You get what you give
December 12th 1991 I had the honor of being on a morning run back to Makaha from Keawa ula when I came upon a small gathering at Makua beach. It was 5:32 in the morning and the sun was coming up bright and orange ahead of me. I could see a lot of movement in the water out near where the gatheirng was taking place. I approached slowly observing and being as quiet as possible. It was the chanting that drew me in and the gesturing and movement as well as the clothing the folks were wearing. Dressed in nothing but a cloth around the waist while gesturing to the sun and the ocean 2 of the uncles threw lei into the water.
Next they gathered around a lauhala mat and prayed over kalo, ulu, maia and uala. They grated it and mixed it together then walked it out into the ocean til they were knee deep in the water. Next they genlty let go hand fulls of the mixture into the ocean and fish started gatheirng around and eating. They did this with several large baskets of the food and then returned to the lauhala mat and said what I can only assume were blessings. They finished and shared honi and hugs with the folks gathered around them. When they began mingling they invited me over and I introduced myself. I aksed about what they were doing and one of the gentlemen “Uncle Keoni” said he and his brother were sharing and visiting family. I was taught early on not to ask too many questions but I suppose my eyes gave me away (of course I had a million and two questions) and Uncle said just come back tomorrow at 5:00 am or whenever the first light would be present.
The next morning I was there early on and waited patiently. The small gathering started again and I was told to sit back and observe think clean thoughts, think of the sea, think of the wind and to think of the mountains. I was allowed to share in the mixing of the food and to bring th ebaskets down to the waterfront. The process I had seena nd th efeeding was done once more and the fish gathered in multitudes. From the beach I could see the two uncles talking to the ocean and releasing the food mixture. This excercise happened 2 more days and on the 4th of the days what I observed was something that reconnected me back to my childhood and an awareness so profound that it brought tears of joy to my eyes.
On the fourth morning when we walked to the waters’ edge and released the offering of food mixture, the larger fish swam ashore and the rest stayed in the shallows. This was an amazing site to see. Uncle said that this was the old way, when you share and give the best of what you have and build relationship with your surroundings, your surroundings will provide.