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skbeaumont · 5 months

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Texas Heat | Joel x Reader

Chapter 4 – The Barbeque

Series masterlist

Chapter Summary: Saturday brings a barbeque, a whole lot of flirting, and a perfect storm of tension that might just push you and Joel to the brink of something new. Rating: Mature Tags/warnings: flirting, sexual tension, smut, age difference (reader is 25, Joel is 37), AU!No outbreak. Word Count: 3.1k

Taglist: @mysterialee@amyispxnk @ghostofzion-blog

The Texas heat is almost unbearable even when you wake at just past seven the next morning. Laying in bed, you can still feel the ghost of Joel’s hand against your jaw, the gentle way his fingers tangled in your hair, the delicate fan of his breath mingling with yours. The memory keeps you in bed a little longer, has you pressing your own hand beneath the waistband of your shorts. You come hard to the thought of Joel’s expression as he looked at you from the doorway of the garage, the intoxicating pull of his eyes. You wonder how his fingers – that trailed so dexterously across your cheek not twelve hours ago – would feel pressed against your core, if they would dip inside you, laying pleasure upon pleasure as he watched you with that same dark, intense expression.

Eventually, you force yourself to get up and dress. You pull on the bikini your brought with you – white, with sculped edges and long ties that you double knot – and then don your favourite sundress, one that you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Examining yourself in the mirror, you can’t help but feel a little nervous, your stomach squirming uncomfortably. Last night, Joel had been seconds from kissing you, his hands tangled in your hair, pulling you up to meet his hungry lips. And God, the thought of it makes your toes curl, your thighs press together.

But there’s anxiety there, too.

It’s been months since you broke up with your boyfriend back home, the same one you’d been with throughout your entire time at university and the gap years between. The thought of starting something new with someone else feels terrifying in so many ways. What if Joel decides he doesn’t like you, or want you? What if he’s hesitant, or unsure, and it ruins all of the hard work you’ve done over the past few months, convincing yourself you’re deserving of love and affection?

You close your eyes against the image in the mirror, refusing to let yourself fall into old habits of self-criticism, and take a long, deep breath, letting it out slowly. You focus on thinking about Joel’s easy smile and his calloused, warm hands. You think about his broad, strong shoulders and the dark lock of hair that always falls across his forehead. The nerves die away a little, replaced by anticipation and excitement. You open your eyes again, look yourself in the eye and repeat the words Diana said to you on Wednesday. “Flirt your ass off.”

Five hours later finds you and Danny lugging a slightly rusty beer cooler over to the Cuthberts’. Theirs is the biggest lot on the road, a sprawling house surrounded by a flawlessly mown front lawn and backed by huge garden, complete with a patio – almost certainly larger than your entire flat back in London – and a tiled, picture-perfect swimming pool. You let out a low whistle as you and Danny round the house into the garden, taking in the two-tiered, five-grill barbeque in the centre of the patio and the array of chairs, sofas and tables laid out on the decking. There are no other guests yet, but you find yourself searching Joel out anyway, peering around the potted palm trees and oversized plant pots.

Mr Cuthbert, a large, jovial man in a bright Hawaiian print shirt, slaps Danny convivially on the back and introduces himself – “call me John”, he says, offering you a wink which you steadfastly ignore.

You and Danny put the beer cooler in a shady part of the patio and help John fill it with the beers from his drinks fridge – a separate appliance than his usual fridge, he proudly informs you as he hands you bottles of wine, premixed cocktails, sodas, and beers. By the time you’re done, a few guests have trickled into the garden, all carrying more drinks and food.

Slowly, the garden and deck fills up with neighbours and friends. You stand near the kitchen in the shade, leaning against the cool stone of the house, your eyes fixed on the gate, watching with anticipation as each newcomer arrives. You hear Sarah before you see her or Joel, catch the end of a shout of her infectious laughter as the two of them come into the garden.

Joel’s in tinted sunglasses that reflect the garden back at you, his hair brushed back from his forehead, dark and thick and streaked with a few errant greys. He’s wearing a loose-fitting linen Henley and a pair of shorts that show off the tanned vee of collarbone and chest, the bottom of his thick thighs. He says something to Sarah, points her in the direction of a group of similarly-aged kids and she darts off, leaving Joel to survey the garden. When his eyes find yours – or rather when his sunglasses reflect your own figure – he breaks into an easy sideways grin, holds up one hand in greeting.

You told yourself you would play it cool, ease into the flirting, but before his hand has even returned to his side you’re darting towards him, sidestepping a toddler and two middle aged women. He meets you halfway across the garden, taking large steps that cover the distance to the deck easily.

“Hey,” You say when you meet.

“Hi.” He replies, and he draws his sunglasses up off his face to rest on the top of his head, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he does.

“I’m disappointed,” You say, gesturing at his shorts and shirt, “I was promised a toolbelt and workmen’s boots.”

He laughs at this, a deep, throaty chuckle that comes right from his chest.

“Toolbelt’s just at home, if you want me to go and get it.”

“Maybe later.” You reply, smirking.

“You want a drink?”

“Sure.”

You follow him to the beer cooler and watch as Joel plucks two bottles out of the icy water, opens the tops with one hand. The simple gesture shouldn’t be so goddamn attractive, shouldn’t make blood rush to your cheeks and heat pool in your belly, but it is and it does. He hands you one of the beers, and your fingers brush his warm knuckles as you take it. The corner of Joel’s mouth twitches in response, his eyes flashing in the bright sunlight. You can feel the blush hot on your face just from these tiny, pathetic touches, slick already pooling in your core, dampening the bikini bottoms under your sundress. You clear your throat and Joel nods to a quiet corner of the deck where a loveseat lies unoccupied. You follow him to it, sink into its plush cushioning. Joel sits beside you. He's so broad that he takes up more than half of the sofa, his shoulder bumping against yours as he settles. You both look out over the garden, at where Sarah and the other kids are having an intense discussion in a tight cluster.

“She really enjoyed that math lesson you gave her,” he says, musingly, “won’t stop goin’ on about it. Never seen her so keen to be over at Connie’s before, either.”

“She’s really bright.” You reply, turning to him.

“No idea where she gets that from.”

You roll your eyes at him, cross one leg over the other, watch as Joel follows the movement with his eyes, drags his gaze up your bare thigh to the hem of your dress.

“’s a nice dress,” he says, the drawl of his accent stealing away the first syllable.

“Thanks. I’d been saving it for a special occasion.”

