Ho'okahi Hoku

Happy 2006!

2006-01-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

Canoes and skulls on Town Lake on a gorgeous New Years' Day in Austin, Texas. The Hike and Bike Trails on both sides of the lake were crowded with adults and kids, walking, running, or riding bicycles, accompanied by lots of dogs on leashes and babies in strollers. The temperatures were in the 80's, and the sun was shining, but the effects of five years of drought (which has helped provide so much dry fuel for wildfires burning now in other parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico) were very evident.

Merry Christmas from our "Empty Nest"

2005-12-24T13:28:00.000-08:00

The cats' stockings were hung by the chimney with care... each near to a cute photo of the owner (and one cute baby photo).

There are six stockings hung on our mantle, and this photo shows the three which belong to our three cats. From left to right, the stockings belong to 1.) Freckles (a.k.a. Fluff), the 18-pound mostly-white cat with seal-point markings and blue eyes, and some dark brown spots and dark brown tail, 2.) Austin Oltorf, the 22-pound blue-gray Maine Coon cat with green eyes, and 3.) Jason, Jr., the 15-pound black-and-white domestic shorthair with green eyes. The baby shown in the stocking-holder on Jason, Jr.'s stocking is now 18 years old (and a freshman in college now). Our obese cats are getting older, too. Fluff is the baby, at 11 years, and Austin Oltorf and Jason, Jr. are both 13 years old, and they all have to go to the vet twice a year for "senior check-ups".

Our aged cats are all on special diets, so Santa is bringing them very few "treats". Shown in the stockings, above, are the gifts of Revolution (registered trademark of Pfizer), which they get monthly anyway. I'm sure they'll say (sarcastically) "Thanks, Santa". I tend to think Revolution is a great gift which makes my life easier, and it makes the cats' lives better... it is an easy way to prevent fleas, heatworms, ear mites, hookworms, etc, but I'm not sure the cats are very appreciative. How oblivious these totally-spoiled cats are... they don't even know it's Christmas Eve!

Best wishes to all, from our little family and all our cats. Mele Kalikimaka a me Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

2005-12-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

Carl, Jack and Harry, (that would be Levin, Reed, and Reid), here's a little helpful advice for you today. Sounds like you guys haven't been listening, so maybe you should get your fingers out of your ears and get a clue.

Playing Footsie

2005-12-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

Austin Oltorf, a 22 pound Maine Coon cat (slightly on the obese side) LOVES to be massaged by foot! He is somewhat perverse in that he loves this more than being petted by hand. Here is Austin Oltorf, in ecstasy, as Ka'u Kane gives him a little "foot-massage". Note that Austin is growing out his summer shave, and looks somewhat scruffy.

70-3!!! Hook 'Em Horns

2005-12-03T22:09:00.000-08:00

Today the University of Texas Longhorns won the Big 12 Championship! The game ended with a score of 70-3 over Colorado (whom U.T. had already beaten in Game 6 of the season 42-17). Because of that victory, the tower on the U.T. campus is lit up tonight in orange, top to bottom, a beautiful sight which I saw as my husband and I drove downtown to attend his company's Christmas party.

Now the Longhorns will be going to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to play U.S.C., who won today 66-19 over U.C.L.A. Lots of local fanss are scrambling to try to get tickets and flights and hotel rooms, but I'd rather stay home and watch it on television. Nonetheless, I'm really proud of Vince and the whole Longhorn team, and just want to say "Hook 'Em Horns"!

2005-12-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

There are 40 pounds of cat in this chair! The white cat (almost hidden) is named Fluff, and he weighs 18 pounds. The gray cat is Austin Oltorf, and he weighs 22 pounds. This photo was taken in August, when they had been shaved for the summer, but their fur was growing out. I'm sure the "couch potato" lifestyle of the neutered male cat has contributed to their weight, but they're very large cats to begin with.

After-effects of Hurricane Rita

2005-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

I didn't blog about this earlier, because it was too depressing, but my father (not my stepfather, who married my mother when I was in 4th grade and who I grew up with, but my bio-dad) and my youngest half-sister, from his second family, evacuated to my house from their town, located between Houston and Galveston, on September 21, 2005, in advance of the predicted hit on Galveston by Hurricane Rita.

