51889. “Living on the slopes of an active volcano keeps life interesting!” ― Steven Magee January 24, 2023
51888. “When the infernal machine of plantation slavery began to grind its wheels, iron laws of economics came into play, laws that would lead to immeasurable suffering but would also, and equally inevitably, produce new languages all over the world – languages that ironically, in the very midst of man’s inhumanity to man, demonstrated the essential unity of humanity.” ― Derek Bickerton, Bastard Tongues: A Trailblazing Linguist Finds Clues to Our Common Humanity in the World’s Lowliest Languages January 24, 2023
51887. “I’ve come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death…is the true measure of the Divine within us.” ― Alan Brennert, Moloka’i January 24, 2023
51886. “I once heard a grouty northern invalid say that a coconut tree might be poetical, possibly it was; but it looked like a feather-duster struck by lightning.” ― Mark Twain, Mark Twain in Hawaii: Roughing It in the Sandwich Islands: Hawaii in the 1860s January 24, 2023
51884. “Look, Neal, Hawaii is not some magical pixie wonderland; it’s an American state populated by atomic weapons, a remnant native population and people too stupid to spell their way out of a paper bag. Most of them came here to escape pathetic lives in the forty nine other states, so in some sense, Hawaii is a scenic cul-de-sac filled with people who want to drink themselves to death without feeling judged.” ― Douglas Coupland, Worst. Person. Ever. January 24, 2023
51883. “Mount Kilauea spilled glowing lava like cords of orange neon-lighting from seemingly nowhere. In the blackness that engulfed the night, electric heat lit flowing streams that fell into the sea, disappearing in a cloud of steam with a sizzling splash.” ― Victoria Kahler, Capturing the Sunset January 24, 2023
51882. “We, the Hawaiian people, who are born from the union of Papahanaumoku and Wakea, earth mother and sky father, and who have lived in these islands for over 100 generations, will always have the moral right to the lands of Hawai’i now and forever, no matter what any court says.” ― Lilikalā K. Kame’eleihiwa January 24, 2023
51881. “The groundswell of outrage over the invasion of Iraq often cited the preemptive war as a betrayal of American ideals. The subtext of the dissent was: ‘This is not who we are.’ But not if you were standing where I was. It was hard to see the look in that palace tour guide’s eyes when she talked about the American flag flying over the palace and not realize that ever since 1898, from time to time, this is exactly who we are.” ― Sarah Vowell, Unfamiliar Fishes January 24, 2023
51880. “A slight breeze cooled the Hawaiian spring air, swaying the branches of palm trees, which cast black silhouettes against the purple and orange colors of the twilight sky.” ― Victoria Kahler, Capturing the Sunset January 24, 2023
51879. “Sitting on the porch alone, listening to them fixing supper, he felt again the indignation he had felt before, the sense of loss and the aloneness, the utter defenselessness that was each man’s lot, sealed up in his bee cell from all the others in the world. But the smelling of boiling vegetables and pork reached him from the inside, the aloneness left him for a while. The warm moist smell promised other people lived and were preparing supper. He listened to the pouring and the thunder rumblings that sounded hollow like they were in a rainbarrel, shared the excitement and the coziness of the buzzing insects that had sought refuge on the porch, and now and then he slapped detachedly at the mosquitoes, making a sharp crack in the pouring buzzing silence. The porch sheltered him from all but the splashes of the drops that hit the floor and their spray touched him with a pleasant chill. And he was secure, because someewhere out beyond the wall of water humanity still existed, and was preparing supper.” ― James Jones, From Here to Eternity January 24, 2023
51878. “I’ll try to communicate, Taylor said. She spoke slowly and deliberately. Hello! We need help. Is your village close? My village is Denver. And I think it’s a long way from here. I’m Nicole Ade. Miss Colorado. We have a Colorado where we’re from too! Tiara said. She swiveled her hips, spread her arms wide, then brought her hands together prayer-style and bowed. Kipa aloha. Nicole stared. I speak English. I’m American. Also, did you learn those moves from Barbie’s Hawaiian Vacation DVD? Ohmigosh, yes! Do your people have that, too?” ― Libba Bray, Beauty Queens January 24, 2023
51876. “In every misfortune there are gifts. These gems born from great difficulty can only be found if one is courageous enough to dive beneath the surface to find them.” ― Tara Coyote, Grace, Grit & Gratitude: A Cancer Thriver’s Journey from Hospice to Full Recovery with the Healing Power of Horses January 24, 2023
51875. “As she descended below the floor level of the loft, her former partner in juvenile crime was revealed to her from scuffed paniolo boots, up a long, muscled body that appeared to go on forever, to a venerable black Stetson. His cowboy look was new to her and it suited him. When she backtracked to his Hawaiian-sky blue eyes, she swayed under the impact and abruptly sat down. Any stair step would do.” Noelani Beecham, Pele’s Tears” ― Sharon K. Garner, Pele’s Tears January 24, 2023
51874. “At the end of the world the sunset is like a child smashing a pack of crayons into God’s face.” ― Craig Stone, Life Knocks January 24, 2023