“This a special occasion?” He asks, gaze flicking from your bare thigh to your face, the trace of a mischievous smile playing on his plush lips.

“You tell me.” You reply, letting your own mouth curve into a grin.

There’s a splash from the pool and you both turn to see Sarah emerging from the water, face cracked into a wide smile as her friends jump in after her. Joel shakes his head, laughing.

“Always gotta be the first one in.” He says, and you laugh too, watch as Sarah splashes another girl.

“You going in?” You ask, as a few adults start sitting at the side of the pool to dip their toes in and slowly climbing in after the kids. “Not a chance.” He says, “I ain’t a swimmer.”

“That’s a shame.” You say, standing up and pulling the sundress up over your head, “Would’ve been nice to have some company.”

Joel’s eyes travel over your body, taking in the curves of your breasts and waist, the swathes of bare skin. His gaze makes you feel self-conscious, but his expression is awe-struck, reverent, like he’s looking at something sacred. His pupils are blown wide despite the bright sunlight, cheeks reddening. The hand clutching his beer is white-knuckled, the other twitching where it rests in his lap like he wants to reach out and trace the path of your curves. He swallows, Adam’s apple rippling in this throat.

“I’ll be jus’ fine watchin’, darlin’.” He says, his voice hoarse.

You waste no time sliding off your sandals and darting towards the water. It’s immature, maybe, but you’ve never been able to resist diving headfirst into water. The pool is cool, fresh: perfect in the intense Texan heat. Sarah giggles as you resurface, splashes you with a back hand. You spend the next half-hour messing about with her, having handstand competitions and lying on your backs to float idly. Every time you let your gaze wander to where Joel is sitting, he’s watching you, his expression intense. He looks away the first few times you catch him, but after the fourth time he lets himself watch you, raises his beer to his lips and takes a sip. When he draws the bottle away, there’s a droplet on his lip. His tongue darts out to catch it, and you have to press your legs together in the water to dull the ache. This man, you think, watching him wipe his mouth with the back of one large hand, veins standing out on his toned forearms, is going to be the death of me.

After a few more minutes you’re starting to feel the cold, fingertips wrinkling in the water. You float over to the side of the pool and push yourself up onto the side. Droplets run down your stomach and legs as you stand up, goosebumps rising in their wake. You turn to look for where you left your bag and towel, but suddenly warmth is engulfing you, a soft, fluffy towel wrapped around your shoulders.

“Here,” Joel’s voice from behind you, his hands on your shoulders, draping the towel over you.

“Thanks.”

He steps back, lets his hands fall back to his sides.

“Water nice?” He asks, as you start to pat yourself dry.

“Refreshing,” You reply, looking up into his face.

“Looked it.” He’s standing close to you in the busyness of the garden, people milling around you both.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Looked… good.” He swallows again, tendons in his neck shifting. You want to put your lips to the flesh there, bite down onto rough skin, lick the stubble covering his jaw.

“I should go and get changed,” you say, nodding towards the house.

You step around him, start towards the kitchen door, turning to look behind you as you pick up your bag from where you left it by the beer cooler. Your eyes meet and the heat in his is almost palpable, rolling off of him in waves. You feel his gaze follow you as you step through the door into the cool air of the kitchen. Inside, you find the Cuthbert’s downstairs bathroom, shut the door behind you and lean back against it, your head spinning, heart pounding.

By the time you’ve changed back into your sundress, food is being served. You take a paper plate and let John load it up with chicken and a burger from the grill, then go and find a seat at a table with Danny, Connie, Joel and Sarah. You slide onto the bench next to Joel, letting your thigh brush against his and offering him a chaste smile when he raises a single eyebrow in response.

“How’s work, Joel?” Danny asks, swiping a blob of ketchup from his cheek.

“Oh, fine, thanks. Busy, at the moment.”

“Tommy alright? Not been getting into any more trouble?”

Joel laughs at this, shaking his head as he replies, “No more’n usual.”

Danny offers an understanding nod in response, and Sarah giggles, catching your eye across the table.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a happy, hazy buzz of food and conversation. Joel remains beside you, your legs pressed together on the bench seat. At some point, as Danny regales you all with a story of a traffic incident he witnessed last week, Joel stretches out, raising his hands over his head. When he brings them down, he lays his arm along the back of the bench behind you. You lean ever so slightly into him, imagining how it would feel if he slipped his arm down from the wood onto your shoulders. When you lean your head back to look up at the clear sky, you let it rest on his forearm, feel the heat of him seep through the hair at the nape of your neck through to your skin. The garden has started to empty now; the sky is slowly turning a pale, picture-perfect pink as the evening draws in. Danny lets out a long, steady sigh and pushes himself to his feet.

“We should get back to Nana,” he says to Connie, who nods and stands, “but you stay on as long as you like.” He adds to you, helping Connie pull on her cardigan.

You and Joel wave them off. Sarah leaves too, tired from the day, a little bored now the other teenagers and kids have left.

“Shouldn’t stay too much longer,” you say, looking around at where Mrs Cuthbert is collecting glasses up.

“No,” Joel agrees, but neither of you move.

His arm is still across the back of the bench, your neck now leaning against it. He flexes his hand, lets the tips of his thick fingers trace the skin on your bare shoulder, pulling up the strap of you sundress where it’s fallen down. The feeling of his hands on you is exhilarating and you shift in your seat, subconsciously begging him to keep touching you, to let his hand trace your shoulder to your collarbone, to dip down beneath the neckline of your dress to your bare breasts. He doesn’t, of course – there are still plenty of people in the garden – but he does leave his fingers where they are, just resting against your shoulder. Minutes pass. The tension between you seems to be building irreversibly, all the flirtatious banter and playful teasing from earlier gone, replaced by heavy silence and a kind of buzz in the air that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Joel clears his throat after maybe ten minutes, runs his free hand up the leg of his shorts, wiping his palm which, if he’s feeling anything like you, is sweaty with a heady combination of anticipation and nervous energy.

“Should get back.” He says, his voice low, face turned to you so that the words are said against the shell of your ear.

“Yeah,”

This time, you both move as one. You stand, slipping the strap of your bag over your shoulder as you do, while Joel picks up his sunglasses from the table and slides them into the vee of his Henley. You both call hasty goodbyes to the Cuthberts, thanking them for the food and hospitality. And then you’re leaving the garden, stepping out of sight of the deck into the small alley between the house and the fence. You’ve hardly taken more than two or three steps before you both break.

