A Sublime and Beautiful Sunday Hawaiian Solstice Prayer Ceremony at Sacred Sites - Big Island, Hawai'i - June 21, 2022

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Warm greetings all! ๐Ÿ™ ๐Ÿ’š

Note:
I had intended to share this post on Sunday, when I took the photos, but that didn't work due to timing and logistics, so I'm posting them today, Tuesday. I hope that's OK!
๐Ÿ™ ๐Ÿ’š

This past Beautiful and Sublime Sunday my partner, @kai-sunrise, two friends of ours, Maya, and Austin, and I, were a part of a Solstice Prayer Ceremony led by Hawaiian elders, to various sacred sites, culminating with a ceremony at the summit of Mauna Kea at sunset. Many of you might remember the various photos from the last Prayer Ceremony in which we participated, on the Equinox.

The first part of the ceremony was held at a private house (the same one from last time). We got there later than we had wanted, arriving as it was ending. We reconvened at the Hilo Public Library, for the second prayer standing around one of two huge stones (the one called the Naha Stone).
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When the prayer at the Naha Stone was complete, we began our trek up the Mauna, meeting for the next prayer at the Heau (altar) at the Pu'u Huluhulu Native Tree Sanctuary and Trail, which is right across the highway (Saddle Road) from the road that goes up to Mauna Kea. This location is also the exact center of the Big Island of Hawai'i.

I had come here multiple times over the years, but usually only for short stops. The one time I did have the opportunity to stay here for a longer period, I explored and fell in love with the magical forests trails behind the kipuka (large hill). On this occasion we arrived before most of the other people, so I took my second opportunity to visit the amazing forests, mostly of the endemic Koa, Acacia koa, found here.
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I couldn't stay in the forest too long, as I didn't want to miss the ceremony, so I began the hike back down to where the cars and Heau are.
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The group of people for the prayer ceremony are visible up on the lava.
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Looking backwards toward the kipuka, behind which lies the magical forests.
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This is looking across the highway, at the road we will take to go up to Mauna Kea.
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This fellow sits right next to the Heau, guarding it.
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And here are my dusty feet (the trails into the forest are quite dusty, and I'm always barefooted) right in front of the exact center point of the Big Island. This marker is next to the Heau, too.
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The prayer offerings on top of the Heau.
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The Heau from a distance, after the people left.
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This is the info panel at the Pu'u Huluhulu trail head.
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Being the plant freak that I am, I was most interested in the list of common endemic plant species in the Sanctuary.
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These are a few shots at the halfway point rest stop. The plants here are so interesting!
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We left the car at the halfway point, as it would not do well going all the way to the top. We caught a lift with a friend in the back of his pickup truck. On the road to Mauna Kea!
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My darling, Kaรฏ, in the back of the pickup.
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Kaรฏ, Maya, and Austin, chillin' with me in the back of the truck, getting closer to Mauna Kea!
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Kaรฏ and Maya looking on, as we marvel at the beauty of the clouds (that we are almost above).
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The lens gets directed at me sometimes too!
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Kaรฏ momentarily looking a tad serious as Maya smiles.
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This is the parking area next to the telescopes. We leave the vehicles here to continue the trek to the top of Mauna Kea on foot. Kaรฏ sat here singing (she's the middle silhouette) as we waited for the rest of our group to arrive be ready to head to the summit.
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My shadow (which looks quite large from all the clothes and blanket I was wearing) as I look toward the summit, and the trail that leads to it.
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Kaรฏ (caught unexpectedly in a photo) on the trail to the summit.
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At the summit, looking all around.
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The sun, doing its sunset thing, with a backdrop of telescopes and parked cars.
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These two shots are the massive shadow of Mauna Kea on the clouds, close to sunset.
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The sun continues with its sunset fairwell.
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Going...
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Going...
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Gone!
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The last rays of sunlight on the Heau (and prayer offerings) at the summit, right before the sun completely disappeared below the horizon.
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And that brings us to the end of another Sublime and Beautiful Sunday from the Top of Mauna Kea! I hope y'all enjoyed the trip!

Thank you all so much for allowing me to share more of the beauty and magic from my life and my world with you, and for your continuous appreciation and support! I am deeply grateful! ๐Ÿ™ ๐Ÿ’š

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Image created by @doze.



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