I had last seen my father, who I still call "Dad", and generally see about once or twice a year, at a family funeral in early August. He was frail and weak at that time, but was able to walk fairly well (with a walker) from the curb outside the church, up several stairs, into the church, down the aisle, and into a pew. But when he arrived at our house on that late-September day, it was a whole different story: he was very weak and looked like a Holocost-survivor. He weighed 110 pounds, and was way beyond frail. Forunately, my husband was home that evening, and we had a lightweight folding wheelchair available, so ka'u kane was able to pick him up, out of the car, and put Dad in the wheelchair, and we two carried him into the house. I realized immediately that we would need more specialized equipment and help if we were going to take care of Dad in a safe and comfortable way.

Next morning we got a hospital bed, a regular wheelchair, an overbed table and some trained help-- the agency sent, instead of a nuses's aide, an excellent L.V.N. (who was also a Hurricane Rita evacuee from my Dad's town!), all of which were so necessary during the time Dad was here at my house. We were happy to take care of Dad and half-sister, and to cook, wash laundry and dishes for extra people, because it seemed the least we could do to help them when they were threatened by a hurricane.

Dad and my half-sister were planning to go back on Wednesday morning, September 28th, since Hurricane Rita had missed their town.

Long story as short as I can make it: On Monday afternoon, September 26, my Dad complained of severe abdominal pain, his blood pressure dropped, we called 911, he went off via ambulance to hospital, was diagnosed with dead bowel, and underwent a major surgery to remove the distal half of his colon. He was in the ICU 12 days, to stepdown, to floor, to rehab hospital, and finally back to his home town (via ambulance, because he couldn't sit up for 4 hours) on November 7th!!! We all hope he will do well, but he has had a previous serious heart attack and stroke, and his vasular disease is bad enough that he infarcted his IMA (causing dead bowel) this time, but at least he is back home and is being well-taken-care-of, and members of his second family can see him easily and often, if they wish to.

As for myself, I can say good things came out of this stressful time. We got to know various relatives better, including some we hadn't known before. And, certainly, what we went through has helped us understand how much more stressful things have been for the evacuees from Katrina... many of them have no family to take them in and no place to return to. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

2005-11-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

Einstein Explains It All to You, Congress

E New Orleans, Aloha Wau ia 'Oe

2005-09-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

New Orleans, I love you.

I'm from Austin, Texas, not a New Orlean native, but I have posted a number of photos I took at Mardi Gras this year (below). They didn't seem "important" enough, or "different" enough, to post when we were there this year. Little did we know this would be the last year Mardi Gras would be taken for granted, and that we would assume that the same old crowds would assemble on the "Neutral Ground" to watch all the parades, or that the parades would even happen.

My husband has been a member of the Krewe of Bacchus for about 14 years, but I think we've been going to Mardi Gras for 17 years (but it may have only been 16). Anyway, it's been long enough for the "thrill" to wear off a little bit, but not totally-- it would never wear off totally, but we had developed little routines, places we liked to go, things we liked to do, and we might have started taking them for granted.

It is very odd to think how little we knew about the real life of the citizens of New Orleans. We were just tourists who knew one family who lived in New Orleans. I will remember these visits to New Orleans, the food and music, and the people we met through the years.

But I also know that the New Orleans of these past years will never be exactly the same in the future. So, please enjoy the photos I have posted (below) from Mardi Gras 2005!

2005-09-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

"Throw me something, mister"-- the cry heard when any float goes by. This photo was taken Mardi Gras 2005, during the Iris parade, out St. Charles Avenue, where my husband and I watched parades with our friends who lived in New Orleans (and who now live in Houston, because of Katrina).

2005-09-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

My favorite cart for buying Mardi Gras headbands and hatbands. I buy one every year (these are na lei o Mardi Gras). Mardi Gras 2005.

2005-09-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Street music at Jackson Square. Mardi Gras 2005. I don't know who these people are, but they seemed quite popular, and were very good.

2005-09-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

"Live Sculpture" on the pedestrian mall near Jackson Square. Mardi Gras 2005.

