2003

Saturday, June 21 - Sunday, June 22, 2003

Saturday evening, I rode up to the Onizuka Visitor Center at Mauna Kea's 9,000 foot level. I had jewelry to deliver (I'm one of the VC vendors) and wanted to attend the cultural program. I also had been invited to attend Sunday's dawn ceremony at the summit as a guest of the Royal Order of Kamehameha.

Leaving Hilo, Ka Ua Kani Lehua, Hilo's famous rain, was making the leaves dance in the fading light. Lilinoe had draped the upper Saddle Road in mist. I rode slowly, flashing my brake lights, hoping that if someone was driving faster that I, they would see my little red glow.

EVENING CULTURAL PROGRAM 

I arrived safely, though late, and tried to sneak in to the cultural program. It was on the hula. I especially wanted to hear the mana`o (thought) of Kumu Leilehua, who would be speaking on the ancient hula which was so sacred only men consecrated to the temple were allowed to dance. 

It is hard to sneak in when you are dripping wet, wearing heavy riding boots, and your leathers smell like a large wet dog! Koa, the lovely and gracious lady who coordinates the cultural evenings immediately spotted me and conscripted me to join the program! She announced, "Here is a kumu, right here! Since the original Leilehua who was going to give the program can not be here, another Kumu Leilehua has been sent us to give the program!" What could I do, but agree?

It was a lovely program, two haumana, I don't remember if they were students of Johhny Lum Ho or of Ray Fonseca, gave a sweet demonstration, teaching the audience to dance "The Hukilau." They demonstrated various implements and showed the kinds of costumes worn for different hula. Then they asked me to speak on the ancient hula and to perform. We all had a grand time!

I have attended other programs at the VC, and highly recommend them. The Hawaiian Cultural programs are given each third Thursday of the month.

STAR GAZING

After the cultural program, which was held in the lowe building, we returned to the VC proper, where telescopes were set up. Until 10:00 pm, we were able to use these instruments, free of charge, to see so many beautiful celestial sites! This is an area I have very little knowledge in - I only know some children's stories of constellations which my grandparents told me for bedtime stories, so I only know a few of the Hawaiian constellations, and some from the Greek legends my mother read to me. I was very impressed by the volunteers and their knowledge of the stars - tossing about names like MC-357 and Antares-Ceti-B or whatever it was. . . ALL Greek to me (or is it Latin?).

Star Gazing is done each night, and the public is invited. Hot coffee, tea, and coco are available by donation - suggested is $1 per cup. Other snacks and beverages may be purchased.

SOLSTICE CEREMONY

The remaining reason for riding up that night was yet to come - At Dawn, the Royal Order of Kamehameha would greet the sun and hold ceremony at the summit of Mauna Kea. I had been invited to join them. Mauna Kea Support Services opened Hale Pohaku for those participating in the ceremony, providing snacks and beverages. Arnotts Lodge donated vans to transport ROK members from Hilo, and to transport all of the participants to the top parking lot. As there is no road to the summit, we would walk the rest of the way. 

There was much good fellowship that night, with people of many different aspects of spirituality participating. Many kept vigil all night, singing, talking, sharing. The aloha in the room was floating about like Lilinoe's mantle. 

Just before dawn, we all piled into the vans and headed toward heaven. We parked and unfolded ourself onto the parking lot, then walked to the edge where we chanted to greet the sun. How beautiful! Golden light illuminated the sky - bands of blue and gold and green, with the clouds shimmering white beneath, rolling to the mountain like the sea. "E ala e! Ka La i kahikina!. . . ." At last the sun, a golden ball, was fully above the clouds.

We then hiked down the path which leads to the summit cone. At the lowest point, we rested. Gathering our strength, we resumed the walk, now steeply uphill.

Once at the summit, the ceremony unfolded. Practitioners of several religions participated, and there were many prayers for unity and harmony for all humanity. It was a beautiful example of bending cultures, while still maintaining respect for and integrity of the traditions of our own `aina.

