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:
Some days like yesterday are bittersweet, yet worth mentioning.
In the morning I attended the memorial service of my eldest living first cousin, Doreen Chong Yuen, age 95. She was the daughter of my mother’s eldest brother, Uncle Kim Fong Chong, and Sarah Yap. I joined two of my 3G cousins at the service, Nathan and Audrey Helen; the three of us are children of the three youngest members of the 2G Chongs. (Are you following?!) 2G is the second generation to be born of immigrants from China. And my grandmother gave birth to 15 children.
Everything was maikaʻi (good), but it was a sober reminder that I won’t live forever. If cousin Doreen’s long-life genes are from the Chong side, I look forward to many more good years.
Doreen Chong Yuen
In the evening I attended my friend Cynthia’s new-moon soirée for a sharing of things we each wanted to “release” and “manifest.” We each wrote two lists and burned them in the campfire, one at a time.
Lovely gathering on the night of the new moon
Cynthia’s current challenge with breast cancer was the impetus for the gathering. She wanted to be with friends, I felt, so each woman’s friendship circle widened; there were women who we had not met previously.
We shared a meal, recipes, wine, and health experiences, too.
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.
Happy New Year 2025! I’ve stored away 90 percent of the Christmas decorations, which didn’t take long because for this holiday DH and I went “minimalist”—just two artificial trees that we took down in less than 10 minutes! There are only a couple of gifts to give very belatedly to friends who we will see for dinner in a few days.
My affirmation for the new year is to write my Facebook posts in ʻŌlelo ʻŌiwi, the Hawaiian language. I remembered the reason I began Hawaiian classes six years ago was that I wanted to understand what my Hawaiian-speaking friends were writing! And, after all, the State of Hawai’i has two official languages—Hawaiian and English. Bank checks may be written in Hawaiian, and the courts of law allow it to be spoken.
So, it’s not just an affirmation. It’s a challenge to myself. Stay tuned! You may subscribe to this blog, and then if you don’t like it you may unsubscribe.
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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