A strange occurrence took place on the island at the start of the school year.
Moving classrooms, I was in search of a bucket and rag to clean off the tops of the tall, neglected cabinets in my new room, which were full of dust and what was probably gecko droppings.
Outside of my old classroom stood an empty bucket - something I'd need for cleaning. I "borrowed" the bucket and its yellow rag, which turned out to be two towels, knowing I would return them as soon as I was done.
I cleaned the cabinet tops and the inside shelves in one cabinet. Then I dumped the dirty water into the greenery outside my new classroom. I wrung out the yellow cloths, now discovering there was only one. ???
At this moment, I asked myself, was there really just one? No, there were two. I was sure of it. Ah, never mind that for now.
The next morning while walking the dog, we reached the rock pier that leaves the beach. At the shore end of the pier was no trash, but just a yellow towel, the exact same color of the rag I used the day before. This to me was very odd, especially considering my history at the pier.
Back at school, after returning the bucket to the place I found it, I told the custodian whose rag(s) and bucket I borrowed what I'd done. She didn't mind. She's very nice (she's Hawaiian, and there aren't a lot of mean Hawaiians.) Then I told her the whole story about how one rag disappeared but seemed to have materialized on the rocky pier.
She said, "That's okay, I have more towels!"
But that wasn't the point.
Again - at the same place my mobile phone got swallowed up by the ocean on New Year's Day after I was grumpily coming down the mountain following a hike - I was introduced to what is pono. (Pono means doing what is right.)
Complaining about your life, asking what is so happy about it and being grumpy on a holiday when people on the trail ascending the mountain wish you a Happy New Year is not pono. Borrowing someone's bucket without asking is not pono.
It could have been coincidence, but where did the second rag disappear to? What was a yellow towel the same size and color doing on the pier? Was I hallucinating? Was I crazy?
No. I firmly believe I was being taught lessons by the spirits of the island. And I'm grateful.
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