By Steven Smith

Aloha, Dear Sangha,

Last July 1999, Hawai'i Insight Meditation Center (HIMC) signed an agreement with a large landowner in North Kohala, Hawai'i Island, to purchase 250 acres (190 plus 60 optional) of extraordinary land centered around Hapu'u Bay. With a closing expected sometime around August of this year, we grow closer to the privilege and responsibility of caring for it. Since that time, vast tracks of land have been selling near and around our section, now prices have risen considerably and availability diminished. We are very, very fortunate to have been led to this land so rich in history, beauty, wisdom and mana (spiritual power).

So many of you have offered your kokua (co-operation, help or assistance) and honestly, we need it more than I can convey in words. Because HIMC does not yet hold title to the land, there is little that can be done on the land itself. Most of the tasks have to be carried out at present by the voluntary services of the Board, Board Committees and Sangha members involved with the Vipassana Hawai'i Newsletter, retreat organization, and information services and management. Your continued help in these areas, lending your energy, understanding and partnership, is vital to building community.

There is growing excitement in Hawai'i, the Americas, Europe and Asia for what promises to be the creation of a unique Dharma Center in the world, a bridge between East and West, classical tradition and contemporary innovation. HIMC is virtually arising from you, the sangha. It is you who call forth a balance of Buddha's teachings on self-liberation in union with awareness and service for the welfare of all beings, developing the paramis (virtues within), which both bring personal awakening and alleviate suffering in the world. It is you who call forth an earth-oriented Dharma, a place of refuge and beauty.

The Center at Hapu'u Bay, North Kohala, IS JUST THIS PLACE OF REFUGE AND NATURAL BEAUTY. HIMC will invite monks and nuns from Asia who will teach both individually and together with western teachers. In addition to traditional-style retreats, we will have retreats exclusively for youth that invite forward their natural spirituality while grounding them in the land. Educators, executives, medical practitioners and philanthropists can all discover their natural, innate goodness in mindful exploration mirrored by the phenomenal beauty and power of the sacred place of refuge (pu'u honua) at Hapu'u Bay. Over the past year some sangha members have been developing wonderful relations with the people of North Kohala. We have been sharing ideas and helping a local community organization, Na Huapala 'O Hawai'i (Friends with Much Love of Hawai'i). Kumu Hula Raylene Lancaster leads this non-profit group. They have reactivated taro-growing on ancient terraces along our shared Halawa Stream mauka (on the mountain side) of our land. Michele and I along with a few friends have deepened our connection with the land and people by spending time working in their taro patches and clearing out the debris in Halawa Stream.

Once the land is officially under the care of HIMC, we invite you all to come and help restore the taro patches with the community and heal the land after 150 years of sugar plantation, so that once again the land is reawakened and the taro terraces flourish. You will feel the land coming through you, healing and restoring your innate goodness and sense of well-being, whispering silent words of wisdom.