tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105927032008-04-04T14:49:18.263-10:00Kalani OhanaBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-36842887317388795052008-04-04T14:39:00.003-10:002008-04-04T14:49:18.314-10:00

Long term Kalani-ite Kristal Ornellas recently made a trek home to Massachusetts and stumbled upon her journal from her very first stint as a Kalani volunteer. What she found on one of its pages reads as follows: THE RULES FOR BEING HUMAN 1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around. 2. You will learn lessons. You are

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-64683711397199761532008-02-27T09:28:00.004-10:002008-02-27T09:36:42.216-10:00

A few years back, my son Evan, asked me when I had known he was gay and how I had felt at the time.....My response was that it had never been an issue. "Color blindness" in all ways was something I wanted my kids to grow up with......Evan was always unique --- yeah, a bit weird; he took out the girls who didn't have dates for school dances; he saw the world with unique vision; he had a

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-74261411927873085782008-02-20T15:24:00.002-10:002008-02-20T15:32:08.536-10:00

1. What brought you to Kalani? What's your story? What brought me to Kalani was a plan of Perfection I could never have orchestrated myself. Having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 15+ years I was totally immersed into my family, my high-tech job, my community and the myriad of roles and activities, which accompany those things. At the very end of a yearlong medical treatment plan (

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-75267903922538176142008-02-07T13:15:00.001-10:002008-02-07T13:16:22.778-10:00

Tiff Manchester, one of our Kalani Volunteer Coordinators, shared with the community this inspirational moment. Enjoy! and Thank you Tiff!! LOVE and TIME Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. ONe day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-68719724951374535962008-01-25T14:31:00.000-10:002008-01-25T15:00:59.806-10:00

On the evening of January 1, 2008, in a brilliant display, the Wishing Bell - Burning Basket of New Beginning, met it's final conclusion through fire. The hanging bell was woven with locally gathered natural materials, and filled with the written intentions that were placed inside. All of the heartfelt messages, inside and out, were released through the sparks and flames that drifted up into the

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-8466214473855207612008-01-15T10:50:00.000-10:002008-01-15T10:58:16.306-10:00

by Reid Manchester It changes you. Build your walls as high as you want. Make them 6 feet thick. Use the hardest stone. Eventually your walls will be worn down. Sure, you can fight it. Hold people at arms length, cling to your bad habits, defence mechanisms, wit, charm, sarcasm, humor, fear. Hide behind shyness, a quiet disposition, 9 thin layers or three thick ones. It doesn’t matter. You

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-60576127057687039852008-01-11T09:32:00.001-10:002008-01-11T09:43:58.497-10:00

Invocation for The Angel of Kalani by Lorien McClenaghan We are grateful to the angel of Kalani for overlooking the spirit of this community from its inception until now. We join to formally invoke the presence of the angel of Kalani May she continue to guide this community to grow as an ever deepening place of love, personal freedom, fun, inner peace and spiritual understanding. And so it is.

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-21955481512496859012008-01-08T16:45:00.000-10:002008-01-11T15:36:21.917-10:00

- Lorien McClenaghan Volunteer, Oct. 2007 - Jan. 2008 There is a secret at Kalani, and ... 'most everybody knows it! When you come here, you change. You release the past of stress and inhibition. And release the YOU... The you so deeply yearning to be free. Free ... free to express in each moment, whatever comes, whatever feels, whatever is the essence of your true Self in that moment in

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-85502285318098720492007-12-25T13:10:00.001-10:002007-12-25T14:26:37.536-10:00

Under the direction of Mavis Muller, an Artist-in-Residence from Alaska, a team of volunteers collaborated in the weaving of a large 'wishing bell' basket which was installed in the Buddha Grove. After a dedication ceremony in the afternoon, with poems, chants and story weaving, Mavis and volunteers created a spiral luminaria, each beautifully adorned with an original bamboo painting by Shola.

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-22293868207273802372007-12-22T14:35:00.001-10:002007-12-22T14:47:36.955-10:00

Just because we live in a yoga retreat in the jungle on the slopes of a volcano in the middle of the Pacific Ocean doesn't mean we lack the amenities of culture! Kalani's Art Show on December 14th was a feast for the senses. Organized by Ben Ellis and Tiff Manchester, and supported by local residents and volunteers, there was art, music, food, wine, poetry, dance, and a fashion show. Our

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-39449276281073857912007-11-26T15:27:00.000-10:002007-11-26T15:38:27.322-10:00

by Mike Bailey I voted for George W. Bush. Not once, but twice. I’m from a conservative Christian town in the mountains of Virginia. The monotony of my life was overwhelming. The same cup of coffee, the same bagel, the same shirt and tie. I didn’t smile enough. I needed a change. I felt common. But, Kalani was uncommon, and I feared I would never fit in. I was afraid of people I thought

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-90952140476133086632007-11-22T09:58:00.000-10:002007-11-22T10:35:58.698-10:00

by Beverly Mendoza “It sure as hell doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving,” Todd said today as we were driving down the Red Road, windows down, Al Green playing in the background, eighty-something degrees, sun just roasting our skin, typical day off, doing errands in Pahoa. We’re both from Chicago and Thanksgiving in Chicago is more like: driving your car through crowded streets, shoppers everywhere

