Tarleton Ink

"Roses in My Heart, " Auntie Marjie Spencer

2012-02-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

Marjorie Naholokahiki Burke Spencer has a little while to talk story before she teaches ‘ukulele class at the resort. Her Hawaiian bracelets jingle on smooth, unspotted hands as she waves and gestures, occasionally touching her face, occasionally checking her watch to be sure she’s on time for class.

“I never check my watch when I’m playing,” she said, “I want to play as many songs as I can.” At 86, she is an active and energetic ‘ukulele teacher, hula dancer, singer and “ambassador of aloha,” according to everyone who knows her, dressed in signature mu‘umu‘u, long string of pearls, lauhala hat and lei papale.

Auntie Marjie teaches weekly ‘ukulele classes in Waimea, Waikoloa, Waikoloa Resort and Mauna Lani Resort, where visitors from the U.S., Canada, Japan and elsewhere come back year after year, to play and sing along with her island “regulars.”

“The best time in my life is right now, because of the people and because of what I do—sharing music and ‘ukulele,” she said. “And because of what I do is why I’m still here.”

Auntie Marjie is one of those remarkable women who decided to finally follow her own bliss and reinvent herself, after she raised her family, after she retired from work. At age 68, she went to the Waimea Senior Center, and began to listen, watch, learn and, as she says, "practice, practice, practice, practice and more practice.

She joined the Ka‘ahumanu Society, the Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club, Waimea Hawaiian Homestead Association, Waimea Senior Citizens Club and the Hale O Nā Ali‘i, and learned hula and ‘ukulele so she could entertain with the different groups at conventions. “I was singing in five clubs at one time,” she said. “I stopped so I could concentrate on teaching.”

In 2002, Auntie Marjie received the Waikoloa Foundation’s “Naupaka Award,” for perpetuating the aloha spirit and preserving Hawaiian culture through her teaching of traditional Hawaiian language, dance and song. “It was an honor to receive the Naupaka Award,” says Auntie Marjie. “I was the third. The first was Gloriann Akau and the second was Daniel Akaka.” In 2009, she was nominated for a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship, for her many contributions to Hawaiian culture.

Her music is her love, but unlike many of her contemporaries, Auntie Marjie didn’t grow up in a family of musicians or hula dancers. “My father didn’t like hula,” she said, “He was too Victorian… I had a very strict upbringing.”

Marjie was born in 1924, oldest of her father’s third wife’s 14 children (there were already seven from his first two wives). She had a birthmark near her ankle. “When Dad saw it, he told my mother, ‘She’s going to go, go, go, go.’ And that’s what I’ve done,” she said.

Her father worked as a schoolteacher in Puakō and Postmaster in their home town of Kukuihaele on the Hāmākua Coast. He was also a Forest Ranger in Waipi‘o Valley and when he camped, it was seven-year-old Marjie’s job to take the pack mule in with supplies. “The mule knew where to go,” she said, “so I would just sit there and… zig-zag, zig-zag.” She waves her hand back and forth.

Growing up in the 1930’s, she helped in the family garden, went fishing with Dad in Kaupulena. “There was no such thing as Unemployment,” she said, “We made our own fun.” She remembers playing in the sugar cane flume, making bean bags from Bull Durham pouches stuffed with leaves. “We didn’t have jacks, we had little pebbles. And the ball was a small little lemon. It would bounce,” she said. “And Mother would get a thread spool, cut both ends and put it on a guava stick. That was our yoyo.”

Marjie attended Kukuihaele School and Hōnōkaa School until her Junior year, when Dad sent her to Honolulu Business College. “I studied ‘Comptometry,’” she said. “It’s like an adding machine… I was very fast, and I would help Dad in the post office.” After Margie graduated, she began work for the FBI as a finger-printer. “Everybody in the state of Hawaii, all the fingerprints came to me,” she said.

In 1944, when she was 20, Marjie came home for the holidays, and took the sampan bus to Waimea to see her sister. But when it was time to go back to Hōnōka‘a, the bus never came. “In those days we had no car, no phones,” she said. “So I went to the police station to call a neighbor with a telephone and let my mother know.”

“That was the time when thousands of soldiers were in town,” she said. In 1943, Waimea had, almost overnight, become home to 25,000 Marines from the Second Division—mostly survivors of the devastating battle on the island of Betio in Tarawa Atoll. They arrived by truckloads into the sleepy paniolo town, ill-equipped, many physically ill and unprepared for the winter weather. The troops were quickly adopted by Waimea, and enterprising residents set up hamburgers stands, laundries and shops, and Parker School was used as a USO Club, for recreation, concerts and dances.

It was not uncommon at the time for a police officer in one area to give someone a ride to the police station in another, particularly a young, single woman in a town bursting with Marines. “I was still on the phone,” says Auntie Marjie, “When somebody came over and said, ‘Ma’am, that officer would like to take you home.’ And I said ‘Oh…?’ “Oh!”

A handsome policeman in uniform and holster waited politely across the room. Officer Peace Spencer was on his way to provide police presence one of the public dances, and Marjie went along. She remembers sitting and waiting, watching couples dance, enjoying the music. At the end of the night, he took off his gun belt and held out his hand. “We danced the last dance,” she says, her eyes far away. She doesn’t remember the song, but she relives the moment when she hears her favorite, “Could I Have this Dance, for the Rest of My Life?” “When I hear that song, I say ‘my God—it’s me.’”

Peace and Marjie were married for 48 years, and raised five children. She worked as Administrative Director for the Hawaii Preparatory Academy and when the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened in 1965, Marjie became one of the original employees as a cashier/PBX operator, then Executive Secretary and Activities Director.

“It was at the Mauna Kea,” she said, “When I would see these people, musicians, with their beautiful aloha shirts and mu‘umu‘u, carrying their ‘ukulele. And I thought ‘that’s what I want to do.’” When she retired, she began her second life, learning hula and ‘ukulele. It wasn’t long before she was performing and teaching.

She was teaching at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows when Sharon Torbert, now a Waikoloa resident, was visiting from the mainland with some friends. As they strolled through the hotel atrium, a lovely woman in mu‘umu‘u and hat with lei pāpale greeted them. She gave Sharon a lei, answered questions and shared an impromptu hula lesson on the spot. The next day, at the King Kamehameha Day Parade in Kailua-Kona, this same smiling woman waved at them from one of the floats. Years later, after Sharon and husband Morris moved to the Island and signed up for ‘ukulele class, there she was again, Auntie Marjie.

“She became a very significant person in my life,” said Sharon. “Her gentle, loving ways just endeared her to me so much. She is patient and willing to show you over and over again; as much as it takes until you get it… She makes me feel special; just like she does everyone else in our class. She always tells us that she is still on this earth because of us.” Sharon spearheaded Auntie Marjie’s NEA nomination last year, and although she has not yet been awarded, the nominations remain open for five years.)

“All these people have become my extended family,” she says. “They have become roses in my heart. I could walk in my garden of roses forever.”

For the NEA nomination, Daniel K. Akaka, Jr., Director of Cultural Affairs at the Mauna Lani Resort at Kalahuipuaʻa, compared her way of sharing-teaching with that of traditional Hawaiian grandparents.

“In our Hawaiian culture, the elders, the kūpuna were greatly respected and revered as the teachers, the kumu, the tree of knowledge. In the days of old, the mākua the parents, tended to their daily chores while the grandparents took on the role as the educators for their grandchildren…Although the sands of time have shifted and the modern world encroaches, there are a few in the Hawaiian community who are still bearers of the torch and who embody the values and the teachings of old…

“Aunty Marjieʻs kuleana or responsibility is to share her knowledge of hula and playing the ‘ukulele. Although many can teach these skills, not all can teach in the time honored way of the kūpuna… At an age that most people would look at this time in their lives as a time for rest and retirement, Aunty Marjie unselfishly uses her precious time for teaching.”

It’s been a joyous ride,” she says. “There are not enough hours in the day.” She checks her watch to be sure she’s on time for class.

(Originally published in Ke Ola Magazine)

MARY KOSKI

2012-02-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

“I am in love with light. Sunlight, starlight, moonlight and that pearly silver light that comes from rain and mist. Lamplight, candlelight and firelight. The reflected light from glowing skin, the bright spot of light reflected from a flashing eye.

“I am in love with shadows. Warm shadows, cool shadows, luminous speaking shadows, shadows that hold mysteries and secrets, shadows that are merely a soft whisper.

“I only paint light and shadows, the forms they hold within come by themselves.”

-Mary Koski

In the Waimea home of artist Mary Koski live flowers in windowsills, in bottles and pots on cupboards and table tops. There are two overstuffed puffy cats in the chairs, and smiling children framed on every wall. And fairies, flickering just outside the corner of your eye. We have tea on a tray, cups and saucers, tinkling spoons, little cookies. How better to call the fairies? They twitter around my head with memories of my grandmother, and that first cup of tea long ago, rich with milk and sugar. Certainly Mimi’s house had fairies too. But that’s not this story.

Mary and her next door neighbor who also happens to be her daughter Kathy Long, who also happens to be an artist, sit with me just off the bright kitchen, where light twinkles in and plays among the flowers, tea and spoons. These two women have obviously spent their lives as each other’s biggest fan; they finish each other’s sentences; they stir and sip and smile together.

“I never wanted to be a nurse, a teacher, or any of the other things other little girls wanted to be,” said Mary.

“I just knew I was going to be an artist.” Born in San Diego, she demonstrated exceptional talents in music, dance and art from a very young age.

“Mom started out in dance,” said Kathy. “She was a ballerina; she danced on point at 7 years old. And she played violin with Santa Barbara Orchestra.”

Art was the bliss Mary chose to follow, and she began as an art major at the University of California at Santa Barbara, but only attended two years. “I was going with a boy that my parents didn’t want me to marry,” said Mary. “So I said, ‘Well, if I have to move, I want to go to Mexico City.’ I just knew that they wouldn’t let me do that.”

Her parents surprised her, however, and it wasn’t long after she arrived at Mexico City College that she met Oiva Koski, who was working at the Finnish Embassy. As the story goes, he had been with the Finnish Embassy in Berlin during World War II, when he got the idea to buy a boat and sail from Norway to Mexico. Someone sank it, and he lost everything, but without it, and a spirit of adventure, he would not have met Mary.

“We were at the bus stop,” said Mary, “And it was Christmas time so the busses were very crowded and there were only two seats available. We talked. He spoke a sort of ‘Finnglish,’ but he was a sweet young man with extraordinary IQ.” For Mary and the tall, blonde, blue-eyed Finn, it was love at first sight, and for the next sixty years, theirs was a romantic adventure played out around the world. “We had a lovely marriage,” said Mary. “We had more fun than anybody… he just had itchy feet.”

After a couple of years in Mexico, and the birth of their first child, Oiva decided to move the family to Brownsville, Texas where his parents lived. From there, his itchy feet took them to California, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and across the Atlantic Ocean. Eventually, the Koski’s crossed the Atlantic too, and in Europe, Mary enjoyed painting in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Scandinavia. “I loved living in Liechtenstein,” said Mary. “We were on a mountainside… just above the cloud level. And some mornings, it was like somebody poured a bucket of gold down the mountains.”

Mary would work, painting portraits, miniatures, still life and landscapes, wherever they were in the world, now as a mom of two boys and a girl. “I would be dispensing juice with one hand and paint with the other,” she said. “I met the nicest people doing portraits. You spend a little time with people, you’re with them several days or several weeks and you form a relationship.”

“We moved 36 times before we bought this house in Waimea,” said Kathy, “And we always went to fascinating places... As kids, we were used to it. I loved my childhood. We had a good time; we were a good family together, a very creative household.”

In 1983, Mary and Oiva, Mary’s mother Bertha Irby (a distant relative of Lady Godiva, according to Kathy’s research), Kathy and her husband Bertil Long and their daughter Megan, moved to the Big Island. At the age of 78, Oiva created a comfortable family compound with a shared garden yard that is inviting to all, including fairies.

Perhaps as a result, Mary is the author of four books about fairies, including three volumes of the popular “Stowaway Fairy” series, and “Fairies in My Hat.” For over a decade, Island Heritage published her “Children of Hawaii” Calendars, which have become collector's items. She also created a little book of paintings and poetry called “Tiny Treasures” and illustrated the “Little Princess Kai‘ulani and Her Garden by the Sea” by Ellie Crowe. Many of her paintings grace the corridors of Kapi‘olani Hospital for Women and Children.

Amazon.com describes her work as “a celebration of Hawaii's children, set against their tropical island home and depicted in luminous paintings… Koski reveals a delight and fascination with the subtleties of the human face and the challenging interplay of light and shadow. Working in the classical style of Flemish masters like Vermeer and Rembrandt, Koski creates light and life that seem to glow from within the painting.”

Of herself, Mary says, “For years I painted still-life, beautiful objects, and portraits of dignified business men and lovely ladies. I didn't really mean to become a painter of fairies and children, but they captured me with their innocence and charm, their delight in life and, of course, their incredible beauty. Ultimately, I really didn't have much choice.”

To learn more about Mary’s art and writings visit www.MaryKoski.com

(Originally published in Ke Ola Magazine)

"Hamakua Hero"

2012-02-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

Katsu Goto died tragically over 100 years ago, but his story continues to inspire. A memorial service held Saturday at Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple paid tribute to his life and work, as members of his Japanese and Hawaii families joined in the spirit of community consciousness. The ceremony also honored the 125^th anniversary of the Kanyaku Imin, “first boat” Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.

As detailed in an earlier NHN story by Editor Ron Eland, Goto gave up his family name and birthright as eldest son to be on that boat, S.S. City of Tokio. He worked as sugar cane laborer, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, at $9 a month, for the Ookala Plantation owned by Robert Overend. When his 3-year contract was fulfilled, he elected to stay, unlike many of his comrades who returned to Japan, and opened a store, selling general merchandise, Japanese products and medicines.

Goto’s financial success, sympathy with labor, and encouragement of other Japanese businessmen led to animosity and the eventual confrontation with plantation staff which resulted in his death on October 29, 1889, at the age of 27. His body was found hanging from a telephone pole in Honokaa and three men were prosecuted and jailed, though two escaped.

Katsu Goto’s story was kept quiet for almost a generation. Not discussed in “polite company” or taught in schools, it was unfamiliar to many in the community until recent years. One attendee, Masa Nishimura, of Hamakua Jodo Mission where Goto is buried, did know the story, and he made a request of the audience.

“I didn’t know I had to come up here and speak to you folks until the Reverend showed me the program,” said Nishimura to the Hongwanji congregation. “When I was going to high school, I didn’t know, but my mother used to talk about Katsu Goto, Katsu Goto. And today after hearing Mark and Dwight say they didn’t know about it then, I have a request. Take the story of Katsu Goto into to schools and make sure people know about this piece of Hawaii history. Thank you.”

Patsy Iwasaki brings the story to life in a new way in her manga-style graphic novel ,“Hamakua Hero: A True Plantation Story,” illustrated by Avery Berido of Keaau. In animated drawings supported by historical and cultural references, the book is a re-telling for a new generation. Iwasaki and Berido attended the service, stayed to sign books and talk story at the luncheon afterward.

“We are hoping to reach a wider audience with this very different kind of novel that is very popular with young people,” said Iwasaki. “My hope is, just as I was fascinated and intrigued, that more people will learn about Katsu Goto and his family and the role they play in our history. It is a story of hardship, success, injustice and tragedy, but it is our cultural legacy.”

Iwasaki was inspired by the work of Dr. Fumiko Kaya , adopted niece of Goto’s brother, Sekijiro Kobayakawa; she survived the bombing of Hiroshima and became a successful physician and community leader before learning of her relationship to Goto in 1985. Kaya visited Honokaa that year for the 100^th anniversary of Kanyaku Imin and wrote a book, “Katsu Goto, the First Immigrant from Japan,” in 1988.

Kaya established the Goto of Hiroshima Foundation in 1992, giving scholarships to Hawaii students to attend the August 6th Peace Ceremony in Hiroshima. The Katsu Goto memorial, near Honokaa Public Library, a few blocks from where he was hung, contains stones from Hiroshima and a Japanese cypress, together with local lava and an ohia wood post.

Kaya’s son, Kiichi Kaya, and daughter, Toyoko Saeki, traveled from Japan to be present at Saturday’s service. With the assistance of interpreter Shaw Fujii, they met members of Goto’s actual Hawaii family for the first time. Mildred Kaneta of Honoka’a is the daughter of Katsu Goto’s sister, Saku Kobayakawa. The families enjoyed sharing heirloom photographs, maps and letters.

They also received a gift from Brent and Blake Cousins, known for their “Bottle Hunter” video series on You Tube. They presented a small Japanese eyewash bottle, found in the area of Overend’s plantation house, from about the same era . The bottle is not unlike something Goto might have carried on his store shelves.

