Even though there was only four or five of us, we took every opportunity to go to rock concerts, festivals, beach happenings, or wherever there would be large congregations of people. We played on stage between sets with Jefferson Airplane, with Goursundar and Turyadas on guitar, Balabhadra on mridanga, and Jayasri and myself as vocal. Balabhadra had many connections with the local music industry, as he seemed to know everyone, so he was very instrumental in getting us into places.
One noteworthy festival was the “Sunshine Pleasure Fair,” also known as the “Crater Festival.” It was perhaps one of the first of the Crater Festivals, called this because it was held inside Diamondhead Crater. Diamondhead Crater sits just above Waikiki, and is perhaps the best known landmark in Hawaii. It is an extinct volcano that looks very much like a diamond, Hawaii’s diamond, facing the ocean.
One noteworthy festival was the “Sunshine Pleasure Fair,” also known as the “Crater Festival.” It was perhaps one of the first of the Crater Festivals, called this because it was held inside Diamondhead Crater. Diamondhead Crater sits just above Waikiki, and is perhaps the best known landmark in Hawaii. It is an extinct volcano that looks very much like a diamond, Hawaii’s diamond, facing the ocean.
The Sunshine Pleasure Fair consisted of many tents and pavillions, a live bandstand, and refreshments of all sorts. Food, fun, music, dance, plenty of sunshine--lots of long haired youth, and of course, the newly arrived Hare Krishnas!
We pitched a small tent near the main thoroughfare, and set up a small altar with little Jagannatha Deities, a picture of Pancha Tattva, and Srila Prabhupada. Youths would wander through and we would give them some prasadam. We were becoming famous for our coconut laddu--a simple treat that was labor intensive, but very inexpensive to make. We had very little money, so we utilized whatever we had, and there were plenty of coconuts to be had!
We pitched a small tent near the main thoroughfare, and set up a small altar with little Jagannatha Deities, a picture of Pancha Tattva, and Srila Prabhupada. Youths would wander through and we would give them some prasadam. We were becoming famous for our coconut laddu--a simple treat that was labor intensive, but very inexpensive to make. We had very little money, so we utilized whatever we had, and there were plenty of coconuts to be had!
There was a colorful bandstand pavilion, with microphones and huge speakers. When our turn came, we went onstage, with Goursundar and Turya playing guitar and singing into one of the mikes, and Jayasri and myself playing kartals and singing into the another mike, and Balabhadra leading the beat with his expert mridanga playing. So we had our turn at chanting, blasting the Hare Krishna mantra over the din of the crowd. Diamondhead Crater echoed and reverberated the Holy Names of Hare Krishna on that day.
At the Crater Fest, we first met “Sai,” a well-known yoga instructor in the Islands. He had ashrams and many followers, and gave classes at the “Church of the Crossroads,” a popular meeting place. Sai came to our little tent and offered some fresh fruit on Lord Jagannatha’s makeshift altar.
Then a little later, he chanted with us onstage at the bandstand. This was the beginning of a long relationship, as he soon embraced Bhakti yoga fully, and was later initiated by Srila Prabhupada with the name “Siddhaswarup Ananda Maharaj.” Since then he has served Srila Prabhupada by teaching thousands of people, mostly youth, to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. His preaching work in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as elsewhere, was always appreciated by Srila Prabhupada.
Aside from the obvious natural beauty of Hawaii, this place has another type of specialness that eludes many who are not situated on the platform of goodness. Like Laguna Beach, Hawaii is a “chakra,” a place where yogis take birth. Those who come here that are more inclined to passionate pursuits often find themselves confused and in a lot of trouble. And they usually leave the Islands soon after. But those who by nature are yogis, or have a more sattvic nature, become quite peaceful and transcendental in these Islands.
Moreover, Honolulu is perhaps the most central pivot of tourism for the whole world. On a regular basis, people come here from all over the world, stay a week or two, and take back home with them whatever they have received--a magazine, a book, or just hearing the Holy Names of Krishna.
Over 7 million people visit this Island every year, and mostly they are not the same people, but different groups. This constant flux of people makes Hawaii one of the prime preaching places in the world. Whereas most cities have the same residents, and some amount of tourists, Hawaii has new people coming and going every day!
Since Hawaii is perhaps the biggest and most important military base in the Pacific, having all four arms of the Military, there is a constant stream of coming and going in that area as well.
In addition to the military and tourism, there are a number of Universities, most notably the University of Hawaii, with its East West Center. Even the books of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur were lodged in the East West Center libraries long before Srila Prabhupada came to America.
Then of course, there is Waikiki, the place where all tourists gather. In the early days of our preaching work in Hawaii, Samkirtan on the streets of Waikiki was an everyday affair.
We had a daytime chanting party in downtown Honolulu, and an evening chanting party on the sidewalks of WaikikiAnd Samkirtan, as in “Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtan which cleanses the heart....,” from Lord Chaitanya’s Sikshastak, had one meaning only: Congregational chanting of the Holy Names, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. No one had yet coined a new meaning for the word Samkirtan
Aside from the obvious natural beauty of Hawaii, this place has another type of specialness that eludes many who are not situated on the platform of goodness. Like Laguna Beach, Hawaii is a “chakra,” a place where yogis take birth. Those who come here that are more inclined to passionate pursuits often find themselves confused and in a lot of trouble. And they usually leave the Islands soon after. But those who by nature are yogis, or have a more sattvic nature, become quite peaceful and transcendental in these Islands.
Moreover, Honolulu is perhaps the most central pivot of tourism for the whole world. On a regular basis, people come here from all over the world, stay a week or two, and take back home with them whatever they have received--a magazine, a book, or just hearing the Holy Names of Krishna.
Over 7 million people visit this Island every year, and mostly they are not the same people, but different groups. This constant flux of people makes Hawaii one of the prime preaching places in the world. Whereas most cities have the same residents, and some amount of tourists, Hawaii has new people coming and going every day!
Since Hawaii is perhaps the biggest and most important military base in the Pacific, having all four arms of the Military, there is a constant stream of coming and going in that area as well.
In addition to the military and tourism, there are a number of Universities, most notably the University of Hawaii, with its East West Center. Even the books of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur were lodged in the East West Center libraries long before Srila Prabhupada came to America.
Then of course, there is Waikiki, the place where all tourists gather. In the early days of our preaching work in Hawaii, Samkirtan on the streets of Waikiki was an everyday affair.
We had a daytime chanting party in downtown Honolulu, and an evening chanting party on the sidewalks of WaikikiAnd Samkirtan, as in “Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtan which cleanses the heart....,” from Lord Chaitanya’s Sikshastak, had one meaning only: Congregational chanting of the Holy Names, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. No one had yet coined a new meaning for the word Samkirtan
