The Hakuoh University Handbell Choir

16 02 2012

Handbell choir members talk to audience on stage after the performance. Here are some of the bigger bells. The largest, a low C, weighs almost 15 pounds.

I skipped out early from my Windward Community College Tai Chi Class last night to hear the Handbell Choir from Hakuoh University (Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) in a free public concert at Paliku Theatre on the same campus at 7. It was the choir’s 21st Goodwill Tour of Hawaii, but the first time I’d heard their music.

The beautiful full sound of another bell choir at a music festival in 1987 captivated Professor Hirotaka Arai so much that he was moved to start the all-female choir. Today’s choir can ring seven octaves of handbells with 100 to 120 separate pieces.  Of the 11 numbers last evening, Music Director Arai arranged six of them.

Listening to handbells is a rare treat. Watching 19 young women ring them is very interesting. There is more than one way to play the bells. Grasping them by the handle and shaking them in the air, hitting them on the table, or laying them on their side and playing them with drum mallets. One at a time, or up to four at a time.

I closed my eyes occasionally, just to listen to the music without watching the performers or the director, and I found I could get lost in the sounds and songs of the bells. Especially during “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst and Leonard Bernstein. I got way out there!

The Hakuoh Handbell Choir sings and dances hula to “Pearly Shells” while waiting for official photography. Their sponsor in the back row with the light-colored lei is Dr. Joyce Tsunoda, past head of the University of Hawaii Community Colleges system (and my former boss. It was great to see her!).

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke

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Love = Creativity

14 02 2012

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

The plan for today, after DH and I take a walk with Alice Brown on the beach, and once I’ve set up the studio for tomorrow’s Painting class—I’m really enjoying teaching, by the way—is to head out to Kahala to cash in the See’s Candies gift certificates I got from Cousin Millie for Christmas, look at/buy red shoes, take in the Meryl Streep movie, and then pick up Miss Marvelous from school. Then, we’re heading back over the mountain to the yacht club where we’ll deliver our granddaughter to her mom. After dark our friend Jimbo is playing music at a private party there, and club members are invited to listen to the music from the lawn—but not partake of the party fare, natch. So, we’ll be opening up the box of chocolates. Somewhere in this plan is a Valentine meal. We’ve already enjoyed the heart toast.

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke

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Wake up call: maintaining my terrain

6 02 2012

Now that I’ve overindulged by eating carnival food containing sugar, white carbs, and meat last Saturday, as well as caving in to pizza and a chocolate eclair on Super Sunday, it’s time to focus on my health again. The message is clear, but, unfortunately, I’m a slow learner.

I phoned my friend and classmate Piikea last night, as I had not heard from her in a while, and she missed her Punahou Carnival work shift with the Class of ’67. She called back, having just returned from Paris where she went to see her friend in the hospital who, as it turns out, has pancreatic cancer that has spread to her liver. Not good.

Piikea’s report was, after the oncologist had prescribed chemotherapy, her friend’s daughter convinced her mother to try a raw vegetable juice diet — sorry, I don’t have the name of the diet — that claims to have cured 4,000 or so people. Specific vegetables are recommended.

In a few days, the patient eliminated all sorts of nasty-looking stuff — gall stones, mucus, black substances — and started showing improvement. Her tumors have shrunk. (In sympathy, Piikea did the diet too, and feels better. She has decided to change her lifestyle. We’ll help each other.)

Of course I am oversimplifying the situation by leaving out the emotions of our conversation, but the story has reminded me of the diet advice presented in the book by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, Anticancer A New Way of Life that I wrote about in a previous post, the book that speaks about “maintaining your terrain” to discourage cancer cells, that we all have in our bodies, from getting a foothold.

It’s the one my glee club sister Lois encouraged me to read, and I’m glad I did. And darn, I should follow it. The advice worked for Lois in her recovery from cancer, but isn’t it better to take care of our terrains before we become ill?

The number one diet advice, backed by scientific evidence, is NO SUGAR. Cancer cells feed on sugar. It’s not just diet alone. Other factors weigh in too, though, including one’s spiritual well being.

Which brings me to let you know that besides practicing Reiki (hands-on healing technique), there will be occasions when I will offer instruction in the “Unlimited Reiki System.”

Reiki Master Teacher Lori Wong, who along with Alice Anne Parker gave me my own Reiki certification, will teach Reiki Level I, that focuses on self healing, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at my healing space, and I will assist her.

The cost of the day-long training is $150 and well worth the amount for instruction, attunements, certification, and lunch!  Lori is a professional chef, and I am a good cook. Please contact me (phone 808-237-7185 on Oahu, and I will return your call) for information about joining the Reiki I class. This complementary therapy is available to all, and you can learn to do it too.

