{"id":841,"date":"2025-03-23T19:10:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T10:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/blog\/vernal-equinox-celebration-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-03-30T20:17:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T11:17:05","slug":"vernal-equinox-celebration-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/blog\/vernal-equinox-celebration-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Vernal Equinox Celebration 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At this year&#8217;s Vernal Equinox Celebration, many participants performed \u201chehi hehi\u201d (Hawaiian for foot stomping) to prepare the organic soil for the kalo (taro) paddy fields. First, a local boy who had an experience to grow kalo at a Hawaiian charter school performed a blessing chant he had learned at school. Then, under the guidance of regular volunteers Kyle and Luana, everyone picked up the fallen leaves that had accumulated all over the farm, threw them into the paddy field, and then entered the paddy field barefoot or in boots, stomping their feet to distribute the leaves evenly throughout the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Blessing Chant\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FXEOcLHK6PE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One Japanese boy, who had grown up in the city and had been reluctant to touch the mud, looked around and timidly put their feet into the paddies, saying, \u201cIt feels so good!\u201d A mother who participated in the event for the first time with her friends said, \u201cI\u2019ve never experienced anything like this before,\u201d as she repeatedly stomped in the muddy water with her children, a big smile on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"832\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.-Throw-leaves-in-the-paddy_IMG_5341-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Throw leaves in the paddy\" class=\"wp-image-832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.-Throw-leaves-in-the-paddy_IMG_5341-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.-Throw-leaves-in-the-paddy_IMG_5341-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.-Throw-leaves-in-the-paddy_IMG_5341-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.-Throw-leaves-in-the-paddy_IMG_5341-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.-Throw-leaves-in-the-paddy_IMG_5341-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Throw leaves in the paddy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"830\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3.-Enter-the-paddy-together_IMG_5353-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Enter the paddy together\" class=\"wp-image-830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3.-Enter-the-paddy-together_IMG_5353-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3.-Enter-the-paddy-together_IMG_5353-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3.-Enter-the-paddy-together_IMG_5353-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3.-Enter-the-paddy-together_IMG_5353-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3.-Enter-the-paddy-together_IMG_5353-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Enter the paddy together<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ca177a3a-ce78-41b2-a064-c551dba38d7a-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"hehi hehi (Hawaiian for foot stomping)\" class=\"wp-image-844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ca177a3a-ce78-41b2-a064-c551dba38d7a-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ca177a3a-ce78-41b2-a064-c551dba38d7a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ca177a3a-ce78-41b2-a064-c551dba38d7a-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ca177a3a-ce78-41b2-a064-c551dba38d7a-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ca177a3a-ce78-41b2-a064-c551dba38d7a.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">hehi hehi (Hawaiian for foot stomping)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"834\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7.-Turned-out-to-be-organic-soil_IMG_5356-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Turned out to be organic soil\" class=\"wp-image-834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7.-Turned-out-to-be-organic-soil_IMG_5356-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7.-Turned-out-to-be-organic-soil_IMG_5356-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7.-Turned-out-to-be-organic-soil_IMG_5356-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7.-Turned-out-to-be-organic-soil_IMG_5356-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7.-Turned-out-to-be-organic-soil_IMG_5356-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Turned out to be organic soil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The children, who were initially shy and hid behind their mothers, transformed into young turk as soon as they encountered nature. They were smiling and frolicking with their new friends and enjoying the delicious food that everyone had brought. We had a lot of fun in the special place where people of all races, cultures, ages, and genders can come together to nurture nature and share its bounty. It was a day when we could feel that the circle of such a community is gradually expanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"836\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9.-Delicious-and-healthy-potluck-as-always_IMG_5363-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Delicious and healthy potluck as always\" class=\"wp-image-836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9.-Delicious-and-healthy-potluck-as-always_IMG_5363-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9.-Delicious-and-healthy-potluck-as-always_IMG_5363-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9.-Delicious-and-healthy-potluck-as-always_IMG_5363-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9.-Delicious-and-healthy-potluck-as-always_IMG_5363-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9.-Delicious-and-healthy-potluck-as-always_IMG_5363-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Delicious and healthy potluck as always<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"838\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10.-Specialty-with-the-farm-harvest_IMG_5369-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Specialty with the farm harvest\" class=\"wp-image-838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10.-Specialty-with-the-farm-harvest_IMG_5369-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10.-Specialty-with-the-farm-harvest_IMG_5369-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10.-Specialty-with-the-farm-harvest_IMG_5369-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10.-Specialty-with-the-farm-harvest_IMG_5369-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10.-Specialty-with-the-farm-harvest_IMG_5369-rotated.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Specialty with the farm harvest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you so much to the many people who participated. The next seasonal event will be the Summer Solstice Celebration, scheduled for late June. If you missed it this time, please join us next! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/takaeoj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/takaeoj<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At this year&#8217;s Vernal Equinox Celebration, many participants performed \u201chehi hehi\u201d (Hawaiian for foot stomping) to prepare the organic soil for the kalo (taro) paddy fields. First, a local boy who had an experience to grow kalo at a Hawaiian charter school performed a blessing chant he had learned at school. Then, under the guidance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farms-records-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=841"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":853,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841\/revisions\/853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondnature-hawaii.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}