Shaka!

~ A handshake, high five and hug as greetings and farewells are but memories at this time.  The elbow bump and toe tap enjoyed a brief experience in usage but even these no longer enjoy the light of day with the demands of social distancing.  Thankfully there are still several ways to acknowledge a nonverbal hello or good-bye, including a simple wave, peace sign, the Vulcan live long and prosper salute, heart hands and our favorite, the shaka. 

Throwing a shaka at friends has been recognized as a friendly gesture for many years within the surfing community and has made its way to more main stream usage.  But I wondered about it’s origins and if it truly meant what I had been lead to believe it meant.  So a little research revealed the following.  

The word ‘shaka’ is not of Hawaiian origins but most agree it is believed the gesture arose from a Hawaiian.  Hamana Kalili of Laie lost his middle three fingers from his right hand while working at the Kahuku Sugar Mill in the 1940’s.  From here there are two versions of how the gesture developed.  One is that Mr. Kalili used the gesture as a symbol of blessing.  The other is that after his injury, he went on to be a security guard for the railroad and to keep kids off the train he would gesture at them to disembark with his injured hand.  Not to be deterred from their fun, when Mr. Kalili wasn’t looking, the kids would communicate with each other by imitating his gesture, the middle three fingers of their hand folded down, that the coast was clear to hop on the train.

Next in the evolution of this gesture enters Mr. David (Lippy) Espinda, a Honolulu TV entertainer and car salesman.  He used the unique gesture to sign off from his show and when greeting his customers, furthering its exposure to the general population.  The name ‘shaka’ is believed to have been derived from an ancient Buddha that prayed with his hands together in a similar formation, named Shakyumuni or from the term shark eye.  Ultimately, however, it was Frank Fasi, the mayor of Honolulu, that cemented the use of the shaka gesture as a culturally accepted greeting when he used it in his 1976 mayoral campaign.

There are a few varying ways to throw a shaka but it is agreed that by making a fist and and extending the pinky and thumb while keeping the middle fingers curled down is the foundational basis.  Beyond this basic formation variations on how curled or tight to the palm the middle fingers are to be as well as what wrist action is to be used may be practiced.   It is my experience, however, that despite the differing qualities of a shaka gesture, it is universally understood as a friendly acknowledgment.  

What I loved most as I researched this gesture, was the intent behind it.  For the surfing culture and so many others, it means to ‘hang loose’ or to relax.  A reminder so needed in our busy, sometimes frantic schedules.  For the Hawaiians, it means to spread aloha in keeping with their belief of malama i kekahi i kekahi, which is take care of one, take care of all.   What a beautiful concept of community, all expressed with a shake your hand.  

Do you have a preferential greeting during these times of social distancing?  Let us know is the comments below.  In the meantime, stay safe.  Stay home. Stay well.  Share a smile.  And remember this too will pass.  Much love to everyone! ~

https://www.to-hawaii.com/shaka.php

https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/how-to-throw-the-perfect-hawaiian-shaka

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign

It's A Wrap!

With the reality of current environmental challenges, I have begun to make more mindful choices about purchases and how I do things, trying to mitigate my personal impact on our beloved planet as best I can.  With gift giving and all its embellishments now officially on the calendar, I began to wonder if there was a way I could diminish the pile of wrapping paper, gift boxes and ribbon that annually make the trek from my house to the landfill.  Here are some alternatives that I have either used in the past or came across in my research and daydreaming.

Holiday gift bags, for me, are a perfect way to reduce the amount of debris after a round of gift opening and also make for an easy wrap job.  I find I am able to reuse the bags for many years, preferring to use either unbleached or recycled tissue paper in the wrapping process instead of taping the top edges closed. Packaging peanuts and shredded paper that I have saved from other gifts are great alternatives to tissue paper or for filling out a large bag that conceals a much smaller gift.  Final benefit, the bags fold up and are easy to store for future use!

Newspaper, once upon a time, was an easy go to if something needed to be wrapped in a traditional box. Add some ribbon and a card and the appearance would rival any traditional wrap job. Now I may use old wrapping paper that I have recycled (not everyone impatiently rips wrapping paper off a gift, some us us savor the anticipation as we slowly peel the tape carefully up and literally unwrap the item), outdated maps and calendars or colorful magazine pictures.  Again, add some ribbon or a bow and you have a beautiful gift.  Bonus points to me if I am able to match the ‘wrapping’ paper to the gift or individual in some personal way, say tickets to an event wrapped in a map of the area.  

I don’t know about you, but I have an abundance of reusable totes.  Using one of these to wrap a gift in is akin to giving two gifts in one.  The hardest aspect of receiving a tote for me is remembering to take it with me when shopping, thus my overflowing inventory of reusable totes.  Along those same lines are the merchandise bags from some stores, particularly the plain white or brown paper ones.  Add some tissue paper, tie the handles together with a bit of ribbon and you have an instant gift bag.

Other alternatives to gift wrap are bags made of fabric, mesh or hemp, as well as baskets and tins. I love the added texture and dimension the fabric gives to the appearance of the gift as well as how easy it is to use.  Most of the bags have drawstring openings and for those that don’t I use a bit of ribbon for the closure, gathering the material together at the opening and securing it.  In repurposing baskets and tins, just adding some ribbon or tissue paper makes for a unique and festive package. 