Be well, everyone. And thank you for visiting the studio. ~ Rebekah

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke



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Twelfth day of Christmas smile

6 01 2012

Like my adult psychic readers, our 2-1/2-year-old Miss Marvelous likes to let me know that she knows. I can always tell when she’s been to the studio. After she leaves, I find little messages. Mostly she will rearrange things. She must know I am visually sensitive and like to see the living area neat and tidy, for example.

For the Christmas holiday I took three Christmas balls from a larger collection in a basket in the foyer and put them in a smaller display stand  in the living area for a design “repeat” where normally there is an ipu (gourd). Later I found Miss Marvelous “helped” me by neatly putting the items back the way she originally remembered them, that is, she remembered where the ipu belonged, and she saw the big basket of shiny colorful ornaments.

Today, as I packed the decorations away — it’s the 12th Day of Christmas when I usually take things down — I missed a Christmas ball from said collection. I looked around the room and noticed it sitting, again so very neatly, on a low shelf next to the portrait of me that Miss Marvelous likes. Ahahaha! 😉

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke

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Happy new year! What’s on your plate for 2012?

1 01 2012

♥ LOVE, Love, love! ♥ We made it! A happy and loving new year to all. Muah! It’s gonna be a good one!

What’s new on your plate for 2012? Here’s what’s on mine: 1 lotus petal, 2 reunions, 2 books, 50 lei, and plenty of Skype.

This month I’m getting ready to teach my first formal course in Painting, to be launched in February at my studio in Kaaawa. Our kids and grand kids will be moving to Italy for their work around that time, and with a crib and other childrens’ things gone from our place, I’ll be rearranging the furniture to make room for a few students and floor easels. I can envision another petal of my lotus opening. Exciting!

As we have all noticed, I’m sure, this is a time of great change in our lives and on our planet. I look at these changes as part of the circle of life and events to be celebrated.

Of course, having one’s family move half way around the world is a big change, and we are helping each other adjust emotionally as well. My darling husband (DH), who was Miss Marvelous’s primary caregiver in her first year when her parents worked outside the home, and I will miss the two toddlers especially. It’s so much fun watching them develop.

Thank goodness for Skype. Thank goodness for a great reason to travel to Europe—I’m projecting in 2013—and thank goodness they will be back here in three years.

In June I’m partying and reminiscing with my Punahou Class of ’67 classmates for our 45th high school reunion. Yes, indeed, it’s been that long. Nearly everything is set for the six-day event, and I hope many will attend. We’ll have such a great time reconnecting.

In July I’m committed to welcoming the yachts of the Pacific Cup race to Hawaii, and my crew of lei makers will be on call once again.

Come August it’s a biggie. I’ll have published a new book and e-book about my relatives in time for a gathering. My cousins of my mom’s side and I are going to North Kohala on Hawaii island for a family reunion. Kohala is where my grandparents and their 15 children lived until June 1925 when they moved to Honolulu.

In 2011 I made two scouting trips there to find the old house (it had been moved, and I found it!) and to gather information for the trip. Our family is so fortunate that we can literally walk the land of our ancestors and experience the place of their birth.

And that’s it. Pretty full, huh? I’m sure yours is too. It’s meant to be. I wish you love during the transition. There still may be some bumps in the road, so take it easy. Thank you so very much for visiting, and check back often during the year. Reiki blessings to all. ~ Love, Rebekah

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke

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Tying a couple-3 important loose ends

28 12 2011

The average person spends the end of the year trying to tie up loose ends, I think, and for me they have to do with seeds some of my friends planted in my brain this week, between Christmas and New Year’s. What I mean is, each expressed an interest in something I have first-hand knowledge about, and I feel I should get back to them. But why not share it with visitors to the Rebekah’s Studio too?

One is a recipe, the next is a travel tip, and last is someone’s bucket-list item.

For my hanai brother Brian, here’s “Oven Kalua Turkey” from A Hundred Years of Island Cooking by Hawaiian Electric Co. Valerie, a sister member of Hale Kūʻai Cooperative some years ago, gave it to me. During the holidays she always has this on hand for guests, she said. I made it for Christmas Day (omitting the banana leaf because I didn’t have one) and Mom served it alongside a ham. I bought a frozen turkey and started thawing it in the refrigerator four days before cooking it. After Julia Child, I used butter.

OVEN KALUA TURKEY

12-lb. turkey
12 ti leaves or foil
1 banana leaf
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 tablespoons Hawaiian salt
2 teaspoons liquid smoke

Rinse and drain turkey. Line a large baking pan with foil. Wash ti leaves and banana leaf; remove fibrous part of the veins. Line baking pan with ti leaves radiating from center; place half of the banana leaf in bottom of pan. Place turkey on leaves. Rub remaining ingredients on inside and outside of turkey. Place remaining half of banana leaf over turkey; fold leaves around turkey. Crimp foil around turkey and cover pan lightly with additional foil. Roast in electric oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 hours. Shred turkey, adding enough of the pan liquid to moisten meat. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

For my Kaaawa neighbor Ted, who is more senior than I and who is curious about ship travel because as a member of his family has airline privileges he and his wife Dorothy have always flown, I highly recommend river cruising, and here’s the web link: http://vikingrivercruises.com. Go ahead, click on it. With the money you have saved on airfare, you can afford being pampered.

