Naupaka

A flower in Hawaii blooms in halves - half on the mounts half on the shores. Naupaka is its celebrated name - we hear there was a princess of the same name long long ago and she fell head over heels in love with a commoner - a prohibited misdeed for royal ones. The lovers went from pillar to post to find a way out from the quandary they were in. They yearned to win the heart of everyone and live in peace as one together for several eons. Alas! That was not to be! although a priest asked them to pray at a mountain temple to find if the Divine cared, which with all their heart they did without any visible aid. Lost of hope they embraced in tears, the princess tore the flower on her hair into two halves and gave one piece to her love; she said in tears: “Take it to the mounts my dear and I shall return to those who least care at the shaky shores far down there with the other half on my hair”. A heart-broken naupaka plant witnessed the event; bleeding inside she decided to always blossom in halves thence. This may be a legend made up to explain a natural wonder of a flower blossoming in halves but the world goes lachrymose; humanity then sings in tears for lovers torn asunder on the globe everywhere. And the winds of Hawaii breathe this love story day in and day out in unceasing strains and the stars sure do listen as do the swaying palms. Oh, visitor to the island, cry! And say a prayer, oponopono* for sure, the Lord will listen and lessen the pain • “Forgive me please, I am sorry, I love you, Thank you” – that is the oponopono prayer of Hawaii to the Lord. It takes care wherever you are.