Taking a quick break from blogging about my family adventures on Oahu.
A block party with food (courtesy of Doraku Sushi, Giovanni Pastrami and other various hotel restaurant kitchens) and entertainment. Who can pass up on such a good street festival? This took place last Saturday in Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue between Kaiulani and Kealohilani avenues. I got there early enough but decided not to stay all the way to the end as I was by myself and didn't want to wander at night alone. I caught the first hula performance by the Merrie Monarch winners Halau Hula Olana. Other scheduled performances include Teresa Bright, Kalapana, Manao Company and the Japanese pop group Tube. Are they famous? Aparently they are because there was a large crowd of Japanese tourists in front of the main stage. Below are some photos that I took...
Also last night, I got to enjoy a 15-minute display of fireworks from my lanai (balcony). The occasion? It is the annual fireworks display off Waikiki Beach, organized by ROYAL COSMETICS, a Tokyo-based company.
Looking forward to this weekend's festivities...there's the Pan-Pacific Matsuri Festival as well the King Kamehameha floral parade. Let's see if I am able to check them out! Okay...back to regular programming...
Yup, last weekend Hawaii played host yet again to this annual festival...and events involving culture, performances, craft fairs and more took place at four different venues. Most of Saturday was spent at Ala Moana Shopping Center watching the many interesting performances that included Taiko from Japan, hula dancers, Suga Ren dancing Yosakoi and more hula dancers!
Sunday was another full day of activities and this time it was spent in Waikiki, first at the Convention Center with more performances, crafts from Hawaii and other Pacific Rim countries, Hawaiian quilts, Mikoshi exhibits and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Then, I strolled on over to Waikiki Beach Walk to catch its last two performances of the day by Eun-Sun Jung Korean Dance Studio and Lani Hua Hoa Uozu. What fun!!!
Then I cool off with a tall cup of Iced Thai expresso from Starbucks before heading towards Hyatt Regency Hotel to secure a good spot for photos during the festival finale...which was the Grand Parade. All in all it was a good weekend, too bad it had to rain at the tail end of the parade! Click here to view more photos
This Part 2 post was suppose to be complete and posted here on my blog about three Saturdays ago but I kept putting it off due to other "stuff". Now I feel I betta write a really long post before I forget all of it. So how do I begin...
That particular Saturday (02/16/08), the celebrations for Chinese New Year was being held in Waipahu at the Waipahu Festival Marketplace. I've never been there nor experienced CNY outside of downtown's Chinatown, so I figured it was worth the experience. Scheduled to start at 11am, I get there and find it to be a typical bustling marketplace with vendors selling vegetables, fruits, meats, clothes and even feng shui displays. The lion dance were already doing their thing and I got to see the tail end of its performances as there were 3 lions performing. There were also three Taiwanese ladies who danced three different types of Chinese dance that reminded me of those Chinese fan dances that I participated or watched during school concerts. In addition to that, there was also the narcissus bulb carving, some karaoke singing by anyone in between performances and finally a visit by the Narcissus Festival queen and her court. It was a somewhat interesting day!
The following Saturday, R and I spent a good part of the morning at the Honolulu Zoo. As usual, my main attraction was Rusty and Violet, my two favorite orang utans. The day started out well as most of the animals were out and about, instead of hybenating (or should I say they were hybernating in the open!), however it's started to rain...not drizzle...but a heavy downpour that we came home drenched! The best part, we got to see Berani (which means Brave in Malay), the tiger that had a quick escapade outside of his cage a few days earlier. Good thing the zoo had not opened yet to the general public and the zoo people were able to get to him before anything bad had happened.
And last Saturday (03/01/2008), R and I were at Ward Warehouse for the 56th Cherry Blossom Festival/Heritage Fair. It celebrates the Japanese culture with the sights and sounds of taiko and odori performances, martial arts demonstrations, hula performances as well as mochi pounding and bon dance demonstrations. The 55th Queen and Miss Congeniality Richelle Nakata and her Court as well as the other Queen contestants. In addition, shoppers got to see and buy local food, clothing, accessories and collectibles. While watching the hula performances, we devoured on a rather good Loco Moco from L&L!