Joel rounds on you as you grab him by his shirt. Crowding you against the wall of the house, he fists a hand in your hair and draws your mouth up to his. The kiss is frenzied, passionate right from the moment your lips meet. He groans from somewhere deep in his chest, licks his tongue into your mouth, his teeth grazing your lips, bruising them. His hand caresses your jaw, fingers spanning your face, cradling it as he kisses you. It’s intoxicating. You reach up to thread your fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, pushing yourself up onto tiptoes to card them through his curls. You moan into his mouth, let your tongue lick into his mouth, his stubble tickling your face, harsh and scratchy in contrast to his soft lips.

He pulls back, rests his forehead against yours, both of you panting.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” He whispers, leaning down to place open mouthed kisses on the underside of your jaw. “I can’t stop thinking about you, I can’t sleep, I can’t concentrate.”

“Joel…” It’s all you can say as he nips at your collarbone, runs his fingertips down your sides, hands searching out the flesh of your ass, pulling you to him, bending so that he can slide one thick thigh between yours. The movement brings his hips flush with yours, the line of his hardening cock pressing into your stomach, sending a jolt of pleasure through you. You grind against him, pressing your cunt into his thigh, seeking out friction. He hisses into your open mouth as he drags his hips against yours, cock trapped between your rutting bodies – a hot, thick line against you.

“Tell me to stop and I will,” he breathes, nipping and pecking at your lips, dragging a hot hand up your side to squeeze your breast.

“Please don’t stop,” You reply, gasping as his fingers find the hard nub of your nipple and pinch, pleasure coursing through you like adrenaline.

The whole thing is ridiculous: you’re pressed against the wall of your neighbour’s house, Joel’s hands mapping out the curves of your body as he kisses you. Anyone could see, anyone could come round the path from the garden but neither of you seem to be capable of caring. The dam has burst and it’s all you can do to cling to each other, rocking your hips together, seeking out friction. It’s only when you slide a hand between your bodies, seeking out the hard line of Joel’s cock that he pulls back. His lips are swollen, eyes entirely black in the low light.

“We can’t do this,” he says, “not here.”

And then you’re both laughing, the absurdity of the entire situation overcoming you. When you calm down, still breathing heavily, Joel draws your face between his hands and presses another kiss to your lips.

“I want to,” he says, stroking his thumb along your cheekbone, “Jesus, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.”

“Me neither,”

“Sarah’s staying at Tommy’s on Friday.” He says, “Come over. I’ll cook dinner, or take you out. I’ll treat you right, like you deserve.”

“Friday?” You say, “That’s a long way away.”

You push yourself onto tiptoes to kiss him again, draw his bottom lip into your mouth and he groans against you, his hips canting forward so that his cock drags against your hip.

He pulls away, rasps, “Shit, darlin’. You’re making me crazy.”

“I’ll be over on Tuesday, for Sarah.” You say, “I’ll stay until you get back from work.”

“You make it really hard to say no.”

“Then don’t say no.”

“Okay. But I’m taking you for dinner on Friday too. Don’t say I don’t know how to treat a woman.”

“Joel Miller, I don’t think anyone could ever say that.” And you press another kiss against his lips, smiling into it.

When you get home a few minutes later, your lips bruised and your head buzzing, there’s already a text in your inbox.

I’ll leave the toolbelt on for Tuesday. J

#joel miller #joel miller fic #joel miller au #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller fanfic #the last of us #the last of us fanfiction #AU!no outbreak #joel x reader #joel x you #the last of us fic

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assistant-of-drama · 2 months

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The final three contestants of Total Drama World Tour stood on the beaches of Hawaii.

Alejandro and Noah were having a Hawaiian Battle to the 'death', while Heather was tied to a pole. But alas Alejandro had eventually disarmed Noah of his weapon. The Charmer then, with a playful glint in his eyes, pinned Noah to the ground, his lips brushing against Noah's nose in a lingering kiss. The camera zoomed in, capturing Noah's face: a mixture of embarrassment, outrage, and a surprising glimmer of fascination. Alejandro, his eyes sparkling with mischief, enjoyed the spectacle, relishing the shock and awe of the former contestants. The next challenge was a test of speed and sacrifice. Heather and Alejandro were tasked with selecting helpers to make the pineapple dummies. The first one to hurl their dummy into the fiery maw of the volcano would be declared the winner.

Heather picked Noah and Cody. Alejandro picked Courtney and Lindsay. Heather, fueled by a competitive spirit as fierce as the volcano itself, ran as fast as she could with her dummy. She sprinted to the edge of the crater right past Alejandro, the heat radiating towards her, and with a defiant yell, tossed her offering into the fiery abyss. The world held its breath. The cameras focused on Alejandro, expecting anger or disappointment. Instead, a genuine smile spread across his face, a smile that surprised even Heather. Heather, ever the opportunist, capitalized on the moment. She leaned in, her lips meeting Alejandro's in a passionate kiss, a kiss that surprised everyone. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she turned to Noah, who stood there. She planted a soft kiss on his lips, Noah’s eyes widening in disbelief. Alejandro, without missing a beat, followed suit and kissed Noah on the lips as well.

The contestants watched in slack-jawed shock.

With a flourish, Alejandro explained, 'The three of us have been in a polymorphic couple, since before the 3rd season. Heather and Noah got together, somewhere around the Season 1 Finale. They added me into their relationship after Season 2. We decided not to make it official until the show was over. Now, that the show is over, we don't have to hide anymore.' The cameras caught a glimpse of Noah's hesitant blush and Alejandro's smug smile. Heather, ever the mastermind, had orchestrated a perfect ending. The finale party was a blur of celebratory drinks and ecstatic laughter. Heather, draped in a dazzling red gown, danced with her two boyfriends, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. The three of them, in their own unique way, had found contentment in their unconventional arrangement. Heather, true to her ambitious nature, used her winnings to purchase a lavish mansion, a home for the three of them to share. Their life together was a testament to their resilience and ability to defy norms, proving that love can bloom even in the most unexpected of places. After all, even a queen bee needs a king, or two, to complete her hive.

#td noah #alejandro burromuerto #td heather #total drama #total drama world tour #alenoaheather #alenoah #aleheather #noaheather

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ccasey0 · 5 months

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who wants a map of all the sectors in "america"? btw, people dont actually call it america. they just refer to paces as the sectors they are in.

okay, im sure some of these you can guess. but imma name them anyway.

WS(the one with washington in it)= Washington Sector.

