Love Letter: The Heartbeat of Hawaii

The last king of Hawaii said, "Hula is the language of the heart, therefore, the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story May 12, 2023 By Miya Lee King David Kalakaua, the last king to rule Hawaii before its constitutional monarchy was overthrown, revived many ancient Hawaiian practices, most notably hula. "Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of Hawaiian people," King Kalakaua famously said. Find out how the history of hula is intimately connected with the history of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian identity in "Preserving Hula, the Heartbeat of Hawaii." THE HEARTBEAT OF HAWAII "It's so important to know who you are because of the people that came before you, because once you forget, not just those people but the places, the mo'olelo, the stories, become lost." Preserving Hula, the Heartbeat of Hawaii For 60 years, the Merrie Monarch Festival has contributed to the reclamation of Hawaiian culture, language and identity. By Miya Lee and Brendan George Ko Subscribe Today We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MODERN LOVE "I told her something I normally saved for the sixth date, or the ninth, or never: I also had lost my mother. In a way. We were estranged." Brian Rea MODERN LOVE My Mother, the Stranger After cutting off all contact with my mother, I tried to let go. Now I'm trying to hold on. By Caitlin McCormick Brian Rea MODERN LOVE Tiny Love Stories: 'I Missed My Children, but I Needed My Mom' Modern Love in miniature, featuring reader-submitted stories of no more than 100 words. LOVE AND MARRIAGE "I was devastated and embarrassed and needed to focus on what I truly wanted in a partner." Megan Tennell VOWS After a Yearlong Dating Hiatus, (Cautiously) Embracing Something New Friendship came naturally to Ande Flower and Veronica Savage, but romance was more difficult to foresee. However, they persisted — all the way to the 'yacht rock' altar. By Louise Rafkin Jose Melgarejo MINI-VOWS A New York-Style Elopement Supporting an Important Cause Rohit Kalkur proposed to Stephanie Korbely with a 28-page scrapbook consisting of photo memories and love notes. Their wedding took place at an event focused on ending child marriages. By Sadiba Hasan Jeff Pounds Call It Postmodern Love Joe Fay and Dan Garness first met in what is now the Burns House, designed by the postmodernist architect Charles Moore. By Rosalie R. Radomsky Colette Photo MINI-VOWS How She 'Manifested' Marrying Her Secret Crush Allison Flynn was immediately drawn to Jeffrey Hood after meeting him on the job in Charleston, S.C., more than six years ago. "I kept telling people, 'I'm going to marry him,'" she said. By Jenny Block ASK THE EXPERTS "Were there any hearts and flowers in your boyfriend's marriage proposal, or was it all prenup?" Getty Images ASK VANESSA What Should I Wear to My Graduation? With graduation around the corner, a reader wonders how to approach an open-ended dress code. By Vanessa Friedman Miguel Porlan SOCIAL Q'S My Boyfriend Wants a Prenup. Can I Say No? Put off by her fiancé's request for a prenuptial agreement after years of paying her own way, a reader is finding that resentment is crowding out her excitement. By Philip Galanes Continue reading the main story ADVERTISMENT LOVE IN THE NEWS "The Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday that it had formally ended the agency's wide-ranging prohibition on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a longstanding policy that had been denounced as discriminatory." Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images F.D.A. Eases Ban on Blood Donations From Gay and Bisexual Men But men who had multiple sex partners or were taking PrEP medications in the last three months would still be barred from donating blood. By Christina Jewett Suzie Howell for The New York Times Onstage, 'Brokeback Mountain' Is Still a Tragedy Much has changed for L.G.B.T.Q. people since Annie Proulx's short story was published in 1997. But a new theatrical version is a reminder that homophobia is far from over. By Douglas Greenwood Getty Images THIRD WHEEL The Women Who Are Giving Dating Apps the Summer Off Summer is the season where romantic encounters heat up. Some singles are logging off to see what's out there. By Gina Cherelus Tonje Thilesen for The New York Times Comedy Is in Their (Identical) DNA Annabel and Sabina Meschke, twin sister comedians, haul around a truck full of pennies in a new short film. Once a month, they audition potential triplets. By Anna Grace Lee Alvaro Dominguez When Did 'Wholesome' Become a Gen Z Compliment? For a young generation, the word has come to embody everything pure and true. By Sadiba Hasan We want to hear your stories. Here's how to submit a Modern Love essay or an Unhitched column. Don't feel like writing more than two tweets, an Instagram caption or a Facebook post? Consider submitting to Tiny Love Stories, which are no more than 100 words. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Love Letter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Love Letter, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