2005-09-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Man outside Cafe du Monde, with face makeup. Behind is one decorated Mardi Gras umbrella carried by an unseen woman. Mardi Gras 2005.

2005-09-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

Crowd near Cafe du Monde, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

The famous Cafe du Monde, in the French Quarter, a favorite spot for coffee and begniets.

2005-09-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

An ambulance on Canal Street, between parades.

2005-09-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

A decorated horse of the Cowboys and Indians riding group, showing off the purple, green and gold beads suspended from the bridle. Other horses were even more gaudily decorated.

2005-09-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Riders for the Cowboys and Indians, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

Marching women of Bahia Flamingos, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

Iris Parade, Alaska Fur Festival float, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

101 Pawsitions Group, walking in the Tuck's parade, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

A shot of people on the "neutral ground", which is what people in New Orleans call the median that runs down St. Charles Avenue. Many families who live in New Orleans watch the parades here. It's mostly tourists and drunk college students who watch the parade on Canal Street.

2005-09-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Here's the Navy Band float in the Iris Parade, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

Two little girls on a "parade ladder". To raise kids up so they can see (and prevent them from being trampled, accidentally), many parents and grandparents put their small children into these wooden "boxes" (seats) which are fastened onto step ladders. The children are secured in the box by a broomstick or dowel which is passed across their laps and held in place (you can see it in this photo). Of course, adults stand on the ladder at all times, to make sure the ladder isn't knocked over and to make sure the kids are safe. This "parade ladder" also has wheels, so it's easier to transport.

2005-09-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

A blue house decorated for Mardi Gras, 2005

2005-09-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

View from lobby (on 11th floor) of Westin Canal Place, looking over Mississippi River, Mardi Gras 2005

2005-09-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

A view form the 18th floor or the Westin Canal Place over the Harrah's Casino, Mardi Gras 2005

Katrina Disaster Relief Day Today

2005-09-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Today is the Kartina Disaster Relief Day in the Blogosphere, and while I have few, if any, readers, I want to encourage everyone to make a donation today. I am choosing the Salvation Army and the Red Cross for my donations.

Even if you have already donated, please make another if you possibly can. It looks as if we Americans are "on our own", for the most part. We have the will, resourcefulness and resources necessary to accomplish great things, but it will take a long time to recover from this disaster.

I believe there will be challenges beyond anything we can imagine right now, but one simple thing we can do today is donate money to help in the initial relief efforts. There is overwhelming need, and we must meet it with an overwhelming outpouring of money, prayers, and willingness to do whatever we can to help.

This morning I learned that dear family friends, whose home is right up against Lake Ponchatrain in the area where the levee broke, are safe in Houston, where they are staying with relatives! Not all are so fortunate, so I really encourage a generous donation to the Salvation Army and/or the Red Cross today.

Prayers for those on the Gulf Coast and New Orleans

2005-08-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

Aue! The devastating news from the Gulf Coast and New Orleans today, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is mind-boggling and also gave me "chicken skin" (i.e. goosebumps). While the initial reports yesterday were not so bad, today's news has been truly awful. I have gone online and given donations to the Salvation Army and to the Red Cross, but I don't know what else I can do, since I am so far from the scene, except pray.

No matter how horrible this is, we Americans will find a way to deal with it. After all, we explored and cleared Ground Zero in New York in less time than anyone could have predicted following September 11th.

Already, the "corporation-the-blue-states-most-love-to-hate" has donated a million dollars today, right off the bat, and is also collecting more in each of their stores, for hurricane relief. I'm sure you know I'm referring to WalMart, , but did you know that Lowes followed closely, as a near second. So I ask: Why is "big box store" a dirty expression to some people?

Another question: Where is the United Nations? Are they asking that their member nations help the United States in the same the way they demanded the U.S. (and all other countries) aid the tsunami-victims? The U.N. seemed to ignore the fact that a multitude of individual United States' citizens responded with incredible generosity, via various charitable organizations , to the tsunami. The U.N. criticized America for giving "less" than other countries when this tsunami natural disaster hit, but they were wrong.

So, okay, now we-- the United States-- have been hit by a major natural disaster, a devastating natural disaster which is, probably, the worst we have ever suffered, according to FEMA

My question: Is the U.N. going to come to our defense and advocate that it's member nations contribute to our assistance?