NS(with north dakota)= Nebraskan sector.

LS= Lake sector.

TS(with texas)= Texas Sector.

NS(with california)= Needle Sector(named after a city in california).

AS= Albuquerque Sector.

HS= Hawaiian/The Hot Sector

AWS(alaska)= American Winter Sector

FS= Flower Sector

FKS= Flooded Kentucky Sector

NYS= New York Sector

NYS and FKS are the two that i'm actually going to be focusing on. yes, both of them. although im only just now getting to FKS, so you won't see any stuff from it when i start posting the actual story(which might be a while since im the president of procrastination).

honestly, the only reason i'm doing this is because i have something im working on for a certain calico shark * Cough cough * @sharkfinn

Anyways, hope this made even a little bit of sense. btw FKS is super flooded. they put up a wall to be a border for the other sectors, but then it flooded due to excessive rain for a very long time and lots of water towers and other stuff breaking. if you've ever watched water world, the it's kinda like that there. after it started to overflow from so much water a bunch of magicky people and sciency people came together and set up pillars around the wall. these pillars, when turned on, create a dome forcefield thing that keeps all the water in while also allowing people and stuff t get in. although id recommend not entering without diving gear and plenty of oxygen stored up because the water level goes quite far above the wall. the buildings inside are all submerged and people try to go down as far as possible to gather stuff. although very few have actually been able to make it to the bottom without gills or extra help. unfortunately, the corrupted there have adapted and all live underwater in the deepest parts. also, spore-producing plants have adapted as well, and they are now Underwater-spore-producing plants. so if you are diving and see a cloud of glowing yellow sparks, steer clear cuz they are spores and it is likely there is going to be corrupted there. the most dangerous corrupted to run into there is the Leviathan(yes i know im so original). he is basically a giant monster that im definitely going to draw soon that lives in the deepest pits of the Atlantis(which is what the people of the sector call the underwater city). everyone knows it means death to go near it's home. it'll even eat fellow corrupteds. on occasions, it'll come up to the surface to get more food and everyone is constantly looking for signs that he is surfacing. the main "island"(aka a bunch of rafts tied together on top of a few extra tall buildings that are somehow a good three stories above the water. dont ask me what buildings they are, because they probably dont exist in real life. they were built outside of the real world, purely existing in dimension 29) has a large cage next to it where they store dead bodies and corrupted to feed to leviathan in order to avoid him eating any of the rafts and people instead. dont worry though, he is only big enough to eat half the main island with one bite! as for the normal corrupted, think of the minecraft drowneds but make them 30 times more horrifying and tall enough to to touch the ceiling of a ten foot tall room. also give them 4 rows of extra sharp tiny little teeth. as well as fins and extra agility when they are underwater. there you go! Sea Corrupteds, aka "trenchers". yes, the people of FKS have all seen aquaman and all refer to sea corrupted as that to make a reference to the movie lol. there are normal fish too btw. most of them hang around in schools inside reef-turned buildings.

okay, so that's the gist of FKS! Casey, Jupiter, and Keigo have been to this sector once because they were trying to find materials and they found the border on accident. Casey almost drowned and they decided that once was enough.

hope you guys liked this! definitely didnt take a few hours to come up with all this haha why would you think that?

and nooo dont ask me what the leviathan looks like nooo then ill have an excuse to draw it and we dont want that haha noooo!

#haha #this was fun #sorry for not posting anything about the actual story of this yet #im a big procrastinator #and i need to get other things done #well #i dont actually NEED to get them done #i just like doing them more than trying to organize posts #lol #anyway go watch waterworld #it's a good movie #took heavy inspo from it #HBT #hbt au #my world #oc?#:)

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garlic-but-gay · 2 years

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Hotline miami is so cool to me from a literary and lore-based perspective because of how many different ways and levels on which you can interpret occurrences in the game. Is richard an angel of death through the series or something more innate to the human psyche? Were manny's levels even fucking real or were they all fantasies? If they were real, did he do them out of a sick sense of justice or was he targeting ongoing problems that were overshadowing his serial killings in hopes to bring his murderous persona more of the spotlight? WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED AT THE PHONE COMPANY BUILDING????? AND OH MY GOD THE PRISON RIOT LEVEL! Are the janitors organizing the riot? Is it to kill him off? Some other goal? Are they symbolic of the devs freeing richter from the violent life he's been forced into provided that he completes one final trial? If so, is that a parallel of the hanchman's "one last job" from earlier in the game? Is the level supposed to bring forth a depiction of animalistic amorality in richter slaying all in his path, both cop and crook, or is it him determinedly doing whatever he needs to do to escape before ultimately meeting his doom in *another* parallel to the henchman but with him being happy due to his actions being out of his own free will rather than the orders of another? I could ask so much more about richter ALONE but also is the New Russian Drug made of the same plant found all over hawaii during the russo-american war because they sure do have similar colors. If it *is* then does that make the hawaiian conflict and the russo-colombian drug wars another set of literary parallels? I absolutely *know* that the bodies being dissolved in acid in the sewer was there literarily to show the fans being in over their heads with their action hero fantasies they're trying to live out as opposed to the really fucked up and *real* violence that lies under their very feet but i am going to make an entire reblog to this about my theories regarding them and possible connections to an event in the first game and what those might mean. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PHONE COMPANY AND WHY DID THE SON HAVE A FIRE AXE IN APOCALYPSE WHEN HE HAS A GUN IN DEATH WISH?!?!?!?! Was martin brown actually a fucked up person or was he just a method actor whose character was invading his psyche? Does tony actually have the same mask that jacket wore or is it from the guy that was tied to a chair in the booby-trapped room? If it isnt jacket's, is that a way to show how tony (like the rest of the fans) is merely following an idea he created in his head of who jacket was and why he did what he did instead of actually understanding him? WHICH APRIL 3RD DID RICHARD MEAN WHEN HE SAID THAT'S WHEN JACKET AND HIM MET? THE METRO? THE BOMBING OF SAN FRANCISCO? Is the use of the pig mask for martin, the first character you play as, meant to subtly show the shift in level design philosophy from the first game through its effect (more guns) therein? Is the whole "enemies frequently shoot you from offscreen" thing symbolic of how the odds are stacked against every character, foreshadowing of the ending, a spiteful jab at sequels, or a further extension of the theme of reality vs fantasy? If youre an english major or like literature, please please please play this series holy FUCK

#hotline miami #hotline miami 2

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vernelore · 2 years

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Calendar of Falling Stars and Holidays of Destiny Islands

The calendar has 10 months. The year is 295 days. Months are known as “matsu”.