The Peace Committee of Honokaa Hongwanji and the Buddhist Women’s Committee supported Saturday’s gathering, attended by almost 200 persons, including State Senator Dwight Takamine and his father Yoshito, and Representative Mark Nakashima.

“I thought this was a nice way to spend a beautiful day in Hamakua and I was pleased we could get together with relatives of Katsu Goto,” said Nakashima. “The contributions he made over 100 years ago impact the community today and spread the message of social consciousness to the next generation.”

“I think it’s wonderful how someone’s life lessons can still make a difference to the community,” said Peace Committee Chairman Miles Okumura, who presided over the events. “That a young man dies and so many people come together to honor him… He is part of our heritage. But if you look around, there are new heritages in Honokaa. In a way, Katsu Goto brings those heritages to us.”

More information can be found in “Hamakua Hero: A True Plantation Story,” available at local booksellers and Amazon.com.

(Originally published in North Hawaii News)

Serving up Smiles, One Ice Cream at a Time

2012-02-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Kea Kauka’s favorite is the rainbow shave ice. Polu Akamu prefers his orange Creamsicle. Ethaniel Wilson’s choice is a Fudge Brownie, and little brother Abiel is all about the Hyper Stripe. Other kids and grownups, drawn by the funky, incessant broadcast of “It’s A Small World,” line up and order up. The ice cream man’s in town.

“These guys (at Ke Kumu apartment complex) are awesome,” said ice cream man Tony Cootey. “Sometimes they stand up on the hill and give me a standing ovation.”

“Every Sunday,” says Waikoloa resident Sasha Knowles. “We were doing some cleaning today when they heard the music and here we are.”

“I’m getting my favorite, ‘Schweddy Balls,’” said Lisa Kane. “It’s a flavor from Ben & Jerry’s. I try to always come.” Originally from off-island, both Knowles and Kane—along with numerous other Waikoloans—have similar snack food memories. “I moved here about a month ago from Oahu,” said Kane. “No ice cream man, but lots of manapua trucks and we, like, lived off of that.”

Wherever he goes in his little yellow truck with the great big sound, Cootey draws an excited crowd. Daughter Angela Cootey, 7, loves to ride along and help.

“I like it because it’s really fun to see so many happy people,” she said. Her favorite? “I have to say, the ‘Fat Frog;’ it’s like green apple,” she said. Angela may help with the bookkeeping, because she loves math, wants to be a math teacher when she grows up.

“One day Tony said ‘I’m going to go sell ice cream,’ and I thought ‘that sounds like fun,’” said Kevin Torres, who manages inventory and customer service while Cootey drives. Torres, who lives in Ahualoa, is a classmate and longtime family friend.

The team sells about three dozen different ice cream novelties, plus 8-oz. cups of Waimea’s own Tropical Dreams Ice Cream, made by John and Nancy Edney in their Lalamilo plant. They also carry a line of all-natural fruit bars, and other items for special diet needs. Every week, they visit eager fans in Waimea, Kawaihae, Waikoloa and sometimes Puako.

Born in Hilo, raised in Waimea, Cootey lived in California for 16 years and that’s where the story starts.

“The first time I saw a real live ice cream truck, I was living on Travis Air Force Base,” said Cootey. “I was out mowing my lawn when all of a sudden every kid dropped his bike and went running. I thought it was an air raid drill or something, so I asked my friend ‘Should I be worried?’ and he said, ‘If you want ice cream, go get some money.’”

When he returned to the Big Island, he went to work full time as a cook at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows’ CanoeHouse. He also started thinking about new kinds of work, to supplement his income and eventually move into a business of his own.

“There were three things I was considering,” said Cootey, father of three children. “When you are a cook, you spend a lot of time—nights, holidays—away from the family, so it had to be family-friendly and give me more time with them. Second, I wanted something the kids can be part of. And, I wanted to do something where you’re not just taking, but kind of giving back too. I love the way the kids get excited,” he said.

“After thinking about all these things, I just woke up one morning and told my wife ‘I’m going to build an ice cream truck.’” Cootey found the truck, a 1984 AM General (made by Jeep), on Craigslist in California. His brother-in-law checked it out for him, and although the retired mail truck with right hand drive was in pretty bad shape, it had a lot of personality, and potential.

“When I received the shipping papers I was a little worried because they said it was a ‘very used’ truck,” Cootey said. “The first day bringing it up the hill, the radiator blew. Thank God my brother Patrick is a wiz mechanic. He got it running like a clock.”

About a year later, the little truck was spiffed up with a coat of bright yellow paint and a funky new sound system that included the “Ice Cream Truck Music Box,” a package of 32 songs and sound effects, including “It’s a Small World,” “Music Box Dancer,” galloping horses, sproings, boings and people’s voices. The company slogan: “Serving up Smiles, One Ice Cream at a Time,” is emblazoned across the back.

“I could have bought a van with a camper top, but I wanted an ice cream truck that looked like an ice cream truck, and one that the kids will remember,” said Cootey.

History disagrees as to when the first ice cream came to Hawaii. The Hawaiian Historical Society says, “Ice cream, commercially available in New York City as early as 1786, was not sold in Honolulu stores until offered by the Criterion Coffee Saloon in May 1870.”

Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii indicates they became the state’s first commercial ice cream producers in 1924, when mechanical refrigeration allowed the company's predecessor, the Dairymen's Association Ltd., to make the frozen dessert. In 1929, they opened an ice cream plant in Hilo, the first outside Oahu.

Ice cream’s older cousin, shave ice, probably arrived with Japanese sugar cane plantation workers in the 19^th century. Wikipedia says, “Shave ice traces its history to Japan, where it is known as kakigori, and dates back to the Heian Period” (794 to 1185).

But, although more people on the island seem to remember the manapua man than the ice cream man, Cootey doesn’t feel like it’s passé. “I think it’s something that’s not been done for a long time… I think it’s making a comeback. It’s a retro thing.”

“It brings back memories,” said Waikoloa resident Sigrid Wilson. “We had the ice cream man in Peru where I grew up. They had pushcarts, and the ice cream man played a trumpet… It’s such a cool idea to have it in Waikoloa. All the kids run when they hear the music. And look how happy these kids are. Yes, you can buy ice cream in the store, but it’s not the same.”

Look for Tony Cootey and the yellow ice cream truck in Waimea on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (starting about 2:30 p.m. on school days, a little earlier when school’s out), on Sunday mornings in Kawaihae and after 11:00 a.m. Sundays in Waikoloa. He’s also available for private parties (443-8494).

“There are harder jobs out there than driving around in a funny looking truck,” said Cootey, “I told my boss at the hotel that I want a standing ovation when I come to work, and he said maybe—if you bring the ice cream truck.”

(Originally published in North Hawaii News)

Register Now to Count Whales at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

2012-01-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

<HVNP Press Release> Hawai‘i National Park, HI – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park encourages
volunteers to help count humpback whales during the annual Sanctuary Ocean
Count held the last Saturday of January, February and March (Jan. 28, Feb.
25, and Mar. 31) from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Hawaii Volcanoes’ Ka‘ena Point, at the end of Chain of Craters Road, is one
of 22 Sanctuary Ocean Count sites island-wide where volunteers onshore
monitor humpbacks in nearshore waters for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback
Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Residents and visitors enjoy this yearly
event which provides important population and distribution information
about humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands.

“This is an ideal opportunity for the community and for Hawai‘i Volcanoes
National Park to work together as stewards of our ocean,” said Park Ranger
Adrian Boone, site leader for the Sanctuary Ocean Count. “These magnificent
creatures swim more than 2,000 miles to Hawai‘i from Arctic waters every
winter, and the annual count is one way we can help observe and record
their behavior, and ensure their future,” he said.

Volunteers can sign up on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National
Marine Sanctuary website:
http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/involved/ocvolunteer.html or call
1-888-55-WHALE ext. 253.

Photo Caption: Humpback whales in Hawai'i
Photo Credit: Benjamin L. Richards/NOAA

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park News Release
Release Date: Jan. 20, 2012

Contact: Jessica Ferracane/Public Affairs, Jessica_ferracane@nps.gov ,
808-985-6018

Beamer-Solomon Halau, 150-Year Hula Legacy

2012-01-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

<Press Release/Patti Cook>

To culminate the 150th anniversary of the Beamer-Solomon Hula Halau O Po'ohala, Waimea’s traditional hula school will present the third and final “Eia ka Hula (Behold the Hula), E Hula Mai Kakou (Come and Dance)” Trilogy performance at Kahilu Theater from 6-8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 4, 2012. Doors open at 5 p.m. and seating is first come.

This performance will document and share through hula, music, stunning visuals including Herb Kane masterpieces, and family stories, the final chapters tracing the footsteps of the hula school's five generations of wahine (female) dance masters whose contributions have perpetuated this Hawaiian dance legacy into the 21st century.

The focal point of this third and final presentation will be the accomplishments of fifth generation Loea (hula master), Kumu Hula Hulali Solomon Covington, M. Ed, whose impressive style as a choreographer has earned the halau numerous local and national awards and made possible the performance of the “Eia Ka Hula” series before audiences in prestigious theaters in New York, New Mexico, Japan, Tahiti and throughout the State of Hawai'i. The halau also has been invited to present a portion of “Eia Ka Hula” when it represents the USA at the July 2012 world famous Folkmoot International Friendship Dance Festival in North Carolina along side of dance troupes from 20 other nations.

Loea (hula master) is the title given to an individual who is proficient and entrusted to become the cultural keeper of a particular style of hula, chant or music. Loea are allowed to enhance the characteristics of the style, whereas, a Kumu Hula is an instructor of a style of hula from a specific school of thought.

Loea Hulali’s impressive style of dance teaches the art of precision body movement. To master the complexity and the proper execution of the Beamer-Solomon halau’s basic foot patterns takes seven years of dedicated practice.

Members of the Beamer-Solomon halau also are instructed by Loea Hulali in a dance discipline woven with traditional Hawaiian core values of aloha, love, lokahi and unity. Students’ adherence to these values prepares a dancer mentally, spiritually and physically to perform as a soloist and within a group.

With the assistance of sister Malama Solomon, Ph.D,, who serves as Kakau Olelo for the halau, and her daughter, Leiomalama Tamasese Solomon, who is the halau’s lead dancer, Loea Hulali has overcome the ongoing challenges of perpetuating a traditional native cultural dance in the 21st. century. The key to the continuance of the art form is Loea Hulali’s and Kakau Olelo Malama’s abilities to connect native Hawaiian hula mana'o (thoughts) dating back to the 1700's to students and families as they live in today's world.

“This identity link demands constant creativity, however once the associations are made by the student, families and the audience, we have achieved our goal and insurance that the dance will continue,” said Kakau Olelo Solomon.

Featured guest artists include Kumu Hula Keala Ching and dancers from his foundation, Na Wai Iwi Ola, as well as Na Mele O Po'ohala (musicians) lead guitarist Russell Paio, bass player and falsetto singer Nathan Grace and Hawaiian Slack Key guitarist Ikaika Marzo and Alaka’i (halau assistant) Stephanie Apolo. Providing additional media arts support are Joy Downey and Ari Bernstein.

Tickets for the final trilogy performance may be preordered by email: poohala2002@yahoo.com, or by calling Loea Covington (938-6357). If there are any tickets available on the day of the performance, they can be purchased beginning at 4:30 p.m.

# # # # #

MEDIA CONTACT: Hulali Solomon Covington (938-6357) Malama Solomon (885-3553)

PHOTO CAPTION: CONTINUING A 150-YEAR HULA LEGACY: Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po'ohala’s “Na Hala Ekolu” haumana (students) who attend Waimea Middle School, HPA and Honoka’a Intermediate School, took First Place in the recent 27^th Annual Mokihana Hula Competition on Kaua’i. They are (L-R) Kamakamae O’Dell, Jaycie Carvalho, Kealia Haitsuka, Hi‘ilei O’Dell and Ikena Nakoa. ‘Na Hala Ekolu’ will be one of several Halau o Po’ohala hula classes performing during the Feb. 4 final “Eia Ka Hula” trilogy presentation at Kahilu Theatre.

4th ANNUAL QUILT SHOP HOP A CIRCLE-ISLAND EXPEDITION

2012-01-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

<CTarleton Press Release>

Hawai‘i, the Big Island—Colorful tropical fabrics, aloha for one of the world’s most popular pastimes and vast, contrasting landscapes make the Big Island Quilt Shop Hop unlike any elsewhere. During the entire month of February 2012, eight shops participate in the circle-island quilt trek, where shop-hoppers will pick-up their custom quilt block kits and have their “passport” stamped, to be eligible for the grand prize drawing. (See details below.)

Maps and passports will be available at each location. Participants can start their tour at any of the venues along the route, and/or join one of two excursions by bus. (One passport per family.) The Kona to Hilo Bus Tour takes place on Saturday, February 11 (price, time and location TBA). To sign up, contact Karen Barry at Quilt Passions, 329-7475.

The Hilo to Kona Bus Tour takes place Saturday, February 18, departing from the Hilo Bus Depot (time TBA). The cost is $50 including lunch (subject to change). To sign up for the Hilo Bus Tour, contact any of the three quilt shops in Hilo; Kilauea Kreations, 961-1100, Fabric Workshop, 933-1010, or Fabric Impressions, 961-4468.

Completed passports make shop-hoppers eligible for the prize drawings. First Place wins eight $25 gift certificates plus eight one-yard cuts of fabric; Second Place wins six $15 gift certificates plus six one-yard cuts of fabric; Third Place wins two $15 gift certificates plus two one-yard cuts of fabric. Numerous other prizes are available.

Each Big Island shop offers something special, with its own personality and unique location, from the lush greens of the Hilo, Volcano and Pahala areas to the paniolo hill country of Waimea/Kamuela and Kailua-Kona’s sunny shores. Various venues will offer refreshments, special sale items and unique handmade treasures as individual highlights of every stop.

This year’s theme is tropical flowers—so each store will have a different flower on its 10”x10” quilt block, to collect and complete the one-of-a-kind 2012 Big Island Shop Hop quilt. The quilt block patterns are free, or available with fabric as a kit for $6. (The background fabric for each block is Hoffman 1895, Seagrass.) If a customer purchases $35 or more in other merchandise, the fabric kit is free. “Finishing kits” will be available for purchase as well.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/TopstitchHawaii?sk=events, or contact organizer Mary Moody-Cox at marymoodycox@earthlink.net, (808) 961-1100.

Shop Hop circuit:

East Hawai‘i

*Pahala Quilting and Creative Sewing Center

“Orchid”
96-3208 Maile St., Pahala, HI 96777. (808) 928-0011
www.PahalaQuilting.com

*Kilauea Kreations I

“Naupaka”
19-3972 Volcano Rd., Volcano, HI 96785. (808) 967-8090
www.KilaueaKreations.com

*Kilauea Kreations II

“Puakenikeni”
680 Manono St., Hilo, Hi 96720. (808) 961-1100
www.KilaueaKreations.com

*The Fabric Workshop

“Anthurium”
1348 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, HI 96720. (808) 933-1010

*Fabric Impressions

“Hibiscus”
206 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720-2835. (808) 961-4468

West Hawai‘i

*Topstitch

“Heliconia”
64-1067 Mamalahoa Highway # 2, Kamuela, HI. (808) 885-4482

*The Fabric Gift Shop

“Tiare”
74-5599 Luhia St., Kailua Kona HI 96740. (808) 329-8177

*Quilt Passions and Needlework Shop

“Plumeria”
75-5626 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740. (808) 329-7475
www.QuiltPassions.net

###

I almost took it down

2012-01-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

Yup. Really.

I almost deleted this whole blog today. New Year. Fresh start. All that. Instead I posted a press release from a friend, figuring at least the links will help a little, and the photo's so good. It's something.

Then I got an email. Someone I hadn't talked to in years. She was searching for information about a mutual friend and found this blog. Right here. And she wanted to thank me for a post from two years ago.

You think time is running out. You think it's all just slithering away like a herd of geckos, or worse, like you're the flat gecko, with no warning, in the doorjamb.

And then the internet saves the day, sort of. Sort of suspends time in its fluffy cloud (whatever that is, really, I'm assuming it's fluffy) and everybody gets another chance. To post, to run, to say I Love You, or help somebody out.

We lost friends this year. Some moved to other places. Some left the planet and are sorely missed. A lot of bad things happened to a lot of good people. Papelbon left the Red Sox. And now we face the Year of the Water Dragon, shakily optimistic, remembering 2000 and the last Dragon, the last time the world was supposed to end.

You don't know. You don't know what's going to happen. So if you want to do something, write, whatever, then please go ahead and get started. Don't think you'll have more time later (you won't). Don't think that people will laugh at you (they will). Don't think you're "supposed to" be doing something else. By the time you figure that out, along with your passion, purpose in life or what you want to be when you grow up, you'll be too tired to begin. In fact, don't use the words "supposed to" at all. Who do you suppose is doing the supposing in that sentence? And if there is a Divine Plan, why in the world would it expose itself to you?

Get a move on. You never know when the wind will blow the door shut.

