This month promises to be considerably busier than the last. From the very first day, I found myself in a constant state of activity, making it challenging to engage in blogging, though it remains ever-present in my thoughts. My primary obstacle lies in maintaining prolonged focus while sitting down to write.
Additionally, I have family members visiting next week, which has prompted me to declutter and clean the guest room where they will be staying. Simultaneously, I am diligently studying trading, which I am eager to learn more about; however, it is a gradual process, much like any other form of study.
Moreover, I am in the process of overhauling my three online stores by editing images, upgrading spreadsheets, and refining descriptions. Despite the workload, updating these stores brings me a sense of satisfaction, as I can observe the evolution of my efforts.
Amidst all these activities, I am intrigued by how the spirit of Duke Kahanamoku continues to manifest in unexpected ways, which is what I intend to explore in today’s blog.
A few days ago, I visited a thrift store in search of a vintage Coach bag. After taking my time and not finding anything, I decided to browse the frame section. There, I came across a drawing of Shirley Temple that piqued my interest, though I ultimately chose not to purchase it due to its size.
As I continued to browse, I noticed a piece of paper hanging flat on a shelf. To my surprise, it began to flutter as if caught by an unseen breeze. Approaching it, I read the words “Leis of Flowers”—a term that immediately brought to mind Hawaii. Recognizing its significance, I picked it up and discovered it was a collection of postcards featuring Hawaiian flowers. I instantly understood its connection to Duke Native Hawaii.
The following day, as I took a moment to rest while organizing donations, I opened my Instagram account to find a video of a baby owlet. The caption mentioned that “Our barn owl Papa Duke” had not been delivering enough food for the babies. I interpreted this as a reminder of Duke’s presence around me and a gentle nudge to resume my blogging.
On the third day, a video appeared on my feed showcasing Corona Del Mar, which I viewed as another sign of Duke’s presence. For context, on June 14, 1925, when Duke was 35 years old, he became a hero by rescuing eight men after the Thelma boat capsized. Using his surfboard, he bravely paddled back and forth to save lives, ultimately inspiring the Surfer Club to adopt surfboards as lifesaving tools.
On the fourth day, I awoke and settled on the couch to gather my thoughts. I reached for my iPad, where I was greeted by yet another image of Duke—this time from Corona Del Mar in 1922, when he was 32 years old, alongside Viola Hartman as they rode a wave on his surfboard.
Despite the clarity of these messages, I was unable to blog that night due to household chores, and by the time I finished, it was nearly midnight.
Today, as I began my day, a video of Corona Del Mar appeared while I was browsing for something else, featuring Duke riding a wave on his surfboard—remarkably similar to the video I had seen three days prior.
Recognizing the significance of these occurrences, I felt compelled to find time to write about Duke as soon as possible.
After running errands, I returned home to find my Amazon orders had arrived, including window tinting supplies for four windows, particularly the bedroom, where morning light tends to be quite bright. I spent two hours applying the tint and then vacuumed the house.
In the spirit of cleaning, I decided to tackle the guest room to ensure it is ready for my son and his girlfriend’s visit next week. I found plenty to donate, organize, and rearrange, which left me feeling sore yet accomplished.
Though fatigued, I experienced a sudden burst of energy that enabled me to finally write this blog. My progress was briefly interrupted when I discovered a long-lost collection of Maybelline postcards from 2013, which I had been searching for over the past two years and were in excellent condition.
Determined to complete this blog post, I pressed on, and before I knew it, it was midnight. My energy is waning, but that is acceptable as I have little else to add, except that I look forward to what topics will arise next regarding Duke Kahanamoku.
