The first ever "International Yoga Day" as declared by the United Nations. I was lucky enough to spend at Seoul City Hall where 1,000 yoga mats were laid out on the beautiful grass. I was mat #147!

It's been a hard week at school. The MERS scare deepens. More than 2,000 schools have closed due to fear of MERS transmission. Over 6,000 people are currently in quarantine. Our school has not closed but many of the children are miserable in the masks that their parents are sending them to school in.

The director of our school told us that this weekend we "must not" go into Seoul (we live on the outskirts of the city), and that if we catch the virus and bring it into the school we will be held legally responsible and the school will sue us for any financial damages to the institution.  This doesn't do a lot to make a happy work environment...

Yet another lovely cherry blossom season in Korea. My third springtime living here!

Tucson Mountains on New Years Day! The snow melted quickly as the sun came up, but we got some photos first!

I was raised hunting on this mountain. The birds, goats, pig, sheep we had the honor to receive from Mauna Kea fed my young body both nutritionally and spiritually. To honor and protect our sacred lands is one of the challenges for those of us currently walking this earth. 

The TMT telescope will be far larger than any telescope currently on the mountain, in fact the footprint will be similar to a college football stadium. The sacred Lake Waiau could be damaged by this construction. It is not understood why Mauna Kea has been chosen as the site of this telescope which many experts believe could provide far clearer data if instead located in space. 

Today was the first day of protest. There was an energy different than I've felt... it reminded me of the energy in the 1970's-80's around releasing the island of Kaho'olawe from the use of military target practice. Similarly, I don't think this protest will be short lived or quickly solved. 


The plan was for some people to hold signs along the saddle road at the base of the road up to the summit of Mauna Kea. Meanwhile, others would participate in prayer. However, the urge to create a blockade spontaneously emerged as the energy stirred in many hearts. Eventually, some more individuals felt called to go up the mountain to participate in the blockade. I did not feel that urge, but instead settled in more deeply into prayer. It was asked by one of the kupuna that if there were some of us present who born on the island if we could stay at the bottom to pray and connect into the mountain deeply so that we may hold safely those who went to participate in the blockade.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard, and Senator Brian Schatz in Pahoa's school cafeteria expressing support for the Puna community as lava continues to near.  Looking around the cafeteria I remember being a kid here, a student many years ago. Who would have guessed we would be here someday for a meeting like this?