"Paniolo Grinds"

2012-01-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

Delicious Ranching Food Traditions – To Highlight 2nd PPS Paniolo Talk Story at Pukalani Stables

“Paniolo Grinds” – the delicious traditional foods and the hunting, gathering and cooking practices of Hawaiian ranching families – the mea ‘ai of this lifestyle and culture – will be the theme of Paniolo Preservation Society’s (PPS) next Paniolo Talk Story at the new Paniolo Heritage Center at Waimea’s historic Pukalani Stables.

The community is invited – keiki to kupuna -- from 5-8 p.m., Sat., Jan. 14, 2012 to what is a free, after-dark gathering – a “mauka” version of Danny Kaniela Akaka’s “Twilight at Kalahuipua’a” events now in their 15th year at Mauna Lani Resort. Hosted by Ku’ulei Keakealani, who comes from a multi-generational ranching family, Paniolo Talk Story guests this month will include Ku’ulei’s father, Robert “Sonny” Keakealani – a highly respected Hawaiian cowboy -- and Jesse Hoopai, who is the 3rd generation of a four-generation Kohala paniolo ‘ohana and currently a Parker Ranch cowboy.

Weather permitting, this 2nd Paniolo Talk Story gathering will be moved to the open-air courtyard at Pukalani Stables due to the standing-room-only turnout at the first Paniolo Talk Story. Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly and bring chairs and mats to sit on the lawn. If the weather is inclement, the event will be moved inside to Pukalani Stables’ Hale ‘Aina room.

In keeping with the Paniolo Grinds theme, families of Kanu o ka ‘aina Public Charter School will be selling traditional paniolo pipi (beef) stew and rice with condiments such as chili pepper water and mayonnaise. There also will be another hot food item and hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages including steaming hot Starbucks coffee and a paniolo family favorite -- cocoa ‘n crackers. No coolers, please.

The evening will begin with families, community friends and visitors enjoying an informal dinner and casual talk-story time. Also, guests are invited to explore the newly opened paniolo museum which includes a growing collection of historic photographs, saddles, bits, spurs, and ranching antiques and collectibles.

The formal program will begin about 6 p.m. with Ku’ulei and guest presenters sharing memories of times gone by.

“We will share stories, music and dances by paniolo friends who live this life and are willing to talk about ranching values, their experiences, laughter, pain and heroics. We do this not just to entertain but to better understand the challenges and achievements of paniolo life. PPS is hosting these gatherings to help remind us that we are all connected to each other and to the land, and why it’s important to support PPS in keeping this proud tradition alive,” said PPS President Robby Hind.

While there is no charge for the gathering, Paniolo Talk Story attendees are urged to join or contribute to PPS to help grow the Paniolo Heritage Center at Pukalani Stables as a valued community resource and gathering place. Families and friends also are urged to use the stables for family and community gatherings as rental income is important to sustaining the Pukalani Heritage Center.

PPS recently received a Richard Smart Fund “Ho’ohui O Waimea – Waimea Coming Together” grant from the Hawai’i Community Foundation to help launch Paniolo Talk Story gatherings to strengthen existing, and build new connections among the people of Waimea with their past and future.

Other partners contributing to and supporting PPS’ Paniolo Talk Stories include the University of Hawai’i at Hilo – NHERC Heritage Center, Big Island Power LLC (aka Big Island Mechanical), Waimea Education Hui, Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School. Kanu o ka ‘Aina Public Charter School, Parker Ranch Center, Starbucks-Waimea, Kamuela Liquor Store and KTA SuperStores.

Paniolo Talk Stories are the first of many events planned at the Paniolo Heritage Center in coming months to re-introduce the community to Pukalani Stables’ foundational contribution to Parker Ranch’s success and fame. The stables and horsemen that worked there were nationally and internationally renown for their expertise in providing extraordinary mounts for ranch paniolo as well as for famous customers including U.S. General George S. Patton for the U.S. military, and Japan’s Imperial Riding Club.

Coming events include PPS’ Inaugural Paniolo Lifetime Achievement Awards on Sat., Jan. 21, 2012, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Pukalani Stables. Everyone is welcome to this awards presentation and paniolo pa’ina; tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for keiki 5-10-years-old, and free for younger ones. Tickets are available at Kamuela Liquor Store and Parker Ranch Store, or by calling or emailing PPS.

For more information about this not-for-profit preservation society and its new Paniolo Heritage Center at Pukalani Stables, or coming events, go to www.PanioloPreservation.org, search for PPS on Facebook, or email: paniolo@paniolopreservation.org or call 854-1541.

FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE FEBRUARY 1 For 2012 Big Island Film Festival in Hawai‘i, May 24-28

2011-12-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

<CTarleton Press Release>
KOHALA COAST, HAWAI‘I—February 1, 2012 is the final deadline to submit films for the 7^th annual Big Island Film Festival (BIFF) at Mauna Lani Resort. Just acclaimed as one of MovieMaker Magazine's “Cool Fests 2011: Counting Down 20 Can't-Miss Festivals,” BIFF 2012 takes place May 24-28, on location at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i and The Shops at Mauna Lani.

Narrative short films (30 minutes or less) and feature length films (60 minutes or more) completed after January 1, 2011 will be considered for “Golden Honu Awards” in various categories including Family, Animated, Foreign and others. Final Entry Fees are $70 Feature, $60 Short, $40 Student. Entries prior to January 1, 2012 are $60, $50 and $35. Submissions may be made directly to BIFF or via WithoutaBox.com. All films shot in Hawai‘i or created by Hawai‘i filmmakers receive a 25% discount when submitted directly to BIFF (verification required).

“We are excited about our new Festival dates in 2012,” said Executive Director/Founder Leo Sears of Waikoloa. “By pushing it forward to Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-28, we’re hoping to make it easier for filmmakers, visitors and kama‘āina to come to the festival, relax and enjoy the holiday weekend – all the way through our ‘Best of the Fest’ Hawaiian music concert and Audience Choice feature and short movies on Monday night.”

The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival is a celebration of narrative filmmaking, with free family films under the stars at The Shops at Mauna Lani, and daytime screenings, nightly double features and shorts from Hawai‘i and around the world at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i. Other events include celebrity receptions, filmmaking workshops and much more, in the spectacular Kohala Coast resort location.

In addition to its recent accolades, BIFF has been among MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” and “25 Coolest Film Festivals” since 2007. It is sponsored by The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai'i, The Shops at Mauna Lani, HTA/Hawai'i County CPEP and others. For more information visit www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com call 808-883-0394, or find them on Twitter and Facebook.

###

COMMUNITY INVITED TO ENJOY ‘A GENEROUS GIFT’ FROM KAHILU THEATRE

2011-12-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

Families and community friends of Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School students are invited to Kahilu Theatre’s 5^th Annual K(Arts) Grand Finale performance at 5:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 14, 2011 by nearly 100 of the school’s 6^th-8^th grade students who have been enrolled in this free after-school performing arts program.

Students have participated in classes for the past 11 weeks, learning ‘ukulele, hip hop and Tahitian dancing and backstage production, and this performance will be their opportunity to share what they’ve learned with families, faculty and friends.

Doors to Kahilu Theatre will open at 5 p.m. and the program is free and family friendly.

K(Arts) is a partnership initiated by Kahilu Theatre with Waimea Middle School in 2007 to provide a free extended learning time featuring performing arts for students. Also helping to underwrite K(Arts) are The John M. Ross Foundation, which is providing healthy snacks for students, and the Kukio Community Fund of the Hawai’i Community Foundation, which supports safe, high quality after-school programming for North Hawai’i youth during what is considered high risk hours when many children are home alone due to family work schedules.

K(Arts) provides talented instructors and assistants, plus healthy snacks and busing for the complete 12-week program, plus the grand finale performance on the grand stage at Kahilu Theatre.

Instructors this year include Kristin Lake and assistant Cara McCann with backstage production; Sala Vanderheyden and assistant Lynn Raquel with Tahitian dance; Michal Carrillo with assistant Chris Plunkett with Hip Hop dancing, and Jon Alcoran with assistant Brad Bordessa with ‘ukulele.

Coordinating the program are Lisa Shattuck for Kahilu Theatre and Bernie Marsh for Waimea Middle School.

This year’s performance will pay tribute to a number of community friends who donated ‘ukulele to Waimea Middle School, including Kohala’s highly regarded guitar maker and musician, David Gomes, who personally purchased 12 ‘ukulele to support this popular student program. Also honored will be Waimea resident Leonard Librizi, who dedicated personal time to repairing and “tuning up” all of the school’s well-used and newly donated ‘ukulele.

“The K(Arts) Grand Finale at Kahilu is a highlight of the year for students! They have come in on their own time during recess to practice and on the day of the performance, are literally bursting at the seams with excitement and pride as they encourage each other. Everyone knows that Kahilu provides many astounding performances throughout the year, but K(Arts) will make you smile – some of us even get teary-eyed. It has such a positive impact on young lives. It’s what a quality education is all about and our community’s children deserve this,” said John R. Colson, WMS CEEO/Principal.

“K(Arts) is a very generous gift from Kahilu Theatre Foundation and community partners. It wouldn’t happen without these partners because of drastically reduced public charter school funding and federal mandates that have forced us to strip music and art from the school day. While we do see students making academic progress in math and reading, it’s heartbreaking to have to give up on the arts. Mahalo, Kahilu Theatre and partners, and that includes the instructors and assistants,” said Colson.

The entire community is invited to the performance. For information, call Patti Cook (937-2833) or Waimea Middle School (887-6090 Ext. 222).

# # # # #

KICKING OFF WAIMEA'S 2011 "LOKAHI GIVING TREE PROJECT"

2011-11-29T14:33:00.000-08:00

Kamuela Liquor Store, which just celebrated its 65th anniversary, is joining several other Waimea businesses and restaurants including Hawaiian Style Cafe and Blockbuster in sponsoring a "Giving Tree" to encourage customers and friends to contribute "absolute necessities" to support working families who cannot afford "the basics" this holiday season. Suggested donations include canned spam and other protein meals-in-a-can, rice, toilet paper, toothbrushes and hygiene products, or gift cards from KTA, Foodland, local outlets and local gas stations.

Customers are urged to bring items back to the store or to Waimea's "Giving Season" tree lighting at 6:30 p.m., Thurs., Dec. 1, or the in-gathering on Waimea Christmas Parade day -- from 10 a.m.-4 .m., Sat., Dec. 3 at KTA's Waimea Center, where there will be all-day entertainment and a huge crafts fair leading up to the 51st Annual Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade at 5:30 p.m. Recipients of items are pre-screened for eligibility.

For information or to sponsor a family, or organize a food or toy drive at your school, church or neighborhood, call Rhonda Bell (880-1984) or Nancy Carr-Smith (896-2239). Pictured here w/ Kamuela Liquor Store owner Alvin Wakayama and staff member Alicia Brady is "Giving Tree" volunteer Kalae Kawamura.

Cook your turkey in the imu. Send a kid to DC.

2011-11-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

MEDIA CONTACT: PATTI COOK (937-2833)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011

COMMUNITY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN WAIMEA MIDDLE SCHOOL’S THANKSGIVING IMU TO SUPPORT EAST COAST EDUCATIONAL TRIP

Waimea families and community friends are again invited to participate in Waimea Middle School’s annual Thanksgiving Imu – both as part of a cultural learning and sharing tradition and to help underwrite the annual 8^th Grade East Coast educational trip.

The cost is $25 per pan, and families may bring one or several pans to be cooked in the traditional underground oven, coordinated by students with the guidance and help of their families.

Funds raised go entirely to the student trip to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City to bring to life the lessons learned in 8^th Grade American History classes. The trip is also organized to provide students with a glimpse of post high school opportunities, and for many, represents their first visit out of state.

Pans of food may be dropped off between 3-5 p.m., Wed., Nov. 23, 2011, and picked back up between 8-9 a.m., Thurs., Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving morning).

Foods must be thawed, seasoned and placed in heavy-duty foil pans, and then double wrapped with heavy foil. It is recommended that clean green ti-leaves or parchment be wrapped around the foods before the foil outer wrapping to keep foods from directly touching the foil.

Tickets for the imu must be purchased in advance from any of the East Coast students or family members, or by emailing the project’s teacher-advisor Eunice_Lazarus@notes.k12.hi.us, stopping by the school office or calling Patti Cook (937-2833).

Donations of ti leaves and banana stalks are also needed for the imu.

# # # # #

Help Japan. If can, can.

2011-04-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.kokuaforjapan.com/

Aloha for Japan

2011-03-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

OK, I'll just say it. I really like this.

Love to see more neighbor island events in the mix too.

I know we are all doing things.

Aloha for Japan

And have you heard the song?

“A Duet with the Queen”

2011-03-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Nake‘u Awai Fashions a Musical Tribute to Queen Lili‘uokalani
Saturday, April 23 at Waikoloa Beach Marriott

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KOHALA COAST, Hawaii the Big Island—Springtime on the Big Island means Easter, Merrie Monarch, and Nake‘u Awai’s annual Fashion Show Fundraiser, happening Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

A benefit for Michael Pili Pang’s Hālau Hula Ka No‘eau and Hawaii Arts Ensemble, the luncheon-show is a stunning musical tribute to Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Lili‘uokalani, and the Royal Hawaiian Band. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. to give guests a chance to enjoy music by Meleana Manuel, lei-making and other crafts by the hālau, and to shop for Nake‘u signature aloha wear, rarely available away from his Honolulu studio. The show begins at 12:45 p.m., following lunch.

A distinctive designer of island fashion for over thirty years, Nake‘u Awai is well-known for his unique prints and flattering silhouettes for every body size and shape. His annual spring productions have been described as part-Broadway, part runway—one-of-a-kind events that never fail to tell a story, using fashion, hula, history, music, both traditional and contemporary, and lots of surprises.

Awai was inspired by Big Island author John Tanaka’s book, Aloha ‘Oe, The Song at Pier 10, about the Queen and her friendship with Heinrich Berger, Bandmaster. “Picking up this novel, I was inspired to do the show,” said Awai. “He writes beautifully. And the scene where Berger is saying goodbye to friends and family in Europe, as he leaves to come to Hawai‘i, is wonderful.” Tanaka will also attend the April 23 event for a reading and booksigning.

And because his entire “company” of models is composed of Big Island community folks, audiences love to come and applaud for talented friends and family, especially the men, according to Awai. Veteran models Riley Smith, Wally Wong and second-year recruit Perry Kealoha take the stage with spirit, sporting Awai’s colorful aloha shirts, shorts and costumes with a special style all their own.

“Riley looks like Berger, so he will portray Berger,” said Awai. “Besides the three men, there is a young man, Keaweiw Pilayo, about 11 years old in this show. He will duet with the Queen, after bringing her flowers from her garden while she is imprisoned within ‘Iolani Palace.”

An entertaining, festive occasion to celebrate the Saturday before Easter, “Duet with a Queen” invites groups of friends to join in a table and toast the Spring. Tickets $50 at the door, $45 in advance. Please contact hālau members, or Wendi Roehrig, Phone: 756-0823, wendiroehrig@hotmail.com.

Na Leo Pilimehana Shares Award-Winning Sound

2011-03-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hawaii’s top female group performs at the Waikoloa Bowl Friday, April 1st

For immediate release
KOHALA COAST, Hawaii-the Big Island—Waikoloa Beach Resort and Queens’ MarketPlace announce a memorable one-night only performance by 22-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winners Nā Leo Pilimehana, Friday, April 1, 2011 under the stars at Waikoloa Bowl.

“Voices blending together with warmth” is the story behind the name of the #1 female Hawaiian music group in the world. Nā Leo Pilimehana—Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima Heine and Angela Morales—performed as high school seniors in 1984’s “Brown Bags to Stardom” and ignited music charts with hit original song “Local Boys,” which is still the best-selling single in Hawaii’s history.

They’ve since appeared worldwide, breaking down walls and crossing the line between “Hawaiian” and adult contemporary music, playing the House of Blues in Los Angeles and Hollywood. Busy moms with their own record label, Nā Leo Pilimehana released their 25th Anniversary Collection in 2009 and continue to blend their warm and beautiful voices as they create new music for today’s audiences.

Tickets for the Friday, April 1 concert at Waikoloa Bowl will be $20 adults, $5 keiki ages 5 to 12, available at Ticketmaster online, Ticketmaster outlets: Wal-Mart in Hilo and Kona or Persimmon at Queens’ MarketPlace.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:00 p.m. Low beach chairs, blankets and mats are recommended for lawn seating. No coolers please.

Since it opened in 2007, Queens’ MarketPlace in Waikoloa Beach Resort has earned a reputation among visitors and kama’āina as “the gathering place of the Kohala Coast,” full of shopping opportunities, services and great food, along with entertainment and arts programs, movies under the stars and contemporary concerts in Waikoloa Bowl at Queens’ Gardens. For more information, visit www.QueensMarketPlace.net or call 886-8822.