Finally, we shared ka wai ola, the waters of life, said our final prayers, and returned the way we had come. 

Arriving back at Hale Pohaku, we were treated to a huge breakfast, for which we were surely ready!

After breakfast, we said our goodbys and prepared for our journeys home. It was a perfect day for a ride, and I felt as though my bike was being carried on a gentle breeze as I followed the twists and turns of the Saddle to my home.

Monday, July 15, 2003

Saddle Road, 04:00, Leaving Hilo

That's the moon up there, big and round and shining
Pulling my heart forward over my handlebars

I ride an unmarked track of silver sheen

My single headlamp flings its own light ahead
Plucking imperfections from the asphalt
Enlarging them in black relief
Against the bright road
Which sways easily, rising steadily

I feel a palpable cold
It spreads under my leather
Seeps through my denim
And my skin tightens

The engine fires rapid cadence
Hammering the cold air
I reach down
And let the engine warm my left hand

The moon still draws me on

The thin mist brightens in the beams of an oncoming car
I am trapped by their glare
And must force myself to watch the right edge of the road
At last I understand the hearts of moths

September - Labor Day Weekend

Heading to Pololu, the HOGs got lost in the Kohala end of Waimea (about the same place you did - near the "pancake house"). I led them out - Li'l Black is such a pony of a bike, and here were all these thundering Thoroughbred Harleys, I felt like the little Indian scout on my Indian pony with the US Cavalry behind me! But still, I'd never led a pack before. The big thing was judging traffic for the turns, because I didn't want us to get separated. You have to think your spaces bigger - it's harder to find room to pull 15 bikes onto the highway safely than to scoot one through a gap. Fortunately, I didn't have far to go and was able to find a safe place to pull over and let the usual leaders take it once we were on the correct road.

Left - Me on my beloved Li'l Black

Below - Me on Manu's thundering machine! LOL!

With the Honolulu HOGs

December 26, 2003
     Manu is on his way to the H=D shop to return "our" V-Rod. so I thought I'd grab a couple of minutes and post a synopsis. I'll write a ful review and give it to Poppy when we have a bit more time.

    Guys - you DON'T want this bike. It is DEFINATELY a chick bike. Yep. The thing is gorgeous. I've started calling it "a piece of jewelry that wears YOU."

     It is so well behaved and easy to maneuver, no "real" man could possibly want this as a ride. Yet the 69 cubic inch Revolution engine moves that 600-plus pound bike faster than I'm competant to ride. Yep - a chick bike, all the way.  

     If you are looking for the feel of raw power - that sense of "gathering" the large cruisers tend to exhibit before the horses overcome inertia, well, look somewhere else. Not at all a V-Rod thing. It simply increases rpms smoothly - no fuss, no muss - with a sound reministent of a jet spinning up. It's so smooth and buttery feeling, that you really have no idea how fast it is until you glance at the speedo and realize you have passed 80 in 2nd gear. The RPMs are hanging around 6K, and suddenly your realize your grip has tightened, not so much in the emotional rush of speed, but simply because without a windshield, there is a definate sensation of being blown off the bike by your own wind.

     Controls are a bit forward for my taste, but they were too close for the 6' Sweetie. However, straight stock, the bike is perfectly rideable by either of us.

     Oh, yeah, that thing on the back fender. Even WITH a sissy bar, don't bother climbing on it. It's purely decorative.

     Anyway, more to come. And guys, you definately DON't want this bike. It's a chick bike. All the way. Yep. If you happen to have been burdened with a V-Rod, I think you should immediately seek out a woman and give it to her. In fact, just to be sure it goes to a woman who can ride it, you should send it to me first, and I'll be sure it gets into the right hands.

     Yeah - it does sound kind of Yamahish. But then, I LIKE that. I LIKE being able to hear the birds singing in the morning as we lean through the turns, golden dawn light reflecting of the road.

     Click here for my review!