Mo'orea

Being here in Tahiti feels very much like a homecoming for me. For one thing, our family here has done an incredible job of welcoming us. But also, unlike so many other places I have visited, I have never been made to feel unwelcome here. For example, my son and I both were stared at regularly in New Zealand as if some of the people there had never before seen Black people. And unlike Hawai'i, no one here has ever told me that I am pretty, graceful and intelligent "for a colored girl".

This is indeed part of the reason why I am so in love with this place and its people.

Yesterday, we went for a day trip to Mo'orea. This beautiful little island is off the Western coast of Tahiti. It takes only about half an hour by ferry to go there. Once there, we took a drive around the island stopping at points of interest along the way.

One of our stops was at a hotel which had built for itself an artificial lagoon around which were little thatched roof bungaloes. This fronted a very beautiful, (but now very private - guests only) beach.

I couldn't quite understand why one would want to come here to such a beautiful place, only to stay at an artificial (but fully controlled) environment which seemed to exclude any chance of exposure to the local culture.

At any rate, we spent much of the afternoon at Tema'e Beach with an barbeque cooked by one of our hosts and with swimming after. As soon as we arrived at the beach, I went into the water with an offering to Yemonja. It felt so good to stand at waters edge with vastness of the deep ocean before me and offer my prayers.

I keep at least one of my mbira with me wherever I go, and it felt as if this was a good time to bring it out. The mbira is a way of connecting to Spirit, and with my family and friends all around in such a beautiful place I was really feeling the need to say thanks.

We have one more performance tomorrow night, this time at Vaiete Place.

Love and blessings to all,
Mahealani