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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2010 : 08:14:06 AM
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Wednesday was pretty amazing. It was a day for immersing myself in the history of Hawai`i. We headed over the Pali to Iolani Palace. We took the self-paced audio tour and it was really an amazing journey through time. It was very sobering seeing the room in which Lili`uokalani was imprisoned. The quilt on display is a beautiful work of art and a testament to the many things that happened to the Queen over her lifetime. The opulence of the rest of the Palace provides a stark contrast. The craftsmanship of the Palace is mind boggling. Just looking at the hinges on all the doors or the etched glass windows, or even the plain glass windows. How did they ever ship all that glass to Hawai`i? And the serving and food prep area on the second floor - wow. The beautiful wood cabinets and sink base were so beautiful. Even the bathrooms were something to be amazed at. Back then they had flush toilets! They were definitely made for someone with a big `okole. I came out of there, though, with tears in my eyes and an aching in my heart.
But then, I heard someone saying, "Hui, Auntie! Auntie Wanda!", and it was our pal, Dr. Amy Ku`uleialoha Stillman. Amy had one of her haumana from Michigan (and her husband) with her and then we all headed over to the Archives building which is to the back and right of the Palace. We had to fill out a registration card and then lock my purse in a locker (for FREE). We then proceeded to the reading room, where Amy explained to us how to request the materials she was interested in researching. If you have read her blog, you may know already that she is working on a project comparing the Charles E. King version of the Queen's Songbook to a collection of mele written in the Queen's own hand that were obviously being organized as a collection of her music. Ah, the mystery that awaits us is why the Queen had her mele grouped into sets of 12 and why there is a difference in the number of mele that made it into King's book based on a couple of typescripts. Stay tuned for more on the mystery. You can read about this on Amy's blog at: http://amykstillman.wordpress.com/ It was so amazing to me to be able to see Aloha `Oe or Ahe Lau Makani or Sanoe in documents written by the Queen's own hand. Paul looked at a scrapbook compiled by the Queen. This scrapbook held newspaper articles that the Queen had cut out of newspapers. One can get a real sense of where her mind was at and what items she found interesting. In this scrapbook, we saw the original newspaper clipping about the death of Kaiulani and articles first announcing that they thought that bubonic plague was becoming a problem in Chinatown, and then later an article about the burning of Chinatown. The couple of hours we had available there went by all too quickly. Amy & her friends headed out on TheBus toward Waikiki and we headed over to get Duke and then off to met Amy guys at Kani Ka Pila Grill. Duke took us first to a wonderful shave ice stand not too far from his house. Was ono to say the least. We got size small, but one one coupe ordered the large. It was HUGE, almost as big as a basket ball. I think the poor couple would suffer from brain freeze. I am so proud that Paul did not drip anything on his shirt! We headed toward Waikiki in a race of sorts with Amy guys to see who could get there first. We won! One note to mention: when we got to the valet parking at the Outrigger Reef, they did not even issue claim tickets. The attendant on duty said that he would remember which car. When the evening was pau, Paul had him bring the car and there was no charge for parking! Cyril arrived right in front of us! He was setting up and was shortly joined by Jeff Au Hoy and Jeff Teves. Some lovely music filled the evening. Amy still was not there, and we started to get worried. Eventually we did meet up, but she stopped off at Halekulani to see nephew Nate Stillman, who later joined us at Kani Ka Pila Grille when he was pau hana. I finally had my beloved banana lumpia. Woo-hoo. I promise -- I only ate half, sharing with Duke and Paul. There was a guest in the audience for Cyril's show who got up and sang a couple of mele for us -- none other than Danny Kaleikini! It was a lovely and exciting day seeing some amazing things and sharing times with good friends.
And Auntie thought Nate is so very handsome. And Jeff Au Hoy, too. Ah, they are so young........ |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 04:49:38 AM
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Thursday was a quiet day. Auntie had to hunt down an urgent care center for a horrible head cold. Now I am taking some nasty cough syrup with codeine. But aue, I cannot sing (well, not that I could before, but now I really can't). I sound like one bullfrog. I always wanted a low, sexy voice, but this is not it.
I've got to get the voice better for the Waimea Valley kanikapila. You won't believe how that kanikapila is shaping up for this month. You wait. You are going to be amazed at all the various TaroPatchers all in one place, playing music together. Auntie feels misty-eyed already.
