Garden of Eden Luau, Summer Solstice 2025! Saturday JULY 26th, 3pm

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THEME: SNAKES & PLANTS!  The main theme this year is plants, but also snakes, 'cause it's year of the snake!  (You can probably guess what plant that is in the backdrop of the poster)

1) PLANT SWAP!  Bring a plant, take a plant!  Participation is not mandatory, but you get a special treat if you do, and if someone over-supplies us, feel free to take the extra plants!  Don't leave me with too many plants unless you plan to come help me plant them in the yard.

2) SNAKE STORYTELLING!  The Legend of Moʻowahine Nahessa, the Snake Spirit woman named Nahessa.  Read her origin story here -- I invite you creative types to write up a cool story (or art) involving her or her followers.  You get a special gift if you submit a story (or art)!  We'll use the Karaoke machine so that you or your designee can read the story to the audience!  Maybe if there's a genuine Hawaiian, err, kānaka ʻŌiwi?, at the party, they can give the stories proper treatment.

2a) SNAKE SONGS!  A Ryan of some rapport will be bringing his awesome JBL karaoke machine, which we'll use for the stories.  And maybe for some snakaoke (karaoke), too.

3) FORBIDDEN DRINK!  I will be providing a keg of mead or beer, in a Forbidden Fruit theme (pomegranate, fig, or apple), and a great many teas (I have many tea steeping thinggers, and I'll have a pot of hot water on the stove; have at it).  In the past, folks have brought lots of other drinks too, wet and dry -- please continue that tradition, it's great to have variety.

3a)  FOOD catering is being considered, but it's a toss-up -- for now, please plan on bringing potluck kinda stuff, but if I can arrange a Polynesian catering option, I'll let everyone know.

4) Telegram Group for collaboration & discussion: https://t.me/+Dtx60w9N3NI5OTRh

5)  This year, the Summer Solstice was June 20, 2025, at 8:42 p.m.  MDT -- due to various complications, I couldn't have the party closer to that date, but don't worry, we'll still have PLENTY of daytime and night time to party.  Besides, June is our wettest month; July has a better chance of no rain or hail.  So long as we pay homage to Nahesa.