My experience with Kahuna

In 2010 I lost my job (best thing to ever happen to me BTW) and having never been to the Grand Tetons I hopped on a plane and decided to go. I had nothing else better to do. As the small prop plane banked to the left coming into the small airport in Moose, WY, I could see the Grand right out my airplane window and it felt so close I could reach out and touch the 13,775 foot peak. The most surreal experience I had ever known was wrapped up in that moment that changed my life forever. Surrounded by mountains and wildlife of all kinds defined to me exactly what God’s love is. I knew at that moment where my spirit belonged – in nature and no where else. In 2011, I went to Rocky Mountain National Park and I visit every year. The euphoria I experience among the elk and the wildlife there is paramount to my existence today, especially among the elk during the rut. People far and wide come to the elk rut in RMNP in September-October to see their favorite bulls, who have names such as Atlas, Golden Boy, Bruno, Big Boy, Hoss, Samson, and Brat just to name a few, but none of the bulls came close to the stature of the Big Kahuna. When he was found dead in the Park in March of 2022, people mourned his loss, his death made national news, and in a Facebook group entitled “Elk of Estes Park” they shared awesome stories of him, beautiful photos, and videos. In 2019, ago while hiking Rocky Mountain National Park, Kahuna graced me with his presence one day!!! I was too in awe that day, alone, in Moraine Valley when he crossed the trail I was on. He was big as a Mac truck as he sauntered by me, and I was frozen in time viewing this magnificent creature that God had made. To take a picture with my measly Iphone would have ruined the moment – the moment that I wanted to cherish the rest of my life! Not really having any photos or videos to share or long stories with the Facebook group I decided to put down in words that brief encounter I had with Kahuna on the trail in the form of a poem that I shared with my Facebook elk group and that poem is shared on this website. God tells us in the Bible that animals are divinely connected to Him because animals are “sinless” unlike man. They receive love from God and then give love back to us. This precious and unconditional love can only come from God. Through the magnificent animals, such as wolves, bears, elk and our pets we can experience what it’s like to receive unconditional love from God. Kahuna was welcomed into God’s Wildlife Kingdom and now he never has to worry about another harsh winter or how much grass he can find. He has it all!