(Matsu is a combination of the word “month” in Japanese [gatsu] and Hawaiian [mahina])

The calendar is based around the “Falling Stars”. The stars are a zodiac based around a story.

When the world formed, plants covered the land. Before people or animals came, the world was quiet. The sun did not like to come to the world because it was so quiet. But one night, the stars grew curious of this world, so 10 friends, bound by starlight, came to see the world.

When they came, they saw it needed something more.

Life.

They made creatures similar to themselves.

First came Lobo. He was the bravest and most competitive of his friends, so he rushed to be there first. He made creatures that hunt with their friends, the wolves that run in the brush.

Second came Pagong. He moved calm, following the waves of light in a gentle way. When he found the ocean, he loved to sit on the beach, in the waves. He made creatures to ride the waves, turtles who gently swim.

Third came Lumba. Full of excitement and joy, she curiously explored the world, playing happily. She made creatures to play constantly, the curious dolphins of the sea.

Fourth came Usa. Staying close to her friends, she cautiously waited to come out and explore. She made creatures that stay close to one another, the cautious deer.

Fifth came Kabag. He worked hard, following his own set of rules that helped him move forward. He made creatures that work by their own rules, the bats who hunt in the dark.

Sixth came Tagak. He was always careful. He saw the balance in the world and worked to preserve it. He made creatures that stand over all, observing the world and its balances, the thin-legged cranes.

Seventh came Poka. She did not like to be seen, hiding in the shadows. But with those she knew, she was playful and fun. She made creatures that like to play with their friends, the elusive seal.

Eighth came Balyena.He always searched. He searched for knowledge, new things, and adventures. He made creatures that dive deep into the depths, the far-traveling whales.

Ninth came Palkon. He was patient, not caring to come later than the others. But he felt a deep dedication to his friends and to his task at hands. He made creatures that work patiently, the dedicated falcons.

Tenth came Pating. Shameless and always, ready for a challenge, she charged in last. She made creatures that are ready for a challenge no matter what, the shameless sharks.

When they finished their individual tasks, before they left, decided to leave one more gift in the hopes that people would one day live on this land. As their bonds of starlight kept them tied together forever, they made something that could tie people together forever. A bond that can’t be broken. Working together, they created a star-shaped fruit that two people could share to bond themselves together.

Then they left, satisfied with their work.

And left a second gift by accident.

When they landed and left, their stardust fell across the sea, taking the shape of shells that sailors would one day tie together in star-shaped charms called “wayfinders” to represent the bond of the Paopu fruit.

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Lobotsu

The month of Lobotsu has 30 days

1st-7th- New Year.

1st- People celebrate the birth of the new year with round white cakes that are similar to a full moon. They are treated like birthday cakes for the new year. They also create paper lanterns with blessings for the new year written on the lantern.

2nd- People eat flat bread shaped like the full moon as well as lots of baked fish at a large family meal at dinner.

3rd- The whole day people wear clothes covered in stars. Children travel from house-to-house after dark, receiving star-shaped candy and cookies.

4th- At sundown, a play is performed on the beach of the main island. The play tells the story of the Falling Stars.

5th- After dark, there are dances on the beach. This day is considered a lucky day, and many people choose this day to give someone a paopu fruit.

6th- This day is known as the “Union of Stars”. It has become tradition to get married on this day. There are usually ten to twenty weddings every year on this day.

7th- This day is known as “Lobo’s Day”. People put up wolf-based decorations. Children dress up as wolves while some adults dress as rabbits and hide themselves around town. The children try to find all the rabbits. If they are successful, they win treats. This is also a night to eat lots of meat.

Pagongtsu

The month of Pagongtsu has 29 days

Start of Harvest- It does not start on one particular day. It is marked by the first blooms of the paopu trees. This is a day of cleaning. Not only are houses cleaned, but food storage is cleaned in order to make room for the new crops to be grown during the harvest.

Lumbatsu

The month of Lumbatsu has 30 days

8th- Children’s Day- This is a day off from school. Children are given presents and they spend the day playing games with friends and family. In the spirit of Lumba, the children either dress like dolphins or wear dolphin-themed clothing. Many of the items they receive as gifts might be dolphin-themed.

Usatsu

The month of Usatsu has 29 days

27th-29th- Festival of Thanks

27th- This day is used for preparation of the full celebration, but it is considered part of the celebration as the full community gathers together to prepare the meals and decorate the town in deer-themed decorations. This celebration is to mark the end of the main harvest season.

28th- This is a massive feast with family. Meals are usually made up of one seafood-based soup, a protein that is usually venison, some sort of banana or coconut themed dessert. This meal reminds people of their family that they should be thankful for.

29th- This is a day of sharing. As more food is always prepared than the family can eat, they invite friends and neighbors over in order to share the leftovers with them. This meal reminds people of their family and the other people around them they should be thankful for.

Kabagtsu

The month of Kabagtsu has 29 days

1st- Start of Winter- The beginning of winter is also known as the Festival of Kites. People fill the sky with bat-shaped kites that are a reference to Kabag.

Tagaktsu

The month of Tagaktsu has 29 days

15th- Time of Tagak- This is the first day of a 15 day period that is to restore balance and as a reminder to respect animals and nature and to not take more than you need. During this time, fishing and hunting is not allowed.

Pokatsu

The month of Pokatsu has 29 days

1st- Start of Spring- This is the day of the Seal Dance. To celebrate Spring coming out of hiding, people say is the day Poka finally came out of hiding. People gather on the beach around noon, all dressed in silver clothes. They dance in the shallow water. After they eat shellfish for their lunch.

Balyenatsu

The month of Balyenatsu has 30 days

30th- Night of Balyena/Halloween- Children dress in costumes and spend this night searching for treasures, which are usually treats and books, hidden around town. Children are given riddles to follow in their search. Adults wait around, trying to startle kids while dressed as deep sea creatures. This is symbolic of Balyena and other whales diving into the darkness of the water.

Palkontsu

The month of Palkontsu has 30 days

30th- Start of Summer- The day after school lets out, the people gather for a celebration of summer. In the day, there is a sports competition. People compete in races, swimming contests, rowing contests, and the children play blitzball. As the sun sets, people dress in falcon-themed outfits. They dance and sing until dark.