I truly doubt it-- but we'll see.

Please Click to Help Cathy

2005-08-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

Aloha, if anyone is reading my blog, please follow this link to Captain's Quarters , and then follow the instructions to help Cathy, the sister of excellent cartoonist, Chris Muir, who has brought so many laughs and chuckles to us all...

All it takes is a couple of seconds. (Please click more than a few times, if you feel like it.)

Welcome Home, Discovery!

2005-08-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 7 a.m. today, just in time to watch the final approach and landing of space shuttle Discovery at Edward's Air Force Base, in California, at 7:11 a.m. Central time. Over a period of about ten minutes I watched as, via infrared camera, Discovery went from looking like a tiny dot of light, moving against the blackness, to a vaguely shuttle-shaped white object, and, finally, became a recognizable shuttle which touched down and landed on a light-lined runway. As the wheels touched down, I found myself whispering, "Welcome home, welcome home", and I noticed, with surprise, that I had tears in my eyes!

I am 52 years old, born in 1953, and the space program began during my childhood. The first flights I remember being aware of were the trial flights with the monkeys. These flights just went up and then came back down. Alan B. Shepard, Jr., was the first "human monkey" sent up on May 5, 1961 in Freedom 7, when I was in 2nd grade, and I remember that very well. I think I was glued to the television for almost every mission, although, in those days, the launches were the only part of the mission shown on television, as I remember it. Mostly, we were told what was happening, rather than seeing it for ourselves. Over time, as technology advanced in both the space program and the broadcasting field, with computers and satilites to relay the pictures, we were able to "see" more and more, and it became even more awesome (in the traditional sense of the word "awe").

When I was grown up and married, and long after man had walked on the moon, I remember being at work, in an operating room at Beth Israel Hospital, in Boston, Massachussetts, when I heard about the Challenger tragedy. It was January 28, 1986, and later that afternoon I found myself with two tearful 16-year-old Vietnamese girls, recent immigrants I was mentoring at the time, who wanted me to explain how this had happened. I found myself inadequate to the task, except to tell them in the most simple terms, because I couldn't speak Vietnamese, and they didn't speak English too well. We were all very sad that day, though, because Christa McAuliff was extremely popular, not only because she was to be the first "Teacher in Space" but because she was a "local" (a graduate of Framingham State College, just a bit west of Boston).

When we lived in Lakeland, Florida, from fall of 1986 until summer of 1991, I would occasionally hear people say they had seen or heard a space shuttle flying over, en route to landing east of us. One day I even made a point of being outside myself, looking and listening, at the time the newspaper said a space shuttle should be flying over, but I never saw or heard anything. I was busy being mother of a young child, and the Challenger's fate seemed a tragic anomaly. Shuttle flights seemed to become so routine, I stopped paying attention to them.

We moved to Texas in August, 1991, and I vaguely remember hearing, from time to time, about shuttle flights. They all seemed so safe, routine, predictable, even commercial, that it seemed as if these flights weren't so important. We once took our son to the Johnson Space Center, at Houston, and toured and saw a space shuttle, but can't remember if it was a mock-up or a real one-- I just remember it was opened up, and it was interesting to see, but, at that point, the shuttles seemed kind of "old hat".

On the morning of February 1, 2003, I was driving home from my mother's house to my home in Austin. My mother had just, the day before, received the news that she had pancreatic cancer, and I had spent the night at her house with her. It was a beautiful morning, but I was somewhat in a state of shock, anyway, when I heard on the radio, in real time, the news that the space shuttle Columbia was lost over Texas-- that data and then contact was lost, at about 9 a.m. on that beautiful, peaceful, blue-sky morning. I cried and cried, so much that it was hard to drive. It seemed a double tragedy to me-- the astronauts would have grieving families, and I would be grieving soon myself, I knew.

My mother died on August 6, 2003. Until this morning, when the Discovery landed safely, I hadn't thought of this in terms of an "anniversary" event, but maybe that's one of the reasons I found myself watching, with tears of happiness when the shuttle landed safely.