Love Letter: A Mysterious Delivery

When they opened the door, nobody was there.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 23, 2022 By Miya Lee After Charlotte Maya lost her husband to suicide, she and her young sons were used to unexpected visitors. But when her doorbell rang one mid-December evening, nobody was there. Instead, on her doormat was a kit to make a gingerbread house with a note that only said, "On the First Day of Christmas. … " In this week's Modern Love essay, "When a Doorbell's Ring Means Hope," Ms. Maya describes how a series of mysterious deliveries buoyed her family during their darkest days. MODERN LOVE "We didn't hear a car engine or receding footsteps or a muffled giggle. We didn't see anyone scurry away. Not a shape or a shadow." Brian Rea MODERN LOVE When a Doorbell's Ring Means Hope It was as if someone was saying to us, "You are seen. You are loved." By Charlotte Maya Join the 7-Day Happiness Challenge. Research shows that the single most important driver of happiness is the strength of our relationships. Sign up for a week of exercises from the New York Times Well desk that will help set you up for a happier, more connected year. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE MODERN LOVE Read the latest batch of Tiny Love Stories. Brian Rea MODERN LOVE Tiny Love Stories: 'Meet Me Under the Bridge at 5 A.M.' Modern Love in miniature, featuring reader-submitted stories of no more than 100 words. LOVE AND MARRIAGE "We met eye to eye and smiled at each other while our moms joked that Joseph should take me to prom since I didn't have a date." Ben Sklar for The New York Times VOWS Their Mothers Brought Them Together. Loss Cemented Their Bond. Charmaine Gomez and Joseph Contreras first met during a dress alteration in his parents' kitchen. But it would be another couple of years before he gathered the courage to ask her out. By Jenny Block Tzahi Shemesh Marriage Was Not in His Plan, Divine Intervention Changed That Brad Stensrude was seriously committed to Denise Pinto but never wanted to marry again. During a tour of Israel, he had a revelation. By Rosalie R. Radomsky Judith Rae MINI-VOWS She Kick-Started His Heart Jacquelyn Drozdow and Matthew Comite began dating after she joined his kickball team at the suggestion of her matchmaking sister-in-law. By Ivy Manners MINI-VOWS A Helmet and a Hug Won Her Over On their first date, Vanessa Zoltan wanted to make sure Peter Mueller, a cyclist, had taken proper safety precautions while riding. He did, and "it made me melt," she said. By Alix Wall ASK THE EXPERTS "Secular Christmas fantasies tend to go hard on familial love and acceptance, which are simply not the reality for many people." Miguel Porlan SOCIAL Q'S My Mother Disapproves of My Jewish Girlfriend. How Can We Mend Fences? A reader wonders what he can do to repair his relationship with his mother in the face of her prejudice. By Philip Galanes Illustration by Tomi Um THE ETHICIST Someone Lonely Considers Me a Friend. Should I Stay in His Life? The magazine's Ethicist columnist on the obligations we have to friends who are struggling. By Kwame Anthony Appiah Paola Saliby How to Avoid Making a Wedding Faux Pas Etiquette experts and wedding pros share five common pitfalls to keep in mind when hosting or attending a wedding. By Sarah Lyon Continue reading the main story ADVERTISMENT LOVE IN THE NEWS "My sisterhood is the best hood, nothing is more important to me than my family and my sisterhood." Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Merry 'Sismas': A Holiday Tradition Honors Friendship For a group of devoted girlfriends, the season shines brighter when they're together — preferably in a costume, eating some oxtail. By Chloe Anello Amy Lombard for The New York Times Foes of Drag Queen Story Hours Invade New York Councilman's Home Tensions over the children's event escalated this week when two protesters were arrested for trespassing. By Liam Stack Stasele Jakunskaite Simple Steps for Managing Holiday Loneliness Whether you're physically apart from your loved ones or feeling isolated in a sea of friends and family, these strategies can help. By Catherine Pearson Giovanni Rufino/Focus Features Jim Parsons Takes the Romantic Lead The Emmy-winning "Big Bang Theory" actor "could've done anything he wanted." Now starring in the tear-jerker film "Spoiler Alert," he's forging his own path. By Juan A. Ramírez NASA How Naming the James Webb Telescope Turned Into a Fight Over Homophobia Did the former head of NASA discriminate against gay people? One physicist tried to rebut the accusation, only to find himself the target of attacks. By Michael Powell We want to hear your stories. Here's how to submit a Modern Love essay or an Unhitched column. Don't feel like writing more than two tweets, an Instagram caption or a Facebook post? Consider submitting to Tiny Love Stories, which are no more than 100 words. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Love Letter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Love Letter, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018