Last Saturday was one real hectic day! R woke up way earlier than usual and he decided to wake me up an hour later so we could go together to Thom's Barber Shop at Ala Moana for his haircut and then to Like Like Drive Inn for breakfast. I made a fuss in the beginning just cause it was Saturday and I felt like sleeping in. But being that Ryan had to work that night, I gave in and woke up to get ready as this would be the only time we will get to do something together.
We finally get to Like Like and there was a line out the door. There's always a line when we go there no matter what time of the day, however that morning it moved along rather fast and after a five minute wait, we get sitted at a booth. R proceeded to order his regular hamburger steak topped with onions, gravy and rice while I got myself 2 over-easy eggs with hash browns, portuguese sausages and wheat toast. In addition to that, we ordered a side order of small fried rice and a short stack of banana pancakes. I don't know how we did it, but we managed to finish almost everything except for the fried rice which we boxed to take home. I guess we were just really HUNGRY!
By the time we get home, it's time for R to go to bed so that he'll get his eight-hour sleep before work and I get ready to head back out to Ala Moana Shopping Center to check out the Chinese New Year festivities. It was schedule to begin at noon but by the time I arrive at 11.30am, there was already a large crowd gathered by the center stage and most of the lion dance teams were waiting for the event to begin. I tried to find the most ideal spot for picture taking but from where I stood, there was a couple standing in front of me whom were slightly taller than me whilst their kids sat on the ground. So I just decided to make best of what I could. Finally it starts a couple minutes late...but it was well worth the wait. I got to see this year's Narcissus Queen and her court, 6 highly-regarded local lion dance teams performing martial arts demonstrations as well as dancing with their 2 best lions to represent each of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac while warding off evil spirits with firecrackers. This year's event celebrates the Year of the Rat, the first of the twelve-year cycle of animals, and which in ancient times, was traditionally welcomed as a protector and harbinger of material prosperity. How fun! Following the conclusion of the center stage events, the lions will dance throughout the center along specified routes collecting lai see (lucky red envelopes) from more than 110 participating merchants as well as shoppers, a Chinese custom that encourages luck and prosperity in the New Year.
Did you watch the SuperBowl last weekend? We recorded it on the DVR since R had to work that night too so he was asleep during the game. We watch it together the next day but only to watch for the commercials. Some funny stuff! So this weekend, Hawaii plays host to the NFL All-Star game, otherwise known as the ProBowl and the game has been held at Aloha Stadium since 1980. Around 2.30pm, I decide to head over into Waikiki to check out the Pro Bowl Football Festival at Kapiolani Park. Mainly it is all about football fun for the entire family with interactive games, non-stop entertainment, official souvenirs and fan contests. A Pro Bowl All-Star Block Party was to be held in Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue later in the evening however I wouldn't be able to make it as I have another engagement to attend. I stay for a good half hour to check out the activities and take pictures before heading back home to get ready for next outing.
Remember me say that I wanted to go see them perform? I did! I really did! And yes, I went by myself...no regrets! Although I did not buy the USD300 VIP tickets and sit upclose to the stage, the mere experience of being there to hear Brian and Hwanhee sing and see Brian and Hwanhee dance live was simply, totally AWESOME!!!! In between their performance sets, a couple brief interviews was conducted and even had a fan interaction with giveaways of calendars, posters, CDs, etc. for some lucky people in the audience. These lucky people were chosen by a random drawing of seat numbers. These lucky 7 got to play a game in which a balloon was placed between them and either Brian or HwanHee (one on one), and the goal was to hug them until the balloon popped. ENVIOUS! The night continued on with Brian and Hwanhee performing a few of their solo as well as group songs ~ I'd recognized most of the songs that they performed and some were a personal favorites! Even from way up where I was sitting, I can see them looking HOT as always in their many different stylish outfits and Hwanhee even ripped off his shirt at the end of his solo performance. What a way to end a really great day!
It's still the eve over here but the new lunar year is being celebrated elsewhere such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and etc with lai sees, lion dances, good food, and firecrackers. As for me, I'm trying my best to thoroughly clean house right now (this is thanks to that caffeine boost I had for dinner) so that I can sweep away some of that bad luck from last year and make it ready for some very much needed good luck! I even manage to decorate 2 paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases (which I have no idea what it says since I can't read Chinese...LOL!) on the doors. Alright! I'm taking a break from cleaning to post this or should I say I'm multitasking and sorta doing both simultaneously...anyways...continuing on...
