Afternoon in Hawaii...

After we set up the show, we decided to make a trip out to the Dole Plantation.  It's a really touristy spot, but a definite stop for fresh pineapple ice cream and what is touted as one of the world's largest mazes.

Above is a picture of the front of the main house to the plantation that also hosts a train ride called, "The Pineapple Express."

Here's a picture of the Cynthia, Azalea, and Greg (along with others) feeding the koi fish in the gardens.  

As one fellow tourist pointed out to his toddler son, "These fish don't like to share."  Above is a short video clip that demonstrates just how greedy these little koi fish are!

When we finished up our look around the Dole Plantation, we headed over to Kukaniloko (a.k.a. the Royal Birthing Stones).  This wasn't as easy of a task as it sounds.  For such a sacred place, there's no road markers or clear indications where it's at.  I had to call in some assistance from New York to find the spot!

Imagine walking along a brick-red dirt path.  On either side the vegetation has grown up high and dense, forcing you to either go forward or go back.  All of a sudden, the vista opens up wide.  The sky above is a dark cobalt blue, the mountains in the distances an iron grey.  A mist is moving down through the mountains, adding to the dream-like quality.  To your left there is a mound of small volcanic rocks, piled with noni fruit and coconuts with strangled weeds and grasses trying to occupy the in-between crevices.  In front are two boulders that act almost as sentry guards and a small rock altar in front.  Behind them are two rows of rocks, flaking a path leading through the clearing towards a grove of trees.  At the base of the trees are dozens of volcanic rocks with natural basins formed and worn down.  Some are arranged in what must have once been patterns, but now lay scattered without obvious placement or reason.  Maybe to mark the stars or the cardinal directions?  Offerings have been left on these rocks – bright plumeria and shell leis and twisted figures made out of woven coconut fronds.  

This place, off the beat trail, has a power to it.  You can feel it in the rocks and the stones.  It's almost as though you're standing in the very center of the island, the core of some strange energy that runs deep and primal.

Above is a photo of Azalea posing in between the two sentry rocks.  You can see her little blue streak in her hair.  She called it her "mermaid hair."

Here's a photo of Cynthia and Azalea sitting on one of the Royal Birthing Stones.  It seems like a timeless image.  Disregard their modern dress and this scene of mother and child could have originated 800 years ago or more.