So now with two new books signed, sealed and delivered (Masquerade Dot Com and The Notes In Her Grandmother's Library) starting a new job in an industry new to me (aviation industry) has become a dream. New industry to learn, new people to get to know, new rules in a new state to become familiar with. One of the most fun parts is the other offices are on different islands, so I've had the opportunity to visit and work on four different islands in just a short length of time.
Hawaii is not only a beautiful state, but its culture is beyond amazing. I've learned the importance of respecting Mauna Kea - a mountain on Kona where the natives go to pray. A consortium of colleges and businesses were approved by the state to build a thirty meter telescope, one of the largest in the world on the top of Mauna Kea. Thousands upon thousands of Hawaiian natives continue to protest the building of this telescope, so much that they blocked the roads to prevent construction workers from traveling to the mountain to start the actual building of the project.
On the week of my birthday this past July, I paid Mauna Kea a visit. I didn't understand the hype until my friends and I actually approached the Daniel K. Inouye Highway entry and amidst hundreds of tents and canopy pop-ups there they were in the thousands - Natives, supporters, Ohana and friends, singing, playing music, sharing food, drinks and sharing the history. I was beyond moved and touched - I initially felt ashamed. I was a looky-loo in a sea of people pained at the disrespect and betrayal of their beloved place of worship.
But as they welcomed me and my friends, I quietly listened at the passion and the love they shared for Mauna Kea, both its sanctity, its purpose and its history. Mauna Kea is sacred to the Native Hawaiians and is the zenith of their ancestral ties to creation. The upper regions, Wao Akua, are the realms of the Akua (creator) and the summit is a temple of the Supreme Being in not only Hawaiian culture but also in many histories throughout Polynesia.
I traveled back to Oahu several days after my cultural lesson with love and new respect for this beautiful state that I now call my home.
I continue to hike the hills of Makapu'u, I enjoy watching the surfers ride sixteen to twenty-foot waves on the North shore, I watch in fascination the wind-surfers on Kailua beach while I dig my toes in the soft white sands.
I've found an amazing church to worship, and fell into place as I participate in volunteer projects to feed the homeless, pass out blankets and design and sew costumes for our plays. I'm very happy here and currently at work on another novel.
On March 5th, 2021 my brand new website will go live. When you have a moment, please visit at www.robyngant.com and leave a comment - is it user friendly? Easy to navigate? Interesting? Please let me know!
As always, thank you for your visit. You'll be hearing from me again soon!
Robyn Gant
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