This past Friday the electricity was out for a very long time. I didn’t dare open the refrigerator, except quickly for the butter, and I was tired of playing Solitaire. Pete had left for his long shift at Bishop Museum, covering for two other docents, so he was gone for most of the day. When the power is out, it gets really quiet. So I decided to play my piano. The doors were open to the front porch and the side deck. Eventually, Pete came home and pointed out that I had an audience. Outside along the base of the panax hedge, the same hedge that the chicken perched on top of the other day, were three neighborhood cats 🐈⬛ 🐱 🐈! Francesca, Coco, and Coco’s housemate (sorry, I don’t know its name). We don’t have a dog here at the present time, so I guess the cats were not afraid. My mother, a piano teacher, used to advise, “If you can play the piano, you’ll never be lonely.” That is so true.
Thinking he’d better use his Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyer miles, DH booked a weekend in Kailua-Kona to celebrate our wedding anniversary—41 years of marriage. DH (darling husband), refers to himself as my easel, and this weekend was a test.
Besides having “kupuna status,” I have been living with sciatica.
Five years ago, I had back surgery.
Two days ago, a new shooting pain went down my right leg. It hurt to walk, and my physical balance was off. My PCP’s nurse advised me to go to the emergency room at Castle Medical Center where I could be evaluated.
Long story short, the physician at Castle MC sent me home with pills to take three times a day.
Feeling a little bit better, I told DH I could go to Kona.
Part 2
From the airport in Kona, a taxi drove us to the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort. Here is my “Kona Weekend” photo album.
Balcony view Beach goers“Kamehameha the Great, 1815” by Herb Kawainui KaneMokuaikaua Church across the street from Huliheʻe Palace in KonaLauhala Mokuaikaua Church across the street from Huliheʻe Palace in KonaHuliheʻe Palace interiorHuliheʻe Palace interiorPrincess Ruth’s bedDetail of Queen Kapiʻolani’s sandalwood armoire Queen Kapiʻolani’s mirrored sandalwood armoireLooking toward Ahuʻena Heiau across Kailua Bay from Huliheʻe Palace Top view of a feathered kāhili at Huliheʻe PalaceSee descriptions in the next photo below
DH took an hour-long talk and walking tour of the King Kamehameha Hotel grounds with the cultural guide Kaʻuhane.
Soon it was time to catch our flight to home-sweet-home on Oʻahu. I thanked my easel for allowing me to lean on him for support, making the weekend getaway so very pleasant.
My collage art group has a big show during June 2025 at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden Visitor Center Gallery.
If you recall, the tissue paper that is slick on one side as for gift wrapping is dunked into a solution of silk screen dye, water, and an oil float for unique effects.
Apropos to the most recent volcanic activity at Kilauea volcano, I have chosen to show my collection of works inspired by the 2018 eruption. Here are three:
“From Haleakalā”“Crater View”“Leeward”/“Windward”
The exhibit runs June 2 to 29, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden entrance is at the end of Luluku road between Pali Highway and Likelike Highway in Kāneʻohe.
With the month of May more than half over, I’ve returned from Europe where I went on an 8-day Viking River Cruise on the Danube all across Austria with Pete, Becky, and Susan—from Budapest, Hungary, to Regensburg, Germany—on the Viking Atla.
My welcome-home souvenir gift for Becky and Susan
I have recovered from a bug that I probably picked up en route from Honolulu—several different airports to get to our destination and happily resuming a routine.
A wonderful couple, Helen and Marty, took care of our house and dog JJ while we were away. Mahalo nui for that!
Viking offers a variety of activities on land at the ports of call along the way. For example, in Vienna we attended a concert of Strauss and Mozart music. At Krems we visited Gottweig Abbey and the apricot groves; purchased ample apricot products for gifting, too.
Pete and Becky
While Pete and Becky went bicycling in Passau, Susan and I got on the “hop-on-hop-off” bus. Mostly we stayed on the bus for continuous siteseeing. We did manage to go shopping for a few souvenirs.
Susan
I thought that Vienna was so very civilized. Bicycles were a common sight.
At the edge of the apricot grove
Viking takes care of everything, from the time the traveler signs up with the EBD—early booking discount, to walking you by phone call through the travel options, to following up after you return home. They check with you during the journey to find out if you are satisfied with the service staff on board.