I booked a Viking River Cruise for DH and me on a whim when I quit my last job, and the trip became our 25th anniversary present to ourselves. I thought I’d better do it while I still had money in the bank. It was our first real cruise — the kind where you unpack just once — and we loved it. We rode on the Danube River on a 150-passenger longship across Austria in the December snow, stopping at the river towns and traditional Christmas markets between Germany and Hungary. Unlike us, you don’t have to go in winter.

For my alumni glee club sister Linda, who is newly retired from 9-to-5 and has painting on her bucket list, here’s a big announcement: I’ve decided to give formal lessons in how to paint, starting February, to you and a small group at my studio, following my teacher the late colorist Gloria Foss. Yes! 😉 Before I change my mind, I’m posting it here! Registration will open soon.

Linda kept whispering painting questions to me between songs in rehearsal every week, so I figured she’s serious. “I can teach you that,” I said. Teaching a course in painting will be a first for me. I’m not sure what took me so long to take this step in my journey, but I’m excited! Mahalo, Linda, for inspiring me to share what I’ve learned.

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

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Reflections of Christmas Day

26 12 2011

Picture-perfect family home on Christmas Day

Once when I was a teen, my best friend Margy had the bright idea that I should bring all my Christmas presents to her house to open with her family on Christmas morning.

Sometimes I’d go after Christmas Eve service, when we sang in the choir, and spend the night so I could witness the little kids’ joyful squeals as they awoke to see what was under the tree for them.

We’re senior adults now, and Margy’s been living in Oregon, but for most of the Christmas mornings that followed I have visited the venerable Sinclair Family home.

Presents under the tree

Each year varies as to who of my hanai family is arriving throughout Christmas Day, and Mom Ivalee who reared six children can rattle off the list.

Yesterday DH and I were the first to arrive and the last to leave.

That meant I could help make breakfast with Kathy and Ruth. And wash dishes — my job. Ruth cracked open the eggs for two big pans of scrambled eggs with bacon, onion, and cheddar cheese that Kathy tended while I toasted and buttered English muffins. We kept brewing more coffee as the others arrived.

Kathy comes from her Idaho ranch every year and helps Mom decorate. Now widowed, she’s voiced her plans to move back home to Manoa with her horses, cats and dog. Ruth, also an equestrian, is single again too, and she has listed her Kailua house for sale and already moved back to Mom’s with her dog Shadow. These life changes have a way of working out, and it’s wonderful these three wahine (women) are together at home.

My hanai sisters and mom: Kathy, Ivalee, and Ruth

The Hurleys from Australia and Las Vegas arrived. They all came to Hawaii for the baptism last week of their baby granddaughter Jasmine, born to Jodee and Paul. These lovely folks are in-laws and daughter of Julie, my hanai brother Karl’s wife.

Jasmine is baptized, Dec. 18, at St. John Vianney church

The senior Hurleys, who live near Melbourne, gave DH and I the idea of buying an around-the-word air ticket when the time comes to visit Miss Marvelous and her family in Italy, which is half way around the globe from Hawaii. (Have I mentioned they’re moving for three years? 😉 and  😦 Big change!)

The Hurleys said that plan could be cheaper than buying an out-and-back round trip, and then we could visit them in Australia. I will look into it!

Karl’s family includes Brandon and his lady Charlotte, who also drove up, and Brandon’s little girl Trinity. Then my first college roommate Becky arrived on her way to the UH ball game.

Presents for everyone! Trinity and her cousin Patrick, 3,  liked popping the bubble wrap the best.

The morning group left, and in the lull I washed dishes. There were a lot of them. We walked the dog until we got tired, and Ruth made three yummy from-scratch pies for dinner. We staged the rest of the dinner meal around a baked ham and kalua turkey. I think Mom spoke long distance with her two eldest, David and Margy, in Alaska and Oregon. Our thoughts were with Margy and family whose husband Jon is recovering well from a stroke.

Then Miss Marvelous, her parents Ari and Travis, and baby Perrin arrived. Afternoon wine for the adults!

Shadow, Ari, and baby Perrin

Luckily my hanai brother Brian’s family could make it for dinner, as his physician’s on-call duties were light. Our niece Anna is home from college. As she spent a high school year in Italy, our kids were anxious to hear from her what living abroad might be like.

I made only a few photos in between opening gifts, visiting with everyone, and . . . washing dishes! No images of the peak excitement periods, but be assured, it was another Christmas Day of family love at the Sinclairs’. Here’s GG, our touchstone, with the youngest of our extended clan.

GG (Great grandmother) and Perrin (age 1 month)

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

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