'Ukulele: the Next Generation

2011-03-05T23:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, Jake Shimabukuro is everyone's hero. Mine too. He's joyfully mind-boggling and adorable, besides being a world-changer, one of the Greats. I missed him at Kahilu Theatre and I am not quite over that.

But today, at Queens' MarketPlace I met a couple of new 'ukulele superheroes--who are also changing the world, one shang-alang at a time.

Kris Fuchigami took the collective breath away from a few hundred people--mostly like me, mostly kinda gray and haole--at the Coronation Pavilion, with an electric angelharp orchestra sound and profound mastery of the little instrument that could. Kris killed it, kicking up the tempo every time Uncle Roy Sakuma made the audience yell "Faster!" until his hand was a blur and our brains couldn't comprehend without instant replay slo mo. Can't wait to hear the whole of "Untouchable."

Nelly Toyama-Baduria, protegee of Roy's and beautiful young woman, sang like everyone's American Idol one minute, and stood aside the next, backing up fellow musicians with a respectful grace far beyond her years.

And if Kris wasn't mind bending enough, Nicholas Acosta was like a musical hallucination, as eyes tried to make brain believe what ears were hearing clearly came from the young man with only one hand. Even now, looking at the photo, I can't quite take it in and make it real. He is living proof anyone with enough desire can play, that any excuse is not acceptable.

Then there's Aidan LaPrete Powell, 9 year-old student of Roy's, a junior ladykiller with Brad Pitt dimples and a sparkly style. And you can tell. He just whupping loves to play 'ukulele. A rare natural, a courageous performer and a future star, Aidan has over a million views of his You Tube vids "Hey Soul Sistah" (with and without Jake) and others, including a promo for the Ohina Short Film Festival 2010.

He and Nelly tag-teamed on the "Hawai'i 5-0" theme (he played in one episode) and then he soloed a new song for the first time: "Count on Me" by, appropriately, Bruno Mars, who not that long ago was the world's youngest Elvis. (Uncle Roy confided Aidan wanted to play "Grenade" but took a look at us and decided perhaps it was not the right song for this audience.) And he nailed it. JLo, Randy and Steven would have definitely sent him to Hollywood. You should have been there.

The stars are among us, people. When you can, come out and watch them grow shiny. And remember these names.

B.Y.O.U.

2011-03-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

HOT LICKS, COOL MUSIC AND GREAT ‘UKULELE GIVEAWAYS
at Queens' MarketPlace 'Ukulele Festival, Saturday, March 5

For immediate release

KOHALA COAST, Hawaii-the Big Island—Waikoloa Beach Resort will present the 11th Annual Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival, Saturday March 5, 1:00-7:00 p.m. at Queens’ MarketPlace. With Hawaii’s “Ambassador of Aloha” Danny Kaleikini as Master of Ceremonies, the Festival spotlights ten different performances on two stages, a free workshop with Roy Sakuma and chance to win one of seven top of the line ‘ukulele from Kala ‘Ukulele, KoAloha, Kamaka ‘Ukulele, Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele, MGM ‘Ukulele, Ko‘olau Pono Guitar and ‘Ukulele Company and the ‘Ukulele Festival-Hawaii. Lei-making, ‘umeke making (decorated gourd bowl), ‘ukulele demonstrations and lessons will be offered throughout the afternoon.

Sakuma and wife Kathy created the first annual ‘Ukulele Festival in 1971, while Roy was a maintenance worker for the City and County of Honolulu. Today, their efforts have grown into a series of events on four islands, with over 20,000 participants. The original ‘Ukulele Festival at Kapi‘olani Bandstand in Waikiki, hosts a performance by an 800-member ‘ukulele orchestra every July. Their 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, ‘Ukulele Festival Hawaii, was established in 2004, “To bring laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout Hawaii and the world through the music of the ‘ukulele.”

Appearing with Sakuma at the Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival will be Roy’s protégée Nelly Toyama-Baduria, his mentor for over 50 years Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta and jazz guitartist Nando Suan. In addition, Horace Dudoit, Chris Kamaka and Glen Smith, members of the Grammy-nominated band Ho‘okena make a special appearance.

Sponsors include Waikoloa Beach Resort, Queens’ MarketPlace, ‘Ukulele Festival Hawaii, ‘ukulele companies Kala ‘Ukulele, KoAloha, Kamaka ‘Ukulele, Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele, MGM ‘Ukulele, Ko‘olau Pono Guitar & ‘Ukulele Company and the ‘Ukulele Festival-Hawaii, in addition to Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa and Roberts Hawaii. For more information, call Queens’ MarketPlace office at 886-8822 or visit www.QueensMarketPlace.net.

Schedule of events, Saturday, March 5
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa:
10:00 a.m.-Noon ‘Ukulele Workshop. BYOU (bring your own ‘ukulele). Free.

Queen’s MarketPlace:
2:00-6:00 p.m. ‘Ukulele Making Demonstration by Bob Gleason of Pegasus Guitars & ‘Ukuleles
2:00-6:00 p.m. ‘Ukulele Lessons with Auntie Marjorie Spencer
2:00-6:00 p.m. Lei-Making with the Ladies of the Ka‘ahumanu Society
2:00-6:00 p.m. ‘Umeke Making with Auntie Donna Jensen

Island Gourmet Markets Stage
1:00 p.m. Auntie Lani Lee & Na Kupuna O Kona Ali‘i
2:00 p.m. Roy Sakuma’s Super Keiki and Nelly Toyama-Baduria
3:00 p.m. Herb Ohta and Nando Suan
4:00 p.m. John Keawe
5:00 p.m. ‘Ukulele Lehulehu

Coronation Pavilion
2:00 p.m. The Kupuka‘a’s
3:00 p.m. Kris Fuchigami
4:00 p.m. Roy Sakuma’s Super Keiki and Nelly Toyama-Baduria
5:00 p.m. Herb Ohta and Nando Suan
6:00 p.m. Chris Kamaka, Horace Dudoit and Glen Smith of Ho‘okena

Since it opened in 2007, Queens’ MarketPlace in Waikoloa Beach Resort has earned a reputation among visitors and kama’āina as “the gathering place of the Kohala Coast,” full of shopping opportunities, services and great food, along with entertainment and arts programs, movies under the stars and contemporary concerts in Waikoloa Bowl at Queens’ Gardens. For more information, visit www.QueensMarketPlace.net or call 886-8822.

Poetry Slam - Thursday March 10, 5-7pm at Waimea Middle. And, yum, dinner.

2011-02-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

MEDIA CONTACT: Patti Cook 937-2833

WAIMEA MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS EXCITED TO ‘SLAM POETRY’
WITH INTERNATIONAL ARTIST KEALOHA

“Slam Poet Kealoha’s presence at Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School absolutely revolutionizes what we are doing here,” says Principal John Colson.

“When I was in school, you couldn’t have paid me to get up in front of an audience and present something I wrote,” says Colson, who admits he almost turned down a job once because it involved public speaking. That was a long time ago – before he became Headmaster at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy, and later, Principal of Kamehameha’s middle school in Kea’au and now Chief Education and Executive Officer of Waimea’s public conversion charter school.

But Colson’s point remains the same: Getting middle school adolescents up to present poetry in front of their families and peers is a miracle, but that’s exactly what Hawai’i Slam Poet Kealoha succeeds in doing when he comes to schools to work with Language Arts classes. His goal: to inspire and compel students to develop a love of words, performance and – most important – telling their stories.

This is what is in store for families and community friends at Waimea Middle School’s 2nd Annual Student Poetry Slam! – aka, a Language Arts Family Night with Slam Poet Kealoha -- from 5-7 p.m., Thurs., March 10, 2011 in the school cafeteria. After working with WMS’ 6th-8th grade students for several weeks in Language Arts classes, more than 30 of the students have excitedly signed up to present to a full house of family and friends.

For those who know Slam Poet Kealoha – this comes as no surprise. An internationally acclaimed poet and storyteller who in 2010 was selected as a master artist for a National Endowment for the Arts program, Kealoha is the first poet in Hawai`i history to perform at a governor's inauguration. His “New Day” poem earned a standing ovation from newly inaugurated Gov. Neil Abercrombie and a surprised audience of several thousand -- surprised because most were clueless about slam poetry and Kealoha.

For those not familiar with slam poetry, the term, “slam” comes from baseball and bridge terminology, indicating a big hit or successful play. Slam poetry is an art form that first emerged in the 1970s in which a poet creates and then reads or recites original work, or, more rarely, that of others. Props, costumes and music are generally forbidden. Slam poetry has grown in popularity – especially with teens -- because it encourages exuberant self expression that’s fun.

For those not familiar with Kealoha (that’s how he’s best known though his full name is Steven Wong), this talented young man came to the world of slam poetry circuitously. Born and raised in Honolulu and of multi-ethnic heritage, he spent most of his childhood as a closet nerd, hiding his academic interests by spending most of his time on soccer, basketball, theater, break dancing, surfing and hula. Although he was enrolled in honors Math, Science, and English classes, only a handful of people knew that he was ranked 9th in the nation in the National Math League, and that he got a perfect 800 in his math SAT’s. Therefore, it came as a surprise to his peers when he announced that he would attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the top school in the nation for science and engineering.

After graduating with honors in nuclear physics from MIT, Kealoha made a radical career switch by going into management consulting. He saw it as a great way to learn about the business world and as a chance to try something new. Despite success, the work was not satisfying and he came home to Hawai`i to reconnect with family and with nature. Using his savings and sleeping on his brother Mike’s couch, he surfed and hiked daily, ate mangos and continued a new-found love of writing poetry. He became hooked on poetry and performance, and one thing led to another including many national and international performances and awards. Today, Kealoha devotes a lot of his time as a “Hawai’i Artist In The Schools” mentor helping youth find their “voices.” This includes most of Waimea Middle School’s 6th-8th graders.

Waimea families and the entire community are invited to enjoy the fruit of Kealoha’s Language Arts lessons, which were funded by a Hawaii State Foundation on Culture & the Arts’ “Artist in the Schools” grant secured by WMS Language Arts teacher Leesa Robertson.

WMS’ Student Slam! is free and will begin with a dinner of roast chicken with a fresh garden green salad. Everyone is invited but an RSVP is requested. Students and families are asked to confirm attendance via their Homeroom advisors. Community friends are asked to RSVP by calling Patti Cook (937-2833) or email cookshi@aol.com.

For more information on Slam Poet Kealoha, go to www.kealohapoetry.com.

Watch a video. Pay it forward.

2011-02-16T01:23:00.000-08:00

Seriously. Did you not love the Audi commercial during the Super Bowl, with the old money old guys trying to break out of their blueblood jail?

What? you missed it? You can see it here: http://www.nonstophonolulu.com/blogs/first-day-of-progress/

And while you're there, read about Honolulu's John Garcia, finalist in Audi's national competition to win $25,000 for charity.

Go ahead. Make his day.

"E Huli Mākou"

2011-01-05T02:07:00.000-08:00

It means "Let's all turn around."

That's what I had to do to learn the dance. But before that, I had to turn my head around. My ego around. This is not profound. This is what your mama always said about sharing, and she was right.

See there was this long period of time where every single week we had a new student in class. And Kumu had us do "Blue Hawaii" over and over. Which was fine. Really. You start to pick up things. You can round arms more and bend knees more. You can smile, follow your right hand with your eyes, act the story, engage hips. You start to feel pretty confident. Pretty secure in your hula-ness.

And for me, because it's all about me as you know, I was feeling damned secure and more than a little smug that I knew how to do something that my husband didn't know how to do, most of my friends didn't know how to do and my time in class with my hula sisters was uniquely and specifically and selfishly mine. Then someone I knew wanted to take the class. She asked me about it. I heard the bitchy voice of Evil Cathey start to fabricate the lie, the "Well, I'll have to ask if she is taking any..."

I had to fight her. Mental hand clamped over her mental mouth I almost shouted, "Sure! Come and see how you like it!" Even then, she wouldn't shut up. She worked on me all week. I don't want to go back to the beginning. I don't want to share my special time. I don't want anybody else in my class!

I'll tell you what though. As I'm internally huffing and puffing through yet another explanation of Kaholo, Ka'o, Lele and feeling All That and bracing myself for another round of "Blue Hawai'i," guess what?

"OK, we are going to learn a new hula," said Kumu. "'E Huli Mākou,' Let's all turn around."

And guess what? We're all newbies again. Right back where we started. Two left feet to learn a ridiculous new step where you have to wiggle and walk in circles at the same time. And she called it a "fun" hula, an easy one, a lighthearted, little something different. We struggled. We all struggled together and we all, eventually, sort of, got it.

As hard as it was, I knew what was going on in my head was harder. Hula is all about sharing. Kumu was willing to share it with me, my Genius Friend and my hula sisters shared in the learning of it, and it was my responsibility to share it with someone else. At least not block them. At least give them the chance I was given. And as much as it absolutely was for me, a gift for me, it is not the kind you keep.

The newbie didn't stay in class. In fact she left the island. But it wasn't my fault. Honest. And wherever she ends up, if she ever hears the music, some part of her body, some arm, foot, hand or hip is going to wiggle, is going to remember and suggest "let's all turn around." And she might just show somebody, and that would be cool.

And guess what else? When you fight the ego back, when you make Evil Cathey shut up, you can learn that much faster. E Huli Mākou.

Arms

2010-12-21T23:31:00.000-08:00

Did I say you could learn “Blue Hawaii” in one class? Well, maybe you could, but just about the time I thought I was getting it, when feet were pretty good at right-2-3-tap, left-2-3-tap, Kumu added arms. They don’t just hover there in front of your chest, you know, or perch on hips like supercilious little snobs, sneering down at clumsy feet. They have their own jobs to do.

They have to be birds and flowers, wind, rain, waves, mountains. In “Blue Hawaii” they have to be a pillow, an alluring beckoning, the moon on the sea and what we call “Vanna White” (the traditional Hawaiian gesture of being.) “This, here,” it says, with one arm raised, the other sweeping left to right, chest height, palms down and up; then switch and repeat. Arms go with words, which are necessary to remember in addition to feet and arms. Words re-engage brain and she is still a little miffed with me, because I said I didn’t need her before.

Soon it is evident. Hula is impossible.

With arms. Arms cannot comprehend Vanna White left, while feet kaholo right-2-3-tap. Impossible.

My genius friend stands in front of me, pulling my helpless arms up, across, switch. And up, across, switch. I can’t believe I can’t do it by myself. (Flashback to tying shoes, opening milk cartons, trying to whistle. I don’t want your help—I just want to do it!) Genius has been dancing since she was a little girl. Vanna White left, Vanna White right.
“Just like that,” she says.
“Like that?”
“No, that.” She moves my arms again.
“Oh, like that!” Arms have felt it. Arms understand.
She laughs. “Keep doing it,” she says, “and sing.”
“I don’t know the words.”
“Sing the ones you know and la la la the rest.”
I’m feeling very insecure. Class is ending. Kumu has sat down, started putting her ukulele away. She has one eye on us, I think. I don’t want to leave until I have it down. Genius friend is putting on her slippers. “I have to practice,” I say, “but I don’t want to practice wrong.”
“Practice wrong,” she says, “practice whatever you remember.”

And that’s when the next surprise lesson comes. Practice wrong. Do what you can do. Don’t give up because you can’t do it all now. It’s like my writing teacher telling me to give myself permission to write badly. Just keep going. And that has helped me so many times.

If all I can remember is feet and I practice feet, arms get easier. If I can remember feet and words, even better. The more I can add to the thing I’m trying to learn, the better it sticks. If I have kaholo, ka’o, lele, and a word and a name and even a phrase of music, it’s like they’re all throwing out little fishhooks and the more hooks hook, well, the better the chance that some of the dance will stay with me.

The next week, the next class, I am astonished to learn that it’s easier to fix what I practiced wrong, than to start over. It’s easier to unhook some of those fishhooks and move them over, than not to hook at all. Genius friend says I’m learning fast and that makes me happy. And being happy makes it easier to dance.

Say the word, move the feet, move the arms, hear the music. In the future I shall eat a different kind of Lifesaver with each new hula and add taste to the experience. And “Blue Hawaii” shall be coconut, and if I’m ever fortunate enough to learn a whole roll’s worth, I will graduate myself to Jelly Bellies.

And as you can see, I still permit myself to write badly.

Kaholo. Ka'o. Lele.

2010-12-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

That's what you learn in hula class. With those three steps, you can dance "Blue Hawaii" after the first class.

That's because we have a good teacher. You leave class with a dance, the eternal potluck, the gift to re-give at parties when the ukulele comes out and your friends start singing. A better writer might call it a "liminal" experience, the crossing of a threshold. Enter class as curious two-left-footed strangers. Leave dancers. Beginners, totally, but dancers.

Kaholo. Right left right tap. Left right left tap. Repeat. That's your feet. Do it until your feet remember, then you can learn the arms. That's another threshold: letting your feet remember. Your brain will fight you every step of the way. She'll tell you in your mother-husband-gym teacher's voice, "I can't do that."

