On your mark. Get set, Go! … Ho‘ohana!

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NEW LINK: On your mark. Get set, Go! … Ho‘ohana!

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

Rosa, you have shared a wonderful sunrise photo. I trust your Ho'omaha was rewarding, refreshing and I am anxious to renew the dialog. Welcome back!

[Rosa]

Aloha Steve!
Yes, we in Hawaii are fortunate to get some pretty spectacular sunrises here! If you click on the photo you'll be taken to the Flickr page of the photographer; he has more terrific shots of our islands.

Ho'omaha was wonderful in the renewed energy it gave me; I too am eager to talk story with everyone again. Mahalo for the warm welcome.

[tim]

Welcome back Rosa. I'm glad to hear that your time away was re-energizing and insightful. I'm just getting into the swing of the new year myself, so you're not too far behind.

Looking forward to all of the wonderful things that we'll create and learn together this year!

[Leah Maclean]

Welcome back Rosa! I hope that you are renewed and refreshed. I am looking forward to sharing 2007 with you.

[Rosa]

Aloha e Tim and Leah, mahalo nui for watching for me! It's great to be back!

[John Keoni Monte]

Aloha Kakahiaka Rosa and to everyone,

Hauoli Makahiki Hou 2007!Out with the old - in with the new...my earliest recollection of 'New Years' goes back to about the age of 7 or 8. This was a night to remember...as I sat and watched my parents who were 'talking story' about everything that happened during the year. Quick recall: I am a Native Hawaiian - Born in East L.A.- raised by two born and raised Native Hawaiians. And so...as I sat, observed and listened - it was very different. First of all, I was thrilled just to be up past 9pm! Man o man, this was a new world, a new dimension! I thought I was cool.
But, listening to my parents 'talk story' and being the Hawaiians they are, interspersed among the plethora of life's events was humor, laughter, old sayings, further back remembrances...I mean no matter what, they were having the time of their lives going over the year.
I also was introduced to Dick Clark and the dropping ball in New York's Time Square! Which I was reminded of when I read the "ok, get ready..go!" to get to this sharing. That "go" put the visual of the big bright ball dropping down to announce the New Year.
I was indeed, and have been ever since, a 3 year old with a paint brush full of bright orange! In part, 'stepping up' may be a result of growing up Hawaiian! When Ohana got together for whatevers...eventually it lead to eating. Hawaiians truly LOVE themselves...so they no hold back when time for eat! And I can recall the advice of an Uncle telling us stragglers "Eh, you keikis, mo beddah no be bashful, yeah? Cuz, round here, you wait for go eat, might be nothing left!"...and at this point, us stragglers would hop up onto our feet and hit the ground running! Of course, there was always plenty...but as children, having this big God like figure standing there with his booming voice giving us directive - got our attention!
To this day, I am known for 'no fear'...I will talk story to anybody, anywhere, anytime...doesn't matter if it's the President of the United States - or the beach boy on Waikiki...the way I figure, they put their pants on the same way I do! I have had friends, associates, stand back when meeting people for the first time, especially someone of celebrity or importance. Me, I will walk right up to them and start talking story...and they have always responded in kind...but my friends will say "wow, how could you just go up to him, he's so-and-so..." My reply "So?"

Mahalo Rosa for reminding us of that special quality...that ability to walk up and grab the paint brush and go for broke! It truly is about 'carpe diem'- about seizing the moment, and every moment for that matter. I have seen these traits growing up and whenever I would ask my Dad about things like this, he would say "well you see Hawaiians are like little kids, full of fun and imagination...they like to laugh and have a good time..." Having that good time I think ties into your January thought...
It is true, that every night when you go sleep, go moi, I always reflect on the fact that today is pau, is done...and you will never, ever see this day again. It is gone, forever,so making the best of moment to moment has been a central theme for me.
In Leadership, picking up that paddle first and heading for the canoe is vital action that the other paddlers need to see, sense, and know...it is a signal that "it's on!" and today, whenever I make a call - I am full on into it...for the wonderment, the journey to discovery...of what is the greatest outcome we are going to get with this call? I hold that, for myself, and for who I am calling. And I do so with pure Aloha...

So call anytime...I am here...Mahalo Rosa for jump starting our beings into the recognition that we are creators...our lives are like a sculpture, and we are the artists ...so lets Make it a Masterpiece!

Aloha Nui Loa, JKM

[Rosa]

Aloha John, mahalo nui for sharing your wonderful exuberance with us! Yours is a January message to be inspired by. I just knew you were an orange painter!

I have learned the Hawaiian version of carpe diem to be Kēia manawa. I had written about it in my book, and your description of your Uncle encouraging you to step up and eat reminded me of Kahu Billy Mitchell too...

From Managing with Aloha;
Kēia manawa is a Hawaiian concept that lives within Ka lā hiki ola. It means, right now. This is the time. This is it. The here and now. There was a fitting football analogy that Kahu Billy Mitchell would share with us when he felt we needed more trust in ourselves and in the positive certainty of Ka lā hiki ola, the dawning of a new day. He’d point out that once the game is in play, it becomes time for everything you’ve practiced for. It’s time to perform. Once the quarterback calls the play in the huddle and you take your place on the line, you had better be ready to go, to perform magnificently. Kahu would open his arms wide and bellow out at us: “The blackboard is not coming on the field!” In the quiet seconds that followed and he leveled his gaze at each of us, we knew the thought of his unspoken words were, “So what are you waiting for?”

As you say John, "It's on!"

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou Kākou!