KAVAX: Ta Valivali - A Response
On Tuesday, June 4, I attended my first ever KAVAX: Tā Valivali session at Four Shells Kava Lounge. In the space that was lovingly carved out for me, I was invited to rest, tell stories and create art. Being taken care of in this way allowed me to fully surrender to stillness. While my body relaxed and my worries eased, my cup was filled with community. From the cosy corner of Central Aukilani where I met the kava root, I rejoined the outside world feeling held by my sisters, my ancestors and myself.
Firstly, I was greeted by familiar faces, fine mats and the sounds of wāhine having wholesome mid-week catch-ups. Ambient lighting and plush cushions told me that I was in a restful space; somewhere I could kick my heels off and melt into the floor. So, I found a spot in the corner of the room next to someone I already knew and slowly breathed in my surroundings.
Once the other attendees had done the same, ‘Anau Mesui Henry - founder and co-owner of Four Shells Kava Lounge - carefully guided the group through singing waiata, reminding us that it was important to hear OUR languages. Then, she initiated whakawhanaungatanga. This process of attending to the names and whakapapa of everyone in the circle helped me to connect with people I hadn’t met before. Feeling even more peaceful, I settled in for the next part of the experience.
Intentional as ever, ‘Anau told indigenous stories while leading indigenous practices. We all listened like students in a captivating cultural classroom - eager to follow ‘Anau down a path to our own ancestral homes. As we freely explored our identities and knowledge systems, I realised that we were on a joint voyage towards harmony or “noa”. It became evident that this session was not just about drinking kava. ‘Anau was reacquainting us with a holistic approach to our collective hauora, and kava was a catalyst for this conversation.
Throughout the session, we painted whatever naturally arose as a result of these meaningful discussions. With the guiding principles of faka'apa'apa (respect), tauhivā (maintaining good relationships), mamahi'ime'a (being passionate about one's beliefs) and loto tō (humility and being open) in mind, ‘Anau repeatedly brought our attention to the benefits of being grounded in communal ways of being. She calmly facilitated profoundly safe and insightful reflections among strangers, family and friends.
If you are looking for a “low-stress, therapeutic art and talanoa environment”, I strongly suggest that you join ‘Anau and guest speaker Kasi Valu at the next instalment of the KAVAX: Tā Valivali series. The third KAVAX: Tā Valivali session will take place on Tuesday, July 9 from 7pm to 9pm! Tickets are free and available online at Eventbrite. For more details and future updates, follow @fourshellskava on Instagram.