Sloshing rain puddles/
Feeling like a kid again/
Muddy, barefoot, soaked.
Ponding, waterfalls/
Scents of wet green earth surround/
Warm island winter.
Copyright 2014 Rebekah Luke
Remembering the Manoa Falls Trail
4 02 2014Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: haiku, Poem, rain
Categories : About me, Memoir, Poem
My paintings at the Punahou Carnival
2 02 2014
“Kaaawa Beach Park”
“Makapuʻu”
“Red Trunks”
Good morning, art lovers! I am offering these three recent oil painting originals of mine to the Punahou Carnival for sale in the Art Gallery booth this weekend! Feb. 7 and 8.
The deal is 50-50. Half of the money is donated to the student financial aid program (that’s how my parents could afford to enroll me at Punahou) and half is paid to the artist.
Art is just one of the scores and scores of attractions at this annual Honolulu event. Good eats, music, rides, games, crafts, plants, white elephant, variety show, midway, and more.
The main walk-in entrance is at Punahou and Wilder streets. But here’s a great tip: Park your ride at Central Union Church (Punahou and Beretania) and walk.
Bring moola to spend. It’s for a good cause. Maybe I’ll see you there!
Copyright 2014 Rebekah Luke
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: art, beach, Kaaawa, Koolau Mountains, Makapuu, oil painting, painting, Punahou, Punahou Carnival
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Hawaiian, Travel
Ask
18 01 2014Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. – Matthew 7:7
One’s birthday, the actual date, is when I think most people want something special to celebrate it. Even when you get to my age. It’s true, isn’t it? Admit it. Okay, I thought so!
As my birthday is soon after Christmas and New Year’s, it doesn’t bother me too much that people remember it belatedly. For years now I celebrate all month long. January is my birthday month. 😉
So when the earliest appointment I could get with a cardiologist to learn about some test results was on the 9th, my birthday, I took it.
The cardio tests were done to clear me for surgery the day before New Year’s Eve–the removal of a (thankfully!) benign mass from my colon.
I was “cleared” for the operation that was the priority, but I still wanted to ask what the tests showed because I was given a complete cardio work up and because I had “heart scares” in the past. What did my cardiovascular system look like now?
Bless his heart, the physician spent 60 minutes drawing diagrams and explaining everything. He was passionate about teaching patients about how wonderful the human body is. The bottom line: my heart is A-okay! Don’t worry, just keep active, he said. Oh, boy, that and the fact that my colon was cancer-free was the best birthday present I could have!
After that my Reiki sister and friend Lori took DH and me out for lunch: dim sum at a fancy restaurant. These are the images from her camera.
If that wasn’t enough, on the way home DH said we would stop for some new plants for the garden.
It was my idea to renovate the raised vegetable beds at the Studio. I sent out an evite to my friends to join Rebekah’s Birthday Green Team that weekend, explaining that I needed help.
Recovery from surgery takes about 4 to 6 weeks, and my surgeon said I was allowed to ask other people to do things for me. Really?
It was short notice, but several of my buddies adjusted their schedules and showed up. Wow, what a big help they were! What a garden transformation! Below is the “after” photo.
All I had to do was ask. Thank you!
(Pictured below, from left: Pat, Karen, me, and Piʻikea. Tomato, basil, arugula, cilantro, romaine, eggplant, rosemary, garlic chives, mint, turmeric, oregano, pineapple, parsley, Hawaiian chili pepper. – Pete Krape, photographer)
Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: ask, birthday, celebration, how to ask, ritual, vegetable garden
Categories : About me, Friends & Family, Reiki Healing
On waves and wind
15 12 2013A honu (green sea turtle) swam into my life this morning and waved at me. Just when I needed an answer to my question, the creature floated in close to shore, only a wave’s length away. So I started a conversation. It graciously joined in, head and flippers bobbing out of the water for as long as I needed. When the visit ended I turned ma uka (toward the mountains) for the studio, only to see the familiar kolea (golden plover), another confidant who meets me on my walks no matter what time of day, fly across my path, emphasizing the affirmative. I laughed. My question: Should I tell you how much you are loved?
