Gathering for the Sunset
I’m on Poipu Beach in Kauai, and about a hundred of us gathered to watch the sun go down. It set around 6:15, but by 5:45 people were already settling in—sitting, drinking, and talking as we waited for the moment. When the sun finally touched the horizon, a hush fell over the beach. Then, as it slipped below the water, many of us spontaneously clapped. With tropical clouds glowing in layered colors, it was beautiful. For those few minutes, we formed a small, life-supporting community around one of the island’s most sacred daily events.
Rituals and Their Meaning
You can do this at sunrise, of course, but sunset is much easier for most people. In the One Love Love and Peace Scriptures, rituals are essential practices, and we have a book on rituals coming out soon. At their core, rituals sanctify a sequence of events. In this case, it was the sun descending and the colors shifting across the water. There were swimmers, surfers, and people in all kinds of attire. I was sitting on a brown-and-white striped towel, wearing a suit, baseball cap, and sunglasses. After the sun disappeared, the sky seemed to catch fire—its last rays lighting up the clouds.
The Beauty of the Moment
Cameras and iPhones clicked constantly on this warm November evening. A beautiful girl in a g-string, a ten-gallon hat, and cowboy boots came up and announced the sunset. The Sheraton’s orange propane torches flickered to life, adding even more ambiance as night approached. The water was 80 degrees, warm enough that even after a swim you didn’t feel cold. For us, it was a sacred ritual—an exchange of energy between Mother Earth, the ocean, and the sun. Divine, in its own way. It touched our hearts and opened our minds.
A Community Connected by Nature
A suntanned community of all ages gathered, along with children on boogie boards who paused to watch. There was a wedding nearby, guests dressed in their best. A birthday party was happening a little further down. At the bar, people were getting slushed for the evening, talking loudly. Palm trees behind us turned into sharp black silhouettes against the orange and pink sky. The water glowed deep blue with white caps dancing across it.
A Ritual Repeated Nightly
We repeated this ritual every night of the week. One evening, someone blew a conch shell while wearing a full Scottish outfit. It felt like a scene from a movie. Rituals are defined by their sequence of events, and this one had its own rhythm—day ending, night beginning, sounds from the beach carrying the moment, people whispering predictions of a beautiful sunset. When the time came, those who felt moved applauded. I simply smiled. As the sun touched the horizon, it grew larger, turning a rich red-orange.
The Colors of the Setting Sun
Its rays then filled the clouds with color that washed over the whole beach. Night was close. We’ve watched sunsets from our backyard and from Mount Tam near our home—each magical in its own way—but here the celebration was just beginning. Music started blasting. We’d wait through the night to see the sunrise and repeat the ritual again.
A Hawaiian Word for the Magic
In Hawaiian, it is nāpō‘o ana o ka lā — the setting of the sun.
A moment not to be missed.
