Dec 18

So, we've been told to put the house on hold and relax for the holidays.  And we took some time out for a cultural excursion to Marilyn's hotel, the Mauna Kea, to greet the sunrise and bless the canoe's at the Mauna Kea Canoe Club at the hotel.  Now nothing can get blessed unless it has a name, so all the canoes had to be named.  The Mauna Kea is the flagship hotel for the Big Island.

Greyden, who is in charge of cultural affairs at the hotel, welcomed us to face east and greet

the sunrise.  He sang a traditional Hawaiian song. Greydon is singing a sunrise Hawaiian song
that he wrote himself welcoming the day.  

Hawaiian Reverend Billy Mitchell came to bless the canoes with leaves dipped in ocean water. And of course he performed the blessing in Hawaiian with part of this chant below.

It was all very impressive and respectful, like going to church, but Billy told some good humorous stories as well.

And then, of course, the boys had to test them out.  They go out into the waves and catch
the surf on the way in only in a canoe instead of a board.