So, again, I say, "Welcome home, Discovery, and all your crew members."

2005-08-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the lovely opening in our dining room ceiling-- fortunately, this has helped things dry out, and rid downstairs of the sour wet-sheetrock smell. I noticed water dripping from the dining room ceiling on Monday night, and it has been quite interesting since then, dealing with insurance, clean-up people, air conditioner repair people, etc.

Short story which apparently went on longer than we realized: Air conditioner condensation line clogged up, we didn't realize, water overflowed into area below unit (i.e. dining room ceiling) and when enough moisture and water built up, it started dripping onto dining room carpet, at which point I finally noticed it on Monday night. I heard occasional dripping, but didn't quite realize what it was-- took me about 20 minutes to track down where the sound was coming from and what caused it.

The good news: We have "the least damage I've seen from this cause today", according to the insurance adjuster who visited this morning. We also seem to have pretty good insurance. The bad news: This repair is going to go on for a while, and it will take weeks before things return to normal.

The "take-home" is: Check your air conditioning condensation lines occasionally, and pour a little bleach down them (through the overflow) or drop one of the chlorine-bleach tablets in (same place) from time to time. Supposedly, you should do this monthly, but I think you should do it at least every two or three months. It wouldn't hurt to have "cut-off" floats installed (which I didn't know about, but which will be installed in our house tomorrow!). These are floats which cut off electricity to the air conditioner unit if the water in the condensation overflow gets too high-- thereby avoiding what happened to us recently! Your house will get hot, and you'll definitely go check out what is happening, and find the problem before it does damage to your home-- at least, that's the theory.

2005-08-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

We are living in a "wind tunnel", with three fans and a dehumidifier downstairs, one fan and one dehumidifier upstairs. This is supposed to be "white noise", right? I wake up feeling like I'm trying to sleep onboard a small ship during a giant storm, and it's not too restful. I hope these will go away soon, but it's necessary to avoid getting "mold", the big "bugaboo" these days. Who knows? It isn't exactly calming.

CapMetro, the "Safest" Public Transportation in the Nation?

2005-07-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

Following all the bombings and attempted bombings in London, there has been much discussion about how to make subways and bus systems safer here in the United States. In New York, there has been a decision to start "random" searches of bags and backpacks at subway stations, which will undoubtedly be about as effective as doing nothing.

This led me to reflect on the Capital Metro bus system which "serves" Austin, and I submit that CapMetro might just be the safest public transportation system in the country, and that this is not because of any great security-planning, either. I believe the aspiring bomber would realize that trying to blow up a CapMetro bus is a gigantic waste of time and effort.

Here are the reasons I believe CapMetro buses will be spared the fate of London buses:

1.) CapMetro buses are not filled with people. This is because CapMetro buses don't go where people want to go and they don't run very often. These are very nice buses, but usually fairly empty, even on "ozone action days", when CapMetro lets anyone ride the bus for free.

2.) It is hot in the summer, and CapMetro bus stops are covered by small umbrella-like roofs which don't effectively shade the benches where you are supposed to sit and wait. The aspiring terrorist runs the real risk of heat stroke while waiting for a bus, and this is another reason why CapMetro ridership is so sparse.

3.) People would be upset if the bus driver and riders (if any) were hurt or killed, but the aspiring terrorist would probably realize: No one cares about the bus. CapMetro could sell all their buses to some other city and most people would never realize they were gone, but CapMetro has lots of buses and lots of money to buy more.

John Howard Puts Everything in Perspective

2005-07-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

This excellent speech is quoted by Hugh Hewitt:

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, responding to a twit reporter's question of whether the invasion of Iraq has made London a targeor terrorists:

