Adventure #8
THRIVE (verb): to grow vigorously, to flourish.
Kalani comes alive as a gathering of community, art, music, and sustainability in the name of Thrive. Warm vibes radiate forth as we dance barefoot in the grass, creating a heart-warming experience. We share tangerines with strangers who delight in the sweet citrus. They smile brightly, skipping away. It is reciprocal. While others are drinking straight from coconuts, I am offered a piece of Soursap. It drips with sticky juice as I peel away a piece, reveling in the sweet and tart pulp. The land is alive, abundant with nourishing food and drink.
Hip Ag, a local movement to bring education on a host of topics relating to returning to the land through sustainable agriculture, gives freely all weekend long. They provide workshops that teach skills ranging from aquaponics to sweetening fruit trees, making chocolate from cocoa to natural beekeeping. Their teachings are rich in knowledge and made accessible for anyone, encouraging everyone to grow paradise. Through these discussions they are urging everyone to use conscious agriculture, and demonstrating how it is possible. I walk away feeling inspired to graft trees myself, to cherish the gifts of the land.
Soaking in the sunshine as we listen to the music, making our way in between three stages, the diversity of sounds is refreshing. We hear bands rocking folk, rock, reggae, and electronic music you can’t just sit still through.
There are various yoga and cultural classes offered throughout the weekend as well. This includes a morning session with live acoustic music. The music moves everyone to sing sweetly of love and positive thinking while deep in yoga practice.
I am particularly moved by a set from Paul Izac. It begins as a solo set of his original songs of love and island life. The performance soon expands, as other musicians leap to the stage. It continues to grow organically with more musicians, expanding into a full band jam session. The performers are friendly and warm with each other and engage with the audience.
Taking place at the poolside stage, this is perfect for swimming in the cool, refreshing water without missing a beat of the music. The shade provides respite from the heat, as I watch mermaids swimming in the pool, and children playing in a kind, loving community.
There are truly remarkable musicians including Mike Love, Tubby and Amberlin, Mama Crow, Fantuzzi, and many more. They bring great skill and energy to the stages. There is a movement for social activism, a call to sustainable agricultural thread throughout the weekend.
Making our way to our place for the night, we drive past steam vents as they release hot air from the earth’s core. We are further into quiet, rural Hawaii. The moon is full and so bright it paints everything in black and white, illuminating the palm trees and lava fields beautifully.
Pulling off the pavement, onto a road made of cinder an entirely different adventure begins. Marking landmarks such as certain rows of trees, a stray farm sign, we know we are on the right path. There are no road signs, even google maps is useless, unable to navigate to our destination. We take the last turn, arriving at a gate. We find the combination and open it, onto the last stretch. Arriving to this off-the grid farm is peaceful, quiet. There is no hum of running electricity, not a car or voice to be heard. There is only the sounds of a gentle breeze and coquis chirping, “world peace”. I hope to continue to sing that simple song every night and day.
100for2020 