Women’s Work

 This morning, the last of August and an ‘ole moon two witches chanted and walked the land. Prayers for guidance preceded. A bowl of pi kai ‘olena (salt water with turmeric) was readied. 

The water was yellow —the color of Haumea, the goddess of this planet, this earth. The source of potentialities.

The second ‘oli was chanted to gather the gods, and wrap the haumia the defilement to the ‘aina into a bundle and throw it away!

Then the two woman split the land one going east the other west sprinkling the yellow salt water at the edges and corners of the land to whom they are responsible.

Amama us noa.The work is done  the prayer is lifted.

AHONUI ... the long cord for fishing

 aho.nui

-from wehewehe.org

nvs. Patience; patient, enduring, long suffering; to tolerate. Lit., great breath. 

It's another hot August day on our island home. Fortunately for us, our simple life lived in the vardo and Quonset also include being able to keep driving Scout, our 2004 Subaru. She, "Scout" has been car and home for us over the years since we bought her in Hilo. In nearly everyone of my pule, my daily prayers, I am grateful for this car. Today I give thanks for her and the repairs we are able to pay for to keep us safe enough and cool: air conditioned air aid my long comprised lungs from the heat and smoke of environmental overload (Haumea's overload!)

Not far from our ke kuapa (the small space where we park on 'aina that covers a freshwater pond) I can drive to the library to compose story, print copies of my latest drawings and consider the color pencil or crayon I'd like to complete the mo'olelo wanting to express herself through me.

We Kanaka come from a literary history of long-standing. Once we learned how, we went all out to write the stories of our past, our present and our future. 

This Safety Pin Cafe post is a "fish hook" on the long cord or aho which also refers to the fishing line used to troll for fish. In the metaphoric story the hook could catch anything, or catch nothing. Over the long term, as fisherfolk must be patient if nothing else. That's where the second part of the word comes into play: "nui" means long term, big, over time. 

There is a new fish being drawn up from my na'au and my imagination. Stimulated by conversations with my mo'opuna who live in Kipahulu on Maui the drawing is inspiring a very delightful saga! Look for more details in the coming days and weeks. 

Here's a teaser: SUPER 'OHANA is the working title of the project and there will be lots of pictures to draw and string like a lei my grandmother and her cronies would be so proud to call ... family!!

A little ALOHA in your day

 The journey of healing from cultural trauma is unique for us all. Speaking for myself the path experienced consciously began in 1970 when I left home for the first time, but really kicked when I returned to that home in 1997.

This post is about me finding the ways back to truly understanding that Aloha is the true intelligence with which we kanaka meet life.

To remind myself, I’ve written Aloha’s meaning —spelled it out in ‘oleo, mahalo AuntyPilahi Paki—using sidewalk chalk, on my walk between the Vardo and Quonset.

Akahai

Lokahi 

Olu’olu

Ha’aha’a

Ahonui

I look at the words snd walk my talk 🤙💜

Check out the meanings of each word online. wehewehe.org will be one place to look.

Yea. A little aloha in our day 🌲🌈🌺

Ho’omanawanui

 August on the Salish Sea where we live is hot! Our gardens are gigantic and the Mullein spears have topped off at 12 feet bending under her weight.

It is her awe inspiring beauty that is drawing a few adventurous souls to us; we are having kukakuka ( meaningful chats!)

The slow yet deeply positive intentions for The Safety Pin Cafe and the art I draw as Acoustic Tutu need to be clarified: I’m asking with Aunty Edith Kanakaole’s oli E Ho Mai. Thanks to Manu Meyer’s YouTube videos I learn the depth of meaning as I oli, and people come with their curiosity. Attraction rather than promotion.

Patience over time. Ho’omanawanui. I’m practicing.

Aloha August

 Yup, we’re at it, still! Safely pinning our brand of care-and-share from a wagon home and repurposed garden shed … The Safety Pin Cafe is spreading the goodness.

Pamoja Place  

“an organization dedicated to growing community and a sense of belonging for BIPOC individuals on Whidbey Island” became our safe place away from home when I hooked up with Kenesha Lewin. The dream for Pamoja Place was just rooting: a real place was secured in Langley and the rhythm of solidarity was laying down riffs.

Today, July 31, 2025 my monthly Story Basket column opens The Safety Pin Cafe— a real space and gathering place. 

Herbs, Medicine Cards, and Wala’au (Talkstory and Conversation) will circulate into the Pamoja community via that column.

I noticed we have the most number of reads here on the blog “Herbs, Medicine cards and Conversation” has caught your eye! Hey. that’s what we’re talking’bout.

Aloha August at The Safety Pin Cafe is happening!

Pictures coming too.

Herbs, Medicine Cards and Conversation

 “Conversations are efforts toward good relations. They are the exercise of our love for each other. They are the enemies of our loneliness, our doubt and our anxiety. our tendencies to abdicate…If we attend with imagination and devotion to our conversations we will find what we need and someone among us will act—it does not matter whom—and we will survive.”

- From Horizon by Barry Lopez 

This three-part combination of herbs which we have been tending and living with, the drawings that make their way up from soulful places within me, and the potential for Talkstory or conversations such as Barry Lopez described feel just right. 

They may become the baseline menu at The Safety Pin Cafe. What do you think? 

Happy Saturday from the vardo on Ke Kuapa😘🌈🌺

La'au lapa'au

Medicine making time

It's a beautiful Monday in the Salish Sea. I woke ready to harvest the box filled with Skullcap. She is in full bloom. At the moment I am parked in our sweet safe place away from home ... Pamoja Place. With no lights on in the building, the community laptap is the light. Real sunlight comes through the windows in the Reading Room. A cool breeze finds me. Mahalo, Ka Makani!

I've yet to figure out how to download images and movies from our iphone to this laptop, so for a bit more use your imagination.

I spent a lovely hour or more this morning gathering flowering tops from the Skullcap. A baking pan filled with the blooms and leaves. I've made movies of the process, and sent them off to our people via other means (texts); they were received lovingly. Hurray!! 

One Day at a Time the vision and mission for The Safety Pin Cafe unfolds. 

1. Our first Weeds Walk took place on the 16th of July. Carter Brown my mo'opuna from Kipahulu, Maui joined me via FaceTime and we had a fun time!

2. The gathering of Skullcap for tea is being recorded onto the iphone, and sent to our loved ones for continuing blessings. Aloha aku. Aloha mai.

3. Instagram. I used my old account to post a story and share pictures with a few followers. It's a start for me.  I'm practicing being willing to be open to new actions, feelings, and healing.

I hopeful the trail of new technology will find its way to my dear old self. In the meantime, take good care. 

A hui hou,

Mokihana and Pete