05/25/2025
Today’s annual canoe blessing is one of my favorite days of the year for many reasons—the tight-knit, ocean-minded community, the perpetuation of our Hawaiian culture, and the unparalleled beauty of the koa canoes adorned in pua. There’s nothing quite like it 😍 But more than anything, today is special because I get to see my Tutu’s face light up as she is reunited with the koa canoe named after her dad, and in that way, with a piece of him. Four generations of Trasks—James Kalanakila Trask, my Tutu, my dad, and me—are connected through this blessing.
In my friend Levani’s words as we stood together watching my Tutu visit with the Kalanakila: “Take this all in—memorize this special moment with your Tutu. You’ll replay it in your mind and hold this memory of her close to your heart for the rest of your life.”
💙💛