It's been a long while since I've celebrated it with my parents so I do get a little homesick around this time every year because nothing beats than celebrating such a special occasion with one's own family. Here in Honolulu, Chinatown always play host to most of the Chinese New Year festivities and it was celebrated last weekend with a parade and lion dances to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to evict bad spirits. I didn't go due to bad weather (it was forecasted to rain), however the CNY celebration will continue on this weekend at differing locations so I will try to check a few of them out and blog about it with pictures. *crosses fingers*
Until then, here's wishing Gung Hay Fat Choy (which loosely translates to "Congratulations and be prosperous") to all that are celebrating this auspicious lunar new year! It's also my dad's year...yes, he's a Rat (and last year was my Mom's...how cool is that?) ;P
Yup...the annual New Year's festival presented by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) was celebrated today the Japanese way with lots of good eats such okonomiyaki, mochi, andagi, bentos and local plate lunches, roasted corn, and KC Drive Inn's famous Waffle Dog. Wait...it is not all just about food, but it does also showcase much of the Japanese culture; for instance ~ mochi pounding demonstration, bon dance, taiko (Japanese drumming), Japanese/Okinawan dances, traditional tea ceremony, bonsai displays and more. We had our share of fun and some really good food, which by the way was so good, I forgot picture them before gobbling it down like a hungry fool. Ohh well...there's always next year! My only disappointment was the 3 for $20 Japanese trinkets which I had purchased where I found later was defective and I guess it's my bad since I did not inspect it before buying and by the time I did finally open the box, it was too late to drive down there because the festival was just about to be over. Boo! Click the following to view more random shots , taiko video, Japanese dance video, and another Japanese dance video. Ain't they just so kawai'i?
Wishing you and your loved ones,
A Christmas filled,
with picture perfect moments!
Will be away on Maui for the holidays so I'll see you next year when I get back! Have a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year and oh yeah, may you find the spirit of Hawaiian holidays under your tree!
There's always something happening on the weekends here on the islands. This past weekend, one of Hawaii's most popular cultural events; the annual Okinawan Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Just for your information, the first Okinawans arrived in Hawaii from Japan's southernmost prefecture in January 1900. Another wave arrived World War II, and today there about 20,000 people of Okinawan ancestry in Hawaii. The ties between Hawaii and Okinawa remain strong, with a sister-state relationship between the state and the Okinawan prefecture formalized in 1985.
Unfortunately, I missed most of the festivities and food at Kapiolani Park but was lucky to see some of the performances at Ala Moana Shopping Center on Friday afternoon before heading out to Waikiki for the parade. Check them out by clicking on this, this, this and this. I enjoyed the last performance the most but sad to say I wasn't able to record the whole thing on my camera as my card ran out of memory. I guess I'm to blame partially for it because I didn't erase my previous photos and videos as I usually do after downloading it onto my laptop. Ohhh well!
The other things that I managed to do either myself or with R includes watching WAR at Dole, baking chocolate fudge brownies together, a day of sun-tanning and swimming at Waikiki Beach, sleeping in, piggin' out on a delicious garlic chicken bento from Mitsuken and watching The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo on DVD. What do you know...it's another weekend already! Happy Aloha Friday to all *grins*
I would have if I knew how or if I wasn't by myself. On Saturday, I drove like a madwoman back into town from Hawaii Kai so I could experience my first Bon Odori otherwise known as Bon dance at the Jodo Mission of Hawaii. It was scheduled to begin at 7.30pm and I got there around 6.45pm after securing a sorta good parking spot nearby. The colorful lanterns were up and as soon as I sat down on one of the many folding chairs, all of the lanterns lights came on. Pretty! It wasn't as packed as I'd imagined it would be but it did get crowded as the night goes on. Some were dressed in their colorful yukata or an informal kimono for summer wear, while others choose to wear happi, or a workman's livery coat. The dancers that were performing dressed up in their full kimono garb. I would love to own one someday :) Below are some photos that I took. Enjoy!