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-84077628832233392262007-11-21T12:09:00.000-10:002007-11-21T12:28:23.203-10:00

by Beverly Mendoza The WE (Women's Entertainment) Network flew through Kalani this week and filmed our retreat for their Great Escapes show. They took shots of the sunrise, of Kehena Beach, of our food spread on the lawn, of our beautiful rain forest, of our weekly hula class with Kimo and Richard, and interviewed a few folks. There was such a buzz that morning. Not only were the kitchen

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-39168799671046733882007-11-08T10:41:00.000-10:002007-11-08T10:58:52.858-10:00

For Frank by Beverly Mendoza How can one of the worst days of my life be followed by one of the best days of my life? You’d think such days would be rationed out better by the Universal Council. Before I dive into it let’s rewind to two weeks ago during my daily meditation at the secret beach. I sneak away there in the mornings to be alone and figure things out – be it a story, be it real life

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-86660751337459384752007-10-13T15:12:00.000-10:002007-10-13T15:39:09.392-10:00

by caroline lamery. You are hereby granted license to be your real self regardless of how the world sees you or your own distracted opinions of yourself. Vous venez de recevoir la license d'etre vrai peu importe la facon dont le monde vous regarde ou la facon dont vous vous voyez a l'interieur ou a l'exterieur. You are also encouraged to live out and indulge in your wildest dreams and explore

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-84952252055518237932007-09-25T11:04:00.000-10:002007-10-05T09:51:57.151-10:00

by Beverly Mendoza We get a lot of New Yorkers and East Coasters that come through Kalani. You can spot this particular species in a heartbeat by their style and swagger. The easiest way to identify an East Coaster is by their accent of course. My personal favorites are Boston and Brooklyn accents. So when I stumbled upon Jaime on her first day on the lanai eating lunch and heard this Brooklyn

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-69123484614930185362007-09-25T10:19:00.000-10:002007-09-27T10:00:50.435-10:00

by Beverly Mendoza Ahh Betsey. Betsey is one of the sexiest ever to blow through Kalani. The first time we hung out was at Kehena Beach. It was my first time ever going to this black sand clothing optional beach. And it was as if the set was taken from some Hollywood movie. After climbing down this short cliff and turning the bend a man named Congo from Trinidad sat perched on a gigantic black

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-37918584995440253142007-09-25T09:38:00.000-10:002007-09-25T10:16:43.540-10:00

by Jonathan Jamison During my walk to dinner along the path I took my time to linger at the magnificent sunset of pinks, purples, blues, teal and a larger spectrum that words just don’t seem to truly express. After darkness sets, the glow of Pele across Kalani brings forth such power and grace that my mind wanders into the things I'm grateful for. It has been long over a year since I

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-46599207428756340172007-09-15T13:46:00.000-10:002007-09-15T14:02:55.912-10:00

By Richard Koob On my usual morning swim today, completely without any dramatic music, just a few feet below me passed a creature, much bigger than me and at least 10 feet long. I had the sense of it being a friendly, or at least indifferent whale, but then recognized its shark-like features. It's blunt snout and beautiful light polka dots helped me surmise it was at least not a tiger or

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-11794970423753528352007-09-10T11:44:00.000-10:002007-09-10T11:59:54.433-10:00

Budget Travel by Arthur Frommer : You can still enjoy the Hawaii 'that once was' Budget Travel by Arthur Frommer Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.09.2007 If you really mean it when you complain that Hawaii has "lost its character," if you're genuinely troubled by the crowds at Waikiki or Lahaina, if you're determined to experience the Hawaii "that once was" — then you'll

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-91363589093166590812007-09-05T13:29:00.000-10:002007-09-05T13:58:45.603-10:00

By Beverly Mendoza You gotta love David Bowie. What is that man up to these days? I need a song. A life soundtrack sort of song for this phase in my life. Something classic and timeless. Dearest Sir Bowie, If you happen to be perusing the Web for Hawaiian Yoga Retreats and chance upon this note, please visit (bring Iman!) and write us a song! Mahalo! Hey

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-13181120960597169662007-08-20T16:52:00.001-10:002007-08-20T16:56:19.813-10:00

My time at Kalani so far has been nothing short of magical. Initially I thought I would find the most healing and growth through yoga and pure air, but I have come to see that it is through my Ohana that I have blossomed the most. Being here has revealed to me the art and beauty in simplicity. Simplicity brings space, space brings compassion, compassion brings love and mindfulness. In this

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-77662320868642075282007-07-31T15:39:00.000-10:002007-07-31T16:10:47.505-10:00

By Beverly Mendoza Saying goodbye to Rod last week, a fellow volunteer, a fellow soul mate, a fellow tribe member, was hard to say the least. We sat around a bonfire at The Point and everyone was in conversation, reminiscing already about the whirlwind that is the Kalani experience and speaking of the future which is so exciting for all of us. Terrifying, yes, and it was only so appropriate to

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-64460730757517520232007-07-18T15:53:00.000-10:002007-07-18T16:03:51.151-10:00

It seems like a miracle to get almost everyone in one place at one time, but here they are: the July 2007 group of Kalani volunteers and staff.

Kalani Ohanatag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10592703.post-64148499362799690362007-07-13T15:26:00.000-10:002007-07-13T15:37:03.870-10:00

Although Richard Koob, the Director of Kalani, has always recommended that every person find his/her inner leader, by a balance of mana'o, pu'uwai, and na'au, i.e. rational thinking, heartfelt emotions, and intestinal intuition, he was just declared "guru" by The Advocate, the award-winning national LGBT newsmagazine and world web site. Their "cool jobs" article this month introduces Richard and

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