Huliau - The Return Voyage

We were packed into the bleachers, enthralled, watching a thrilling women’s volleyball game at Northern Idaho College! (Our son, Joe, is the assistant coach.)

‘Iokepa took just one look at the head coach of the opposing team–and he knew we were up against a kanaka maoli. After the game he greeted the unknown-to-us, head coach of Snow College in Utah, in Hawaiian. The coach answered him easily in the native tongue. Les Calles (his family name is Kahili) is from Hilo. He was excited to hear about the Return Voyage, and he added his blessings to our journey.

Not only was the coach of the visiting team a kanaka, but several of the young women on Northern Idaho College team were as well. We enjoyed Kahea Pupuhi from Kaneohe (a terrific server), and Amanda Misa (an incredible spiker) from Samoa.  And the Snow College team was represented by Kehau Hao of Lehi and Lenora Nauahi from Kahuku.

So far, our trip has been like that. Native Hawaiians keep appearing at cash registers when we buy gas, behind the counter at food stores, and everywhere when we least expect them.

We’ve been negligent at remembering all your names, but we’ll try harder in the future. For now, just know how wonderful it feels to encounter your familiar faces, names, and our language, three-thousand miles from Kaua’i.

We have been swamped by wonderful responses and retreat requests throughout Washington State, Idaho and Oregon. Many of you want to attend a Return Voyage retreat, and we are excited to meet you.

However, we need folks who can agree to host a retreat. Hosting involves: Offering a location (your living room, your meeting space?); Bringing your friends, family, and those who’ve responded to us in your area together. All Return Voyage retreats are intimate, so we limit the number of participants–never more than a couple dozen. Small is fine.

If you can lend your space and your people-gathering skills to an event, we promise to be there. All Return Voyage retreats are at the invitation of our hosts. But we continue to collect names of those who respond looking for a retreat, and we will try to make a match.

The Return Voyage found a supporter in Michael Loney, General Manager, of Toyota of Seattle. Who could imagine: Standing at the top of that successful dealership is a man who once ran a dive shop in Kailua-Kona? Michael married into a three-generation family on Hawai’i. His heartstrings resonate with warm feelings for our Islands–and with the intention and purpose of The Return Voyage. He donated a brand new Camry for our use while we tour the Northwest. Mahalo, Michael.

First stop, on our maiden voyage–Washington state:

We are grateful to have been featured in both the August and September issues of Seattle’s own, “Northwest Hawai’i Times.” This wonderful community newspaper, “Serving All Who Love Hawai’i” circulates to every corner of the United States. If you don’t yet know about this lively, monthly gathering place, we suggest that you check it out online. Rochelle delaCruz is the talented editor and the adorable woman who lives her culture fully.