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Tags: green sea turtle, honu
Categories : About me, Hawaiian, Poem, Reiki Healing
Time out with grandchildren
12 12 2013You’ll have to put up with a proud grandparent for a bit. Family arrived from Italy two days ago, and, of course, they want to go to the beach, play with the dogs, and run around silly.
A lot is happening this holiday season, and some things just have to be put on hold.
Everyone, be safe and enjoy as much as possible. I’ll share Popo’s adventures with Miss Marvelous, et. al. with you.
Here she is, age 4, wearing a plumeria lei in the foreground, with DH her Papa carrying her sister 2-year-old Perrin, and me.
Photo by DD Letts
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Tags: grandchildren, Miss Marvelous
Categories : About me
Observing Makahiki season
26 11 2013Aloha, studio fans! Makahiki season is open in Hawai‘i and it’s the reason there’s been a gap in my posts.
As with some other cultures, Makahiki is the time—between now and January or February of next year, when Makali‘i (the Pleiades constellation) is overhead at 8 p.m.—to take a break from working and warring, the time to give thanks to a successful harvest/year, the time to enjoy the success, and the time to play!
Many folks don’t realize it’s perfectly all right to relax and do nothing, especially with today’s fast-paced-because-of-technology lifestyle. Since coming home from Italy I’ve felt a little out of sorts, not centered. I’ve decided to observe Makahiki and quit thinking too much about what project I’m doing tomorrow. Right now I’m feeling more comfortable arranging to spend good times with friends and relatives. As it should be.
2013 has been an incredible year of expansion and growth for me. I admit much of it was planned, that is, I intended to have new experiences and learn new skills. But the outcomes—after I’d planted the seeds and released them to the Universe to nurture—were so very surprising, so delightful, so supportive of my wish to create. It’s made me a believer of how to live a happy life.
Just a few more notes . . . I promise you, the hard part is over. The next few weeks will be fun.
• The final week of my “Hana Hou: Then & Now” fine art show with co-exhibitor Tamsen Fox at Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden. We just enjoy more visitors and sales through Nov. 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Then we uninstall. If you live on O‘ahu, I hope you will have time to see it.
• Several music gigs singing Christmas music to various audiences around town. Rehearsals with the choir are pau (finished). Now we just perform and enjoy.
• The kids and grandkids—Miss Marvelous and her younger sister who turns 2 this week—will be home from Italy for December and through the New Year! That will be fun. All grandparents can relate to that! This past weekend DH set up the toddler’s bed. We can hardly wait to greet them Hawaiian style with lei.
• Teaching: I’ve found a new classroom that can accommodate more students in my future art and Reiki classes. Excited to make the final arrangements soon. Meanwhile, a wreath-making workshop led by Yours Truly is already scheduled for Dec. 14 in Kāneʻohe. Let me know if you want to attend!
• Eleven, I just counted 11, celebrations and parties are logged on the remaining calendar for 2013 so far. How fortunate. I look forward to socializing with my relatives and friends, young and older, from near and far, from school days to my newest relationships.
You see, why work when we can play? Let’s take a little rest. We are so lucky and so blessed. I am very grateful.
Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke
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Tags: art class, gratitude, Makahiki, Reiki
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Friends & Family
Pictures of an exhibition
3 11 2013Thank you — friends, supporters, studio fans, and patrons — from the bottom of my heart. These are a few images of yesterday’s enjoyable opening day of “Hana Hou: Then & Now” at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden.
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Tags: art, exhibit, gourd, Hawaii, ipu, Koolau, landscape, local art, mountains, Oahu, oil painting, Rebekah Luke, Tamsen Fox, things to do
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Friends & Family, Hawaiian, Travel
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