Waikīkī

16 07 2023


Many local residents avoid Waikīkī, a haven for tourists, some of who think that IS Hawaiʻi. I live in Windward O’ahu, a good 45 minutes of driving time away, and except for visiting friends, attending my Hawaiian language class, the occasional gig, or dinner at favorite restaurants, I am content to hang around here.

I made the exception yesterday to attend the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival where my cousin-in-law Geri Valdriz was performing.

I arrived early, so I took a stroll through the Royal Hawaiian Hotel grounds nearby. I walked through the lobby and straight to the beach and was reminded why Waikīkī Beach was said to be a place for kings. The shore and the view of Leahi, or Diamond Head, are probably the same, but oh, so many people! After Geri played music, we were advised to skedaddle home to avoid the Waikīkī Moonlight Festival Block Party for which the main thoroughfare of Kalākaua avenue was closed. Here are my daytime images:

Royal Hawaiian Hotel

 

Coconut grove at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Old map in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel lobby

“There’s Diamond Head!” said one, said many.



 Powder room at the Royal Hawaiian 
Pink hibiscus matches the “Pink Palace”

 Cute matcha green tea flavored cream puff

Surfing off Kūhiō Beach

Steel guitarist Geri Valdriz and friends

Be well, and remember to apply the proper sunscreen before going outdoors.

~Rebekah 


Many local residents avoid Waikīkī, a haven for tourists, some of who think that IS Hawaiʻi. I live in Windward O’ahu, a good 45 minutes of driving time away, and except for visiting friends, attending my Hawaiian language class, the occasional gig, or dinner at favorite restaurants, I am content to hang around here.

I made the exception yesterday to attend the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival where my cousin-in-law Geri Valdriz was performing.

I arrived early, so I took a stroll through the Royal Hawaiian Hotel grounds nearby. I walked through the lobby and straight to the beach and was reminded why Waikīkī Beach was said to be a place for kings. The shore and the view of Leahi, or Diamond Head, are probably the same, but oh, so many people! After Geri played music, we were advised to skedaddle home to avoid the Waikīkī Moonlight Festival Block Party for which the main thoroughfare of Kalākaua avenue was closed. Here are my daytime images:

Royal Hawaiian Hotel

 

Coconut grove at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Old map in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel lobby

“There’s Diamond Head!” said one, said many.



 Powder room at the Royal Hawaiian 
Pink hibiscus matches the “Pink Palace”

 Cute matcha green tea flavored cream puff

Surfing off Kūhiō Beach

Steel guitarist Geri Valdriz and friends

Be well, and remember to apply the proper sunscreen before going outdoors.

~Rebekah 


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Categories : About me, Friends & Family, Hawaiian, Music, Travel

Kīlauea Volcano erupts!

7 06 2023


Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island erupted this morning, the third time since 2018. For me, the next best thing to being there in person is to watch the television news reports from my studio on Oʻahu. These images are from KITV4. At this time the eruption is confined to Halemaumau Crater.



Be well, and avoid the vog!

~Rebekah


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Iam Tongi charms American Idol fans for the win

22 05 2023

By now, everyone knows that Iam Tongi is the newest American Idol. TV viewers cast more than reportedly 17 million votes for the 18-year-old from Hawaiʻi.

Fans and judges liked Tongi’s heartfelt song stylings. While the champ has a good voice, the show is not “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent”; it’s more of a popularity contest.

He charmed viewers with his smarts, humility, kindness, humor, and bigger -than-life presence.

Here are the lyrics to the song “Monsters” by James Blunt that Iam sings:

Monsters
/
Lyrics

Oh, before they turn off all the lights
I won’t read you your wrongs or your rights
The time has gone
I’ll tell you goodnight, close the door
Tell you I love you once more
The time has gone
So here it is
I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn
To chase the monsters away
Oh, well, I’ll read a story to you
Only difference is this one is true
The time has gone
I folded your clothes on the chair
I hope you sleep well, don’t be scared
The time has gone
So here it is
I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn
To chase the monsters away
Sleep a lifetime
Yes, and breathe a last word
You can feel my hand on your own
I will be the last one
So I’ll leave a light on
Let there be no darkness, in your heart
But I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn
To chase the monsters away
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jimmy Hogarth / James Blunt / Amy Victoria Wadge
Monsters lyrics © Cookie Jar Music Llp, Emi Music Publishing Ltd

 

CONGRATULATIONS!! to Iam Tongi!!!

