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Thank you Hawaii.
Years of traveling to Hawaii gave me a greater understanding of humanity’s relationship to its environment. Contact with Hawaiians taught me reverence to nature, a deep respect for ancestry, and a desire to possess aloha. Aloha, such a gentle yet strong life force, touched me deeply. At the same time, a topic which fascinated me was the possibility of the existence of reincarnation. The idea that consciousness could span beyond a single life-time seemed sensible to me. Couldn’t all sentient beings evolve over lifetimes, not just one lifetime? So I was moved to bring these two topics together in one work. I fantasize that learning which accumulated across many lifetimes and could be passed down could be a valuable asset to ascending intelligence. So the book reflects this thinking. I give thanks to all the support and supporters I received.
I am appreciative to the Hawaiian culture for what it has taught me. I also want to thank specific individuals. Dr. Virginia Metaxas introduced me to Hawaii. In May of 2004, I found myself flying to Honolulu. Hawaii was not on my bucket-list of must-go destinations. I assumed it was the land of frenetic tourism, tiny bubbles and glitzy hula dancers. But Ginny coaxed me into visiting her and met me at the airport to introduce me to the islands and to Tuti, our cultural guide.
As I set foot on the island ground and inhaled the sweet air, I was overcome by a feeling that “something happened here” followed by a curiosity to discover what and why “something” took place. It was a transcendent moment and my personal life became intertwined with Hawaii. I also felt I had to do the best I can to deal with any harm my New England ancestors may have caused native people.
I appreciate the aloha I received from so many Hawaiian and haole friends who have been so generous with their time. Gratitude to Dr. Lynette Cruz, who generously shared her knowledge of her culture with this haole. Appreciation to Dr. Keanu Sai, a shining light, whose intellectual acumen and legal instincts have given Hawaiians the wings on which to fly (and much material for this novel). I thank Dr. William C. Rezentes, III for so big-heartedly disclosing his wisdom and knowledge of ancient and modern Hawaiians with me and my students. Thanks to the people in the HAA KLMA whose work toward educating non-Hawaiians is spectacular, consistent, and enlightening. Gratitude to Emily Kandango for her leadership and perseverance in the group and to Tuti Kanahele’s wisdom and cultural guidance. Thanks for workshop mentoring, which was vital for character development from Celeste Lecesne, cofounder of the Trevor Project). His insightful input helped me to understand importance of the push and pull between characters. I send gratitude and a deep-seated affection to Seeti Douglas and Guy Guillemot who shared their thoughts and images that are burnt into my soul. I value their precious friendship. Mahalo to Dr. Jim B. Tucker, who generously spent his precious time with me to tour the trappings of the scientific study of reincarnation. His continuation of the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, his kuleana it seems, holds enormous potential for the betterment of humankind.
I value everyone who supported and encouraged me through the book writing process, including Liz Aaronson, who walked with me, talked with me and delighted in reading my manuscript and Dr. Michael Terezakis, my comrade in spiritual pursuits for more years than I can remember. I appreciate Michael Gendron’s sense of humor to help keep me on course swimming upstream. Gratitude to my friend and fellow Hawaiian traveler, Catherine Hoyser, who understood and loved Hawaii and offered encouraging critiques and comments over the years.
ENORMOUS thanks go to Joanne Freeman, an ideal editor, and a woman who always got it. I thank her for her vivacious, animated comments and critiques, her passion, her straightforwardness, and her sense of humor. Her sharp editing skills turned a page into a paragraph. When the message was not coming through loud and clear, she deciphered what was meant to be articulated. Her uncanny psychic abilities and her caring presence are contained within each and every page.
Finally, cheers to my husband who spent endless hours digging into the quagmire of the world of self-publishing. He decoded the message, assessed it, and delivered decision making material to me in a palatable form. His help allowed me to make deliberate and wise choices. I am grateful for his never-ending patience and his meticulous review of the manuscript. His fact checking is amazing.
Mahalo to the many writers and researchers who are too numerous to name who supplied information through their writings, podcasts, you tube talks, and conversations. Thanks to all involved in the Hawaiian Renaissance, and their efforts to preserve Hawaiian culture. Thank you to Puuhonuao Waimanalo, for its cultural and agricultural restorations. Thanks to Hokulea, the voyaging canoe that has been sailing since 1976 spreading Aloha. Mahalo to those dedicated to the conservation of native biological diversity. And mahalo, thank you, to Hawaii again, for your aloha.
Once upon a time, Hawaii was the most beautiful landmass on the planet. But outsiders disrupted its landscape and life. Many haoles (the name given to Westerners in Hawaii) do not understand the importance of taking care of the land, āina and the interdependency of all beings. Returning Hawaii to its rightful owners, descendants of its original guardians who use ancient Hawaiian wisdom to guide their lives, is a key which if turned correctly could lead humanity off of its self-destructive path into a life of harmony in an interdependency web of life. Based on the reality of what has happened, I felt a compelling urge to write fiction this work of fiction, The Aloha Paradigm: Changing the Climate. I hope reading it is enjoyable.
I speak only for myself and no one else-not all haoles or Hawaiians. This story represents only my own views on culture and my own interpretations of events. It is motivated by an intent to help everyone and to harm no one.