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Being who we are, even if FOO is different and doesn't like it
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<blockquote data-quote="New Leaf" data-source="post: 672538" data-attributes="member: 19522"><p>Why yes Cedar, I recalled it from my cousins true memory. He tells stories in giggles and hearty laughs. Stories are very important in Hawaiian culture, in the days of old, there was no written language. I have great respect for cultures with only oral history. To, me, it bespeaks of a tremendous capacity for memory.</p><p></p><p>The Hawaiians are gifted story tellers.</p><p></p><p>Their origins are of great importance to them, there is a resurgence of culture that young ones have been embracing wholeheartedly, bringing back the language and old traditional ways to the forefront. They are taught to recite their genealogy as far back as they can, in chant form. When my daughter graduated from her charter school, this was part of her ceremony, along with hula, and speeches, and feasting.</p><p></p><p>Hawaiians are a proud, indigenous people, who have a connection to all of their surroundings.</p><p>Ohana, family, is integral to their being. This is why it was so difficult for us to detach.</p><p></p><p>This is why in cousin in laws story, they did not turn tail and run from the old rock throwing aunty. It was a deserved scolding, they had been remiss in visiting her, in maintaining that connection.</p><p></p><p>My hubs cousin has a story of a Hawaiian funeral she attended as a young child. She is the matriarch of the family, and is in her mid 70's now, so she experienced first hand, many of the old ways.</p><p></p><p>In Hawaiian culture, death is an ending and also a beginning. Funerals here are solemn, then a celebration of life. You saw that in the Iz video, where thousands of people attended his service, his ashes were scattered in the waters he so loved, it was the only place he was freed from his immense weight. What a symbolization, huh.</p><p></p><p>He was carried in an urn on the Hokulea, the sailing canoe that is a living representation of Hawaiian culture, and the navigational prowess of the people. It was a great honor to Iz, a great man. Thousands of people lined the shore, hundreds and hundreds more, in boats, canoes, surfboards surrounded the Hokulea. A caravan of cars, motorcycle clubs, big huge trucks formed on the road adjacent to the beach. As Izs ashes were poured out into the water a great cry and shout arose from the crowds. The people threw flowers and lei, into the water and many dove in (as is tradition) for a last swim with Iz. The truckers, blew their horns in unison, a mighty sound, echoing through the land.</p><p>Iz had passed over to the realm.</p><p>It was a sad thing he had died so young, but he was finally free.</p><p></p><p>My cousins story of the funeral she attended was of her memory of the deceased's sister, arriving late in the service. The sisters had not seen or spoken to one another, due to a falling out, long before this passing.</p><p></p><p>Many family members had come to honor the life of their cherished ohana member.</p><p></p><p>In times of old, and modern, there is often an open casket. Hawaiians do not fear the deceased body. They move, slowly through a line, hug and kiss the family members who sit or stand near the casket, and say their goodbyes to their loved one, who is often draped with leis of all sorts, a gift from their loved ones. They will lean in to touch them, kiss their cheeks, hug them, with intense aloha.</p><p></p><p>Our cousin remembered this, the line, lasting <em>forever</em>.</p><p>When all of the people who came to give their last farewells had sat down, a hush fell over the assembly.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, the doors flung open, as if by a strong wind, and slowly, walked in the sister, dressed gloriously in black. A piercing wail emitted from her, the building couldn't hold the sound, it wafted out of the windows.</p><p></p><p>The people all turned to look and were stilled, listening, focusing.</p><p>She moved, as in slow motion towards her sister, chanting her grief in flowing words of sorrow. The sorrow of loss at not seeing her, the pain of that, the indiscretion, joyful words of memories of times past, a vivid description, poetic, referring to flowers and sacred place names, waterfalls, rains and mountains, expressing her deep love for her sister.</p><p></p><p>My cousin could not remember all of what was chanted, but she said she will never forget the experience. A mournful sound, of a sisters grief, filling the building, echoing, echoing upwards, she fell upon her sisters body and sobbed until there were no more tears.</p><p>Then she left.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.mauimuseum.org/chants.htm" target="_blank">http://www.mauimuseum.org/chants.htm</a></p><p><a href="http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/May/09/il/il01a.html" target="_blank">http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/May/09/il/il01a.html</a></p><p></p><p>These are not kanikau, but will give you a little glimpse of the power of chanting</p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]id=XLSrJIf0lpQ;list=PL62F7CA1A55D9E334[/MEDIA]</p><p></p><p>And here, a little more learning about the culture.