Sundays off :-) Just stop, breathe in and out, and notice how everything lifts its heart towards God. The Trees and Flowers, the Mountains, as if giving thanks for creation. I give thanks for you, all those I love back home, and here, for more blessings than I can count. "Namaste."

We spend the afternoon at the pool and read and swim, sip fruit juice and enjoy meeting our temporary neighbors.

Home to grill chicken, which we will serve with a coriander chutney: yogurt with cilantro, mint, serrano chile, green onion, fresh lemon, honey and sea salt. Then who knows, maybe we'll lay on the lawn and count the stars. (Dan: Or maybe we'll have some drinks and watch Desperate Housewives . . .)

Blessings on your day of rest!

Love, Dan and Susan

Let it Shine...

The birds are twittering, chirping and screeching: "Wake up, The sun has returned".
Dan sleeps in and I hop up (my Dad was a Marine you know.. (smiles).
I watch the sun rise and decide to paint. The intensity of painting hurts my eyes, really hurts. So I've taken a few days off to rest them.
Here's today's creation:














When Dan and I have breakfast this little cutie joins us for the peanut butter toast. These cardinals abound at The Cliffs...but not when it's rainy. This is our first sighting.

Then we're off to the beach to embrace the sun and ocean's saltiness. Dan floats happily, while I read and do my yoga practice.
No formal class today; it's all about your personal practice today. All I can say is start with an intention. Shower, set the space as if you were planning to entertain a beloved friend, then meet yourself on your mat. This is where your personal experience deepens to to Joy and Love and Peace!!! I can't tell you, smiles, just take ten minutes three times a week and go deeper.

Then getting hungry we head to Kapa'a for a Thai luncheon. Back to the beach for more light and salt and ocean's roar. We never tire of the majestic ocean and it's beaches.

We head for home to freshen up before church at St. Sylvester's Catholic Church in Kiluea. Shell leis are our greeting. The priest is here presiding on Kauai ( on vacation from Idaho?). It's a terrific homily and it could be Baptist. It's the sweet simple story that we are called to live counter- culturally. "People, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. "
Then home again home again jiggety jig. We enjoy the sun setting on another day in paradise, make pizza and watch some public tv.
Sweet dreams and Mahalo for tuning in.
Love, Susan

Friday: Helloooo Sunshine!

Finally, warm sunny skies upon awakening.
After a breakfast of bananas, pinepple, waffles and (for Dan) sausage, we head for the pool. You may remember that the elusive Dan made a brief blog appearance there on Friday.


Then off to Hanalei Yoga for Hatha Flow with Tara. It is so easy to sweat and purify on these humid days, Dan has to wring me out when he picks me up. Dan prepared a picnic lunch and we go directly to Haena State Park to enjoy the feast.

The highlight of the day had to be the Limahuli National Tropical Botanical Garden, set on 17 acres and dedicated to caring for endangered species of plants. This could be an entire post in itself (from Dan: when time permits, which most likely will be after we get home since the weather is finally nice here, we'll do a web page of photos from the garden). We strolled the ancient ruins for two hours with a self-discovery map and thrilled at each new plant and tree. It was like the Hawaiian version of Honeymoon Heights at Holden Village.






Here is today's pose of the Day . . . Tree Pose.

"Let go of all words and adjectives that describe yourself.
They don't serve you . . .
They only serve to differentiate and separate you.
Instead surrender and be one with everything." ~Tara






Then a little shopping . . . at Foodland, Susan needs a new sarong. We have an appetizer, and a glass of wine before going out to Sabella's, an upscale Italian spot in a nearby developement. Dan likes the lasagna, but finds it to be way heavy on the rosemary. Susan loves her eggplant parmigiana. The wine was Il gufo . . . what a name. The restaurant has been open less than a year, and they're still figuring things out. We'll give them a couple more years before we return.

To cap the romantic evening we went to the Princeville Hotel's "Living Room" for a Tuitini (a Bombay sapphire martini with a splash of Grand Marnier) and the piano bar. It is an amazing place. We went outside we felt small under the magnificent canopy of stars.

Goodnight all, and Mahalo

Where's Dan?

Don't worry. He's still here:






And still holding out hope for better weather.

Click here for the forecast

Tropical Showers Prevail

Yes, those heavenly showers continue to nourish and refresh the islands. We have a plan to endure and enjoy each moment here in Hawaii. Warrior One is the pose of the day~


"Letting go of all your thoughts
Set yourself free" ~Tara
(of predicted outcomes, or fantasy weather scenarios)
"Surrender and rejoice'' ~Tara


We attend a time-share presentation this morning. It pays $100, and is encouraged by our owner's association because they get a cut. We were curious about the property, but not sincere about purchasing. It seems like we let the young salesman down, stealing his time. The damp stroll to the property was sweet.



We drove south to Kapaa in the worst downpour I've ever witnessed, then enjoyed a good pizza and salad for lunch. Then a little puddle hopping down main street and shopping at the Tropical Tantrum. Buying one thing takes me several days. Dan let the ladies know ...
We stopped along a few beaches to enjoy some yoga stretches and watch surfers, visited a guava plantation, Kilauea's Bakery and the mid-week grocery shopping at the Farmer's Market

It was a relaxing day of just going with the flow.

Relax Deeply at 5:30 was a fairly 'busy' class. It helps me as a yeacher to understand what helps students and what doesn't. I love routine and structure, poses and directions, not "Find a nice stretch for yourself."

"To be sensitive, is to really live." ~ Kari
"Be willing to feel ... and heal." ~ Kari

But there is always something to learn from a yoga class: "Without the breath, the poses are just a lot of calisthenics. Add the breath and go deeper, heal." ~ Bhavani


Dan loves watching whales off the lanai here at The Cliffs.
We had a romantic dinner outdoors around 8. Crashing surf, fragrant, warm winds, and showers!
( My 8 ounce portion is a grilled bean burrito :-)

It's all good, being here with Dan. (I have decided that I am the flea on this migratory bird.)

Aloha, Susan

A couple of days late, here's the answer to Monday's question: The pose was Uttanasana, or Waterfall Pose. Can you guess the name of this pose?