isiting the jungly part, not a tourist or abc store in sight, of one of the hawaiian islands recently i was privy to one of the most beautiful noises i've ever heard. and it came from frogs, coqui frogs! they start their love song around dusk and stop with each daybreak. rooster in reverse. having been to hawaii for what feels like a million times i hard the words "coqui, coqui" for the first time, which doesn't seem so strange as it felt like the first time i'd been there, like a different place altogether. let me put it this way, i've experienced hawaii but this time i really felt invested in it. my husband and i went to visit a dear friend still on the fresh side of his move from l.a. hearing stories of the "real hawaii" made me fall in love even more deeply with the islands. i think it's because of its strong belief and respect for ohana which means family in hawaiian. hearing of ohana many times over i've come to realize the word means so much more. i've had tons of friends that have taken holiday in hawaii and on that plane ride back they almost always come up with the best idea! the same idea! to live the aloha spirit at home. it all sounds so simplistic and easy and beautiful... love it! and in no way have i said it can't be done. i'm saying i've not been able to see it through for more than a few days. trust me, i will try, try again until i get it right. but after my last trip to hawaii i think what i really am wanting more of is the "ohana" spirit that is so important to the hawaiian culture. whatever it is, the vibe or speed of the islands which is mostly slow, is living at its best while showing the rest of us what we're missing out on. i'm not talking about the crowded, touristy places. i'm more speaking of "the road less traveled" bits of the islands, the remote parts of these islands. they are quaint, charming and genuine.
i might be wrong, but my take is that ohana doesn't just mean family. i think "ohana" is a feeling. a gratefulness, appreciation and undying love. something more important than anything else in the world. i know i'm taking a lot of liberty here with the word but not with the feeling you get from it. for me, ohana means "you are my heart". doesn't get any better than that! so, grab a hold and never let go. it's something you will never regret. but the other way around? i can't even go there.

xo,
gaye.