Your brain is right; she cannot step right left right tap, left right left tap. She's stuck inside your head trying to analyze, react, remember, which she eventually will, but there's not a thing she can do right now except shut up and give that kuleana to your feet. Repeat. Right left right tap, left right left tap. When brain gives up, feet remember. Body remembers. "Again," says Kumu.

As someone who's aging, not all that gracefully, who used to be graceful, actually, to dance, actually, it was a shock not to get it at once, not to remember. But knowing feet will helps me. Maybe, as the years go by, maybe body will help brain, help ease her burden.

Ka'o. Right down, left down, right down, left down. Hips sway the other way. Knees creak, spine pops, arms grow heavier. "Smile," she says, and we laugh. "Good!" says Kumu, She likes it when we laugh, says it will help us dance and remember.

I like that. I like to think that smiling or laughing will help me dance and remember--that quick-charge of positive energy might just do it, that my attitude can affect the outcome of what I'm trying to do. Right down, left down, right down, left down. Awkward, smiling like an idiot. Doing it anyway.

Lele. Walk 2 3 4, back 2 3 4. From the side, we look like a wave slipping sandward and back, out and back. I start on the wrong foot. I stop. "Keep going," she says. "Don't stop and make a face." Out and in, walk and back. I do not do it perfectly but I smile, keep going, catch up.

And that may be the most important lesson so far. Surprise. I am not perfect. I will make mistakes, guaranteed. But I will keep moving and smiling and mess up with confidence, recover, catch up and keep dancing. It's a marvelous thing.

Guests

2010-12-01T02:13:00.000-08:00

We were blessed with guests last week. Dwight's college roomate and his girlfriend from Columbia, Maryland and Alexandria, Virginia, respectively.

What a wonderful way to be reminded how outstanding is this place we live, how warm, how beautiful, how unstressed and unplugged. They went to the top of the mountain. They went to the volcano and stayed till late at night. They were full of stories and through their eyes we got to see every wonder again for the first time.

For the first time, I, we, hit every single shop at Kings' and Queens' in one day, tried on almost every piece of jewelry, oohd and ahd over every painting, every bite of ice cream, sip of Lava Flow, flip of golden koi tail after nabbing a contraband chunk of pineapple.

We gain a fresh, shiny appreciation for our dirty house, our unkept yard, our noisy pets and very own weird selves. We fall in love again thanks to guests like that.

So many years in the hotels we forget, right, we forget it's a two-way street sometimes, and "thank you for coming" means a lot more than money, a lot more than comment cards and referral business. Thanks, Rick and Ione. We appreciate your appreciation. Very much.

A hui hou!

A new word.

2010-11-18T23:26:00.000-08:00

According to Wikipedia, "potlatch" is a deep-rooted cultural tradition, based on a philosophy--and an economy--of giving. The word comes from peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, so they say, but the concept seems to sail across geography to Polynesia and beyond, to Asia and around the globe.

An economy of giving. Very different from trade. A social gathering or feast, with one main intent: the redistribution of wealth. Those who had fish, shared fish. Those who did not might perform songs and dances. Events might revolve around spiritual ceremonies or rituals of birth, coming of age, marriage and other passages. But mostly they revolved around food.

Wikipedia says there's a similar Maori custom called "kula." I found no specific reference to ancient Hawaiian "potlach" (do you know of any?) but Malo in "Antiquities" writes about ali'i accumulating great food stores, not as wealth, but to redistribute in feasting or times of need.

In an interesting paper that popped up on Google, Russell W. Belk says of the gift-giving economy, "The result is that even though the society may be two or three tiered in terms of prestige, the distribution of possessions is still not markedly different (thanks to redistribution), envy is curbed, and the group sense of self is exalted through the group's identification with a revered leader." http://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/display.asp?id=6345&print=1

I may be misunderstanding. I mean no disrespect. But I think we have potlach at the house all the time as the Last Sunday of the Month barbecue, or "potluck."

If it's close to your birthday, we'll sing to you and give you cake. If it's after Thanksgiving, like the one coming up, we'll eat leftovers. If somebody's been pig hunting or the bananas came in, that's what we'll eat. If you forget to bring something, that's fine. If the guys bring ukulele, we will sing and dance. And husband Dwight plays the role of revered host.

Funny isn't it? I thought we were just eating.

I don't get out much.

2010-11-17T02:38:00.000-08:00

When I do, I have the best time discovering cool new stuff at places I've been to before. Like this "naughty cat" fabric at Topstitch in Waimea. Almost bought some and I don't even sew. Look at the mouse with his upside-down "help" sign. And could some one have told me Lyman Museum went in down at Kings' Shops? Isn't it like, the only museum on the coast? By the way, Starbucks may be gone, but how cool is this built in barrel at Jungle's Edge? Nice people, nice nice coffee, great lake view in the back. Or check out the new Hawaii Gift Baskets boutique, chock full of interesting products like black table salt from Molokai. You know what I DIDN'T shoot, and I'm kicking myself for it--were the recycled aluminum pop-top crocheted fashions and accessories at Walking in Paradise. Go look!

Trips. And Falls.

2010-11-12T00:49:00.000-08:00

This one's for you, Damon.

Twenty-one years ago today, we landed at Hilo Airport for the first time. Dark. Pouring rain. No rental cars. Seven pieces of luggage and a reservation at the old TravLodge on Banyan Drive.

From our little room above Stratton's, we watched the VW club cruise around and around on Friday nights. Heard the bikers all rev up and launch at midnight. Heard rainy New Year's fireworks crack and boom through the fogging streets. Got to know all the names of the Banyan trees and cross all the bridges in Lili'uokalani Gardens a different way every time. In January, we went to Reflections at 8:00 in the morning to watch the Redskins play in the Super Bowl. In March, we walked to Fiasco's for a beer and instead of a ballgame, our fellows at the bar were rooting for hula dancers, in a competition called the "Merrie Monarch."

That night, or maybe another night like that one, we walked home. There was yellow caution tape across the entry. The manager was hosing down the parking lot. On the asphalt, a chalk line of feet and legs, torso, arms and hands, neck. A long, jagged cloud, an amorphous bloom of fireworks where the head should be.

"He was old," said the manager. That was all. It was Mr. So&So, he said. "The Chinese man. He jumped from up there."

We looked up at the lanai, at the railing, only four stories up. Oddly lit by the yellow street lights. Fuzzy in the misty rain, helping the manager hose little bits of him into the grass. We didn't know Mr. So&So, but we will never forget him, his wet, exploded silhouette on the parking lot, his remains washing away with the rain and the manager's garden hose.

Did he get bad news? Was he out of money? Was he drunk? Where were his children, where were his friends and why, in my mind, does he have glasses and a neat white beard? Why, in my mind, is he dressed in a suit and tie with shiny black shoes? Teetering on the slick steel fourth floor rail like a Chinese Sigmund Freud.

We were not witnesses to his death, but to the evidence of it, just before the tide of "getting back to normal" came in--and went out--and washed it away. And in witnessing we are reminded, especially as writers, that we are always witnesses to remnants, threads and shards of life. Sounds. Crossings. Barstools and celebrations.

Are we obligated to write about them? No. Of course not. But when we are honored with the gift of a story, even the barest fragment of a story, we do well to acknowledge that. You honor Patrick Cunnie by sharing his story as one brother human for another. And by accepting the inspiration he gives you, though the words may come much later. Sleep well, Damon.

Stories, lives, are the same trip. Whether it's 21 years from then to now, or the fleeting moment between the fourth floor railing and the asphalt. Soon enough, we will wash back into the grass. And someone will remember pieces of our story too.

Did you miss me? I was stuck in time.

2010-11-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

The other day, I asked a young man if I could take his picture and ask the question of the week for North Hawaii News. He said no, which is not unusual. But he said no because he didn't want to be stuck in time. And he was not crazy and he was not high.

He stated it intelligently. He explained it well, better than I'm going to. He simply did not want to participate in capturing time. Time is flowing in constant change and evolution. Seizing it, holding on, making something stuck in the moment, was not something he could take part in.

Wow. Strong stuff from a random encounter with a guy in a shopping center.

It's sort of the same reason I don't have a cell phone. Yes, they are convenient, and no I am not too old a dog to learn that new trick. I used to have one, but was bothered by the need for one more thing to keep up with. To program, charge up, carry with you, not lose and not break.

Lately I'm more bothered watching people with theirs. People in Hawaii. On vacation. At a concert for example, not looking at the stage but holding up this little box to look at it for them. In a restaurant by the ocean, not talking to the people they are with, but texting to others. And when they are with those others, are they chatting with the people they're ostensibly eating with now?

How can I be in the moment if I am always projecting my thoughts and experience somewhere else?

I didn't ask that young man if he had a cellphone. He had a customer, to whom he applied his full attention.

I waited to see if he had more time for me. Thinking, he didn't know I wrote a novel about time, and he didn't know I read almost--OK entirely--obsessively about the concept of time. He didn't know I've been thinking about that book, and how I could possibly edit it to work for today's technology and culture. That I'd like to make some money with it. So I could have more free time.

He didn't know he may have solved the problem with that book, just by saying no. That book is stuck in time as a finished project. A sci fi novel, it's dependent on certain technology I created for it 10 years ago. Now that technology is practically everyday stuff. My book is no longer futuristic; it's just a heartbeat away from reality.

At the moment. tick tick tick...

Maybe to fix that book I need to un-fix it. Make it less dependent on technology and remind myself the message I wanted to share with it in the first place: that time is un-measurable, that it is free, that it is ours, and it is everything.

Billy Pilgrim was unstuck in Time. Kurt Vonnegut set him free in Slaughterhouse 5. And helped free the thinking of a generation of young readers. Which included me.

At the time.

The young man comes back to apologize again for saying no. I thank him for the insight and go on my way, reminding myself to post something on the blog.

This: If you want to write, write. Don't project your work into some future that may never be. Or get it stuck in the past. Do be alive, unstuck in time. Don't be a camera or a cellphone.

Canoe say State Champs?

2010-09-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

<<News release from Patti Cook>> KAWAIHAE GIRLS 12 CREW WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! This is Kawaihae Canoe Club’s Girls 12 Crew (L-R) Monica Muskat, Britney Samio, Ellena Kaniho, Shania Souza, Brandee Samio and Ashlynn Kaiamakini (steersman). These young athletes not only took the State Championship in their age division recently, but may have set a state record for being unbeaten for an entire regatta season. Asked what contributed most to their win, the student-athletes who all attend Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School, unanimously attributed their success to Coach “Uncle Manny” Veincent, who was recently inducted into The Big Island Sports Hall of Fame for his many years as coach of the Kawaihae Club. Asked what sticks out most in their minds about the experience besides the thrill of winning? The students agreed: the filthy water in Ke’ehi Lagoon, where the state championship races were held.

Congratulations, Ladies! Maika'i!

Economic indicators, plastic bags and bananas

2010-09-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

I have my own method of determining the progress of our economic recovery. Plastic bags.

We do a lot of potluck. People drop by day and night and very few come empty handed. Not that long ago, and for a while, a lot of hands carried backyard fruits, a little homemade something in a returnable dish. In other words, nobody was stopping by the store to grab a goodie for the gang. People had more time than money. (You never have both. Dwight's Rule #615.)

Hence, my supply of plastic grocery bags was dwindling. All stashes. The pantry, the garage, the bottoms of the trash cans. I found myself compacting cans and hoarding bags. When the garage sale came around and they asked for bags, I said no. And when I took somebody bananas, for example, I took them in their birthday suits.

But fear not. Today the pantry stash of plastic bags is full to brimming over once again. People are shopping, the trash cans are happy, the bananas go off nicely packaged. And we are going totally bananas this summer. Four big bunches, the most recent over 100 pounds, perhaps an economic indicator in itself.

Things are looking up.

FIRST ANNUAL WILIWILI FESTIVAL

2010-08-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 28 in Waikoloa Village

Waikoloa Village will host the first-ever community wide “Wiliwili Festival” Saturday, August 28, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. in several locations throughout the day.   A variety of activities are planned, including a WVOC Plant Sale at Waikoloa School, music and hula at Highlands Shopping Center, and family-friendly games, a putting contest with prizes, food booths and live entertainment at the Driving Range. General admission is free and shuttle transportation is being provided by Waikoloa Village Association.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Waikoloa School
WVOC’s Annual Plant & Art Sale
•    Ornamentals, fruit trees and more
•    Succulents and orchids
•    Native plant species and Herbs
•    Air plants and beautiful Desert Rose
•    Local artists Henry Lyon and Erna Nagandhi
•    Information about composting and invasive species, Master Gardener Wendy Fraser and Dave Faucette, Waikoloa Dry Forest Manager

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Waikoloa Highlands Shopping Center
Craft Vendors and Live Entertainment
•    John Keawe—11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
•    Halau Na Lehua E Liko No Ka Wailani—12:00 Noon to 1:30 p.m.
•    Bruddah Smitty—1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Waikoloa Village Golf Course
Activities, Food, Entertainment and Putting & Chipping Contest with prizes
•    Live Entertainment by: The Ladies of Hula Hālau Nā Lei o Kaholokū, Ken Herkes, Aulani's Hula Halau, Jim Major, Ke Kane, Na'au Ali'i
•    Adult/child team Putting & Chipping Contest, sponsored by the Waikoloa Village Golf Course. The winning team will be awarded a junior set of golf clubs and a round of golf for both team members. Registration at Pro Shop, contest begins at 4:30 p.m.
•    Fun on the Water Slide, Party Bouncer and Climbing Wall. Also keiki fun booths with face painting and tattoo artistry —3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
•    Bookmobile Blessing—4:00 p.m. at the Tennis Courts.
•    Display of Hawaii County Fire Department vehicles – HazMat, Ambulance, Fire Truck & Chopper from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
•    Keiki ID provided by the Hawaii County Police Department
•    Food, Artwork and Craft Vendors

Admission is free at all venues. Scrip will be sold for keiki activities (or wear the new WVOC t-shirt, featuring the Wiliwili tree, for unlimited access to the water slide, bouncer and climbing wall). Bring chairs and blankets for seating plus towels for those using the water slide. No coolers, please.

The Waikoloa Village Association will be providing continuous FREE shuttle service between the various venues beginning at 10:45 a.m. at the Community Church across the street from Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School, to Pu’u Nui Park, then to Highlands Shopping Center and, starting at 2:45 p.m., drop off and pick up at Waikoloa Village Tennis/Pool Parking with the shuttle continuing the venue loop until 8:45 p.m. Look for the green & purple pennants designating pick-up and drop off locations at each stop.

Find Wiliwili Festival on Facebook, visit www.WaikoloaOutdoorCircle.org, call Event Chair Julia Alos at 883-1191 or email wiliwilifest2010@gmail.com for more information.

Environmental Refugees

2010-08-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

<<<From Peace Day Parade's note on Facebook, written by yours truly>>>

Could this happen in Hawaii? Yes. And it will in the ages ahead. The ocean will erode coasts and reclaim territory once held by human farms and habitats.

On the Pacific islands of Kilinailau (Carteret Islands), the land will no longer grow food NOW. The fresh water supplies are shrinking. 2,000 indigenous people are often hungry, often sick, looking for options as the waves even now wash through their homes when the tides are high.

Their plight is better explained in the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjdoy1Pjsjo&feature=related and in other places.

When you watch them dance, blow the conch shell, lash a canoe, when you hear them talk about growing taro, breadfruit and bananas, see the fallen coconut trees, can you not think "what if it happened to us?"

At the Peace Day Festival September 19, you can meet Jacinta and Steve Hanks, who work tirelessly to help the Kilinailau Islanders. Every month they mail a box of school supplies and over-the-counter medications, sometimes food, to a contact for fair distribution among the villages. A regular flat rate box costs about $100 to mail.

Without the supplies, island children would receive one notebook and one pencil every school year. They would practice writing on leaves, with fish bones.

Community leaders are doing everything they can to find new homes for their people. Because they live a very traditional life, education is absolutely essential for the people, particularly the children, to have a decent chance at a decent life wherever they find themselves.

This is a critical need in the here and now, so that families can find work and survive. It is perhaps even more critical for future generations -- so that the children, the last generation to be born on Kilinailau can write and draw, compose music and make films. It will fall on them to teach their children about the homeland that once was.

When you come to the Parade and Festival September 19, won't you please stop and meet Steve and Jacinta? If you can, buy something from their fundraiser booth, or make a donation to help pay for some of the postage.

You will be helping feed people, teach people, heal and help people not so different from our people. And you will be perpetuating their culture and passing on the messages of peace.

"Yellow Rose Coffee Break"

2010-07-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

<<Media Release>> Supporters of candidate for governor Neil Abercrombie are holding a special event to commemorate the 72^nd anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment that gave women the right to vote.