"The first point of reference is that once a country allows its foreign policy to be determined by terrorism, it has given the game away, to use the venacular, and no Australian government that I lead will ever have policies determined by terrorism or terrorist threats, and no self respecting government of any political stripe in Australia would allow that to happen. Can I remind you that the murder of 88 Australians in Bali took place before the operation in Iraq? And can I remind you that the 11th of September occured before the operation in Iraq? Can I also remind you that the very first occasion that bin Laden specifically referred to Australia was in the context of Australia's involvement in liberating the people of East Timor? Are people by implication suggesting that we shouldn't have done that? When a group claimed responsibility on the website for the attacks on the 7th of July, they talked about British policy not just in Iraq but in Afghanistan. Are people suggesting we shouldn't be in Afghanistan? When Sergio DeMillo was murdered in Iraq, a brave man, a distinguished international diplmat, immensely respected for his work in the United Nations, when al Qaeda gloated about that, they referred specifically to the role that DeMillo had carried out in East Timor because he was the United Nations adminsitrator in East Timor. Now I don't know the minds of the terrorist. By definition you can't put yourself in the mind of a successful suicide bomber. I can only look at objective facts. And the objective facts are as I have cited. The objective fact is that Australia was a terrorist target long before the operation in Iraq and indeed all the evidence as distinct from the suppositions suggest to me that this is about hatred of a way of life, this is about the perverted use of the principles of a great world religion, that at its root preaches peace and cooperation, and I think we lose sight of the challenge we have if we allow ourselves to see these attacks in the context of particular circumstances rather than the abuse through a perverted ideology of people and their murder."

Sampler Quilt for Mina's Baby

2005-07-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is a "sampler quilt", made with squares I purchased at a silent auction at the AAQG Quilt Show in October, 2004. I was in a hurry to make this quilt, so I used these squares, lovingly pieced by one of the quilting bees of AAQG as a fundraiser, then I added my own sashing, backing, and binding. I finished the quilt top last week, then machine-quilted it with free-motion machine quilting. I usually like to quilt by hand, because it is so relaxing (and because I am so much better at it) but I was in a hurry to finish this quilt, and I think it turned out pretty well. I quited a motif (either flower or heart) free-hand in the center of each square, then did meander quilting around that to the edge of each square. The sashings and narrow border were quilted in the ditch. All the squares contained the same blue-background floral fabric, but other fabrics which complimented the floral fabric were included.

I've posted this photo because I realized that, while I claimed to be a quilter, I hadn't posted any photos or written any posts about quilting!

Before and After Photos

2005-07-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

What Do Cats Do When It's 101 Degrees Outside?

It has been a very hot, dry summer this year, and the photo (above) shows two of our cats sleeping, in the shade, "upside down". By this, I mean that they usually don't sleep with their tummies up, but they do when it gets hot-- my guess is that they lose heat through their undersides, because when it is cold, they curl up in a ball, trying to keep their tummies unexposed, but when it's hot, they sleep in these comical poses, trying to expose as much of their tummies as possible.

Fortunately, we got some rain this past week-- on three different days-- and the temperatures have dropped to the mere 90's, so we are all happy, cats and humans, at least for a while. It will, undoubtedly, turn very hot again, but in the meantime, the sage is blooming!

This (below, the "after the rain" picture) is a photo of the "purple sage", which only blooms in the summer, and only after a rain. I took the photo when I noticed that the ordinarily-green-shrub in our back yard was covered with these lovely purple flowers yesterday. The quote, written under the photo, is from the song "Deep In the Heart of Texas", which I hope to translate into Hawaiian language one of these months.

2005-07-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

"The Sage in Bloom is Like Perfume... Deep in the Heart of Texas"

Earthbound at Redrum

2005-06-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight Earthbound, the band Ka'u Keiki Kane plays and sings with played at an all-ages club called Redrum. They were booked from 9 to 10 p.m. on a Tuesday (traditionally slow night in clubs on 6th Street), but many of their friends came to hear them, as well as some parents of band members, and one makuahine me kona mau keiki (mom with her kids) from the Beginner Bands at ASM Rock Camp that finished this past Saturday. In addition, there were some folks who just came to the club because they like the club, I guess, and just came to listen to whatever bands were playing tonight.

Their set was really fun to watch and listen to tonight-- the club was a not-too-big space, and totally inside, so I was somewhat dreading that the sound would be overwhelmingly loud, but the band requested that the sound guy keep it at a reasonable level (and he did, even though the previous band had been at "sound max-plus", in my opinion, or maybe my eardrums were just numb).