Today at lunch time, Nico's at Pier 38....laulau, lomi salmon, poi.....and Abrigos and Duke dem...and many other musicians have been known to stop by...some Kaapana guy, maybe some `ukulele player named Tolentino, one never knows does one. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 06:21:07 AM
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| Fran - yep he is. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 8:31:22 PM
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Friday is THE day to go to Nico's on Pier 38 for lunch. The Hawaiian lunch plate, kalua pig, laulau, lomi salmon. rice and poi for less than $9, and all kinds of wonderful music, too. Duke, Derek, Shawn, Paul, Ramon Camarillo, Gaynor, Fred Lunt, Glen Hirabayashi & his daughters, Uncle Charlie, Kawika Medeiros -- they all made mighty fine music! The place was packed, not only with folks sitting down to eat and enjoy the music, but plenty more folks in line to get food for take-out. I was once again in hog heaven, because not only did I gett to listen to good music, eat great food, but I had Duke's granddaughter to play with. And then, who should appear, none other than our own Prof. Petah!!!!! One of my heroes!!!! Was so good to see him and wala`au! Got lots of video of the music, but not sure how it will come out because the place was noisy and busy and bustling.
K-den. Got a few chores to do. Tomorrow is a BIG day...the Gabby Waimanalo Kanikapila. Starts at 10 goes until 6, over 20 groups, over 100 musicians playing. The Abrigo `Ohana are playing as is our TaroPatch brother, Doug Fitch. And guess who is going to be there....that CUTE Ocean Kaowili and that sweet, nice Barry Kimokeo. Paul and I will be wearing our matching Gabby Waimanalo Kanikapila t-shirts. Which have been ironed, by the way. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 07:04:54 AM
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What a day. What a day. Can you imagine a hillbilly living in Cleveland where there is an absolute lack of Hawaiian music (except that played in my own living room), getting to experience and ENTIRE day of Hawaiian music at its very best.
We drove over the Pali to get Dukie, who not only packed his guitar, but he had big foil pans of something that I knew would be delicious. He was bringing lunch for all of us. Waimanalo Beach park is very beautiful. The water was an amazing turquoise color, the sky as intensely blue as blue can be. When you look mauka you see those velvety Ko`olau...the setting was as beautiful as any place can be! We got there shortly after the first couple acts had already started, so Auntie missed hearing Barry Kimokeo. We met up with Amy Ku`uleialoha Stillman, who was also in sensory overload, as was I! We listened to some wonderful music from Jeff Peterson & Danny Carvalho with Nate Stillman on bass. We heard a group of Cyril's slack key haumana and they sounded oh so good! Palani Vaughan was so amazing with the deep, mellow voice, with the powerful mele he sang. He had his granddaughters dancing to the Ka`aahi Kahului which is always a delight to see. To this point I had nly seen them dance it on You Tube, so I was so excited when he sang that mele. He also did a mele about the Queen and the overthrow, but I do not know what the song is. It is one with which I am not familiar, but he had maybe a dozen Palace Guards, complete with the heavy wool outfits and helmets. Those poor guys had to be ready to pass out from the heat, but they were so straight and tall and regal. Amy decided to check out all the vendor booths and came back with a lovely gift for me. That was only the first of teary-eyed moments that day. Thank yu, Amy, from the bottom of my heart for your sweet generosity! We decided to get out of the sun and move farther away from the stage in the shade. Oh man, next we heard soome great music from a group called Kanakapika, consisting of Ben Kaili, Victor Chock, J.J. Ahuna and Dwight Tokomoto (aka "Toes"). We had some nice talk story with then when they were pau making music. Oh my, Auntie is crazy about Ben Kaili! The other gentlemen were equally kind and friendly to we malihini. One of these days we've got to get back to the Big Island and visit with Ben, who has been one of our kanikapila attendees. Somehow I must have missed Makana's performance. Not sure what I was doing. Do not know why he was wearing a fake moustache.
