I had the opportunity to go to the groundbreaking ceremony for Nic's job. It was so neat and amazing how the Hawaiian culture invites God in all the things they do with the Land.
(This post is kinda long so if you want to skim that is fine)
We started by getting on the boat which took us over to the ceremony. And yes you always have your Hawaiian singers there to prelude with fun Hawaiian music.
They opened the ceremony with a conch shell, signals the formal commencement of ceremonies, acknowledging the cardinal points(compass) of the earth and calling for the assembly to gather. Then the head dancer lady said a Hawaiian chant which was to acknowledge the ancestral spirits of the land and to petition for wisdom, guidance, inspiration, & protection of the gathering.
In this one, all the people who were apart of the dirt churning had to wear this special cloth.
Just some history about Hawaiian groundbreaking ceremonies... they are conducted to consecrate the land. The ceremonial turning of the earth enhances a special connection with the project and the land. It is also an expression of cooperation and willingness to work together, by intergrading personal and collective skills, knowledge and leadership roles to see the Makalii(which is what they named nic's project or what the hawaiian name of the project is) to fruition.
Then She poured the water that they gathered from Wialua River, and then she said a prayer upon the water.
Then after blessing the water, she threw salt onto the ground, again on all corners like the compass.
Then she mixed the salt and water together, and then said another blessing.
Then she sprinkled the mixed water upon the digging sticks.
Then each digging stick was handed one by one to those who were digging the dirt.
Then she sprinkled the dirt with the mixed water...
And then they dug the dirt while she chanted in Hawaiian this blessing... (Supporters of the foundation, Supporters of the top, Supporters of the branch, take notice! Observe the manner in which the spade digs, This sacred implement of mine Is applied to these fertile lands, for dry cultivation is bound for success. This is our humble prayer and request, for health and life... Amama, this is my prayer. Let my words take flight and manifest to reality. The prayer is set free!) She said that 3 times, and at the end of each time they would dig in the dirt.
Then they danced a hula.
And then a different hula...
And last conch shell blowing to close the prayer or ceremony. They also blow this facing 4 different direction like a compass.
Nic and I in front of the blessed dirt.
The cute ceremony dancers, and prayer givers.
The guys on the project with Nic. Resort Construction Managers. The one in the white shirt is very handsome isn't he.
The boat ride back to the car.
We started by getting on the boat which took us over to the ceremony. And yes you always have your Hawaiian singers there to prelude with fun Hawaiian music.
They opened the ceremony with a conch shell, signals the formal commencement of ceremonies, acknowledging the cardinal points(compass) of the earth and calling for the assembly to gather. Then the head dancer lady said a Hawaiian chant which was to acknowledge the ancestral spirits of the land and to petition for wisdom, guidance, inspiration, & protection of the gathering.
In this one, all the people who were apart of the dirt churning had to wear this special cloth.
Just some history about Hawaiian groundbreaking ceremonies... they are conducted to consecrate the land. The ceremonial turning of the earth enhances a special connection with the project and the land. It is also an expression of cooperation and willingness to work together, by intergrading personal and collective skills, knowledge and leadership roles to see the Makalii(which is what they named nic's project or what the hawaiian name of the project is) to fruition.
Then She poured the water that they gathered from Wialua River, and then she said a prayer upon the water.
Then after blessing the water, she threw salt onto the ground, again on all corners like the compass.
Then she mixed the salt and water together, and then said another blessing.
Then she sprinkled the mixed water upon the digging sticks.
Then each digging stick was handed one by one to those who were digging the dirt.
Then she sprinkled the dirt with the mixed water...
And then they dug the dirt while she chanted in Hawaiian this blessing... (Supporters of the foundation, Supporters of the top, Supporters of the branch, take notice! Observe the manner in which the spade digs, This sacred implement of mine Is applied to these fertile lands, for dry cultivation is bound for success. This is our humble prayer and request, for health and life... Amama, this is my prayer. Let my words take flight and manifest to reality. The prayer is set free!) She said that 3 times, and at the end of each time they would dig in the dirt.
Then they danced a hula.
And then a different hula...
And last conch shell blowing to close the prayer or ceremony. They also blow this facing 4 different direction like a compass.
Nic and I in front of the blessed dirt.
The cute ceremony dancers, and prayer givers.
The guys on the project with Nic. Resort Construction Managers. The one in the white shirt is very handsome isn't he.
The boat ride back to the car.
10 comments:
Gosh, I had no idea they made such a big deal out of that. Pretty cool and so authentic!
Interesting and beautiful ceremony - you look great too, Heidi! Congrats on your pregnancy! Ty's grown up a lot since October!
Oh sis , that seriously made me have chills, and I got a little teary. I am so homesick lately for you guys. I love how you are so lucky to have all of these sacred memeories. What an awesome time of life. Love you. Ps you both look dashing in the picture!
Wow...what a ritual! You guys are so blessed to experience such neat culture. You will never forget the memories that you've had together in Hawaii. I wish that John and I could have had an opportunity like that.
Whoa, that is more leg than I care to see on that man.
You guys look nice. It would have been fun to be there. Brady was supposed to go because he worked on the model, but they missed him with the invites. Oh well.
I love that about Hawaiians.
okay that is soo000 cool! That is amazing to me that they go into blessing the soil, and the whole compass thing. Pretty cool. I am really glad that you got to go without any kiddo's! Love ya!
Wow! That is really neat! Michelle commented on my blog and she is so cute. Will you tell here that I am not an invited reader on hers and wish I was.
wowsers.... you'd better keep some of that "bless-ed dirt" for fun memories!!!!!! (with my luck...I'd take some and be cursed forever!...come to think of it... you'd better not!)
Very, very cool. I love how the Hawaiian culture is so aware of their connection to mother earth and God. I wish it was more obvious in our culture, being the promised land and all. Today in Sunday school we read a verse that kind of gave me the chills. We were talking about the election and our responsibility as a citizen of this promised land. It is Mosiah 29:27 I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid we have a long road ahead of us. Also congratulations Nic on being the only man who knows how to wear a leau!
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