Patingtsu

The month of Patingtsu has 30 days

25th-30th- Christmas

25th- On Christmas Day, people are “adopted” into families. Anyone who does not have relatives is taken in by another family. (This is based on the Hawaiian tradition of “hanai”) For the duration of the holiday, they will stay with the family and will be treated as another member of the family. Once everyone has a place to stay, a large lunch of bread, taro root, banana-based desserts, fish, and venison. After lunch, people go out and play blitzball and cricket. At the end of the day, everyone opens their presents. Some are from their family, and some are from Santa Claus. The family gifts usually contain at least one pair of new clothing, and the father usually gifts the children a practical gift. The story of Santa is different on the islands; in the stories they tell, he rides a shooting star to the islands and can magically appear in homes with magical stardust.

26th- Everyone celebrates together in their own unique ways. It is tradition to wear the new clothing they received the day before.

27th- This day is a quiet day. Everyone stays inside with their family and their “adopted” family. They play games together for some of the times. Most of the time is spent telling stories about family and the past.

28th- Children travel around the town, knocking on doors and singing Christmas songs to the people inside. At sundown, everyone gathers at the beach for a choir presentation.

29th- People open up their houses as sort of a street market. People sell food, homemade trinkets, homemade clothing, and other homemade items.

30th- This day, the last day of the year, is a celebration of Pating. People who were “adopted” go their separate ways after a lunch of sushi. At the end of the day, people write out challenges they endured from the year that is ending, and challenges to the new year. They burn those in a bonfire to end out the year.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Many of these holidays and traditions are inspired by Japanese, Hawaiian, Māori, Tahitian, Samoan, Fijian, and Tongan celebrations and traditions. The names of the zodiac are taken from the Filipino language. The idea of the zodiac is a combination of inspirations from the Chinese zodiac and the other zodiac that I don’t know the name of.

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letsgethaunted · 2 years

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Episode 75: Hawaiian Folklore Feat. Kamuela Kaneshiro Photodump

Image 01: 1837 map of beautiful Hawaii!! Image 02: King Kamehameha Image 03: Queen Lili’uokalani Image 04: A depiction of Night Marchers (Huaka’i Pō) Image 05: A ti plant Image 06: A depiction of a mo’o Image 07: Another depiction of a mo’o Image 08: The remains of slain mo’o become natural formations in the Hawaiian landscape, according to folklore Image 09: Two depictions of Kasha Image 10: A photograph of the house that is alleged to be the infamous Kaimuki House, although no one really knows for sure

#Hawaiian Folklore Feat. Kamuela Kaneshiro #Let's Get Haunted #Night Marchers #mo’o #Kasha #Kaimuki House #Instagram

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freehawaii · 2 years

Video

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HOW HAWAIIANS ARE RELATED TO TARO ON “VOICES OF TRUTH - ONE-ON-ONE WITH HAWAI`IʻS FUTURE"

"Only The People Change - A Visit With Kapa`ihi Umebayashi"

Hereʻs a story weʻve long wanted to tell you - the unique and special relationship between Hawaiians and the taro plant which goes back centuries. To do that, we spent an afternoon with Kapa`ihi Umebayashi, a farmer at Kako`o`oiwi on O`ahuʻs beautiful windward side. He explained to us taro is not just a staple food for Hawaiians, but theyʻre actually related to it. Join us in our amazing visit with Kapa`ihi as he explains the ancient ties between Hawaiians, taro and Hawai`iʻs land and what they have to teach all of us if we only listen - Watch It Here

Now you can become a fan of Voices Of Truth on Facebook by clicking Here and see behind the scenes photos of our shows and a whole lot more.

Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants. We hope you'll be inspired to do the same. Voices Of Truth airs throughout Hawai`i on all islands and reaches over 24 million households across the US and throughout the world. Check your local cable TV listings. For news and issues that affect you, watch Free Hawai`i TV, a part of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network. Please share our Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network videos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Mahalo.

#voices of truth #hawaiian culture #ehu kekahu cardwell #free hawaii broadcasting network #koani foundation

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babypalms · 2 months

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YouTube Videos - Dougherty Garden Video Collection - October 29, 2023

Dougherty Garden Videos QtyName of Collection228Dougherty Garden – Assorted Plants – DG07235Dougherty Garden – Flowers – DG02135Dougherty Garden – Hawaiian Ti Plants – DG05228Dougherty Garden – Hibiscus Plants – DG04118Dougherty Garden – How To Videos – DG03185Dougherty Garden – Plant Maintenance – DG06190Dougherty Garden – Plant Videos – DG011Dougherty Garden – Tropical Garden of South…

#colors #flower #flowers #garden #gardening #photography

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the-firebird69 · 4 months

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These are becoming very popular again and he wants to create the rescue rangers and come up with the company to make these and to make them so they are new and different and for rescue rangers as a military vehicle and we'll have plants all over the world and we'll have ties to the UN and America's army and other armies and people go there and it's competition is very dicey a horrific experience everything in the place will be bolted or welded down so you can't harm each other and it'll get it done and we'd like to do it we're going to go ahead and try and solicit people to try and get them interested and it's going to be a small fundraiser we're kind of going to donate a lot of it and we want to get people going on it and have you build the small basis and with us and it can be a multiple different types of ways of doing it mostly we're thinking like habitat for humanity and yeah the max probably won't be helping so we have interested people and we are going to start and pick an area a place I usually neutral somewhere in New York area and they won't interfere with your invite stuff or started but this is one of the vehicles we're going to make I want to call it the badger it's not as fierce as the wolverine but this is what we're going to do and he wanted to keep the animals small but I don't think that's going to be possible. And we want to run surveillance missions and little ones and put extra tanks on a small plane and what better plane then you then the su-37 but a knock off it's a wonderful jet it's extremely fast it's faster than the raptor and it handles better and it is our daughter's design and it's smooth and he wants to pay the Chinese guy he's a Chinese warlock to have him join up with the group and we'll make the jet but we need a base first and it's not a big jet it's like 30 ft long and a single cedar he's kind of excited he sees what this could be he is Asian he is a minority morlock but his name is somewhat Hawaiian sounding and the trumps get involved and they say they want to design all this crap but really they're helping to make them and all kind of the same family fighting each other and his name is not benihana that's kind of our son's name and nobody has it in the show it's kind of weird but people are calling him that when he was little and he's a little big one and they figured out that it's the name of Honor in Asia and a lot of people calling that to him when he was walking around he's looking around trying to see who it is it was a lot of fun and they said he's special boy and he's got a lot of Asian in him and they saw that he was fast and he is accurate with the peas and his chopsticks and he wants to show people again so he left the restaurant felt good cuz they respected him for the vast it was a good time he said he saw a real ninjas going out after people. In military it was harsh it was harsh but we want to name this the badger and he says I believe that's correct and wolverine is a little bigger and more fierce is two wheel drive and it's both wheels and we'll have fat bear and all sorts of things these jets are great idea so he's going to try and find it and we're going to try and get this going and he says that we should we have the huge company we're going to be building projects there's a spot that's not bad in LA county and so we can try and get permits might not be able to fly the Jets there right away but we're going to try and fly something's helicopters and Trump has some and he might join up to do it and run rescue missions and he knows what it is it's so we can get together oops are tough so we're going to move out he's got suggestions and a son says they will have to set up some kind of meeting and he says that the VFW in LA and Trump likes it and other races are invited he says too