Oh my and then one of the highlights of the day for me -- Olomana -- yep all three together - Jerry, Wally and Haunani. I love going to see Jerry at Chai's and he makes amazing music, but oh my, it is elevated to the nth degree when all three are together. Haunani's voice and guitar are beyond description. How she can heft that double neck guitar around, I'll never know, but boy does she make wonderful music with it. They sang Ku`u Sweet Lei Poina`ole, Hawai`i is Calling/Remember Be Sure & Be There and Haunani had the crwd boogying with Teve Teve. We heard the lovely steel guitar of Alan Akaka; we had some really rockig music by Shawn Ishimoto some of the Artis `ohana, and I am not sure who all was on stage at the time. We heard George Kuo, Aaron Mahi and Kalani Cockett. Oh my such wonderful music, all day long. I shan't run on and on about who was there. You can read that under the "Performance" thread. There were some amazing highlights to the day. One was Bla's performance. He had the crowd yelling, clapping, hana hous abounded. The one the crowd went wild for was Waimanalo Blues. The last hana hou he sang a request from brother Cyril -- Pua Tuberose. That was as sweet as it gets. That song showcases Bla's versatility. He can go from a rockin' Haleiwa Honky Tonk to something sweet like Pua Tuberose, with a fine falsetto. Lots of applause and yelling. The other act that brought down the house was the Abrigo `Ohana! They were floored with Timi's fine guitar playing. They were flabbergasted and delighted when they heard Emily's version of `Alika, but the place went wild when they heard Quinn on `ukulele with great singing on Kaleohano. They went CRAZY for him. You should have heard the applause and yelling! Made me cry, probably got raccoon eyes from mascara running down my face. I was so proud of him! In the audience right next to me was Palani Vaughan, who was really enjoying the Abrigo performance. He was totally blown away by them. He was shaking his head in wonderment at Emily's falsetto. When the day was pau, we adjourned to our temporary abode for more kanikapila with Duke, Derek, Shawn & the Abrigo `Ohana. All in all, it was an amazing day. I do not even remember my head hitting the pillow last night.
Today we are having another kanikapila, expecting about 50 folks, and I am making jambalaya for the pot luck. K-den, gotta go chop onions.
Latahz. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Popoki
Akahai
USA
88 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 6:10:57 PM
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Aloha Wanda and Paul,
Sounds like you are having a great vacation. Lots of wonderful music.
I read your posts from the beginning and...
"I had crab cakes, in my world-wide search for the best crab cakes ever (rated about a 6 out of 10 on the WJC scale" wcerto wrote on 8/01
A friend of mine told me that he actually found the best crab cakes ever at Costco!!!
I have them on my list to try.
Enjoy the rest of your Hawaiian time.
Aloha, >^..^< |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 6:12:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
We drove over the Pali to get Dukie, who not only packed his guitar, but he had big foil pans of something that I knew would be delicious. He was bringing lunch for all of us.
Please tell us it was NOT kalua pig. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 08:41:43 AM
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Hah, Retro, was not Kalua Pig, and was not night time, so we OK. Was fried tuna patties, wow! And rice. And hot dogs.
Here is a video that Carmel took of Quinn Abrigo's highlight performance at the Gabby Waimanalo Kanikapila. He brought down the house. Made Auntie cry, and I got raccoon eyes from the mascara.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_52h8dOZFQ |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 08:55:35 AM
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Sunday was an amazing day -- beyond anything I could have imagined. Duke hosted a kanikapila in our honor and invited lots of friends. The setting was ever so nice in Red Hill, with wonderful breezes keeping the grown-ups comfortable, while the keiki enjoyed the swimming pool. Was plenty of ono food, wow, so MUCH food. Uncle Paul brought poi that he pounded himself the traditional way using traditional equipment. There was a booth at the Gabby Kanikapila where for a donation, you could experience making pa`i`ai under the guidance of those who teach this to school field trips. I made a big pot of jambalaya and there was so mch else: Duke's great won bok salad, c hicken, mac salad, bean salad, spam, and so much more.
Ah but the music, oh my, I cannot describe to you. Among those joining us and jamming were the men of Ke Kani Nahe - Sam, Duke, Shawn and Derek, the Abrigo `Ohana, Uncle Ron Kanahele, Justin Alderfer, Derek Mau, Peter Moon, Ozzie Kotani and how excited was I == my hero, Peter Medeiros. Oh the music they all made. Talk about hog heaven! Not only was I in music job heaven, but I had plenty opportunity to wala`au and to hug the keiki, that is when we could get them out of the pool. This kanikapila went on from noon until past dark time. I was ready to keel over and Duke was still instructing a couple haumana in slack key and Justin & Timi were still playiing `ukulele. They had to have played their fingers down to the bone.
