One of the many covers
Spending so much time underwater, she spent a lot of time communing with the animals and gaining their trust. She has written a book about her experiences, and the stories she tells are amazing. She has danced with manta rays. She has opened her mouth underwater and had cleaner shrimp walk in her mouth and clean her teeth (we actually have a video of that somewhere!). She knows the personalities of each underwater animal, and she can "speak" to them.Shortly after we met (which was on Christian's and my wedding day, thankyouverymuch), she informed me that the seahorse is my 'aumakua. It is too difficult for me to explain what an 'aumakua is, so let me
The Hawaiian people believe that the power of their ancestors, and one's personal strengths, are manifest in the 'aumakua. They define it as a benevolent guardian spirit or protector. My 'aumakua is very important to me because it helps me know myself and demonstrates several characteristics that I value. My 'aumakua is the pilot whale.
Yes, my husband got his top choice of Iowa State University for his internship. His application was knock-out good. He's awesome. Aaaanyway, my 'aumakua is the seahorse. Now, I don't know all of the characteristics of seahorses, but I'm pretty sure "delicate" is one of them. And there is one unfortunate BIG difference - Christian did NOT carry our babies or deliver them. I don't know what my boys' 'aumakuas are, so that's why I made my blog header the way it is - I'm the momma seahorse, and my two boys are following behind me.
P.S. To answer people's questions from the comments about 'aumakuas, click here.
40 people wanted to leave a comment:
OK. That's pretty cool. The whole thing. I want an 'aumakua too!
That really is a cool explanation. How do we discover what our aumakua is?
I love it that is so great. Kind of cool too.
I think we all want to find out what our 'aumakua is. You could think that symbolically he carries the children through his support and nurturing— hows that.
What an interesting post! I loved this!
That is awesome! I would love to read your Mom's work! I love seahorses:)
Sweet! What a cool thing to know! Tongans have way too many storys I would love to share, but I can't traslate them.. oh well...
That really is soo cool Erin..
I love it!
That. Is. Precious! I would love to read some of your mom's stories as well.
Great explanation!! Some of my favorite memories from when I lived in HI was the amazing animals I observed while diving!!
Wow. I never knew that! I love Jenny! She is so amazing. That is really really cool!
I don't get the Iowa State thing....
I really think the seahorse fits you. What a great story.
I'm glad your mother-in-law said your aumakua was something cool like a sea-horse---and even on the day you took her son away:)
That is very cool!
Interesting...how did she decide you were a seahorse?
What a neat story! And I have to say, scuba diving doesn't interest me at all. It sort of freaks me out to know what I'm swimming with!
neat story! Do you choose your Aumakua or does it choose you?
Thats an amazing story! How does one find out what there 'Aumakua' is?
Very cool! I love the Hawaiian culture, and I am always learning more about it, having married into a Hawaiian family. I am pretty sure Joel's uncle decided on his 'aumakua, but I don't know or remember what it is.
i'm sorry, but who in their right mind would leave hawaii for eastern ut?
great story though.
That is stinkin' cool. I learned something new today!
I loved the cover, the awesome cleaner shrimp story, and the paragraph from Christian's essay. I'm still dying to know what my aumakua is!
Aw, that's sweet. And your MIL sounds really cool.
Your MIL sounds like she has lived such a great life! I love being in the water... I can relate!!! LOVE IT!
I love the pretty little seahorses.
Cool, kinda what I thought. So mine IS an Owl, for sure. My Husbands is the Golden Eagle.
That has got to be the spiffiest story-behind-the-blog-header EVER.
I was waiting for this one...thanks for sharing. What a cool story. And what an adventurous mother in law. That sounds pretty cool!
Ah, it's just precious. I like it.
That's pretty cool...wonder what mine would be:).
I love it!
I just think it's cool that a pilot whale and a seahorse are so compatible. :)
What a great story! The new header is adorable :)
That's really too bad about you still having to carry your children. You'd think being a seahorse was good for somehting. :o)
That is awesome, Erin.
Neat! How exotic. I wonder what my aumakua is. I hope it's not a manatee. Or a prawn. Those things totally creep me out.
Now that is just cool! I bet my aumakua is the Sea Witch
Are 'aumakua always sea creatures, or were you and your husband assigned that way because of your mil's profession?
Great story. I have a dear friend with a seahorse tattoo, but her meaning behind it is lame compared to yours!
It's hard to say for sure but your mother in law was/is a knockout based on the little I've seen of her. Such an interesting story with intriguing little teasers . . . .
So how do we find out what our own is? Is there a website or something to help? You have got my interest on this one.
Very cool story. And I love the new look. Now that I know the meaning behind it...I LOVE it even more. I wish I knew waht my aumakua was. How do they determine that?
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