Thor Freya

Olympus

I don't know what happened today you guys always lose it this is terrible

Tommy f

Okay okay we see you do we need to do this though this is a great idea and we have bikes like this and they're not newer we need new ones and they want to contract and we want to send it and they're going to use the old Harley plant and that makes sense Max says no that he says yes but he's going to be in this too and someday he'll probably come on base to the rescue ranger Base and inspect it and we can't wait

Trump

Olympus

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astonishinglegends · 4 months

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Ep 284: Nightmarchers of Hawaii

"My family and I might be safe from the Night Marchers because our ancestor was the Kauai ali’i and Kamehameha’s adviser, Chief Kai’iana. Ka’iana died at the Battle of Nu’uanu and may walk with the procession." -- Tonight's guest, Kamuela Kaneshiro

Description:

Those who have visited Hawaii have experienced its natural beauty, soothing lifestyle, and the charm and friendliness of the inhabitants. However, only a select few may have encountered what the locals know and revere – the supernatural entities and legends that are still active and enduring. Some, like seeing "Madame Pele," can invigorate awe and wonder, while others can be terrifying. One of the latter and seemingly more prevalent is encountering the Night Marchers. They usually appear as a column of warriors floating above the ground along a predetermined path, weapons or torches in hand. Many report only hearing their presence in the form of unexplainable beating drums or the ghostly blowing of a conch shell. And just seeing them, it's said, ensures a disappearance or violent death to the witness if the proper respect isn't paid in their presence. But what is their origin story, and what do they want? Are they soldiers defeated by King Kamehameha I advancing towards a counterattack or seeking revenge? Or are they keepers and enforcers of ancient Hawaiian cultural laws and mores? To help us explore these questions and relay some of his personal experiences, tonight's guest is Kamuela "Kamu" Kaneshiro. As a native Hawaiian, content creator, and podcaster for 20 years, Kamu has extensive knowledge of the lore and heritage of his homeland. His royal lineage might even protect him from these fearsome spectral guardians. Join us for a fascinating discussion as we warily watch for the Night Marchers of Hawaii.

Reference Links:

Kamuela Kaneshiro’s website, legendsfromthepacific.com

Kamuela’s episode, “Episode 12 – Hawaii’s Deadly Royal Procession - The Night Marchers”

Kamuela’s “Episode 11 – Hawaii’s Ultimate Warrior - King Kamehameha the Great”

Kamuela’s “Episode 1 – Pele - Hawaii’s Goddess of Fire”

A free bonus episode gift from Kamuela – “Hawaii’s Faceless Ghost – Mujina”

Kamuela’s newsletter sign-up and free gift

Kamu’s old neighborhood

The “Chicken Skin” show’s episode on the Nightmarchers, from Noʻeau Woo-O'Brien’s YouTube channel

Wikipedia entry on Hawaii

Nightmarchers on Wikipedia

“ Mana” – the supernatural force in Oceanian cultures

“Pō Kāne: When Spirits Haunt the Night” from the Ho‘okahua Hawaiian Cultural Vibrancy Group

Kamehameha I

Kaʻiana

Battle of Nuʻuanu

“Nu‘uanu Pali Road – 1897: Crossing the Ko‘olau Range” from the Historic Hawai’i Foundation

Kapu in Hawaiian culture

Hawaiian religion

Aliʻi – ancient Hawaiian hereditary nobility

List of Hawaiian monarchs

“A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE RULERS OF HAWAII” by Jane Smith, from the Hawaii Star

“When Hawaii’s Monarchy Was Overthrown, With Rogue US Support” on History.com

Simon Metcalfe

American sailing vessel, the Fair American

“Madame Pele”

Nāmaka, older sister of Pele

The Wild Hunt

Harry Dresden

PUʻUHONUA O HŌNAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK from LoveBigIsland.com

Mujina – The Faceless Woman from AmericanGhostStories.com

Glen Grant, Hawaiian historian

The Ti plant – Cordyline fruticosa

“ Maui Plant of the Month: Monkeypod” – from MauiWebCameras.com

Location:

Oʻahu, Hawaii, site of the Battle of Nuʻuanu, where King Kamehameha I’s army forced over 700 opposing warriors off a cliff.

Suggested Listening:

From the Astonishing Legends Network:

Find us on YouTube!

Click this text to find all Astonishing Legends episodes and more on our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Astonishinglegends

Join us on Patreon!

Click HERE or go to patreon.com/astonishinglegends to become one of our Patreon members and receive exclusive offerings, like our bonus Astonishing Junk Drawer episodes (posted every weekend the main show is dark) commercial-free episodes, and more!

SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR SPECIAL SPONSORS:

FIND OTHER GREAT DEALS FROM OUR SHOW’S SPONSORS BY CLICKING HERE!

CREDITS:

Episode 284: Nightmarchers of Hawaii. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2024 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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life-around-me-yura15cbx · 5 months

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Passiflora tarminiana (or banana passionfruit).

The yellow fruits are edible and their resemblance to small, straight bananas has given it the name banana passionfruit in some countries. It is native to the uplands of tropical South America and is now cultivated in many countries. In Hawaii and New Zealand it is now considered an invasive species. In Hawaii, it is called banana poka (in the Hawaiian language the word pōka'a refers to tendrils – "that which is tied up in a ball like rope or twine"). In its Latin American homeland, it is known as curuba, curuba de Castilla, or curuba sabanera blanca (Colombia); taxo, tacso, tagso, tauso (Ecuador); parcha, taxo (Venezuela), tumbo or curuba (Bolivia); tacso, tumbo, tumbo del norte, trompos, tintin, porocsho or purpur (Peru).

