Feed Me

Mac Application.

I just learned about a new Mac application called Feed Me that teaches Hawaiian in a very elementary and simple way.  It looks like it was originally designed for children but it works for beginners to learn in a very fun way. You can always pretend it is for a child and use it for yourself. Seems to be only on the Mac platform right now but if anyone sees something similar for a Droid, let us know. FEED ME, a name that I can relate to.

To See...

Now that the Makahiki season is here and will officially start this weekend, it is a great time to get outside and "see" our environment. It is alive with wind, waves, rain, gushing rivers, and flourishing plants. Take some time to be in it and experience it.

My new way to "see" is through photography. I'm not very good at it but I want to get better. I am finding that through photography I am slowing down, I am looking more closely at things, I'm thinking about light and balance, and I'm taking the time to go outside. These are all good things to do in my busy life.

As one of my photography teachers said, "it is a good way to get to know your home." I plan to do that.

Losses are never easy

Over the last few months we have had so many losses in our hula and music community. Those people who have brought unending joy, created thrilling experiences, and through their music and dance were with us in the important times of our lives. We may have known them well, we may have known them a little, and we may have not known them personally at all. These same people truly seemed to reach into our minds and hearts and know just what to say.

They will always bring remembrances of wonderful times, sad times, exciting times, shared times, and alone times. They will always be friend, family, kumu, and those who have touched our lives. They will always be with us.

To all those who have been this and much more to each of us...aloha.

Star Gazing

Summer is a wonderful time to go out in the evening and gaze at the stars. The sky is usually clear and there are many interesting things going on during the month of July. In the Hawaiian lunar calendar the month of Hinaia‘ele‘ele begins in early July.

A day for going outside for the Lahaina Noon or when your shadow is contained within your body is coming up. In Hawaiian culture, this is a very special occasion known as “kau ka lā i ka lolo” or “the sun is placed within the brain.” A time filled with mana.  This occurs on July 18 @ 12:32 p.m. here in Kahului.

The Aquarid Meteor Shower is at its peak during the night of July 28-29. So stay up late on July 28, go to a place with no ambient light, and watch them fall. The total active time of the meteor shower will be from July 18-August 18 with up to 20 meteors per hour. The viewing should be okay from Hawai’i but the better view will be in the southern hemisphere.

Hula and Competition

In general I think hula competitions are good. They prepare a dancer and a halau to a level of accomplishment that may not be achieved when doing ho'ike alone. The focused energy, time, and commitment to learning and perfecting the hula for presentation is time well spent. The in-depth learning of mele, poetry, story, and place bring life to the dance. The comraderie of the dancers with their Kumu when preparing for the competition is priceless.

When healthy competition takes a wrong turn is when people forget to leave the competition on the competition floor. Yes, if you feel you did a fantastic job in your performance then it doesn't matter what the judges think you have accomplished. Yes, you want to win because it validates all the hard work. After all you don't enter a competition if you don't want to compete. But one day or night, one or two dances, do not determine your worth as a Kumu, a dancer, or a halau. That is determined by the days, nights, weeks, and years of passion and love for hula and Hawaiian culture.

So, congratulations to all who take the time and effort to bring your hula to your highest level of perfection. It can only be good for us all.

Educational success

What a wonderful weekend seeing Hawaiians accomplish what they desired. Graduating from local high schools, to Hawaiian Immersion, to the University and reaching the goals they set. We no longer accept past views of Hawaiians being uneducated and unable to make decisions. WE can and we are.

Whatever we want to do we can. We can get higher degrees, we can be business owners, we can have successful families, we can contribute to our communities, and we can reach our goals. We are Hawaiians and we are here to stay.

Summer approaches

As May winds down and the summer begins, life in Hawai'i becomes all that the local folks look forward to. There are beach days, camping days, visiting with 'ohana, and spending time with friends. The flowering trees have canopies of yellow plumeria, red lehua, delicate white kukui, and bushes of gardenia. The lychee will begin to ripen and the mango are not far behind.

The beaches become active with barbeques, boogie boards, and laughing children. Add the bamboo pole fishing when the oama run and there's something for everyone out there. There are many sunshining days and star studded nights to enjoy with falling stars. Enjoy all that summer has to offer.