Waimea’s Yellow Rose Coffee Break will be held at 2 p.m., Sun., Aug. 1, 2010 at the Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po'ohala, 65-1696 Kohala Mountain Road, Waimea. It comes just before absentee ballots for the Sept. 18, 2010 primary election are mailed out.

The yellow rose theme recalls Tennessee’s “War of the Roses” in August 1920, when suffragists wore yellow roses – in contrast with the American Beauty red roses worn by anti-suffragists. When 24-year-old Harry Blum, the youngest member of the State House of Representatives, broke the 48-48 tie vote at the urging of his mother “to be a good boy,” the suffragists in the gallery above knew they had the votes to add 39 words – the 19th Amendment -- to the U.S. Constitution. They spontaneously showered the delegates with their yellow roses.

“It’s easy to forget that it was a bitter struggle by courageous women who endured jail, hunger strikes, forced feedings and years of ridicule to secure our right to vote,” said Patti Cook, of Waimea. “We must not take voting for granted – and we urge family and friends to participate, especially in the Primary Election Sept. 18, 2010.”

“There are still serious civil rights and social justice issues that confront us today,” said former state Sen. Malama Solomon, also of Waimea. “Furloughing kids is just one of many alarming decisions we must never allow again. We must let our values guide policy and budget decisions and we must listen carefully to what candidates are saying about their vision and plans that impact our children and grandchildren. We must look at candidates’ track records, integrity and leadership style.”

Yellow Rose Coffee Break participants will discuss the privilege of voting while preparing Friend-to-Friend cards to mail or email statewide. Participants will also be asked to post their thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.

The public is welcome to Waimea’s Yellow Rose Coffee Break. There is no charge. Guests are asked to bring their personal mailing and email lists of family and friends. Guests are also asked to bring a potluck snack to go with fresh brewed Hawai’i Island coffee – preferably something made from locally grown or produced foods.

Waimea’s Yellow Rose Coffee Break is being hosted by Patti Cook, Malama Solomon, Sherman and Elaine Warner, Alvin Wakayama, Pat Rice, Susan and Tilton Akeo, Fran Sanford, Sharon Hayden, Darlene Silva, Terry and Carolyne Riley-White, William “Yama” Chillingworth and Georgine Busch.

The halau is located on the slopes of Lanikepu on the Kohala Mountains above Hawai’i Preparatory Academy and enjoys a stunning view of Waimea, Mauna Kea and the saddle down to the coastline. The dirt-gravel driveway to the halau is just north of the upper entry to HPA campus. It’s fine for regular cars but please consider carpooling.

For information and directions, call Patti Cook at 808-937-2833 or Malama Solomon at 808-885-3553.

{Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil}

###

Slippers of Aloha

2010-07-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

<<A note from Lori Beach>>

It has been two years since my adventure in Tanzania and the beginning of Slippers of Aloha. Through your generous donations we have been able to provide clothing and educational opportunities to over 300 children and provide start up materials for two sustainable gardens that are now thriving and successful.

Neema - Thanks to all of you that supported Neema last year. Not only did she complete her final year of school she has gone on to pass her college entrance exams and just found out she has been accepted at the university for the fall semester. Without your generous donations she would not have graduated high school. We have made a difference in the life of this young woman! She has written me to humbly ask if we could help her again with her college tuition and costs. Can you help this young woman continue her education?

Wazazi Nursery School - Thanks to all of your past generosity we have sponsored over 30 orphans at this school. A new school year is getting ready to start and they still need our help with tuition and school supplies. Can you help to make a difference in the lives of these young children?

Kilimanjaro Children’s Joy Orphange Thanks to your past donations we have supplied these very needy children with clothes and slippers, books, toys and seeds for their garden. Home to over 150 orphans something is always needed here.

I know that times have been hard for a lot of us but no matter how hard times may appear, we are all so very blessed. We live in America. We have a home. We have clean water and food for our family. Our neighborhoods are safe. Our communities are not ravaged with the effects of AIDS. Our children can enjoy a free education. Even in these seemingly trying times, we have so much to be thankful for.

One of the many valuable life lessons my efforts with Slippers of Aloha has taught me is that even a little bit makes a huge difference in the lives of the people that need it the most. Even the smallest contribution will help to provide a child with a year of school, a book of their own, or a brand new pair of slippers, things that we take for granted. These simple things are received with such gratitude that you can feel their joy and the glimmer of hope it provides. Please send what you can, it will make a difference.

My goal is to keep providing educational opportunities for these children that touched our hearts. As always 100% of the funds contributed go directly to support the education of these children. Any contribution you can make will be so very much appreciated.

Mail all contributions to: Lori Beach 46-1020 Kinimaka Rd. Honokaa, Hi 96727

Feel free to forward this email on to anyone you think might want to help.

Thanks so very much for all you do to make this world a better place or as they say in Tanzania – Asante Sana.

With much gratitude,

Lori Beach

For more information and more pictures visit: www.slippersofaloha.org

Marie McDonald is 2010 Alfred Preis Honoree - Maika'i!

2010-07-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

<<Media Release>> Hawai'i Arts Alliance announces the 2010 Alfred Preis Honoree, Marie McDonald, one of Hawai'i's most respected kupuna in the arts of lei and kapa-making. The Alliance will recognize her contributions to the arts of Hawai'i at a celebration in December.

Marie McDonald has spent 50 years producing the exquisite lei of Hawai'i. For this long-standing commitment to Hawaiian arts, Marie was recognized as a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts. She is one of Hawai'i's best known authorities on the subject and author of the definitive "Ka Lei - The Leis of Hawai'i" and "Na Lei Makamae," co authored with Paul Weissich. In the process of researching these books she has brought to light the particular beauty of pre-contact lei. And through her love of the art she has become a tireless advocate for the preservation of the Hawaiian lands that provide the rare materials for these leis and other Hawaiian arts such as kapa-making. Marie has researched Native kapa-making, and from her findings has developed ancient plant dyes for her own magnificent pieces. An exhibit of these pieces was recently held at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Marie has devoted many years to educating Hawai'i's youth, as a resource specialist for the Department of Parks and Recreation and as an art teacher in North Kohala on Big Island. Her 10-acre farm, Honopua, on Hawaiian Home Lands in Waimea is a model program and resource for community members. The land also provides the materials for her lei and kapa.

Most recently Marie has supported the creation of HOEA: Hawaiian Ohana for Education
in the Arts, "established to increase the number, visibility and accessibility to Native Hawaiian Arts and Artists," and was kumu kapa during its first session in 2009. The long term vision for HOEA includes building a Community Art Center in one of the Hawaiian Home Land communities in Waimea, and its development into an accredited post secondary School of Hawaiian Fine Arts.

MEDIA CONTACT: Marla Momi Musick: (808)533-2787, marla@hawaiiartsalliance.org

This is Lyla Berg

2010-06-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

So the other day, I blogged about having a beer with Neil Abercrombie and that was fun.

This is Lyla Berg, candidate for Lt. Governor, chatting with Councilman Pete Hoffmann at the Abercrombie rally in Waimea.

This lady is somebody.

Fiercely well-educated, Dr. Berg is a Punahou grad like Mr. President. Unlike him, she has four (4) college degrees, from Georgetown, American University, UH-Manoa and the Union Institute in Cincinnai (PhD in education). She has served as State Rep for the Hawaii Kai-Kaimuki for the last 6 years, during which she also volunteered to work with rural South African schools in a "Teachers Without Borders" program, and other good works, in addition to running her own professional development company, Lyla Berg and Associates. Prior to that, she was an educator at KCC, UH-Manoa, Kailua Intermediate, and Molokai High and Intermediate Schools.

She taught Zhantelle Dudoit as a seventh grader; Zhantelle who taught me a new way to think a few years ago on Molokai, but that's not this story. This story is about listening to Lyla speak about her career, her deep roots in Hawaii, and experiences raising goats and pigs, and a son, as a single mom. (Neil is her son's god-father.) At the end she asked us to just pay attention to what we felt, this hope, and to tell our friends about that, because our stories are what matters.

So that's what I'm doing.

She's got that Molokai electric direct-eye contact that looks right into you. She speaks simply. She doesn't want to sound good, she wants you to hear what she says. And she listens. It matters.

So I asked her the question of the week, and this is what she said, just like that.

"I think, as a team, we can tackle all three--economy, environment and education. But we have to ask different questions and think with a different perspective. All are related, connected and dependent. Education is connected with the economy and the economy is dependent on the environment, as the environment brings content for education. It is an inter-dependent process and as long as we continue to look at those three things as separate issues, the legislature will continue to introduce legislation on one or the other, and not as a coherent, whole process."

To my gut, Lyla is a person, a woman, of vision, of a specific, unique-to-Hawaii vision. Someone who, I know this sounds egotistical, but someone who could represent, well, me. Maybe a better me. Someone I could see walking all the way to the Governor's Office next time around.

I don't say this lightly: Please visit www.LylaBerg.com

I did!

2010-06-26T03:19:00.000-07:00

One day I might just tell your grandchildren I drank a beer with the Governor. But that's not this story.

This story is about going up to Waimea on an on/off rainy sunny afternoon, running into people I haven't seen in a long time, listening to them talk about Hawaii in different ways--as farmers, ranchers, union workers, teachers, civil servants. There were kids and kupuna--Auntie Marji was there--dark and light skins, lots of jeans, lots of t-shirts from different causes, not just the one campaign. I got the sense they, well we, were each one representing something. And that felt good. One thing in common, everyone was smiling. You could smell optimism in the air, with mist, burger smoke, and different flowers from leis.

"Some of you have seen me before," Neil said, "and you came back--the food must be good." He says good things. People listen. It doesn't sound so much like rhetoric.

"Our strength is in our diversity." (Well maybe that does, but.)
"Is there any other place on the face of the earth that has our capacity for diversified energy resources? ... We are exporting $700 million from the Big Island to import fuel so people in Dubai can build an ice palace and go skiing. How do we keep this money in Hawaii so it can be an investment in ourselves?"
"I believe the election will be won or lost on the neighbor islands and the Big Island is going to lead the way."
"I was criticized for seeking capital improvements for UH-Hilo...The most untapped resource we have is the brainpower we have in the University of Hawaii system."
"I was the one who insisted on the underground utilities going up the mountain to show respect for Mauna Kea, and that was in the 70's... Today the gods have given us a gift of Mauna Kea, and we need to utilize that gift in a way that gives more knowledge, not just to ourselves, to to the entire human race."

He was getting hoarse. He's been on this 4-day schoolbus "listening tour" and is heading up to HPA energy lab in 15 minutes. But what he said was, "Boy am I ready to go!"

OK I'll just say it. I like him. He's interesting. And I think he really, really wants this and will work hard for us. OK, you're right, I'll research. I'll read up on his Washington career and make some educated opinion about him as our new governor. But chances are, I'll go with my gut (should I say "beer gut?").

I think I'll have a beer with Mr. Abercrombie on Friday

2010-06-24T03:39:00.000-07:00

Why not? Patti Cook sent the following list of public appearances by gubernatorial candidate and former Congressman Neil Ambercrombie this weekend, here on the Big Island.

A lot of people don't like him. They don't like the way he looks. Somebody actually told me he was too short to be governor.

I like him because he's come to the Big Island, spent time here, to meet people, and to show we matter to his campaign. I haven't had an an invitation to drink a beer with Messrs. Hanneman or Aiona (although he did come and read to families at Waikoloa School before). That's simplistic, I know.

As part of his 4-DAY "Listening Tour" of the Big Island, Neil Abercrombie will visit Mala'ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School this Fri., June 25 from about 1:15-2:15. It's a great opportunity to share with him how important we believe the garden is to our children, families and community -- on many levels and in so many ways.

Patti says, "I hope your busy life will permit you to join us. It's also a good opportunity to ask questions...to really get to know the man and his values."

All community members are invited to attend gatherings along the way and all are free. For more information, call Abercrombie for Governor Hilo coordinator Gil Kahele at 808-987-7958 or Sen. Dwight Takamine at 808-962-0335.

Schedule of Neil Abercrombie’s 4-Day School Bus Listening Tour:

Thursday, June 24

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Walking Tour of Hilo Businesses

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Talk Story and Lunch at Hilo High School Cafeteria

2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Talk Story and Refreshments at Pepe`ekeo Community Center

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Talk Story and Dinner at Laupahoehoe School Band Room

Friday, June 25

9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Walking Tour of Honoka`a Town

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch and Talk Story at North Hawai`i Education & Research Center (NHERC)

1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Talk Story About School Gardens, Fresh Local Food for School Lunches & the Hawai`i Island School Garden Network, involving more than 50 schools at Mala`ai Garden at Waimea Middle School

2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Tour of Kanu o ka `Aina Public Charter School’s new LEED-Platinum certified Halau Ho`olako 6^th to 12^thGrade Campus and to learn about its new 6-year accreditation

3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Waimea Talk Story with burgers on the lawn next to Kamuela Liquor Store

5:10 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. HPA’s new Energy Lab

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. North Hawai`i Agricultural Community Talk Story at Kamuela Vacuum Cooling Plant

Saturday, June 26

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dinner at Hawaiian Paradise Park Community Center

Sunday, June 27

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Walk through of Maku`u Farmers Market

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch at New Volcano Art Center Community

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Talk Story at Pahala Community Center

Support Big Island Video News - they support our island

2010-06-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Aloha, friends

Big Island Video News is sending this out to fans and supporters of our news gathering efforts here on Hawaii Island.

As you may already be aware, we have a weekly TV program on Na Leo o Hawaii public access television (Wednesday on ch. 54 at 6:30 pm, replay on Friday on ch. 53 at 7:30 pm)

Na Leo provides generous support for this program because they believe it serves the public interest. It is a strong first step towards providing dedicated TV news for Hawaii Island, and it helps to fulfill the station's PEG mission (public, education and government) with our varied coverage.

At this point in time, nearly 100% of our funding comes from the support provided by Na Leo. We have plans to introduce additional revenue from website advertising at some point in the future, but until that time, the Na Leo funding is critical to our continued operation. (The weekly TV show cannot have advertising, as per Na Leo rule.)

The Na Leo board of directors is about to consider the continued funding of our newscast at their next meeting in June. In making their decision, they need to see that our efforts matter to the local community in order to justify the expense.

We ask that if you share our opinion that we are doing important work for the community, and if you appreciate our efforts and would like to see them continue, please: send them a short message encouraging them to continue their funding for the Big Island Video News programming.

The message can be short or long, whatever works best for you. We have provided some simple sample letters.

The following message would be great: (For those of you that do not have cable but still appreciate Big Island Video News.)

To the Na Leo Board of Directors,

Big Island Video News provides a valuable community service and is a needed alternative to how the island receives its news and information. Please continue the Big Island Video News program on Na Leo o Hawaii TV.

Thank you,
signed XXXX

This message would be ideal:

To the Na Leo Board of Directors,

Big Island Video News gives us a strong reason to tune in to Na Leo o Hawaii television. It is a valuable addition to the programming already offered on the station. We hope that you continue to support the effort, and keep Big Island Video News on Na Leo o Hawaii TV.

Thank you,
signed XXXX

We encourage you to use your own words, and only ask that you be truthful in what you write.

Please send your message by email to davidcorrigan@bigislandvideonews.com, and please copy general manager, Juergen Denecke, at jdenecke-naleo@hawaii.rr.com

If you prefer to send via traditional mail, the Na Leo address is:

Leo O Hawai'i, Inc - Community Television
91 Mohouli Street
Hilo, HI; 96720

The deadline is this Thursday, June 24

Thank you for your kokua. Taking the five minutes to send this message stating your support will go a long way to preserving the current level of Big Island Video News service. We hope to grow and provide an even higher level of service in the future, and this funding is crucial to achieving that goal.

Mahalo!

David Corrigan
Big Island Video News
895-9855

Keali'i Reichel in Concert at Waikoloa Bowl - Tix on sale TOMORROW

2010-06-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

<<News release>> Waikoloa, HI – June 18, 2010 – For the first time in Big Island history, Waikoloa Entertainment and KWXX present the entire stage production including, full band and award-winning Hula Halau with Hawai’i’s very own Grammy nominated, best selling singer, songwriter and musician; Keali'i Reichel, on Saturday, July 24 at 8:00pm at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Born and raised in Maui, Keali'i has played for huge crowds all over America for many years including headlining such prestigious venues as New York's Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. He has also opened concerts for musical superstars such as Bonnie Raitt, LeAnn Rimes, Celine Dion and Sting. Keali'i has sold well over a million records just in Hawaii and has become a Hawaiian cultural icon promoting Hawaiian language and culture to a new generation of Islanders.

As Keali’i was growing up in Lahaina, he spent weekends and summers at his grandmother's house in Pa`ia on the windward side of the island. His passion for the language and culture of Hawai'i led him to become the founding director for Punana Leo O Maui, the Hawaiian language immersion school. He has taught Hawaiian culture and language at Maui Community College, and he was the Cultural Resource Specialist and Curator at the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku.