Clade:Rosids

Order:Malpighiales

Family:Passifloraceae

Genus:Passiflora

The banana passionfruit is native to the Andean valleys from Venezuela to Bolivia.It was domesticated and cultivated since pre-Columbian times by various cultures of western South America before the Spanish Conquest. the most important disperser in Hawaii is the feral pig, which eats the fallen fruit and passes the seeds intact.

Passiflora tarminiana and P. tripartita thrive in the climate of New Zealand. They are invasive species since they can smother forest margins and forest regrowth. It is illegal to sell, cultivate and distribute the plants.

The leaves and roots of some, if not all, members of this genus contain a substance called 'passiflorina' which has similaritiesr to morphine and is an effective tranquilizer. The leaves of many species are also considered to be anthelmintic, antihysteric and diaphoretic. They are used in Brazil to combat intermittent fevers, cutaneous inflammations, and erysipelas.

25 Rimutaka Place, Titirangi, Auckland 0604

3J4P+85X Auckland

-36.9441310, 174.6354780

наземные растения цветковые фрукты лианы травы

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writing--references · 10 months

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kī / ti: Cordyline fruticosa, a native shrub used for thatching, food wrappers, hula skirts, sandals; alcohol is distilled from the roots

It was planted around one's hale or house to ward off evil spirits. It was plentiful because it would be used in cooking and aesthetically for serving food or beautifying a display of any kind. Soaked in cool water and applied to the forehead would immediately chase away a head ache. If worn around you neck it would immediately cool the entire body. To give a ti leaf lei is a sign of great respect. It is often worn at graduations, weddings and other ceremonial events. It can also be a sign of something lasting.

In ancient Hawaiʻi the plant was thought to have great spiritual power; only kahuna (shamans) and aliʻi (chiefs) were able to wear leaves around their necks during certain ritual activities. Ti was sacred to the god of fertility and agriculture Lono, and the goddess of the forest and the hula dance, Laka. Ti leaves were also used to make lei, and to outline borders between properties it was also planted at the corners of the home to keep evil spirits away. To this day some Hawaiians plant tī near their houses to bring good luck. The leaves are also used for lava sledding. A number of leaves are lashed together and people ride down hills on them. The leaves were also used to make items of clothing including skirts worn in dance performances. The Hawaiian hula skirt is a dense skirt with an opaque layer of at least fifty green leaves and the bottom (top of the leaves) shaved flat.

In Hawaii, the roots mixed with water and fermented are also distilled into an alcoholic beverage known as ʻŌkolehao. It's forerunner was a fermented ti root beverage or beer. When distillation techniques were introduced by English seamen in 1790, it was distilled into a highly alcoholic spirit.

#hawaii #'7' references #enneagram cycle

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daastane-musafir · 10 months

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Hike Waimea Falls: A Journey into Oahu’s Natural Beauty

Title: Hike Waimea Falls: A Journey into Oahu’s Natural Beauty

Oahu, the heart of Hawaii, is renowned for its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant culture. Amidst the lush greenery of the island, Waimea Falls stands as a testament to the natural beauty that Oahu has to offer. The journey to this captivating waterfall is not just a physical trek; it's a sensory experience that immerses you in the island's rich history and diverse ecosystems.

The Trailhead: A Gateway to Nature’s Wonders

The adventure begins at the Waimea Valley entrance, where visitors are greeted by a lush botanical garden showcasing a kaleidoscope of tropical flora. Towering trees provide a shaded canopy, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. As you traverse the well-maintained pathways, the symphony of bird songs and the gentle rustle of leaves create a harmonious backdrop for the journey ahead.

Cultural Riches Along the Way

Waimea Valley isn't just a haven for nature enthusiasts; it's a living museum of Hawaiian culture. Along the trail, you'll encounter ancient archaeological sites and replicas of traditional hale (thatched huts). Knowledgeable guides share the island's history, detailing the significance of the valley in Hawaiian mythology and its evolution through time.

Floral Splendor: A Botanical Paradise

The trail is lined with a breathtaking array of tropical plants and flowers, each with its own unique story. From the vibrant heliconias to the fragrant plumerias, the botanical diversity mirrors the island's cultural tapestry. Take a moment to appreciate the intricate patterns of the hibiscus, Hawaii's state flower, and the symbolic ti plants used in traditional Hawaiian ceremonies.

The Waterfall: A Refreshing Oasis

As you approach the climax of the hike, the distant sound of cascading water grows louder. Emerging from the dense vegetation, Waimea Falls reveals itself in all its majestic glory. The 45-foot waterfall, surrounded by towering cliffs draped in greenery, plunges into a crystal-clear pool below. It's not just a sight to behold; it's an invitation to cool off and rejuvenate.

Swimming in Paradise

The pool beneath the waterfall beckons for a refreshing dip. Swimmers of all ages can take advantage of the opportunity to immerse themselves in the invigorating waters. The experience is both surreal and therapeutic, as the coolness of the pool contrasts with the warmth of the Hawaiian sun. Lifeguards ensure the safety of visitors, allowing everyone to enjoy this natural oasis responsibly.

Conservation and Stewardship

Waimea Valley is not only a sanctuary for leisure but also a commitment to conservation. The Waimea Valley Hi'ipaka nonprofit organization works tirelessly to preserve and protect the valley's ecological integrity. Visitors contribute to these efforts through their entrance fees, creating a symbiotic relationship between tourism and conservation.

Practical Tips for the Hike

Bring Comfortable Footwear: The trail is diverse, ranging from well-paved paths to uneven terrain. Sturdy, comfortable footwear is essential for a pleasant hike.

Hydrate: Oahu's tropical climate can be deceiving. Stay hydrated by bringing plenty of water, especially if you plan on taking a dip in the waterfall.

Respect the Environment: Follow the "Leave No Trace" principles. Respect the flora and fauna, and stay on designated paths to minimize your ecological impact.

Guided Tours: Consider joining a guided tour to gain deeper insights into the valley's history and cultural significance.

Conclusion: A Journey to Remember

Waimea Falls encapsulates the essence of Oahu's natural beauty and cultural richness. The journey through the botanical garden, the cultural sites, and the grand finale at the waterfall creates an experience that transcends the physical act of hiking. It's a journey into the heart of Oahu, where the spirit of the island comes alive through its landscapes and stories, leaving visitors with memories that linger long after they've left the enchanting embrace of Waimea Valley.

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