Today I have traveled to Cuba in the spirit of Aloha! Roughly 24 hours from this point, my family would participate in a cultural exchange. Do all cultural exchanges end in persecution or have we just forgotten our roots. We answered that question as the orange sails of the Hokulea quietly appeared on the horizon, their origin or purpose unknown by most until now. When I arrived at Jose Marti International airport, I was greeted by an assortment of family members. Outside the terminal a crowd larger than expected awaited new arrivals. Havana was buzzing. For the next three days, the country would prepare for the arrival of President Barack Obama. He would attend a huge baseball game between the Cuban national team and the Tampa Bay Rays and later on tour the island with the first family. Within the same week a Rolling Stones concert was slated. Cuba was the center of the universe. As my family and I exited the airport we were trailed by two young reporters looking to capture our reunion. They wielded a humble recording device that would shortly after broadcast my entrance into what initially felt like a time warp, across major French media outlets. I loaded in to a newer model taxi van that was unlike the majority of cars on the road and headed to my Bnb. I stayed in a humble apartment building centrally located. The streets were fairly busy with pedestrians some lounging outside of there dwellings others going about there day, many times breaking out into song, African song. The Yoruba verses rang through the noise in beautiful tones and harmonies. I captured all of the amazing sights from Chinatown to my families native town Guanabocoa, Hemingway marina, the malecon, the cannon and of course the gorgeous and colorful people of Cuba. For video footage of the full Hokulea ceremony checkout my YouTube channel. Miawalesworldwide Youtube