In 1980 He founded his own hula school, Halau Ke'alaokamaile and has won numerous awards over the years. In 1994 he independently produced and released a collection of Hawaiian traditional and contemporary songs and chants entitled "Kawaipunahele" (RIAA Certified Gold Record). His subsequent music releases, "Lei Hali`a" (1995), "E O Mai" (1997), "Melelana" (1999), and "Ke`alaokamaile" (2003), Kamahiwa I (2005), Kamahiwa II (2009) have cemented his place in the Hawaiian music industry. All told, he has been awarded 25 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, and his consistent placement in Billboard Magazine's World Music and Heatseeker Charts has garnered him international attention.

Tickets go on sale Saturday June 19^th at 10:00am HST and are priced at $79 for Reserved seating (only sold online), $59 Resort Guests general admission and a special Kama’aina rate of $39 available to locals with a valid Hawaii license. Ticket prices do not include taxes and fees and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.waikoloanights.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the following local outlets: CD Wizard- Hilo, Big Island Surf - Hilo, Big Island Surf - Waimea - Persimmon at Queens’ MarketPlace and Kona Wine market in the Kona Commons. Tickets are also available at the new Ticketmaster outlets at Wal-Mart in Kona and Hilo.

Exclusively for Keali’i Reichel concertgoers, Hilton Waikoloa Village is offering special kama’aina room packages, starting at $219 per room, per night, based on double occupancy for stays on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Packages include resort view accommodations and two general admission tickets to the concert. A limited number of VIP ticket packages are also available starting at $299 per room. To book a stay at Hilton Waikoloa Village under the Kealii Reichel Concert Kama’aina package deal, visit http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/kamaainaspecials/. Under reservation details, select Kealii Reichel. Hawaii ID is required at check-in for both packages.

About Waikoloa Beach Resort
Waikoloa Beach Resort is the gathering place of the spectacular sunny Kohala Coast situated on 1,350 beautiful acres. Waikoloa Beach Resort offers two championship golf courses – the challenging Kings’ Course and the sporty Beach Course, two world-class hotels, the Hilton Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. For shopping, dining and entertainment, the successful Kings’ Shops recently welcomed the Queens’ MarketPlace in 2007 making Waikoloa Beach Resort the resort shopping destination of West Hawaii and the Kohala Coast. For more information about Waikoloa Beach Resort, call (808) 886-2055 or visit www.waikoloabeachresort.com.

###

TC Entertainment media contact:

Sally Dewhurst

Vice President, TC Entertainment

(702) 524-5525

sdewhurst@transconprop.com

Hilton Waikoloa Village media contact:

Leanne Pletcher

(808)-886-2860

leanne.pletcher@hilton.com

"Invest in Our Youth"

2010-06-02T03:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a message from Joel Cohen, a person I admire, about an organization I admire very much. And here are some photos of interesting people who have visited the Hamakua Youth Center: Councilman Dominic Yagong, Keali'i Reichel, Representative Mark Nakashima and his family, and lots of other interesting people. Please join us this weekend if you can. Everyone is welcome.

Aloha Hamakua Youth Center Friends and Supporters,

This is some updated information on the "Invest in our Youth--A day of Golf and Celebration" at the Hamakua Country Club this coming Saturday, June 5th.   All proceeds from this community sponsored event will go to continuing quality youth services programs at the Hamakua Youth Center.

Here's something that will catch the eye of golfers. Our golf tournament begins at 7:30AM.   $15,000 (real U.S currency) will be awarded to the person who wins our Hole in One contest. The odds may not be great for the average golfer, but you never know. Stranger things have happened in Hamakua. We still have some openings for the tournament. Registration is only $50. Prizes will be awarded. People can sign up at Barbara Franklin's law office just off Mamane Street behind the Verizon Cell Tower or fax the attached application to her at 775-1040. Continental breakfast and box lunch for golfers is included. This will be a fun morning for the participants.

Our free afternoon kicks off at 1pm. The program includes presentations by Hamakua Youth Center participants, music by our own Jacy Anderson and friends, bidding at a silent auction with some great items including gift certificates from your favorite local restaurants, bed and breaksfast and hotel stays, massage treatments, arts and crafts and much more. You'll also want to purchase at least one of our Hamakua Youth Foundation/Youth Center t-shirts to wear around town. Food will be prepared by some of the Hamakua Youth Foundation's finest. We will have a keiki activity tent for a limited number of small children.

We are hoping that people attending the event will open up their hearts and wallets joining the many community volunteers and highly capable staff that make the Hamakua Youth Center a success story. It truly takes a village to ensure that our critical youth services activities and programs continue during these difficult economic times.   There is something special in Honoka'a that other communities do not have. I hope to see you on Saturday.

Please pass this message along to your friends, neighbors, and family members.

Mahalo,

Joel Cohen
For the Hamakua Youth Foundation Board of Directors and Hamakua Youth Center staff

Scramble to save the playground.

2010-05-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

<<Media Release>>

Waimea’s popular, signature Anuenue Playground at Waimea Park, which was conceived, funded and constructed by the community almost 20 years ago, is in serious need of repair and replacement.

The original project, piloted by Kathy Long, John Ray and the Waimea Outdoor Circle, involved hundreds of helping hands and donations – from pennies from children to deep-pocketed gifts and thousands of volunteer hours. The agreement from the start with the County was that the community would maintain the playground. The community did so for a number of years and the all-cedar playground weathered “remarkably well,” says Waimea home and construction inspection expert, Alex Woodbury.

But many features of Anuenue are no longer safe, and Federal rules governing playground safety have changed. As a result, County Parks & Recreation staff have been pressure washing and resealing playground equipment as well as removing rotted and dangerous features, including the swings. Two replacement swing sets were fabricated, thanks to P&R Superintendent Carl “Deac” deCamp with support from Councilman Pete Hoffmann. Then, last week, because County funds, manpower and equipment dedicated to the repairs are limited, Waimea resident Mel Macy, a public park advocate, secured donation of a truckload of concrete from West Hawai’i Concrete, and volunteers Alex Woodbury and Fred Dickson donated their equipment and time to dig out new footings and help County P&R staff pour concrete to install the swing sets.

The entire community — especially families and sports teams that use the park regularly — are invited to a “Call To Action” Town Meeting at 5:15 p.m., Thurs., June 3, 2010 on the front lanai of Parker School’s historic Barbara Hall.

Organized by Waimea Community Association (WCA), working in collaboration with Waimea Preservation Association and the Waimea Outdoor Circle, the meeting will begin with a walking tour of Anuenue Playground and Waimea Park to inspect problem areas, including dead trees. The group will then return to Barbara Hall to discuss priorities, fundraising and to organize volunteers.

Leading the Call to Action are a team of volunteers including Alex Woodbury, Waimea Preservation Association’s Bill Sanborn and Laura Dierenfield, Councilman Pete Hoffmann, WCA President Sherman Warner and WCA Board member Alycia Juvik and WOC members led by President Mary Mangarin-Kitchen and Ken Block. Everyone is invited to the Call To Action Town Meeting. Waimea Starbucks is providing hot coffee and potluck snacks are welcome.

In the photo above, last week’s work crew includes (L-R) County P&R staff James Auhoon and Cale Yamauchi, volunteer Alex Woodbury, the West Hawai’i Concrete driver, P&R staff member Anthony Corrales and Fred Dickson of Pearl Contracting. Out of range of the camera are West Hawai’i P&R Superintendent Carl "Deac" deCamp and WCA’s Sherman Warner. Donations to help underwrite restoring Anuenue Playground may be made to the not-for-profit Waimea Preservation Association (with a memo that the donation is for the playground) and will be tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. For information, call Sherman Warner (895-6271), email shermw@hawaiiantel.net, or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.

The Three Little Pikos -- Lessons in balance from Hamakua Youth Center

2010-05-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

This is a reprise of a post I wrote to my brother last fall, after visiting the Hamakua Youth Center. I went to their fundraiser tea and left a better person. Really. And if you go to their "Invest in Our Youth" fundraiser and golf tourney June 5, you will too, and have a story to tell. But that's not this story.

This story is about your three pikos. I knew "piko" was my belly button, but Lanakila Mangauil, who performed the opening protocol, explained that we actually have three. The first one is the top of your head, anterior fontanel or manawa, your connection to the spirit world, where the ancestors live, through which we receive their energy and guidance. Your navel was the direct connection to your mother in this physical world, from whom you received nourishment. Your third piko is your ma'i, your genitals, for bringing forth the next generation. And it is Hawaiian custom, but it is also his story.

A Honoka'a boy born and raised, Lanakila graduated from Kanu o ka ‘Āina Hawaiian immersion school, went off to college in Honolulu and hit the party scene. He ditched that, came home to Waipi'o Valley to grow taro, where he could have happily stayed, but it wasn't time for that. That was for kupuna, the older generation, he said. He needed to come up out of the valley and work, to give something to the younger generation behind him. He started teaching at Hamakua Youth Center by hanging around. Maybe he was working on a drum and a kid asked "whatchoo doing?" and he said, "Come look." Stuff like that. Now he's on the staff, teaching hula, Hawaiian martial arts, language, chant and gardening. And he goes to DC for national community coalition training, and he is a forestry advocate and a very wise young man.

When he finished telling the mana'o, the chant came out of his mouth from somewhere else and the chords stood out on his neck. And we didn't know all the words, but we all heard ka piko this and ka piko that and knew what he was saying, knew ancestors were in the room. Papers on the table rustled with tiny vibration. And the cars stopped driving by.

And I thought, that's what we do, my brother and me, and maybe you. We don't have children but we honor the generation who nurtured us in some way. We do what we're gonna do in ours, and we give back to the next in different ways--teach, chant, coach, play golf, give money, be there to listen. Whatever it takes to bring three pikos into balance.

This is what I do.

Big Island Film Festival

2010-05-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

I love it when it works. I love it when the dream wiggles out of your head and shows up on the printed page, or the big screen, or in the case of Big Island Film Festival, as the complete experience embracing many people and their dreams-made-real.

Last night. Sitting in the grass under starry starry skies, waft of plumeria fragrance. Off right a distant drumming from the lu'au show. Onscreen the world premier of "Aloha Daze," a film made on Maui that is not what you expect. A modern Hawaii where not all problems have invaded from outside, and not all the darkness is without humor. You have to admire the honesty of a film like this, characters like this. Willing to take a long, hard look at itself and thus hold up the big mirror for all of us. To laugh, cry or turn away. Go see it. That's all I have to say about that. Except that when Tom Berenger saw the canefire scene, he said his own experience filming a canefire was the scariest thing he's ever done. And when a young friend recognized Pomaika'i Brown from "50 First Dates," the look on her face.

There are other great movies. 65 of them. One of the most unique is "Yokwe Bartowe" filmed in the Marshall Islands, all in Marshallese. Director Jack Niedenthal is here and loves to talk story. The film's total production budget was about $1200, and it dominated Majuro box office, out-selling "Avatar" three to one. All proceeds benefit Majuro Cooperative School.

37 filmmakers, cast and crew members are here from all over. The looks on their faces as they gaze around our beautiful Big Island. The hope and excitement in sharing their films, their dreams. At the welcome cocktail they were, so many of them, like, floating, gazing at the ocean in their purple orchid lei, almost in disbelief that they were here.

>>I have to interrupt myself to say that Mauna Lani Resort is making every one of us feel like VIPs. Service. Food. Settings. When it's done right, it is a joy to watch.

I wish I could write about all of them right now. I apologize. There are more stories on Big Island Film's Facebook page, but the best thing would be for you to please go see some for yourself. Free family films at The Shops at Mauna Lani 7:30 Fri-Sat. Daytime movies at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii Amphitheatre and Festival Films at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows Hale Hoaloha Pavilion. If you can't do it all, try to catch Sunday's "Best of the Fest" with John Cruz in Concert, and Audience Choice Best Feature and Best Short. You'll get to see Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, who's here with his short film "The Legend of Chang Apana." Mr. Tagawa told Wednesday's audience that he was enjoying the experience so much, he was committed to coming back every year.

You can purchase and print tickets from home at www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com

Jeff Sears Photo

Parker School Farmers Market Finds

2010-05-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Incredible edibles from Kekela Farms. (They have a smaller market at the Farm on Tuesday afternoons.) I went there to shoot Kevin and Kay Cabrera of Sandwich Isle Bread Company, but these vegetables demanded attention. It was a perfect blue-green Waimea day, and before I got my photos I had a cup of Hamakua Coffee from Javaloha, a fresh ginger cookie and a look at some amazing people doing amazing things. Tom Woods is back cooking breakfast. Kids are playing life-size chess. Someone's frying up taro chips and serving Awa. Dennis E and Marcellino "Fox" were jamming. Brian was there selling jewel-ishious tomatoes and across the way were mac nut tarts made with Bailey's Irish Cream. There are homemade jams and dog biscuits, beautiful woodworks, Thai, Mexican and other good food cooked to order. Clare and Dan are usually there with their sausages and Kevin, Kay and Karen outdid themselves today with all kinds of bread, cinnamon rolls, scones, tarts, lilikoi bars, cookies, croutons, foccacia, pizza dough and yes, now local-made butter.

Findings. May Day 2010.

2010-05-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's just so much fun to walk around familiar places, turn a corner and be surprised and inspired by something new. First up, at Parker Ranch Center, were these beautiful hand-printed tees by Jeremiah Kamalei Jiro White. The irresistible, brilliant colors each an individual work of art, twisted my arm. Forced me to buy an amazing black shirt with crimson he'e, for a friend who only wears black and did me a favor, many favors actually, but that's not this story.

This story continues with a trip to Jeremiah's website where we discover other fascinating works of art, including some pretty wonderful stories and fairy tales. From the Hilo-side, this was their first craft show, and they did pretty well--so look for AkuaCreative to show up in other places, alongside sister's (adorable) kidwear line, "My Little Opihi'z."

THEN, on to Queens' MarketPlace for more cool May Day stuff, including these coconuts, hand painted by kids and perfect for the Mom who has everything.

THE NEXT DAY, a trip down to The Shops at Mauna Lani for a "quick little service call" with Dwight, led to the discovery of cool "picture poems" from artist Paul Reps at Monstera restaurant. Fascinating sumi-e style calligraphics are subtle windows to an interesting mind, that invite gazing and contemplation, and another bowl of noodles.

Finally, there was this little guy, in the shop across the way (Joni Rabchi). Just the right blingy handbag to kick up your look and show off a girl's wisdom too. So cute, and probably worth the $365 for all that detail and teeny tiny handwork...but don't get it for me. Thanks.

May Day May Day. Clone Needed for Saturday Events.

2010-04-30T03:38:00.000-07:00

So much going on May first, my head is spinning. Wait, it does that anyway.

Really. Look at this great May Day, Lei Day stuff across the island. At Queens' MarketPlace all afternoon, for free: I can kick back with Hawaiian music, catch the crowning of a queen, see and sew lei and so on.

Then, I can grab a Kona coffee at Starbucks and go over to Waikoloa Bowl to enjoy the vibe of one of my very favorite people Kumu Keala Ching. Kumu is presenting his traditionally awesome ho'ike, "Liko Ka Palapalai," featuring some terrific hula by keiki and grownups too, beautiful music and the magic of being there in the open air as the sun goes down to the surround-sound of mele. The ho'ike is a benefit for performing halau and school.

But here's the problem. Parker Ranch Center has some good happenings too, including our dear friend and favorite Hawaii historical romance novelist John Tanaka. He's signing copies of "Aloha 'Oe, the Song at Pier 10," 1:00-3:00pm, accompanied by Rona from Island Heritage and her 'ukulele. John's are the most fun booksignings ever. Plus, Mary Koski's coming with her new fairy book and Kohala is playing music.

See why I need a clone?

Help the Haitian town of Marigot. Feed your soul.

2010-04-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

You know I really like the Blue Dragon. And I was really moved personally by the drama in Haiti. Now I have a chance to share a note from Lani Bowman, via mutual friend Patti Cook, about an event at the Blue Dragon to benefit Haiti. Read on, please.

"A small group of Kohala people has been meeting to establish a long-term relationship with the town of Marigot in Haiti. Our efforts are towards developing a sustainability project for this town. Our goal is $20,000 and we are looking to work with an established NGO perhaps Heifer International, Partners In Health or developing more efficient water system for agriculture for the area. We have a direct contact, Omnes Bartholemy who has established two schools for street children in Marigot. Omnes, born in Haiti, now resides in Virginia and travels between the US and Haiti. Our first fundraiser is:

Dance For Hope
Blue Dragon Restaurant, Kawaihae
Friday May 7, 2010

6:00-9:00pm
Great rock &roll blues music and lots of dancing
Silent Auction
Tickets $10
(Ono food and drinks available at an additional cost)

To purchase tickets e-mail {Lanibow@ilhawaii.net}
or stop by the Blue Dragon
Seating is limited, so purchase tickets early and come early.
MAHALO!

