I stopped on the Big Island for a few days to break up the journey—and the time difference—between the West Coast and Tokyo. A little time at our family home in Hawaiʻi seemed a very good way to ease into the trip.

There was another reason for the visit. We, the Bollinger/Bearden family, had finally arranged to have our home and property blessed by a kahu. Our place has been plagued by mishaps and funny business for years. As I put it, we seem to have upset the ancestral apple cart. It was time for a blessing! Unfortunately, I was the only family member who could attend, but our house manager, Derek, joined me, along with the Kahu, and his assistant, Isabella, to see if we could set things right.

Before we began, the kahu explained the physical elements of the ceremony: the bowl, the leaves, and the ingredients in the holy water mixture. There was meaning behind each one, although I would need to consult my recording to remember all the details.

We started at the outer perimeter of the property, where he used the leaves to sprinkle the mixture every few yards. Then he handed the bowl to me, and I took my turn around the house itself. From there we went indoors, visiting every room—even the closets—to continue the blessing.

We finished with a prayer. It was a quiet, pleasant ceremony, and afterward the house felt calmer. To close the Kahu brought out his ukulele and played a couple of songs. A lovely way to finish.

There’s also a resident committee of feral cats. I went out back one day and found about five hanging around. I’m not exactly a cat person, but I had leftover chicken, so I put it out on a platter for them. Dinner was enthusiastically received. This fellow, whom I’ve named Darth Vader, kept me under serious surveillance the whole time. Mano a mano. Apparently a chicken dinner does not automatically buy you friendship.

And then there’s the liquor cabinet. I don’t drink hard alcohol, but my family certainly knows how to party. Judging by the supplies, we’re prepared. The house may have needed a blessing, but the bar has clearly been well looked after.