Be well.

~ Rebekah 

 

 

 

 


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My art receives Honorable Mention

18 03 2023

I appreciated very much the words of Gregory Pai, the juror of Ultra III exhibit of the Windward Artists Guild. He gave the remarks on March 16, 2023, about my hand-dyed tissue-paper collage entitled “Crater View.” The actual crater at Kilauea was Fissure 8, now named ʻAhuʻailaʻau. The acoustics were poor in the second-floor lobby of Pauahi Tower, where the art will be hanging for two months, so I hope I heard the video correctly for my transcription:

“ … it’s not a piece of work that shouts at you when you look at it, but when you start to look at it very closely, it goes deeper and deeper and deeper. And it’s just very skillful use of collage elements to create an abstract, visual landscape. And the excellent values, differentiation and composition using very strong diagonal shapes gives it a strong sense of movement, depth, and aerial perspective. So it was an abstract, but in the same sense you felt like you were looking at a crater. And it had a very real depth abstract quality to it, and it was done in collage, which is a very difficult medium to work with …”

Be well.

~ Rebekah


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Categories : About me, Fine Art, Hawaiian, Uncategorized

Yes, I’ll weave a lei for your boat

24 01 2023

On Chinese (Lunar) New Year’s Day, one is not to do any work, but I didn’t mind creating something new for a gentleman who asked if I could make a lei for his boat being launched that day.

I enjoy making fresh lei, and my crew and I have made scores of the garlands for yachts that have finished trans Pacific crossings.

So I gathered the materials from my garden: green ti leaves, alaheʻe (native mock orange), kupukupu fern, and cherry.

They didn’t really need any cleaning. A quick rinse with water and trimming off the stems from the ti was enough.

I made the lei wili style—“wili” means to wind—using 924 (24 gauge) paddle wire from the floral crafts store.

We had agreed on a price for an eight-foot length, but I wanted to use all the material I picked, so the lei became ten feet long.

It was a gorgeous January day, and I was able to meet the customer at 2 pm at the Kaneohe Yacht Club bar. “I’ll be the one with the big lei,” I said.

As you can see, the lei fit perfectly, and the customer gave me a tip. That’s what I mean by “gentleman.”

Welina mai kāua e “Seas the Day”! I hope you catch lots of fish!

Love,

Rebekah


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Reunions

18 01 2023

This January has started out as reunion month. Besides my birthday, we celebrated my first cousin Ernie’s and his wife’s 50th anniversary, their son’s wedding, and the ʻOnipaʻa observance that was the 130th year since Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaiʻi was overthrown.


Birthday cake materialized at Orchids restaurant at the Halekulani resort hotel on Waikīkī Beach where my friend Lori took me. My hubby came home with a cute whole round cake. I felt too lazy to take up his offer to shop at Macy’s where there is a close-of-business sale, but I remedied that today when I bought a new outfit and cheerful new bed sheets.

Ernie and Karen were honored at a nine-course dinner at a Chinese seafood restaurant. They flew to Honolulu from Palm Springs for their Golden Anniversary.

The next day their son Geoffrey married Jennifer at the Kahala Hotel and Resort. Cocktails and dinner in the Maile Ballroom with slack-key guitar music by Harry Koizumi—oh la la!


Then yesterday I went to ‘Iolani Palace to meet up with hundreds of people in a peace march from the Royal Mausoleum to the Palace grounds.

We’re already almost three weeks into 2023! Let’s keep going!

Be well.

Rebekah


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Categories : About me, Friends & Family, Hawaiian

Ocean view

19 09 2022

Riding along in the passenger seat when heading North on Kamehameha Highway from Kahaluʻu to Swanzy Beach Park affords good views of the ocean, once past Ka’aʻawa Valley. Roll the window down for a clear camera shot and tradewinds that allow you to sniff the salty air.

Have a great day and be well! 

~ Rebekah


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