“Tell my story”–Am I hearing voices?

Part of the allure of the Big Island for us when we decided to move here, was the spiritual calling. I would almost be embarrassed sharing this with you, but for three things.

1. I have spoken to many people who have lived on this island for an extended amount of time and they all say that Hawaii island is a very powerful island in terms of spirit. Call it “Pele” or what have you, there is something here and those that live here, know it.

2. I have a personal story to share that happened to me when I was here in 2006 that made me a believer. (and I don’t mean the kind that makes you  chant, “I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks, I do, I do!”)

I was sitting at a light at Queen K highway and Henry Road, near Barnes and Noble, with my two young children in the van with me. All of a sudden I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a large truck (like an 18 wheeler type of truck) coming down the hill at me and I could tell the driver had lost control of his vehicle. He was frantically trying to stop the truck and it was starting to slide sideways. All I could do was think, “He is going to crash into me and pancake me and my family into the car in front of me”. Then, I heard a voice, “Move the car”.  A voice. I did not know what to think and continued to hesitate as I was watching the frantic driver careening behind me. Then it came again..but this time it yelled, “MOVE THE CAR, NOW!” (I am getting goosebumps telling this to you and my eyes are welling with tears..it was a very powerful experience).

With that voice breaking me out of my paralysis, I realized that I could drive my car to the side of the median and scrunch next to the signal pole..and I did it..just as the truck ended up stopping where my van had just been. I looked at the driver and he looked at me and we both did the “Oh my god, did that just happen? Did we just avoid a tragedy?” looks. Then the light turned green, and I drove on. I needed to go into a parking lot, stop the car and start sobbing. Since then, I have been more aware of these voices who have given me the most helpful advice. Spirit guides? I don’t know, but I know it’s real. And the voices are extra loud on the Big Island.

3. I was pondering what I wanted to say in this blog, when I met Dawn Love, the tourist who was running near the bottom of Alii and I came up with the idea not to just make this blog about things to do on the island. The place where I met Dawn overlooks a huge ancient Hawaiian battlefield and it is now a graveyard of the warriors who perished there. I found myself there last week, and on the behest of a spiritual healer, who told me to ask the universe for direction and listen to the answer, I heard this, “Tell my story”.  This was not the “yelling” I heard at the intersection. It was a soft male voice, and it was almost as if he said, “Talk story”..which is what the Hawaiians call it when they gather to just chat about life and the world.

I am a student of this island. I have been called here for some reason. I take photographs. I write. I am a connector. I will tell this story. The story of the people who want me to bring their stories from this island to the internet, to the people who want to listen.