Lahaina Girl--a song I wrote years ago for my grandmother

Thinking about what we love, what we lose, and what we love anyway.

Hi folks! It’s been a while. I’ve been teaching and writing…and this summer I am slowing down to properly grieve the loss of my mother. She grew up in Lahaina…which we lost so much of this week.

Lahaina was where I learned, from my grandmother, to cook, to make pickles…to play hanafuda, to dance obon…even to pray. So many people losing their memories, their heritage, their home, their lives…

If you have the means to give kokua, Hawai’i Magazine has compiled a list of some reputable organizations who are aiding Lahaina now.

Anyway, I felt like sharing the lyrics to a song I wrote years ago.

When I wrote this, I had just seen my grandmother in a nursing home. Dementia had taken away much by that point, and she could no longer speak, but so much was said.

One day, I should probably play this for you.

Take care, everyone! I’ll be posting again soon.

Much love,
Ryka

—

Lahaina Girl

Last night
there was no moon
no light to light the night
of an empty room.

I thought of you
and I heard your voice
though your voice
never made a sound.

And you spoke through your eyes
though the words were not there
and the stories were real
as the gentle ocean air

And the sea
will always touch the shore
and the sun will come home to the sea
And the girl
who sleeps beneath the stars..
She knows that she’ll always be
A  Lahaina Girl

Last night
the rain never fell
though the night holds
the teardrops as well

But now
your songs reappear
like the first morning
songbird I hear.

And I smile inside
when I smell the orchid air
and the fruits turning sweet
like the yesterdays we share...

And the sea
will always touch the shore
and the sun will come home to the sea
And the girl
who sleeps beneath the stars
She knows that she’ll always be

A Lahaina Girl
Lahaina Girl
Lahaina Girl