Reverent Expressions
The subtle acts in paying homage to King Kamehameha could be overlooked by the casual observer. The crowd of onlookers and sudden rain would not distract the intense attention to Hawaiian culture. The annual lei draping event offers a view into the culture.
The leis are gestures of reverence. The reverence is in the gesture chanting and placing the leis. The songs are a gesture of reverence. The reverence is in the song’s lyrics. The wrapped offerings are a gesture of reverence. The reverence is in the wrapping and manner of offering of the gift. The traditional clothing is a gesture of reverence. The reverence is preserving the clothing, its symbolism, and how it is worn. The Hawaiian greeting is a gesture of reverence. The reverence is in the spiritual connection exchanged in the attentive nod. The gesture of reverence is in the order of the ceremony. The reverence is the order of things. The gesture of reverence is in the statue place over a hundred years ago. The reverence is keeping the statue pristine, placing flowers and offering from time to time. The gesture of reverence is the hula. The reverence is the years of practice honing the movements, timing of the steps, and musical accompaniment using the tradition gourd for percussion. The gesture of reverence is in the participation of the islands. The reverence is the sustained unity of the Hawaiian peoples after hundreds of years. The repetition is reverence. The reverence is the mindful repetition.