I took plenty pictures and plenty video, which might take me a little time to get downloaded and organized. or is it uploaded?? Ah, I neva know.
Plans for this week include Bishop Museum and Bishop Museum Archives (with Amy Stillman), some shopping for souvenirs for folks back home; open mic night at the Crouching Lion Inn in Ka`aawa, and later in the week, oh you just wait until I tell you about that. Hog heaven is not even a word(s) that could possibly describe what is happening beginning on Thursday afternoon. I am about to cry just thinking about it, but I better not because I have to go to the Times Market to see more kleenex already. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 08/09/2010 09:38:48 AM |
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Hookani
Lokahi
232 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 09:15:28 AM
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| Glad that you're having a great time Auntie Wanda and so happy I can be a part of the fun. I almost missed your jambalaya after dealing with my keiki's other activities but I got to scrape the bottom of the pot and got a taste and was so ono. Hope to hang out more this coming week, but for sure at Waimea and the slack key fest. |
Ke Kani Nahe
YouTube
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 10:17:53 AM
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Duke, Auntie Wanda, Sonny Lim & Uncle Paul at Gabby Waimanalo Kanikapila
Dennis Kamakahi & George Kuo
Alan Akaka
Palani Vaughan & King's Own
Sonny Lim with our whole gang - Abrigo `Ohana, Duke, Derek & daughter,
Uncle Ron Kanahele
George Kuo
Bla Pahinui
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 11:46:37 AM
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Here is a great video that Kawika took of the group doing He`eia. Justin Alderfer had the lead. `Ukulele pa`ani by Timi Abrigo; steel guitar pa`ani by Uncle Ronald Kanahele.
Mahalo, Kawika for such great video.
How you get yourself in the movie while you were filming with the flip? Movie magic?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkt5PhsKrFg |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 07:00:00 AM
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Monday - another beautiful day in the islands. Nice breezes blowing, beautiful blue skies.
Went scrapbook shopping in Kailua at at place called A Place in Time. Ah, it was wonderful. Beautiful papers and beautiful stickers and embellishments and stamps and stencils and all kinds of goodies. Two very nice people own the shop and they were very kind to us and the husband spent lots of time with me teaching me new techniques to use in my cardmaking. All you guys on my card list going to get really swell stuff for my autumn cards when I send them.
We then went to get Duke and headed up the big hill to Ozzie's house for talk story and some music for the guys. We all went to dinner at a wonderful Japanese/Okinawan restaurant in Honolulu, where I had wonderful ahi and vegetable tempura. Paul had sashimi and pork katsu and something else which I forget, but was nice. Was great having dinner with these three sweet men. Then back to his house for the talk story and music portion. We probably kept him up too late because he has to work this morning. But what a nice, nice man. He has great aloha in him. I cannot find enough words to describe what a wonderful man he is.
Today I am definitely going shopping. I really want to find a straw purse. They are so hard to find in the Cleveland area. I am sure I can find one here somewhere. Hmmm, maybe at ABC store? Or Hilo Hattie?
Tonight dinner in Hale`iwa and talk story with our favorite left handed son of Gabby. We are probably going to compare kitty pictures and get to meet his new kitty. We are going to a Mexican restaurant up there.
OK -- now here is the biggie. The news can be announced now since kumu put the news out on Facebook. Patrick Landeza says: This Thursday I am bringing 15 of my slack key students from across the country to O`ahu to take workshops and play with me at the Slack Key Fest at Kapiolani Park...woooohooooo!! Many are Taro Patch `ohana. Students include:
Dean
Mr. Mori
Matt
Diane Rigoli
Dennis St. Pierre
Wayne Papac
Paul Certo
Mike Butler
Dave Baley
Jack Keane
Jennifer Yamanuha
Kevin Mullen
Les Wong
Keith Samse
Larry Guy
I expect these folks are going to have plenty fun later this week. They all should be here Thursday and start practicing and practicing. And We hope they will all join us on the North Shore for Saturday's very special Waimea Valley kanikapila. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Adventures of the Certos in Hawai`i
