Sacred Journey

A Prada hippie's travels, obsessions and boundless search for MORE JOY!

Living aloha

Living Aloha

Am I living “ALOHA”? That question played over and over in my mind during this past saturday’s “Aloha Awakenings” workshop.

While sitting on my yoga mat, allowing and absorbing the abundance of Aloha and Grace that my beautiful friend, Makala was sharing, I heard the word GIFTECOLOGY…Wow! what a cool blending of words. Immediately, MakanaRenaissance (Rebirth of Giving) came to mind. What a perfect word to represent what I was feeling at this “Aloha Awakenings” workshop. Makala truly “walks the walk,” and it is such a delight to bask in his light. Over the past year, inspired to create a body of teaching and of the spiritual and healing tools he has incorporated into his life—“Aloha Awakenings” was born.

Like Hawaii, Aloha Awakenings is a melting pot — a mixture of several healing modalities including Qigong, Aikido, EFT, Ho’oponopono and meditation. Aloha Awakening’s focal point is inspired by the deeper meaning of ALOHA introduced in1970 by aunty Pilahi Paki.

A Akahai – kindness (grace) to be expressed with tenderness

L Lokahi – unity (unbroken) to be expressed with harmony

O ‘Olu’olu – agreeable (gentle) to be expressed with pleasantness

H Ha’aha’a – humilty (empty) to be expressed with modesty

A Ahonui – patience (waiting for the moment) to be expressed with perseverance

The 7 hour workshop flew by as we stimulated our vagus nerve, danced without inhibition, wrote out names with our bootays, held energetic and emotional space for fellow participants, soothed our parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and practiced compassion and kindness as if we were wearing white gloves. (Makala explained that Akahai is a gentle practice in handling people—as if we are wearing white gloves so that we do not mar them and leave the person in as good as shape if not better.)

Makala has taken his Aloha Awakenings teachings to an ultimate higher stratospheric level than the introductory exercises he shared with us in his workshop. Following his practice of Ha’aha’a (humility)—he did a 21 day foot washing journey. For 21 days straight, he washed the feet of his loved ones, his abusive step father, strangers and the homeless… without gloves. As I envisioned him washing the feet of a homeless man with open cuts and abscesses, I was appalled, yet fascinated. Makala’s foot washings are akin to the Japanese tea ceremony —performed with mindfulness, focus and pure devotion. Seriously…I need to work on my humility.

When I was in Tibet—I saw dozens of people performing sun salutations and pranaming for hours in the frigid cold outside of the Potala Palace. Many had saluted to the sun for hundreds of miles just to get there. Imbibing their true spirit and depth of Ahonui (patience), Makala incorporated a routine of 3 steps and a bended knee bow. On the busy streets of Cupertino and across many stop lights, he did this for miles. His goal was to bow his way to his meditation session that evening. But realizing after 4 hours that he was only half way there, he switched it up to 10 steps bow, ten steps bow. Not only does Makala walk the walk—he truly “bows the bow.”

You gotta ask yourself…could I perform such great acts of Grace, Unity, Gentleness, Humility and Patience? As for me… I am definitely an ALOHA work in progress.

At the closing of the workshop, through tears, light bulb moments, deep contemplation, heart openings and laughter— the joy in the room was palpable. Makala gave each person a card with the “Pure Aloha” oath. We had come across this affirmation the day before at Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha shave ice store. Placed in the cards was a “SMILE” card.

The smile cards are ingenious. They are created by the kindspring organization that has been phenomenal with its mission in spreading kindness. Over 74,689 members have participated, handing out or distributing smile cards, and over 1 million smile cards have been shipped to over 90+ countries. If you are inspired to spread kindness, please check out the Universal Transformational kindspring organization. www.kindspring.org

A few months ago, Makala was diagnosed with stage 2 colorectal cancer. Through his practices of Aloha Awakenings, diet and self love—he is embracing this new journey with acceptance, compassion, appreciation, openness and grace. Makala offers Aloha Awakenings for FREE and gently requests that you pay it forward. At several of our stops—Makala left money to cover the next patron’s smoothie and shave ice.

As we ran our errands the other day—Makala handed out flowers to all he met. It was so captivating to see the receivers expressions and reactions as he shared his kindness and Aloha with all he encountered. From the elderly Asian woman in the Costco parking lot to the big local guy at Andy’s sandwich shop to the young kalohe (rascal) boy at Kokua Market—everyone was genuinely touched.

Giving and Receiving is such a powerful dynamic and the energetic exchange, the true meaning of Aloha can be given so easily with just a smile.

As Makala and I watched the mesmerizing waves roll in and out at Makapuu beach—an all knowing message came to me that Makala is going to be on this planet for a very long time. He has so much to share with the world, and through his Aloha Awakenings teachings, he will touch and inspire all that he meets. I am so blessed and grateful to share that path.

Biggest Mahalos, my beautiful friend – ALOHA!