Kung Hee Fatt Choy!

3 02 2025

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.

Gau
Joong

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.

~ Rebekah


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New year’s greeting

6 01 2025

Aloha, studio fans—

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.

As always, be well.

~Rebekah


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Mele Kalikimaka 2024!

23 12 2024

Christmas aloha from all of us at the Studio. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We are looking forward to holiday time with family and friends. The cookies are baked and ready to give to neighbors on the lane. There are already presents under the tree, but what will Santa Claus bring?

Earlier this month when relatives from Pennsylvania were here, we hosted a kanikapila (let’s play music) at our place with guitar, ukulele, bass, dulcimer, tambourine, and egg rattle.

I sang in the Windward Choral Society concerts and have been helping out with retail sales at our favorite store Nohea Gallery at Kahala Mall in Honolulu.

In my travels around Oahu I photographed Christmas trees. Please have a look below. As always, be well!

~Rebekah

Happy New Year, too!

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23 12 2024

 


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Holiday 2024 calendar

10 11 2024

Usually I wait until Thanksgiving Day has passed before preparing for Christmas, but there are events of art and music to put on your calendar now.

Sunday, Dec. 1, Handel’s “Messiah” singalong, 4 p.m., Christ Church Uniting in Kailua, Oʻahu. Bring your scores or ask to share. If you wish attend as audience, please do come!

Friday, Dec. 6, Opening Reception for “The Holiday Art Fair,” 5 to 7 p.m., ARTS at Marks, 1159 Nuuanu avenue at Pauahi street, Honolulu Chinatown. The art exhibit runs noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday through the closing reception on Dec. 27. Visual art by the Windward Artists Guild and the Association of Hawaii Artists.

Sunday, Dec. 15, Windward Choral Society Concert, 4 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua Church, 148 Makawao Ave., Kailua, Oʻahu.

Windward Choral Society, Artistic Director Susan McCreary Duprey

Come one, come all!

With love and blessings for the holidays,

Rebekah


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The dogs took us for a walk

15 10 2024

JJ and Massimo took us for a walk today at Swanzy Beach Park in Kaʻaʻawa. It was breezy and high tide.

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There’s a good view of the most recently built houses across Kamehameha Highway, and looking the other way there’s the surf.

The barricade marks where the ocean has undercut the concrete walkway. Oceans continue to rise.

Be well and stay safe.

~Rebekah 


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Maʻafala

10 09 2024

Maʻafala, the Samoan and Tongan breadfruit variety, apparently has cherished value. The tree I planted from a pot is bearing well now. This year’s first round of picking went to the residents of our immediate neighborhood. The second round was distributed to my friend Taueva, who is Tongan—she offered me money and I told her the breadfruit was a gift, Caroline who refilled my bag with bananas and cucumbers, cousin Julie who refilled my other bag with cookies and crackers, and artist friend Esperance who presented me with his original oil painting of outrigger canoes at Kailua Beach. So generous! I am loving the notion of trading.

Twelve years ago
“Kailua Beach Canoes” by Esperance Rakotonirina
Bounty

I’m grateful for the blessings.

Be well.

~Rebekah


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