Kauai 2013: day 5

Day five saw my parents and I invited to take part in a blessing ceremony for the young granddaughter of some family friends. I don't believe there was any formal religious basis to the ceremony itself; the best way I can describe what happened, as I understood it, is that it was a kind of christening that welcomed her to her extended Hawaiian-based family. It was a very special thing to be a part of, and I feel very fortunate to have been asked to attend. I didn't speak to anyone about whether or not I could post photos from the morning, and as it was a private gathering of family and friends I figure the right thing is to maintain that privacy. However, I do have a few pics from the day I feel comfortable sharing, starting with the sight that greeted us as we gathered on the beach that morning—I'd call it a good omen if ever there was one:

Some of the items used in the ceremony, including a gorgeous conch shell, a coconut, and some Hawaiian salt:

A shot of the shoreline, as the water was an absolutely gorgeous blue that morning:

And finally, a blossom on a tree that caught my eye later on in the day:

The next day was a banner photography day, as it included my first visit to Kilauea of the year and my first luau ever, so stay tuned for a photo bonanza...