</p><p></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]5a-ovHYBP7c[/MEDIA]</p><p></p><p>Life, my sisters is short.</p><p></p><p>Striving for pono is important.</p><p></p><p>Love is all encompassing and powerful</p><p></p><p>Forgiveness is freeing.</p><p></p><p>leafy</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="New Leaf, post: 672538, member: 19522"] Why yes Cedar, I recalled it from my cousins true memory. He tells stories in giggles and hearty laughs. Stories are very important in Hawaiian culture, in the days of old, there was no written language. I have great respect for cultures with only oral history. To, me, it bespeaks of a tremendous capacity for memory. The Hawaiians are gifted story tellers. Their origins are of great importance to them, there is a resurgence of culture that young ones have been embracing wholeheartedly, bringing back the language and old traditional ways to the forefront. They are taught to recite their genealogy as far back as they can, in chant form. When my daughter graduated from her charter school, this was part of her ceremony, along with hula, and speeches, and feasting. Hawaiians are a proud, indigenous people, who have a connection to all of their surroundings. Ohana, family, is integral to their being. This is why it was so difficult for us to detach. This is why in cousin in laws story, they did not turn tail and run from the old rock throwing aunty. It was a deserved scolding, they had been remiss in visiting her, in maintaining that connection. My hubs cousin has a story of a Hawaiian funeral she attended as a young child. She is the matriarch of the family, and is in her mid 70's now, so she experienced first hand, many of the old ways. In Hawaiian culture, death is an ending and also a beginning. Funerals here are solemn, then a celebration of life. You saw that in the Iz video, where thousands of people attended his service, his ashes were scattered in the waters he so loved, it was the only place he was freed from his immense weight. What a symbolization, huh. He was carried in an urn on the Hokulea, the sailing canoe that is a living representation of Hawaiian culture, and the navigational prowess of the people. It was a great honor to Iz, a great man. Thousands of people lined the shore, hundreds and hundreds more, in boats, canoes, surfboards surrounded the Hokulea. A caravan of cars, motorcycle clubs, big huge trucks formed on the road adjacent to the beach. As Izs ashes were poured out into the water a great cry and shout arose from the crowds. The people threw flowers and lei, into the water and many dove in (as is tradition) for a last swim with Iz. The truckers, blew their horns in unison, a mighty sound, echoing through the land. Iz had passed over to the realm. It was a sad thing he had died so young, but he was finally free. My cousins story of the funeral she attended was of her memory of the deceased's sister, arriving late in the service. The sisters had not seen or spoken to one another, due to a falling out, long before this passing. Many family members had come to honor the life of their cherished ohana member. In times of old, and modern, there is often an open casket. Hawaiians do not fear the deceased body. They move, slowly through a line, hug and kiss the family members who sit or stand near the casket, and say their goodbyes to their loved one, who is often draped with leis of all sorts, a gift from their loved ones. They will lean in to touch them, kiss their cheeks, hug them, with intense aloha. Our cousin remembered this, the line, lasting [I]forever[/I]. When all of the people who came to give their last farewells had sat down, a hush fell over the assembly. Suddenly, the doors flung open, as if by a strong wind, and slowly, walked in the sister, dressed gloriously in black. A piercing wail emitted from her, the building couldn't hold the sound, it wafted out of the windows. The people all turned to look and were stilled, listening, focusing. She moved, as in slow motion towards her sister, chanting her grief in flowing words of sorrow. The sorrow of loss at not seeing her, the pain of that, the indiscretion, joyful words of memories of times past, a vivid description, poetic, referring to flowers and sacred place names, waterfalls, rains and mountains, expressing her deep love for her sister. My cousin could not remember all of what was chanted, but she said she will never forget the experience. A mournful sound, of a sisters grief, filling the building, echoing, echoing upwards, she fell upon her sisters body and sobbed until there were no more tears. Then she left. [URL]http://www.mauimuseum.org/chants.htm[/URL] [URL]http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/May/09/il/il01a.html[/URL] These are not kanikau, but will give you a little glimpse of the power of chanting [MEDIA=youtube]id=XLSrJIf0lpQ;list=PL62F7CA1A55D9E334[/MEDIA] And here, a little more learning about the culture. [MEDIA=youtube]5a-ovHYBP7c[/MEDIA] Life, my sisters is short. Striving for pono is important. Love is all encompassing and powerful Forgiveness is freeing. leafy [/QUOTE]
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