on the side of the building it says Kapuna, in lifeguard red.
The gods infused the earth with their spiritual force. The gravity of that concept was keenly grasped by the ancestors. They knew that the earth’s spiritual essence was focused through the sacred sites. The ancestors honored the earth and life as divine gifts of the gods. Their fishing, farming, and surfing enterprises always included a spiritual function and focus on a sacred site. Their activities never encouraged land or sea resources overuse because to so would dishonor the gods. “The earth must not be desecrated” is a native value.
Approach the sacred sites with appropriate sensitivity, thoughtfulness and humility. Those who visit and pay these sites the respect and deference they deserve, whether they are native Hawaiian or not, will benefit from the experience of communing with the ancestors, learning the functions, and absorbing the spiritual power of the sacred site. Study, observe and appreciate, for these sites are part of spiritual wisdom.
I almost always say a little prayer and ask both GOD and my kupuna to watch over me, keep me safe both from the ocean and from the people, and thank them for all the blessings I receive.
A couple of weeks ago we had a nice south swell with face heights hitting about 8’-10’. I took my daughter out on a 10’2" I made for us to ride tandem and forgot to do my prayer. We ended up in a bad place and got munched by a good sized set wave. I thought we could ride it out, but we got tossed all over the place, and I buckled the top side of the board. I guess I was lucky because we didn’t get hurt and the blank looks OK, I just have to strip it and glass it again. I’m going to make it a compsand for the extra strength.