Lā 14: Pōʻalima, Malaki 10 On the Motu
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As we engage in a community service project to honor the land and serve our host community, we also take the time to engage the natural beauty of this ʻāina by spending the day on a motu, a nearby islet, to reflect, debrief the tour experience, quietly appreciate the lagoon eco-system and enjoy recreational time with peers and colleagues.
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Piʻikea & Kalā
Day 14
Day 14
It’s our last full day here in the beautiful ʻāina of Moʻorea. After a nice show and ʻono food at dinner last night, we finally got to tuck ourselves into bed and wait for anohter full day ... This morning we left the docks at the Intercontinental Hotel, aboard the the Maohi. We sailed out to the sandbar where many tourist were swimming, only to find out as we got closer, the number of sea creatures that swam beneath us. Through the deep ocean blue we could see black tips sharks swimming back and forth, and many manta rays hugging the bottom of the sand.
When we arrived we were briefed on the rules of the tour. After that, we made sure that each of us applied lots of sunscreen. Kumu Lāiana reminded us to pay attention when we are in the ocean, and that it is so very important to stay calm and leave your fears on the boat. He explained how we are blessed to be joined by many kinolau, or body forms, of Kanaloa -- the god of the ocean. Eager and excited, we walked down the stairs and jumped in to the beautiful blue ocean. Many in our group were able to take photos and video with underwater cameras to capture such a wonderful experience. Our guide also jumped in with us and led the manta rays to him so that we could take a closer look. We were all able to touch and brush by the manta as they swam around us. As we continued to interact with the manta rays , pods of black tip reef sharks circled. Unlike the fierce and sometimes dangerous sharks we see at home in Hawaiʻi, the ones we got to swim with were very docile and gentle. After about an hour of fun with the marine life, we boarded the Maohi again and made our way to a motu about five minutes away.
After arriving to the motu, we were still left excited and awestruck after being able to swim with such amazing creatures. We came to the motu to explore the island, swim, and have lunch together. We had some time to explore before lunch was to be served, so a large group of us walked to the end of the motu. The current was very strong in the pass between the two motu, so we drifted along with the current, equipped with snorkeling gear to explore the channel and reef. We saw a lot of different fish, colorful corals, reef animals, and a manta ray here and there. We swam quickly, because the current was strong against our backs. When we returned to the motu, we all had worked up an appetite which was perfect timing as lunch was just being served.
We could smell the food roasting on the grill, and we were all excited to share a meal together. After a prayer and the singing of Hoʻonani, we ate a delicious lunch. As things wound down everyone spread out to either go back to swimming, picture taking, or to play music. From the strum of our guitar and the sound of the ʻukulele, something magical happened that we can only call “Moʻorea Magic” fashioned by none other than Kumu Lāiana. Truly magical it was, to be out on this motu and sing songs, and each dancer getting up to perform in front of everyone. As time went by, the sky got cloudier and the rain started to drizzle. As we sang, lightning flashed brightly in the daylight like none of us had ever seen. This was truly a spectacular moment. Following the lightning was a thunder clap so loud, so crackling, so booming, that we all stood in awe. Despite the storm, we kept playing, and we kept dancing to mele that honor our place names, songs in honor of this ʻāina of Tahiti and Moʻorea, and especially songs to honor our waʻa Hōkūleʻa.
After a long day out on the water, the Maohi dropped us off right outside of our hotel. After a nice dinner at a restaurant nearby, we gathered to have a time of reflection. A time that included ʻawa, as a means to hold our bonds together, to help us decompress from our amazing journey, here on our last night in Moʻorea. As each of us got our apu, many powerful thoughts, words, and memories came out of each and every one of us, whether it was haumāna or kumu. A constant theme that always came up in the words of each person, and it was that of kuleana. Each of us were put here by our kūpuna, as coincidences do not exist, and every single thing happens for a reason whether it be known to us or not. We have the kuleana, the responsibility, to carry on the knowledge and the legacy our kupuna have left for us. Each member of the Nāhiku delegation had a kuleana no matter how great or how small. Not only does kuleana mean responsibility, but it also means privilege. Knowing this, we are so blessed with the privilege and opportunity to take part in such momentous events such as this trip, the Mālama Hōnua World Wide Voyage, and the perpetuation of our ʻike --knowledge and wisdom.
When we arrived we were briefed on the rules of the tour. After that, we made sure that each of us applied lots of sunscreen. Kumu Lāiana reminded us to pay attention when we are in the ocean, and that it is so very important to stay calm and leave your fears on the boat. He explained how we are blessed to be joined by many kinolau, or body forms, of Kanaloa -- the god of the ocean. Eager and excited, we walked down the stairs and jumped in to the beautiful blue ocean. Many in our group were able to take photos and video with underwater cameras to capture such a wonderful experience. Our guide also jumped in with us and led the manta rays to him so that we could take a closer look. We were all able to touch and brush by the manta as they swam around us. As we continued to interact with the manta rays , pods of black tip reef sharks circled. Unlike the fierce and sometimes dangerous sharks we see at home in Hawaiʻi, the ones we got to swim with were very docile and gentle. After about an hour of fun with the marine life, we boarded the Maohi again and made our way to a motu about five minutes away.
After arriving to the motu, we were still left excited and awestruck after being able to swim with such amazing creatures. We came to the motu to explore the island, swim, and have lunch together. We had some time to explore before lunch was to be served, so a large group of us walked to the end of the motu. The current was very strong in the pass between the two motu, so we drifted along with the current, equipped with snorkeling gear to explore the channel and reef. We saw a lot of different fish, colorful corals, reef animals, and a manta ray here and there. We swam quickly, because the current was strong against our backs. When we returned to the motu, we all had worked up an appetite which was perfect timing as lunch was just being served.
We could smell the food roasting on the grill, and we were all excited to share a meal together. After a prayer and the singing of Hoʻonani, we ate a delicious lunch. As things wound down everyone spread out to either go back to swimming, picture taking, or to play music. From the strum of our guitar and the sound of the ʻukulele, something magical happened that we can only call “Moʻorea Magic” fashioned by none other than Kumu Lāiana. Truly magical it was, to be out on this motu and sing songs, and each dancer getting up to perform in front of everyone. As time went by, the sky got cloudier and the rain started to drizzle. As we sang, lightning flashed brightly in the daylight like none of us had ever seen. This was truly a spectacular moment. Following the lightning was a thunder clap so loud, so crackling, so booming, that we all stood in awe. Despite the storm, we kept playing, and we kept dancing to mele that honor our place names, songs in honor of this ʻāina of Tahiti and Moʻorea, and especially songs to honor our waʻa Hōkūleʻa.
After a long day out on the water, the Maohi dropped us off right outside of our hotel. After a nice dinner at a restaurant nearby, we gathered to have a time of reflection. A time that included ʻawa, as a means to hold our bonds together, to help us decompress from our amazing journey, here on our last night in Moʻorea. As each of us got our apu, many powerful thoughts, words, and memories came out of each and every one of us, whether it was haumāna or kumu. A constant theme that always came up in the words of each person, and it was that of kuleana. Each of us were put here by our kūpuna, as coincidences do not exist, and every single thing happens for a reason whether it be known to us or not. We have the kuleana, the responsibility, to carry on the knowledge and the legacy our kupuna have left for us. Each member of the Nāhiku delegation had a kuleana no matter how great or how small. Not only does kuleana mean responsibility, but it also means privilege. Knowing this, we are so blessed with the privilege and opportunity to take part in such momentous events such as this trip, the Mālama Hōnua World Wide Voyage, and the perpetuation of our ʻike --knowledge and wisdom.
The eating area at the motu