"The event was the brainchild of committee member Angelina Saunders, at Kohala high school. She took this HUGE endeavor on as her senior project. She and her family have worked INCREDIBLY hard on this project. We would appreciate your kokua in spreading the word… and hopefully attending yourself!

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Not to be overly emotional..... but I just received a call from Omnes this afternoon from Marigot..His first words to me were, 'It is worse than I imagined.' And this is from a man who has seen and experienced A LOT! His report of Port Au Prince was as bad as the news we have seen. 'There is nothing left of the city--all buildings are down.' BUT Worst of all, Omnes came to Marigot finding out his two schools were ruined by the last severe storm they had (This storm probably did not even make the US News). 'The children have nowhere to go. I am searching someone who can help repair it and perhaps they can be back in a couple of weeks. There is so much to do I do not know where to begin!'"

If you didn't know, April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

2010-04-22T03:07:00.000-07:00

Me, I'm well aware of alcohol, and also well aware you should not drive after consuming same. Patti Cook sent me the notice below, so I'm sharing it with you.

There will be a coordinated signwaving effort this Sat., April 24 in Waimea, Honoka'a and Waikoloa -- all to raise community awareness to stop drunk driving! Coordinated by Lokahi Treatment Centers and MADD Hawai'i, 9am-noon.

-Waimea - near Anuenue Playground.
-Honoka'a - On Highway 19 across from Tex' Drive In.

-Waikoloa - Main intersection to Waikoloa Highlands Shopping Center

They are asking participants to bring pictures of their deceased family member or friend to honor their memory...

I don't have a picture of her, so I'll post this lehua in honor of my friend Nani. She was killed in a head-on collision with a car driven by a drunk driver on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. She was driving; her husband and son survived. She took care of them to the last moment of her life.

You Can't Eat Computers. You can't eat the Internet.

2010-04-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the film, "Lono's Bounty" by World Class Productions. A lot of it was filmed on the Big Island.

I am eating a sandwich made with Kawamata Tomatoes, lettuce from Mala'ai: The Culinary Gardens of Waimea Middle School, Oroweat Bread from Texas (don't tell Kevin) and Best Foods Mayonnaise from California. So just by accident, it's a 50% local meal.

The film is telling me that Hawaii has only four or five days of food available, if we should be cut off from our imported sources. You hear this, but it is very hard to make it real in your head. That in four days, there will be nothing at the market, no Costco, no WalMart, no KTA. No way. C'mon.

Maybe it would take six days, OK, maybe two weeks. But then it would run out. First the gas would run out, so we couldn't drive to the country to find avocado or banana, to get down to the coast and go fish. Then no more coconuts on then ground and nothing in the fridge. Then what?

And the water, well, that's another issue. And now they are saying "water should be treated as a social and cultural good, and not primarily as an economic commodity." (the United Nations) And I am drinking a glass of water from the tap and thinking I never want a bottle again, not if I can avoid it.

The film is telling me that Hawaii supported a population of hundreds of thousands of people all by itself, with responsible land management, and that we could do that again. It is describing local, state and federal regulations that make sustainability just about impossible. So it is easy to say, "oh well, it's the government so no use, nothing we can do." But I don't think we can afford to do that. I think we have to pay attention now, to the people who are trying to support farmers, ranchers and fisher-folk. There are a lot of them in this film.

A long time ago I wrote a short story called "Honolulu Hou." It was about a post-apocalyptic world, where the great chefs from everywhere came to Hawaii to cook, because it was the last place on the planet to grow food. It ends with a question mark -- as the young character looks out to sea and wonders about the inevitable future coming his way.

I'm remembering that story and its question mark. Finishing my sandwich. Watching the film. Wondering why there is the slightest question what should be done with the Hamakua lands.

Please watch the movie. http://www.vimeo.com/10686282 Eat a sandwich. Enjoy it. You can't eat computers.

In raptures it will writhe before you

2010-04-16T03:50:00.000-07:00

From an actual conversation about inbound marketing:

"I don't know. It's only been a couple of weeks. You recognize the old channels aren't working. You have new ones open. Your new website is good, your blog is thought-provoking. Your product is ready and accessible. Your field is popular in mainstream media right now and so television is raising awareness for you, for free. There are customers out there, hovering, frustrated with trying to find solutions to the issues your product solves, looking for what you have to offer. I think you could just be patient, because you are really ready now to just receive."

It was like some old hippie waxing metaphysical, but it wasn't. It was marketing talk. Inbound marketing talk. But it reminded me of a quote by Franz Kafka:

"There is no need for you to leave the house. Stay at your table and listen. Don’t even listen, just wait. Don’t even wait, be completely quiet and alone. The world will offer itself to you to be unmasked; it can’t do otherwise; in raptures it will writhe before you."

Is it possible that's true, now, today, on the internet? Or is that just the world's greatest cop-out when the strategy fails, or fails to work fast enough, when the margin for error is outside the print area and there's no place else to go?

Can business have faith? Can it forgive, let go control, give up old resentments, relax and receive?

Does faith play a role in marketing?

Green Tea Cookies? Yes.

2010-04-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

This will sound like a blatant sales pitch, but it's not. The other day, something appeared into my post office box that made it light up: Big Island Candies new Green Tea Dipped Original Shortbread Cookies.

I know what you're thinking. Yuck, right? But no. Remember when Gramma (or Oba-chan) made you a cup of tea with lots of cream and sugar? These are like that. The Matcha-grade green tea flavors play a bittersweet overture to a shortbread sonata that is music to your mouth.

Strong tea too, I get a little buzz. 'Scuse me while I have another one.

Slam Tax Day with Hawaii Slam Poet Kealoha April 14

2010-04-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

<<NEWS RELEASE>> Slam Poet Kealoha (that’s how he’s best known) graduated with honors in Nuclear Science from MIT, came home to Hawai’i but wasn’t inspired to pursue a career in his field of study. Between surfing and hanging out, he stumbled across Slam Poetry and he was hooked.

Now, Kealoha devotes a lot of time as a 'Hawai’i Artist In The Schools' mentor helping youth discover a love of words, poetry and performance and finding their "voices." This includes 165 Waimea Middle School 6th and 8th graders over the past eight weeks.

Waimea families and the entire community are now invited to come enjoy the fruit of Kealoha’s language arts lessons during an evening of Slam Poetry from 5-7 p.m., Wed., April 14, 2010 in the Waimea School cafeteria. About 25 WMS students will join Kealoha on stage to present their original slam poetry creations. Also taking the stage will be several of WMS’ winners of the 11th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Peace Poetry Contest. WMS students taking honors in the peace poem competition included Seychelle Francis, Sean Quinlan, Alex Siordia and Birolena Vaoga.

The Slam Poetry evening program is free and open to everyone but an RSVP is requested for the make-your-own-sandwich-and-soup-bar that’s included. Community friends wanting to attend the Slam Poetry evening are asked to call Patti Cook (937-2833) or email cookshi@aol.com.

Funded by a Hawaii State Foundation on Culture & the Arts’ "Artist in the Schools" grant, Kealoha’s visits were arranged by WMS Language Arts teacher Leesa Robertson who collaborated with other Language Arts teachers in the school.

For those not familiar with Slam Poetry, it’s an art form in which a poet creates and then reads or recites original work, or, more rarely, that of others. Props, costumes and music are generally forbidden in slams. Slam Poetry first emerged in the mid 1980s and has grown in popularity – especially with teens -- because it encourages self expression that’s fun and – from an educational perspective – because it stimulates a love of the spoken and written word and in performance.

Slam Poet Kealoha (aka Steven Wong) was born and raised in the islands and of multi-ethnic heritage. He uses Slam Poetry to express a powerful and passionate perspective of life in these islands and the world. He is the founder of HawaiiSlam and in the seven years that he has represented Hawai`i at the National Poetry Slam, he has performed on the finals stage 4 times, finishing 8th individually out of 350 of the world’s best poets in 2007.

In 2009, Kealoha was featured on HBO’s Brave New Voices series presented by Russel Simmons and has made dozens of television appearances, including the State of Hawaii’s “Can’t Fool the Youth” anti-smoking campaign that he wrote, performed, and co-directed.

# # # # #

NONAMI to rock BLUE DRAGON

2010-04-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

This is from our friend Calley ("Paints with Elephants") O'Neil.

"As you know, or may know, my 17 year old Noa is the dyamic drummer for Nonami, a wonderful, fun, exceptionally multi talented captivating band. Their lead guitarist Jacy Anderson is amazing as is Alex, the keyboard player, Jorel the sax player and back up singer and Trey, an outstanding bass drummer. Danny - the lead singer is so talented and you will have so much fun.

"Please join us at the Blue Dragon on Friday April 9 at 6:30 or later and let's dance!

"PLEASE COME!"

--------------------------

I met Calley at Queens' MarketPlace during the Lokahi program Breakfast with Santa. The Honoka'a High School Jazz Band was playing and in case you don't know, they are incredible. Calley saw me taking pictures, came up and started talking with all that electric kinda enthusiasm only a band parent could muster. Later on we did a story about her artwork with Rama the elephant. It's posted here.

Anyway--the Nonami boys are great. And, if you haven't checked out the old Blue Dolphin, new Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musicquarium, really? go! It's an open-air dining room with a great stage and dance floor, tasty, fresh, reasonable menu, creative cocktails (try Puff the Magic Dragon with a Bolivian coca leaf) AND different live music every night. You'll see why they call it a musicquarium when you get there. They're open 5:30-11 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. 882-7771.

This is not a sponsored post.

Happy Birthday, Mike!

2010-03-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

I would like to insert a profound thought here. Some childhood memory like blue pancakes. The truth is, in spite of getting old myself, I've enjoyed knowing you as a grown up just as much if not more. I'm proud you're my brother and I look forward to years ahead and many seasons of Idol, Red Sox and Redskins yet to come. Peace out.

The hills are alive. Easter sunrise service in Waimea.

2010-03-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

WAIMEA TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK BY REVIVING LONG-TIME EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE TRADITION ON SUN., APRIL 4, 2010

<<News Release>>For the first time in many years, Waimea residents and their extended ‘ohana and friends are invited to gather for a 6-7 a.m. ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service on Sun., April 4, 2010. Only this time it will be in the open-air garden amphitheatre setting of Waimea Nature Park, Ulu La’au, located behind the Canada-France-Hawai’i Telescope’s Waimea headquarters.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a blanket to keep warm and a tarp, towel or mat to sit on. Lay representatives from several Waimea churches and community volunteers will assist with leading the service which will begin in near darkness.

For old timers, the gathering will be ever so reminiscent of Easter seasons long before the installation of traffic lights in Waimea, back when Kawaihae Road and Kohala Mountain Road were dead end streets.   Back then, the "uhi wai", or fine droplets of mist that blanket the Waimea area, would creep over the pu’u backdropping Waimea, envelop the town and block out the sun for weeks.

Also back then there was only one washerette and few families had the luxury of owning clothes dryers. People did not own multiple pairs of shoes and those remained in daily use without a chance to dry.   It seemed that everything remained damp and cold but this was the accepted norm.

Waimea was a bustling town of approximately 1,800 people who thought nothing of having to brave the elements to do daily chores. Flower gardens radiated with eight or nine different colors of akulikuli flowers and sweet smelling carnations grew in neat straight rows with little care. Waimea Park was bordered on two sides by a dark green, meticulously square trimmed hedge of Cyprus which shielded a few homes from view, providing a unique vista not seen anywhere else on the island.

Each weekday morning, the smell of brewing coffee mixed with the smell of flowers accompanied Waimea’s paniolo to the horse pens where they mounted the animals to begin their long day on Parker Ranch. The farming community, a vital part of this town, had their own morning ritual that prepared them for the daily tasks they endured from dawn to dusk. With the rising of the sun, the rest of the community gradually filled in the duties that make a community function as the day eventually warmed.

The annual Easter Sunrise Service – celebrated in the same wide spot along the Kohala Mountain Road year after year -- was an occasion planned far in advance with the hope that it would not rain. A large white cross visible for miles would marked the location, which today is a scenic overlook. Cattle from the Anna Ranch kept the grass under control for the yearly event.

Every Easter morning, people from Kohala and Waimea made their way to the site, lugging their blankets and tarps with children in tow. The goal was to be early, establish the family close enough to the cross so that the late comers would provide a shield, a human barrier to protect from the onslaught of the cold, wind-driven uhi wai that whipped by on its way to Kawaihae.

Few remember what was said during the service.   The choir songs blended with the howl of the wind and were understood only by those huddled close by. The highlight of the service was the Aloha that was ever so evident. Families, friends and visitors greeted each other with genuine smiles and chattering teeth. Hugs were highlighted with remarks commenting on the coldness of ones nose, filling the air with laughter.

When the Easter celebration concluded, families made their way to the shelter of their vehicles and began the slow trek home with the promise of a warm breakfast punctuated with hot coffee or chocolate.

Though the winter cold being experienced in recent weeks is only a mild reminder of days long forgotten, a warming breakfast will still be welcome following the Easter sunrise service, and the community is invited to enjoy the Waimea Lions Club’s annual pancake breakfast from 7-10:30 a.m. at the old Parker Ranch Broiler (also formerly known as Tante’s in the Parker Ranch Shopping Center). Tickets are available from Lions Club members or at the door for $5. Funds raised support the Lions many community service projects.

Participants in the Easter sunrise service may park in the CFHT parking lot or along the street.

These sweet memories of Easters past were recalled by Leningrad Elarionoff, who is coordinating this year’s Waimea sunrise service in Ulu La’au. For more information, call him at 885-1895.

Neil Abercrombie to visit Waikoloa WED MAR 24th at 2:00pm at SPIKE'S

2010-03-24T01:43:00.000-07:00

Neil Abercrombie will be in Waikoloa again tomorrow, Wednesday, March 24 at 2:00pm at Spike's Restaurant in the Golf Clubhouse. I'm told he will not make a presentation but he will answer questions from anyone on any topic.

I am not endorsing Mr. Abercrombie or asking you to support him. However I admire the man for coming to a small neighborhood like ours--where he ran into some opposition last time out--to interact face to face with voters. I don't remember Linda Lingle coming to Waikoloa, did she?

The last time Abercrombie visited Waikoloa, he was passionate, pissed-off even, about education. He delivered a strong message, maybe over-dramatized, but there was no question about how he felt. I think chances are good that he's going to win. So if you feel strongly about something, if you have a question, or want to think that you had a chance, like Harland, to be heard, you better come on out.

Almost everybody I know is a Democrat. I'm not. Because I'm not, almost everybody I know assumes they understand my political beliefs. They really don't. Regardless of whatever you or I think of government, what a politician or a governor should be or say or should look like, here's a chance to see for ourselves. Make informed decisions. I am the most apathetic person I know but I know this: We have to pay attention to government. We have to let them know we are watching. At least that.

Like Shepherd Book says in Serenity, "I don't care what you believe in, just believe."

And of course, as Dennis Miller says, "That's just my opinion; I could be wrong." Aloha everybody.

Crazy Good. Nake'u Awai's 2010 show: "Journey."

2010-03-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had the chance to experience Nake'u Awai's annual pre-Merrie Monarch show, you are missing a slice of musical theatre-meets-Hawaii played out in hula, Hawaiian music, and fabulous fashion that real people can wear.

Nake'u is known for amazingly creative prints and cotton fabrics in unexpected combinations, like palaka-style checks with tiny florals, nearly-nude na koa warriors or classic western style shirts in macho pink.

You never know what to expect with the show either. Models may be blowing bubbles, lasso-ing each other while they dance a two-step or hopping between tables like Easter Bunnies. It's outrageous fun and every single one tells a story.

This year's is Saturday, April 3 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, and is a benefit for Halau Hula Ka No'eau and Hawaii Arts Ensemble. Tickets are $45 for the show and lunch with entertainment by Darlene Ahuna. Please call 756-0823.

This is not a sponsored post. I usually write about things I love and want you to know about.

"It's Never Too Late to Make a Comeback" + 24 writing ideas from American Idol

2010-03-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

I love "American Idol." And, after every show, Mike and I exchange quick reviews and place our bets on who gets the axe next and how the judges out-quirk each other. We have a great deal of fun with it. If you're an AI junkie too, you'll appreciate the opportunity to justify all those (non-billable) hours, thanks to Ms. Christina Katz who is, unlike many of us, "The Prosperous Writer." Maybe because she figured out how to harness the energy of things she loves and zap her work with it. Christina, I would love to buy you a cup of coffee if you ever come visit the Big Island.

15. Care about your friends but don’t caretake them (see number 10).
16. Craft a compelling story about yourself but don’t get carried away; if you try to manipulate the audience they will abandon you.
17. Be gracious, friendly, and if at all possible, funny.
18. Never whine or make excuses; millions of people are watching.
19. Own your choices, all of them.
20. Speaking of, it’s never too late to make a comeback, even if you get voted off.

Read the full story here. http://christinakatz.com/25-things-writers-can-learn-by-watching-amercian-idol/