Dancers movements are driven by the beat of the drum. Using live or recorded music, dancers encircle a wooden tower called a yagura and dance in the storytelling step dances that relay simple tales of rural Japan and early plantation days in Hawaii. Also, the live or recorded music varies with slower songs to fast upbeat favorites such as a dance using a towel. This one lady sitting next to me starts to tell me stories of how she's been dancing all these years and her favorite is "Tanko Bushi," a song that tells the story of coal miners. Click on this, this, this, this, this and this to view videos I got to capture on my camera. The one thing that really bothered me was this one kid who kept jumping like a monkey in front of me everytime I tried to record the dance on my camera (you'll see him!). I gave him stern looks but had no effect on him watsoever. I even felt like slapping the little bugga but I didn't want to create a scene (I should have!). And his parents who were standing behind me did nothing! Stupid!
The "Bon season" is an important part of the present-day culture and life of Hawaii. As the festive dance and ono food might be the main attraction, the o-bon season's purpose is remembering the deceased. O-bon literally means "lantern festival." The mellow, old-fashioned lights are intended to illuminate the path of the spirits of ancestors as they return in this season. The spirits are honored with offerings of flowers, food, prayers and incense in temple rituals and on family altars. But the popular expression of remembering the dead is the bon dance. This form of sacred dance dates back 2,500 years to the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha.
I'm really glad I got to experience this happy celebration with other island residents! Next year, I want to check out several bon dances around Oahu and hopefully by then I'll know how to dance. R tells me that of all them, the one to go is Haleiwa Jodo Mission because it completes its Obon observance with a Toro Nagashi, lantern floating ceremony.
Last weekend, Hawaii played host again to the annual Pan-Pacific festival. It's a three-day fun-filled with events such as traditional performing arts, hula, cultural demonstrations and more. The festival celebrates the relationship among the people of Hawaii, Japan, the US mainland and other Pan-Pacific regions. Last year, I had a great time at the Ho'olaule'a (block party) along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. This year, I skipped that (due to the light showers plus I was too tired from my class earlier in the day) and instead went to the see the traditional Taiko Festival on Saturday at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Taiko is a drumming style of Japanese origin. Literally, taiko means "fat drum," although there is a vast array of shapes and sizes of taiko. Taiko has continued to find a place in religious ceremonies, both Buddhist and Shinto, and it is extremely common to find taiko in both temples and shrines. Taiko, although utilizing ancient instruments, has been infused with a thoroughly modern spirit, and has continued to grow in popularity in both Japan and throughout the world. With a incredibly deep traditional base to draw on, and with groups such as Kodo pushing taiko music to ever greater musical heights, taiko stands poised to become a part of the universal musical language drawing our world closer together. Click on this and this to view some of the performance captured on my camera on YouTube.
Sunday marked the last day of the festival and it ended with a really colorful parade along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. I was going to stop by Kapiolani Park first to check out the Kaze or Wind festival but decided to forgo it in order to get a good spot for my pictures. I thought I did but had to move because of the sun and glare in the first few shots. So I walked quickly down the street to find spot (not in the sun) and continue with my picture taking. The slide show below shows more photos taken by me of the Taiko festival as well as the Mahsuri parade. Enjoy!
and...I do mean Welcome! Selamat Datang! Aloha! I extend a warm welcome and am glad that you could stop by and read my blog. It simply contains general musings and ramblings about things that concern and/or interest me.
So kick back, click away and don't forget...enjoy your visit!
"So you want to know me? Romantic and logical ~ Loyal and always true ~ Funloving crazy and very quiet when needed ~
Sensible and down to earth...to sum it up, I guess I'm pretty much a "nice girl", hopefully in a good way, who's also a bit of a geek"
Here I am as perfect as I'm ever going to be.
You'll see, love me for me.
Stick around, I'm not the kind of girl you wanna leave.
You'll see, love me for me.
"With a birthday on the 5th of the month you are inclined to work well with people and enjoy them. You are talented and versatile, very good at presenting ideas. You may have a tendency to get itchy feet at times and need change and travel. You tend to be very progressive, imaginative and adaptable. Your mind is quick, clever and analytical. A restlessness in your nature may make you a bit impatient and easily bored with routine. You may have a tendency to shirk responsibility".
