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





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





Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou 2023!

1 01 2023
Happy New Year! Everyone at Rebekah’s Studio wishes you peace, success and fulfillment for 2023 and beyond. May all your fantastic dreams come true! Be well. ~ Rebekah




So, that time between Christmas and New Year’s …

29 12 2022

What are you reading? I mean, reading for fun. A few weeks ago my choir, the Windward Choral Society, benefited from a book fair when the bookseller donated part of the sales to the choir. You didn’t need to go to the store in person; you could buy online from anywhere. How convenient!

I chose “Once Upon a Puppy” by Lizzie Shane and a you-might-like recommended “Well Traveled,” also a contemporary romance, by Jen DeLuca.

Lizzie Shane is the pen name of my niece Sarah. I already enjoyed her “Twelve Dogs of Christmas” that I passed on to a friend in Pennsylvania at Thanksgiving when I was there.

Our family is so proud of Sarah, er Lizzie. According to her bio on the inside cover, she is “a three-time finalist for RWA’s RITA Award and author of “A Royal Christmas Wish” for Hallmark Publishing — I think I saw that movie!

What better time than now to read for fun?

New year’s blessings to you …

Love,

Rebekah





Home for the holidays

13 12 2022

Baked dozens of cookies, trimmed the tree, sang carols of joy in choir, and started wrapping gifts.

Now DH, JJ and I are enjoying some quiet days until Christmas morning when we’ll call on Mom Ivalee and hanai sister Ruth, and neighbors later in the day. 

Our kids and moʻopuna have plans to be in California with their other grandparents, so we’ll celebrate Christmas with them in January.

Oops! I almost forgot—that means Massimo, a.k.a. Trouble, will be at our house for the holidays!

Have a Merry Christmas, studio fans! Be well.

~Rebekah





Artistic treats for the holidays

27 10 2022
“Sunny,” oil on canvas by Rebekah Luke

Past Halloween and Thanksgiving, we can look forward to enjoying the December holidays. I’m checking and marking my calendar now so I won’t miss events I’ve committed to.

The Windward Artists Guild has scheduled a Holiday Fair exhibit from Dec. 2 through 6 at The ARTS at Marks Garage, Nuuanu avenue and Pauahi street in Honolulu Chinatown. Gallery hours are noon to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. You’re invited to a First Friday reception from 5 to 8 pm there on Dec. 2.

Secondly, the Windward Choral Society is presenting “Carol of Joy.” Two performances are on tap—one at 7 pm, December 9, at Kailua United Methodist Church, 1110 Kailua Road, and a 3 pm matinee on Sunday, Dec. 11, at St. Anthony’s of Padua Church, 148 Makawao Ave., Kailua, in case you want to hear the music again or missed the evening concert. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. I’m singing!

~Rebekah





An oil painting and a tissue collage

29 09 2022

I am happy to participate in the upcoming Windward Artists Guild exhibit, October 2-29, 2022, at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden Visitor Center Gallery. Viewing hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The entrance to the garden is at the end of Luluku Road in Kaneohe, windward Oahu.

The two pieces I have chosen to show are an oil painting entitled “Paniana,” and a hand-dyed tissue-paper collage called “From Haleakalā.”

A public reception is scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on October 9 on site. I hope you’ll come to this beautiful display!

Be well.

~ Rebekah








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