In addition, we discovered that permits were needed to do a fire. And not only that, but the rules applied not only within the city walls but as well outside the walls. In my estimation, what I call natural law supersedes human rules and regulations. Taking a lesson from the bat, I decided that we would just perform the ceremony further down the beach but still on the sacred land of the Refuge.

The ceremony is always scheduled at dusk but requires a great deal of preparation. The correct food and drink must be bought and then cooked properly. It was important that we feed the proper food to the spirits. There were certain foods that were kapu or in mainland language, taboo. While this is happening a ‘table’ for the food must be built. With the gentle ocean behind me and the winds quietly caressing my soul, I began to build the offering table. During this primarily stage of the ceremony I could feel the spirits gathering. This is one of the reasons that once a date is set for the burning, it must not be canceled. It has to happen as scheduled. Under no circumstances may a burning be cancelled or postponed.

Just before I opened the ceremony, a light rain began to fall. My friend came over to me and said, “Jim, this is what we Hawaiians call a ‘blessing rain.’ I smiled and shook my head yes.

After this acknowledgement by the heavens time became meaningless as I prepared to open the gateway to the Otherworld. Becoming one with all things of heaven and earth, I began the ceremony by calling in the ancestral spirits.

It would be improper to put into print the details of the burning. Needless to say it can be a very moving experience as you are honoring the ones that have died. It is important that not only are the known ones fed but the forgotten ones with no names are given food as well.

As I completed and closed the ceremony, a Park Ranger appeared and looked none too happy. Our friend walked over to him while Sherry and I, our children and students waited. I could sense the energy ebbing and flowing between the two until they both hugged and parted. It seemed that the ranger was extremely angry that we had gone ahead and conducted the ceremony against the regulations of the park. But after our friend had explained the spiritual importance of honoring the land and the Hawaiian ancestors, the ranger had a change of mind. Even to the point of attempting to have the regulation amended so that a ceremony such as ours could be held in the future.

After we had completed the burning and scattered the ashes of the fire around the base of one of the palm trees, all of us returned to where we were staying to shower and then to share a meal together as an ohana. The ohana is very important to these islanders as it was to us. It stood for unity, love and always loyalty. The ohana referred to an extended family ideal, which included not only the immediate family of mother, father, children and grandparents but also all things of the land, the sea and the sky. The ohana also included the ancestor spirits—the ‘aumâkua.

We retired early to our beds anticipating our journey the next day. We were going back to the white sand beach and the fishing village that I had visited only days earlier.

The Vision and Voice