I dreamt one night of a little animated bee cartoon. I’m sure it was a rare combination of complete comfort with my surroundings and the activities of the previous day.
Later that evening we were blessed to attend the Hawaiian Symphony in their newest educational program “Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds.” The program was created with University of Hawaii experts in extinct and near-extinct birds. U of H artists worked with elementary school children to create visual animations to accompany the musical compositions also created with U of H music majors.
In my dream I’m in the mist at the Pali lookout when a bee hits me directly in the face. Stunned, it falls to the ground and speaks to tell me to pick it up gently by the wings and deliver it to a distant stream. I move through time and space with a benign musical soundtrack and miraculously end up near a stream with my tiny package intact.
At the Nu’uanu Pali lookout overlooking the windward side of Oahu, one can feel the tragic history of 400 local warriors driven over the cliff by Kamehameha in his battles to unite the islands into one force in 1795. The views are breath taking but a small sign captured my attention. “Caution. Beware of bees during high winds.” At the time we laughed at the notion assuming it was bees unable to navigate in the high winds.
Many of the six small works were lighthearted but one featured the O’o. ‘Vanished birds: Farewell to the O’o’ told the story of the last known of his species who died, in captivity in the 1980s, hauntingly calling out for its mate that would never respond. It was an intensely moving tribute as the music mimicked the recording of this now-extinct species.
I was emotionally touched by both stories but didn’t realize the extent until the next morning after my dream.
The now-animated bee responds to being placed in the water by grabbing a small floating leaf and using it as a boogie board to surf downstream to the sounds of a jazz guitar. He literally boogies his way while scat singing as he waves to me like a charming Steamboat Willie cartoon.
I don’t spend much time analyzing rare dreams. And this one is no exception. I do know it left me profoundly relieved to have saved a small part of the wonderful landscape we are blessed to have experienced.
For more about the Ohana Concert: Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds, http://hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org/program-books/