The food was excellent. Somehow they knew exactly how I liked my food prepared. Meals were from a buffet or printed menu.
Pete in Passau
Every evening before dinner, the onboard program director gave a little talk about what to expect the following day. If we preferred, we could watch the briefing on the TV in our stateroom. The after-dinner piano entertainment sometimes competed with parlor games.
These young ladies are on their way to work as tour guides
My recommendation to those who ask about our vacation is, “Go!” You can’t go wrong with a Viking River Cruise. There’s scenery, proximity to medical care, no kids, 4- to 5-star cuisine, a variety of land excursions, and a chance to meet new friends.
Chef’s herb garden surrounded by a dedicated walking path and putting green on the top deck
But as always, it’s great to come home. Wherever you are, be well.
This Easter weekend heralds the excitement of upcoming travel from Hawai’i to Europe. From the Studio, DH Pete and I will join our dear friends Becky and Susan on a Viking River Cruise on the Danube, going east to west across Austria.
Pete and I booked a similar cruise some years ago. At that time we went from west to east and in winter when it snowed every day. The Christmas markets and the gluwein at each stop were highlights!
We have already lined up friends to take care of our house and our dog JJ. For sure, I will keep you posted on http://www.rebekahstravels.wordpress.com. That’s my companion blog.
It’s going to be so much fun. My bags are packed! Here’s my BFF Becky with the Easter Bunny:
A few days ago, Nohea Gallery at Kahala Mall reconnected me with a past art buyer of mine.
Now “older,” by chance Susan found herself browsing the gallery while waiting for her ride.
She asked Nadja the sales rep about me, so the Gallery took her phone number to give to me.
Baobab
Susan had bought my “Baobab Tree” oil painting that she watched me paint on location at Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu many years ago.
The baobab tree, if you recall, is the tree that the little prince in Le Petit Prince disliked for all the leaves it dropped and that he had to rake up.
According to Susan, she was really broke at the time, but her husband said if she really liked the painting she should sacrifice and buy it.
And so she did. It made me happy to hear Susan say the painting hangs prominently in her home.
You may wish to check out the upcoming Windward Artists Guild show for which I have chosen to represent the town of Kaʻaʻawa. It runs April 2-30, at the newly renovated Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden Gallery. The Meet the Artists reception is from 12:30 to 3:30 pm, April 6, 2025.
“Good Morning Kaaawa!”“Morning Destination”
Choral art
These days I’m enjoying another kind of art — choral art, that is, I sing in a community choir. Our choir director apologizes for the ear worms from rehearsing the catchy tunes weekly!
Upcoming concerts are:
March 2, 4 pm, Kawaihaʻo Church, Community Choral Festival, six choirs, freewill offering in lieu of admission charge.
April WCS Spring Concert, April 27, 2025, at 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 148A Makawao St, Kailua, Oahu.
We celebrated the new lunar Year of the Snake variously at the Studio.
My “Jin Dui Sisters” group of five friends scheduled a midday meal in Honolulu Chinatown a while ago, and I am excited to meet up with them in a few days.
The Jin Dui Sisters
LISEE (red envelopes) are in order for dear ones younger than the giver. In our rural neighborhood, we also fed the dragon some money.
Li see
Then, of course, traditional foods: JAI (a vegetarian dish that I didn’t make this year), GAU (a sweet, firm and sticky pudding made with sweet rice flour), and savory JOONG a.k.a. dragon boats filled with rice, seasoned fatty pork, salted egg yolk, mushrooms and peanuts.
GauJoong
I brought out my tea cozy so we could enjoy a hot beverage all day long. The basket was a good idea for the couple of days when stormy weather knocked out our electricity!
Hot tea
May your rice bowl be full this new year, and blessings always.
This Rebekah’s Studio is the blog created by the Rebekah who lives in the small village of Kaaawa on the island of Oahu. A journalist, artist, and healer by training, I invite you on any part of my journey shared here. I use a full palette, so come along, let’s see what unfolds together!
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Key to Characters
DH = Darling Husband
Miss Marvelous = #1 granddaughter
Popo = Chinese grandmother, me
Alice Brown = adorable puppy dog (2003-2014)
Ula = big brown bossy cat (R.I.P.)
JJ = current family dog (R.I.P.)
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