By the time we get home, it's time for R to go to bed so that he'll get his eight-hour sleep before work and I get ready to head back out to Ala Moana Shopping Center to check out the Chinese New Year festivities. It was schedule to begin at noon but by the time I arrive at 11.30am, there was already a large crowd gathered by the center stage and most of the lion dance teams were waiting for the event to begin. I tried to find the most ideal spot for picture taking but from where I stood, there was a couple standing in front of me whom were slightly taller than me whilst their kids sat on the ground. So I just decided to make best of what I could. Finally it starts a couple minutes late...but it was well worth the wait. I got to see this year's Narcissus Queen and her court, 6 highly-regarded local lion dance teams performing martial arts demonstrations as well as dancing with their 2 best lions to represent each of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac while warding off evil spirits with firecrackers. This year's event celebrates the Year of the Rat, the first of the twelve-year cycle of animals, and which in ancient times, was traditionally welcomed as a protector and harbinger of material prosperity. How fun! Following the conclusion of the center stage events, the lions will dance throughout the center along specified routes collecting lai see (lucky red envelopes) from more than 110 participating merchants as well as shoppers, a Chinese custom that encourages luck and prosperity in the New Year. 
Did you watch the SuperBowl last weekend? We recorded it on the DVR since R had to work that night too so he was asleep during the game. We watch it together the next day but only to watch for the commercials. Some funny stuff! So this weekend, Hawaii plays host to the NFL All-Star game, otherwise known as the ProBowl and the game has been held at Aloha Stadium since 1980. Around 2.30pm, I decide to head over into Waikiki to check out the Pro Bowl Football Festival at Kapiolani Park. Mainly it is all about football fun for the entire family with interactive games, non-stop entertainment, official souvenirs and fan contests. A Pro Bowl All-Star Block Party was to be held in Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue later in the evening however I wouldn't be able to make it as I have another engagement to attend. I stay for a good half hour to check out the activities and take pictures before heading back home to get ready for next outing.
Remember me say that I wanted to go see them perform? I did! I really did! And yes, I went by myself...no regrets! Although I did not buy the USD300 VIP tickets and sit upclose to the stage, the mere experience of being there to hear Brian and Hwanhee sing and see Brian and Hwanhee dance live was simply, totally AWESOME!!!! In between their performance sets, a couple brief interviews was conducted and even had a fan interaction with giveaways of calendars, posters, CDs, etc. for some lucky people in the audience. These lucky people were chosen by a random drawing of seat numbers. These lucky 7 got to play a game in which a balloon was placed between them and either Brian or HwanHee (one on one), and the goal was to hug them until the balloon popped. ENVIOUS! The night continued on with Brian and Hwanhee performing a few of their solo as well as group songs ~ I'd recognized most of the songs that they performed and some were a personal favorites! Even from way up where I was sitting, I can see them looking HOT as always in their many different stylish outfits and Hwanhee even ripped off his shirt at the end of his solo performance. What a way to end a really great day! 
Yup...the annual New Year's festival presented by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) was celebrated today the Japanese way with lots of good eats such okonomiyaki, mochi, andagi, bentos and local plate lunches, roasted corn, and KC Drive Inn's famous Waffle Dog. Wait...it is not all just about food, but it does also showcase much of the Japanese culture; for instance ~ mochi pounding demonstration, bon dance, taiko (Japanese drumming), Japanese/Okinawan dances, traditional tea ceremony, bonsai displays and more. We had our share of fun and some really good food, which by the way was so good, I forgot picture them before gobbling it down like a hungry fool. Ohh well...there's always next year! My only disappointment was the 3 for $20 Japanese trinkets which I had purchased where I found later was defective and I guess it's my bad since I did not inspect it before buying and by the time I did finally open the box, it was too late to drive down there because the festival was just about to be over. Boo! Click the following to view more random shots , taiko video, Japanese dance video, and another Japanese dance video. Ain't they just so kawai'i?
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Song:
Taiko is a drumming style of Japanese origin. Literally, taiko means "fat drum," although there is a vast array of shapes and sizes of taiko. Taiko has continued to find a place in religious ceremonies, both Buddhist and Shinto, and it is extremely common to find taiko in both temples and shrines. Taiko, although utilizing ancient instruments, has been infused with a thoroughly modern spirit, and has continued to grow in popularity in both Japan and throughout the world. With a incredibly deep traditional base to draw on, and with groups such as Kodo pushing taiko music to ever greater musical heights, taiko stands poised to become a part of the universal musical language drawing our world closer together. Click on this and this to view some of the performance captured on my camera on YouTube. 
is how I feel now
