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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
 Posted - 10/21/2006 : 9:21:11 PM
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FRAN! Don't be baaad!
I should talk, I myself have drooled over MusicGuyMike's eBay stuff, but have decided that unless I can play it and touch it and check it out, I should probably back off. Been fleeced twice on eBay now, and while it may take the fun out of "shopping" on eBay, I've learned some valuable lessons.
I know, take me too next time and we can try out all these instruments and compare notes! 
Thanks so much for the running commentary. You know, a big part of the reason you're having so much fun is your own personality and the great attitude you have when you go places. And of course, your wonderful wife helps, as well...
Julie |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2006 : 09:38:49 AM
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Julie, it would be great to have you along, my `ukulele skills are pretty darned minimal and it would help a lot to hear a real player putting these instruments through their paces.
This past weekend took a wonderful turn. On Saturday we managed to catch Uncle Led at the Royal Hawaiian - I can't describe the experience of walking down the magnificent hall of the hotel with Waikiki glistening at the end. Led was his usual ebullient self, playing and singing brilliantly. He brought along three guitars and the Hulacaster, but we only got to hear two of them. Here's the terrible part - Led asked me to play a few tunes, and I had to leave after only two!!! We we late for dinner at the home of an old Navy buddy. So rush rush out to the windward side and over to Kane`ohe. After a wonderful dinner we were joined by Tutu Wahine and Auntie - the perfect opportunity to break out "He Mele Aloha." The ladies were thrilled with the collection of songs and the layout, and we spent the rest of the evening going over their old favorites. We even persuaded Lynnie to give us a hula to "Papalina Lahilahi." And plenty of story to go with each song, of course. You know the time just flew by until everyone was yawning and wondering how it got to be midnight.
Sunday we got another wonderful gift, Uncle Kevin came over to play a wedding for a friend, so we picked him up at the airport. We immediately had to decide which manapua bakery to visit ... but no, a friend back on Maui just reminded Uncle about Gulick Delicatessen and it was on the way, right? As he said, the big problem was choosing from the vast variety of fish, meat, noodle, dumplings, fried stuff, steamed stuff, stir fried stuff, baked stuff. Ohhhh, such a terrible problem.
Back to Kailua for a lovely day of stories and songs and lunch and talk and play and munch. Once again the time flies by so fast before we knew it we were heading out to Honey's with Uncle in tow. As many times as we've been to Honey's, coming in with Kevin Brown takes it to a whole new level. Big grins and big hugs all around, and around, and around. The guys kicked off a terrific set, even though Ocean Kaowili was sporting an ominous looking brace on his fretting hand and couldn't play. His vocals were still angelic (just the opposite of the gleam in his eye). We had visitors from Japan, a group of hula enthusiasts who danced for us. Then "the distinguished guest from Maui" joined the band - by now it's probably time for us to be heading to Waikiki for the wedding but how can Uncle Kevin leave with Uncle Eddie Kamae in the audience. After all, he named his daughter Kalae O Kaena so he can hardly leave without singing that one.
Then it's a mad dash through the shouts of "hana hou" as we set out to try to make it from Kane`ohe to Waikiki in 8 minutes -- hey, I'm good but I'm not that good, and I'm carrying precious cargo. Still, we made it before the bride and groom, got set up and plugged in, and before I knew it I was on the stage alongside Uncle Kevin in front of this festive crowd, hoping fervently that he stays mostly in G!!! After a few tunes we were joined by the father of the bride, one of Kevin's former students who led us through a few of his favorites - thank goodness he likes G too!!
The whole evening was one more magical experience, being part of this special day for the bride and groom (nephew of Kawika Kahiapo). When we dropped Uncle Kevin at his hotel and headed home we knew we'd had one more unforgettable experience.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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catheglass
Lokahi
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 10/24/2006 : 7:52:37 PM
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Eh Fran:
After all the incredible experiences you've been having lately, think it mo' bettah you cange the name of the thread from "Stuck on O'ahu" to "In Heaven on O'ahu"!!!
( I know it referenced the earthquake originally)
Me ke aloha, cathe |
cathe |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 10:13:50 AM
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Eh, Cathe, the "stuck" title was actually a momentary fit of irony and teasing - if you gotta be stuck, this is the place, yeah?
Well here we are experiencing the only bad day on a trip to Hawai`i - the day we have to leave. We started with a long three weeks in front of us and a list of friends to visit, places to see, things to do - and here we are having just barely scratched the surface of our list and the three weeks have flown by like minutes. At least we had a few minutes with our buddy Kelly over a breakfast of fried rice and eggs!!
This week has been a scramble, we utterly failed to connect with Mainkaukau and Fingerpickin among other friends. The clock just ran right over us. Lynnie even had the nerve to suggest that we spend a couple of days doing her favorite activities like cruising beaches, checking open houses, and shopping Ward Center.
We did have a terrific visit from Peter Medeiros on Monday. As we've seen in his posts on Taropatch, this gentleman is an amazing storehouse of knowledge. I scribbled notes frantically as he mentioned record labels, song titles, artists, and historical tidbits. I was intrigued when he pointed out that Uncle Sonny Chillingworth borrowed Carl Perkins and Scotty Moore licks (my rockabilly heroes) to spice up his slack key. And his formula for diminished chords in taropatch tuning - OH MY, what a slick move!!!! One of those situations where watching and listening for a few minutes provides learning materials that will take weeks to absorb. Peter also hinted at some projects he's working on which will result in some terrific new learning resources. He's been teaching slack key at UH for a number of years and those of us who've been to his mainland workshops have seen his remarkable documentation of slack key styles. Let's all hope he squeezes in the time to organize the material to his own satisfaction and finds a publisher wise enough to recognize the treasure he brings.
So we're shoving the stuff into the suitcases, finding room for our new "I survived the Hawaiian earthquake" t shirts. squeezing in the presents for mainland friends, counting the clothes we didn't wear (long pants, dress shoes), trying not to feel too sad, and starting the planning for our return.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 8:53:08 PM
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Oh Fran,
Sniff, sniff. Can't even tell you how sorry I feel for you....
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Mainkaukau
Lokahi
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2006 : 06:17:41 AM
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| Sorry to have missed you and the family, Fran. Da earthquake threw off my whole schedule. But I do have your number. Contact me when you get back to the islands. Lots of aloha , eric. |
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