Staying cozy during the winter holidays

20 12 2025

Aloha mai kākou e Studio fans!  In our islands it is Hoʻoilo, the wet season, and thankfully as I write this the rain is forecasted to stop in five minutes. 

  After sitting my gallery shift at the big Windward Artists Guild /Artists of Hawaii exhibit at the Honolulu Downtown Art Center today (still holiday shopping, anyone?), I’m heading back over the mountains for a neighborhood happy hour. Woohoo! By the way, today is DH’s birthday! 

  On Sunday we’re planning to join my bff Becky and Susan in Waikīkī for brunch, then help Santa Claus with some deliveries.

On Monday we’ll see Ken and Georgia for a meal at the Crouching Lion Inn.  Daughter Ari’s for Christmas Eve—I can’t wait to play with their dachshund Massimo—and then to Helen-and-Marty’s on Christmas Day — and then a get-together with the Jin Dui Sisters on Boxing Day—I’m in the holiday mood, so very blessed and thankful!

  So Merry Christmas, everyone, or, as we say in Hawaiian, Mele Kalikimaka!

~ Rebekah

  


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Categories : Uncategorized, Friends & Family

Happy Easter, happy travels

18 04 2025

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:

Happy Easter

As always, be well.

— Rebekah


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Categories : About me, Friends & Family, Travel

Festive autumn lights

10 11 2020

Autumn in the Islands is comparatively warm, but the trade winds can kick up, and we have rain. The holiday season looms as it does everywhere. I’ve been getting into a festive mood. I found new lighting by shopping online; so easy and dangerous for the pocketbook when self-isolating during the current pandemic.

Artificial Jack-o-lantern, battery powered, in the front yard

 

Moon rising on Halloween night

 

Gorgeous sunset over the Koʻolau Mountains as seen from Kāneʻohe Bay last Thursday. Flame torches provide ambiance for dinner with friends.

 

New tiny white lights decorate the house exterior. They are on an automatic timer for six hours a night for as long as their batteries last. An online catalog find.

I can’t wait until the day after Thanksgiving to put up our Christmas tree.

Be well and stay safe. Love,

Rebekah


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Categories : About me

Beauty at Longwood Gardens

27 11 2017

Whenever we’re in this part of Pennsylvania we pay a visit to Longwood Gardens. This time the designers decorated the halls and conservatories for the holidays for “A Longwood Christmas.”

We went in the afternoon and imagined how lovely it is at nighttime with the Christmas lights. No matter what the season, it is always a treat to see. Here’s my album.

Floating green apples and red cranberries for a design

Green apples and walnuts afloat in water

Close up of Christmas tree made of succulents

Phalaenopsis orchids cover this tree

Close up of the orchid tree

Amaryllis buds

Glass ornaments made by children

Merry Christmas


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Categories : Travel

Virtual snow

7 12 2016

Aloha, studio fans! As you can see it’s snowing at Rebekah’s Studio! In reality it is the time of ho‘oilo, the wet and rainy season in Hawai‘i. Damp and muddy! Amid the hustle and bustle of the season and the busy highways, I remind myself to drive safely and really be aware of what is around me. It’s a crazy time of year in many ways.

At the studio we are still wrapping up a couple of publishing projects—a coffee table book for my high school class’s 50th reunion (you do the math, haha!) and a second printing of a family recipe book, originally published in 1999. Painting and music classes are finishing up for the year. The holiday calendar of events is starting to fill now, too.

Be kind to each other. I wish you all much deserved peace and serenity, inside and out, with plenty of aloha! ~ Rebekah

At Honolulu Hale (City Hall)

At Honolulu Hale (City Hall)

 


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Categories : About me, Chong Hee Books, Friends & Family, Reiki Healing

Hawaiian garland for the holidays

10 12 2011

In Hawaii we are fortunate to grow gardens with flowers and foliage to decorate our homes and adorn ourselves the year ’round. I’ve started to show others how to craft holiday garlands, such as Christmas wreaths, table centerpieces, hostess gifts, and swags.

Today some of us gathered at the yacht club in Kaneohe to put the decorations together. It’s a fairly easy method adapted from the Hawaiian wili style of lei making. We substituted wire for natural fiber used to whip the plant material together, and we omitted a separate backing that is unnecessary because the stiff stems of ti leaves are sufficient foundation.

This fresh wreath is made of green ti, red ti, laua‘e, and song-of-India leaves. Red and pink ginger blossoms offer pops of complementary colors. A big bow completes my creation.

Just in time for the holidays: handcrafted decorations from our gardens

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

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Categories : About me, Hawaiian

Oh my goodness, look at Lanikai beach

31 05 2011

Classic Lanikai view

Aloha! This weekend our family spent some time at a beach house in Lanikai, Oahu. The idea of going there to relax this 3-day Memorial Day holiday was not an original one, as you can see. Never in my life have I seen this beach as crowded. On a normal day it is pretty secluded, tucked away around the corner from Kailua town, with outrigger canoes going out for practice in the early morning and late afternoon, a handful of sunbathers, and maybe a wedding shoot. But not yesterday. Take a look at all the activity!

Afternoon paddlers

Memorial Day 2011 at Lanikai

Escaping for some solitude on the sea

Beach sentinels

Please throw it again

Colorful Hobie

One of several "bathtubs"

One of several rafts

Para-something

Volleyball

Looks like Waikiki beach

Sand caterpillar

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

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Categories : Hawaiian, Travel

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