One suggestion I came across recently that I am looking forward to trying, is the use of clay flower pots.  Purchasing the basic terra cotta allows you to personalize the ‘wrapping’ with markers or paint as you wish.  Alternatively, simply purchasing a pot that is already glazed can make for a spectacular statement with little effort. Just invert the dish used to collect water on which the pot sits and use it as a lid, concealing the gift inside.  Secure with ribbon, twine or raffia. 

Finally, the icing on the gift.  Beautiful, colorful ribbon.  I had quit using it because of my concerns for the environment but missed the finished look it brings to a gift.  If you want to continue putting that final touch on your packages, fabric ribbon and/or old scarves are wonderful options and may be reused.  They can be tied in bows or wrapped around the package and, depending on the size of the package and width of the ribbon, may reduce the need to use tape.   

There are so many ways we impact the environment in our everyday actions and change is difficult.  I get it.  It is a challenge to do things differently, to not be on autopilot.  But I believe even small changes like how gifts are wrapped are important.  Start with one gift at Christmas this year if this seems overwhelming and challenge others to do the same.  Because the reality is if we each do a little, we all do a lot.  

We each do a little.  We all do a lot.

We each do a little. We all do a lot.

Skateboard Competition Next Month!

Lompoc Parks and Rec Annual Skateboard Competition is a community event and fun for all ages!   We have been partnering with Lompoc Parks and Rec since 2000 on this competition featuring Best Run (skate jam format) and Best Trick in six different age groups.  Registration starts at 10AM with competition to begin shortly afterwards by age group, youngest to oldest.  Prizes will be awarded for first through third place in all categories and there will also be opportunities to win some great raffle prizes throughout the competition.  Lompoc Foursquare Church will be joining the fun again with popcorn, snow cones and water!  

We are so very thankful and grateful for everyone that makes this competition possible each year including the skateboarders and the spectators, the businesses that provide sponsorships, Lompoc Parks & Rec staff, Lompoc Foursquare Church Elevate Youth Group, Charles-our emcee and our judges.  Without all of these wonderful people this great event wouldn’t be possible.  

So bring your skate, helmet and pads or perhaps your lawn chair and some sunscreen this Saturday and we’ll see you at College Park for some fun!

Together We Can!

The Fourth of July is a day of celebration.  A day spent with family and friends, picnicking, barbecuing and relaxing, perhaps at home, the park or a beach, then capped off with the signature fireworks display.  A day to enjoy!  

In our enjoyment and celebration we often become neglectful of how our choices impact our environment and the others that dwell in it.  Plastic pollution kills more than one million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals and turtles a year, and it is estimated that by 2050 the amount of plastic in the ocean will out weigh the fish. July 5th is historically the dirtiest day on the beach contributing to this.  The day after we celebrate our Independence.  

This year, please join Reef and Surfrider Foundation in their efforts to change July 5th to the cleanest day on the beach.  Recognize how your choices can make a difference to marine life and our oceans everyday.  If posting on social media use #RestoreYourShore on your in-feed posts and Reef will donate $5 to Surfrider Foundation to support the Better Beach Alliance.  Together we can!

https://www.surfrider.org

https://www.reef.com/blog/help-us-restore-your-shore.html


Celebrate Lompoc Flower Festival with Us!


The Lompoc Flower Festival this year is June 26th-June 30th but it traces its roots back to the 1950’s when an annual parade and two day rodeo was held during the summer in Lompoc.  George Miller, a prominent citizen, began advocating to change the celebration from a rodeo (arguing they were common and rather mundane) to something more unique and aligned with what Lompoc had to offer.  The Alpha Club Flower Show had been established in 1922 and it was decided to develop the Festival around this key event.  Since those days the Lompoc Flower Festival has grown to a 5 day event with local entertainment on stage at Ryon Park, food booths run by community organizations and nonprofits, a parade on Saturday which includes floats and marching bands and of course the opportunity to visit and catch up with all your friends that you haven’t seen in the past year.  

An important part of my summer activities, the Flower Festival has always been close to my heart and I have participated on many different levels through the years.  I have performed on stage and worked at some of the beloved food booths but also taken my turn as an audience member and enjoyed food purchased to support our local nonprofits.  It is also fun to stroll through the park, peruse the arts and crafts and visit with friends and the community.  

Then there’s the parade.  A parade that delighted me when I was much younger, I enjoyed with my children when they were little and I have also had the experience of being a part of.  From walking in it when I was in high school (just a couple of years ago) to gluing flowers to a float, being part of the parade is a special experience. And it is a special experience I am humbled to be a part of again.  The Flower Festival Association asked me to be the Grand Marshall for the parade this year and I gratefully accepted the honor.  

So join me Saturday, June 29th, as I join the Lompoc Flower Festival Parade once again and celebrate Summertime Fun and Friends and the Lompoc Community!  See you at the park!

https://www.lompocvalleyfestivals.com/flower-festival/parade

https://www.lompocvalleyfestivals.com/flower-festival/entertainment-schedule

https://www.facebook.com/lompocvalley.flowerfestival/