We began our new phase today with a Sun One Homa, as usual, after a wonderful 3-day retreat. No pictures to day from the temple…

Today at lunch the Lambodara Kulam detailed their activities. Paramacharya Ceyonswami has been in communications with India to find a few more silpi helpers. He’s also very active fulfilling astrology compatibility requests. Sadhaka Haranandinatha says the Iraivan fund-raising is going very will with more and more large donations pushing the project forward. In India a new carving site has been blessed as the old one will be closed down after all the stones are shipped. Future carving work will be handled at the new site.

Over the retreat, Sannyasin Yoginathaswami and Sadhaka Nilakantha flew to Honolulu because Home Land Security required the agricultural inspection of containers to be done at the port of entry.

Yogi Japendranatha and Sivanadiyar Satya are in Seattle attending an InDesign conference, meeting with top Adobe trainers and engineers on the key software tool we use here for all our publications work.

Over the retreat, Paramacharya Palaniswami took some of the young monks and task forcers on an outing. We bring you pictures of their adventures today with his captions. Remember as Gurudeva said: “Live is meant to be lived joyously.”

But first, the periodic maintenance of the coconut trees around the front of Kadavul temple was the “action” of the morning…

Here we are yesterday Honolulu.

Yoginathaswami and Sadhaka Nilakantha had quite a tale to give today about the challenges faced by the forklift drivers and inspectors in Honolulu who removed about 50% of the stones to check the wooded crates.

Because the containers were not at level with the ground, the forklift had to go up a ramp, then, to make the first forklift level enough to pick up crate of stones a second forklift hand to pick up the back end of the first one. Quite an unusual tactic from our point of view!

The presence of our monks there was mission critical to make sure stones were not damage in the unloading and reloading process for the last inter-island trip to Kauai. Previously inspectors had allowed the containers to come to Kauai first and flew here. But new regulations were enforced this time. Yoginathaswami once again offered them the option to let future containers come to Kauai, which would a lot easier for everyone..

Every 6-12 months we have to trim the coconut trees as falling coconuts from these tall trees are a hazard.

They surround the temple pool near the publication building.

Up goes the brave soul, Isidro, who will do the trimming today. His little company is called “Hana Hou.”

With his all-important safety harness.

And down come the coconuts, an occasional one hitting our roof top to give some added energy to those inside…

They are in all stages of growth, from flowers to seeds to full nuts.

The team loads the fronds and debris into their truck.

It’s a physically difficult task, but Isidro loves his work, hanging 50 feet above the earth, machette flying. Congratulations to the Siddhidatta Kulam for coordinating this maintenance of our lands. And thanks to the Hana Hou team for doing such a great job!

On the 3-day retreat the young monks and taskforcers went on a special excursion to find the source of all rainbows. It was discovered at Na Aina Kai, a Botanical Garcen and Sculptural Park on our island. Our guide was Marty Fernandez, posing here with Yogi Jivanandanatha, Dharmaraj, Robert and Teja.

This garden has been trading plants for over a decade with the monastery, and Palaniswami brought a trunk-load of gifts for them.

Marty showed us through their new children’s playground including this tree house.

There is a real covered wagon brought from the Wild West.

The creator of this 215-acre park is Joyce Doty, who dropped by to say good morning to her visitors. She is an amazingly creative lady and has gifted this entire facility to the island’s peoples.

Pulled by a life-size mule and horse, make of bronze! Harnessing the wild horses reminds us of Saint Tayumanivar’s poem:

“It is easy to tame the rogue elephant.
It is easy to tie the mouth of a bear.
It is easy to mount the back of a lion.
It is easy to charm poisonous snakes.
It is easy to conquer the celestial and the noncelestial realms.
It is easy to trek the worlds invisible.
It is easy to command the angelic heavens.
It is easy to retain youth eternally.
It is easy to enter the body of others.
It is easy to walk on water and sit in burning fire.
It is easy to attain all of the siddhis (yoga powers).
But to remain still is very, very difficult indeed.”

She recently created a Hawaiian village, complete with thatched huts, and an ocean.

Native plants grow, and the Hawaiian men and women are all in bronze.

Off to the fruit orchard, where our young ones discover Star Fruit.

“How do you eat these?”

Fresh off the tree.

Teja takes a bite.

Not far away we run into a Durian tree full of maturing fruits. That’s the “stinky face” one gets when smelling the famous and much-maligned fruit.

Above they hang ominously, spiked cannon balls ready to crash down on unsuspecting folks. The spines are so sharp they need to be handled with gloves.

Then off to the look out where Marty shows us their beach.

All seen from this pavilion.

Jivanandanatha and Dharmaraj take a ride on the self-propelled swing Joyce’s husband designed.

It was a grand visit, followed by other adventures. Here Dharmaraj hold a plant gifted to the monastery by our local Wellness Center. In exchange, they received a passel of healthy plants.