I came to Maui, Hawaii in August of l964. I was born and raised in NYC.
I was 21 years old when I came here. I met a family on Maui. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph extended
an invitation to me to live on their Banana Patch in Haiku. My boyfriend and I were
homeless and without work at the time. It was a wonderful opportunity for someone
like me.
I had a rough time growing up without parents and had been critically injured
when I was only 7 years old. I came to Maui during the Civil Rights
Movement
in an effort to get away from ignorant people who like to put people they
don't understand or accept down. I found the Kanakama'ole (Hawaiian people).
They didn't just give me a place to live, they saved my soul with their
understanding of what being a civilized human being means. They gave
me their Aloha (loving kindness), Kokua (helpfulness without personal
gain) and taught me to have Mahalo (gratitude).
Mr. Joseph was a Portoques man from the big island of Hawaii. He had been
a bootlegger during the depression, and he had a very colorful personality. He
loved to build shacks and let people live for free in them.
Mrs. Joseph was a pure Hawaiian woman, one of three sisters from Hana Maui.
She did not have a daughter, but had adopted two sons. One was away in the service
during the time I stayed with them. Their youngest son, Bataan (DJ jr.) was only
6 years old. He was very psychic and I just loved him so.
Mrs. Joseph adopted me too, hanai style (just for the love of it, not legally).
As I
had grown up poorly, I was in desperate need of a mother, and she took me into
her family. I had never in my life known such wonderful people People were very
mean and proud where I came from. Hipsters all about themselves. But here was
a real woman. And she gave me what she would have given a real daughter. I am
more fortunate for this, than I can tell you. All that I am today, I owe to their goodness.
They did not discriminate against me, or make me to feel inferior to them for
any reason. I hope people can feel that way with me too, because I
truly love everyone, even though I can't stand to be around anyone for very long.
After I left the Patch, many people came thru there. It became famous here during
the 60's and 70's as a hippy commune. I was not here then, nor did I know what
was going on. But in time, I came back and found out that David and Hanamaika'i had
lost their land because the Maui community revolted against the commune.
Mrs. Joseph had a stroke and passed away. Only David sr, and David jr.
were
together living in Kokomo, Maui near Makawao.
Mr. Joseph passed away on July 6, l981. D.J. jr. sold the land and those days
are
so far away now. It is painful to see how life has changed. But what they gave
me remains alive in me. I live by their instruction and example still and I am
publishing this little website in their loving memory and to honor them....
my mom and pop. May they rest in peace. And may the world come to feel their
spirit of goodness and generousity thru these pages, thru the music and poetry and
stories and art work. I am what I am because someone cared about me for a minute
and validated my pitiful existance with their love and faith in me.
I am eternally grateful
to them. They never tried to change me, or spoke of God .
They only lived in such a way, that it made one humble to witness such humans.
It made one so grateful, that faith was restored.
We can learn from the Hawaiian people how to be good neighbors and friends.
No human society is perfect, but every culture is based on an ancient truth,
and has something of value to offer and contribute.
That valuable truth is that civilization and culture are built around
family and friendship. Without it we are mad dogs
with no conscience.
It is never what we do, but the intention of our heart that makes the magic work.
Peace is attainable, but only when we can learn to accept each other
as we are, and not mutilate each other with self righteous arrogance, unwarrented
jealousy or uncharitable attitudes.
I found out from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
that human beings can create a lovely society
that respects the rights of others
and contributes to the safety and well being of all citizens.
But it all comes from being loved by others, and appreciated for the
individuals that we are.
We can all do our part, right now, by giving up our callous ways.
Remember the child we were. That child is still alive inside of you.
It is what we are really about.
That innocence can be regained.
Nothing is ever lost to one who has an open heart willing to grow and learn.
I will never forget the day Hanamaika'i and I harvested the taro I had helped
her plant. She taught me to clean the taro, which stung my hands.
Then we cooked it over an open fire in a Saloon Pilot Cracker can.
Later she took out a big mango wood pounding bowl. It had
been her mother's. She handed me the stone poi pounder
and told me it had belonged to her own grandmother.
Can you imagine what an inner city orphan felt like in that gloriously
redeaming moment? She gave me back my soul.
She taught me how to pound the taro into poi,
adding a little water at a time and working it in.
It was so good. And even though we spoke little, in that moment she passed her whole
culture to me....her only daughter. And now, I have the privilege and responsibility to keep
that truth alive. That is why I have had to create this website for your enjoyment, and reflection. But the best
part of the whole experience, was having a mother,
and a mother who genuinely liked me, and wanted my friendship..
I love and treasure Mrs. Joseph's memory.
wouldn't you?
The main thing I want to share with you about Banana Patch is to let you know
that even though the people of this world seem mean spirited, it's only because they
don't know there's a nicer way to be. Have faith in the goodness within yourself.
Don't ever give up on it even though others mock you for it. You're not strange.
They are. Just pray for them. and leave them alone.
Be yourself. Be all you can be. And let your light shine, just for the
love and the beauty of it! And just maybe...some pathetic person
like myself, may be inspired and liberated from their personal hell because of
it.
We're not here to just go round and round performing mundane tasks.
There is actually another whole realm within us,
we don't always have the time to explore.
Humans have the ability to think beyond this reality.
To think abstractly, to deduce and to make choices.
Discernment is a human blessing.
We must try to encourage the people in our lives
to delve into that part of ourselves that is hidden.
How else can we realize our true individual.
David and Hanamaika'i permitted me that chance
thru their unconditional friendship and the sanctuary they extended freely to me
to live on their incredibly beautiful land,
filled with waterfall,s and all kinds of fruit trees,
coffee bean trees, pineapple and of course, lots and lots of bananas..
It would be a much nicer world if we could just try
to do something good for each other when we can..
Let's make it a habit.
I can only hope that you have found such friends in your life
as I found in David and Hanamaika'i Joseph.
Aloha......Harmony5
