The 2025 Second Nature Farm Summer Solstice Festival was held on Saturday, June 21.
About 40 people, including farm members, regular volunteers, and Takae’s yoga students, gathered at the farm. The group included families with children on summer vacation and people returning to Hawaii from faraway countries, who could be described as the farm’s extended family. Friends and acquaintances who had not seen each other in a while caught up with one another, rekindling their friendship with big smiles. Even those who were attending for the first time quickly became congenial companions, chatting and laughing together. It looked like a homecoming day at Second Nature Farm, reminiscent of the time when we return to our families’ homes during the Obon festival (a specific week in summer when the spirits of ancestors are believed to return to this world) in Japan. The event was filled with nostalgia and smiles.
Everyone shared delicious food and drinks that each participant had brought with them, strolled along the stream, which was the farm’s border, enjoyed shinrin-yoku (walking in the forest), cheered contestants of smashing watermelon, participated in an introductory kung fu workshop, and found the vegetables and flowers they wished to bring home. The energy of the Ko’olau mountains and the plants resonated with the warm hearts of the participants, creating a magnetic field throughout the farm that naturally brought a sense of gentleness to everyone—the delicious and happy time passed quickly.
(1) Reunion with old friends
Megumi, a regular weekend volunteer during her months-long stay in Honolulu two years ago, came to our farm from Japan after a long absence. Paul and Misa from Aloha Tofu, Hawaii’s only long-established tofu factory, also came to the farm for the first time in three years, bringing freshly made oboro-dofu from the company’s busy time to celebrate the 75th anniversary. They enjoyed reuniting with their friends again. And many more people exchanged their old friendships, sharing tasty food and drink that everyone brought for the potluck luncheon.
(2) Growth of kids-volunteers
Serena, who participated in planting and harvesting kalo (taro) with her little boots during her preschool days, came to our farm for the first time in a long time. That day, her parents bought a large watermelon for her, as she was eager to reattempt the thrilling experience of smashing a watermelon she had had at five on the farm. She turned 9 years old this year and showed her leadership by instructing younger children and even adults how to blindfold and swing the stick. We were so impressed by the growth of those kids-volunteers that we felt like “grandma and grandpa” to them.
(3) Cheering new departures
Suzue, who has supported us for many years as a student of Takae’s yoga classes and as a farm volunteer since the early days of its development, has decided to move to Oregon with her family and embark on a new business venture there. As a send-off, her fellow yoga students picked flowers from the farm and handmade flower leis to give to Suzue. Cheers to the warm teamwork and friendship!
(4) Mind-body unification workshop in nature
Regular volunteer Atto, who is in the construction business, is also certified to teach Chinese martial arts. He offered a mini-workshop on introductory kung fu at this event, which was well-received by those wishing to strengthen their limb joints and core. Both yoga and kung fu share the commonality of using breathing techniques to unify the body and mind.
At Second Nature Farm, our staff are trying to navigate the hot summer by incorporating mind-body convergence practices into our farm work, aligning with the natural order of things. Toward the near future, we plan to introduce a comprehensive well-being program that can be easily implemented. Please stay tuned!
(Note: Our seasonal events are held in March, June, September, and December, mainly by our members, regular volunteers, and regular students of Takae’s yoga class. Guests who share our commitment to the farm’s purpose are welcome to join us. For more information, please get in touch with us.)