Earthbound did all the best original songs which Ka'u Keiki Kane wrote, and Earthbound arranged, as a band, including "Death in Your Arms", "Fly Free", and "Follow", which are the three songs, also, they recorded in April for a demo c.d. They also included several surprises in the show, including two "covers" they'd never performed before, since they usually don't do covers: one was The Cars' "Just What I Needed", as the first song of the set, and the other, later, was a really terrific version of "Baba O'Reilly" by the Who, which featured a violin solo by the lead guitarist, in addition to excellent guitar work all around. It really got the crowd going, even the parents (who grew up with the Who). The last song of the show was a new original song, the latest written by Ka'u Keiki Kane, called "Kiss an Angel", which was well-received by the audience.

All in all, I would say this was a really excellent show the band gave tonight, playing for the full hour, unlike at The Vibe, where they played about 45 minutes. There has been a lot of personal tension between various band members lately, as there often is in bands, but it certainly didn't show on stage. They were professional, and looked like they were having a good time (at least to the audience-- I can't speak for the band members).

My compliments to all the members of Earthbound for an excellent, professional show tonight.

Austin's "Keiki Rockers" at Antone's

2005-06-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

This summer Ka'u Keiki Kane (my son) is working as an intern at Rock Camps offered by the Austin School of Music. For this first two-week long session, Ka'u Keiki Kane has been working in the "Beginner Bands" camp, specifically with the band which named itself "Absolute Zero" and he has really enjoyed it. This afternoon was the culmination of the session: the concert, at Antone's, featuring all the bands.

The three Beginner Bands performed first, and they were so much fun to watch. Ka'u Keiki Kane had told me they were a really great group of kids, and they had all worked so hard these past two weeks. He was so proud of them-- and I was very proud of him. It was funny to realize he was in their place not that many years ago, and now he's like a big brother or mentor to them. I stayed only for the Beginner Bands, but there were eleven other bands to follow! The first year Ka'u Keiki Kane did the Rock Camp, about 5 years ago, there were only four or five bands (and the camps were at the old Austin School of Music building, just off 5th Street).

A couple of the moms had organized a party, later in the afternoon, for the Beginner Band camp kids and any parents who wanted to attend. I think that was a great idea, and a good way to celebrate their successful performances, but, unfortunately, there was a problem with the swimming pool in the park where they'd planned to have the party, which left the kids sitting on the side of the pool, unable to get in the water--- "bummer", as we used to say. So, Ka'u Keiki Kane called and asked if they could all come over and use our pool instead. Before long, I was hearing a lot of splashing and cannonballing and happy-kids-in-pool noises, just like when Ka'u Keiki Kane and his friends were younger. This was followed, somewhat later, by pizza delivery and by chocolate cake for na keiki (what could be better?). And Ka'u Keiki Kane was right-- they really are a great group of kids! As a bonus, I got to meet one of the moms who is a Hawaiian music afficianado, too).

Congratulations to all the Rock Camp Austin bands who worked so hard this past two weeks-- your work really paid off in today's terrific concert. You've learned a lot, not only about playing and performing on your instruments, but about working with others toward the common goal of making good music.

'Ohana O Hawai'i Association of Texas Event to be held 8/27/05

2005-06-06T20:53:00.000-07:00

Aloha, ya'll, (which is Texan for "Aloha kakou"),

I'm really excited to learn, from "Hawaii Magazine", that something is going to happen in my "neighborhood". Usually, the listings in the "Mainland Happenings" section are for conferences, concerts, and luaus held on the west coast, east coast or in Las Vegas, and they rarely coincide with vacation time for Ka'u Kane (my husband). In the new issue I received today, I read that there is going to be a luau and concert by the Makaha Sons and Raiatea Helm on August 27th, in San Antonio, just 90 miles away, during a time Ka'u Kane is free on vacation!

This event is called "An Evening in Paradise", and all proceeds will go to the charities and functions supported by the 'Ohana O Hawai'i Association of Texas. Price of the luau dinner and concert is $30.00 per person. There will also be a workshop by Chinky Mahoe, a well-known Kumu Hula. Price of the hula workshop, plus the luau dinner and concert, is only $100.00. Registration and payment must be done in advance, by telephone, at (210) 492-1067. More information online at the Makaha Sons' calendar page, here. Scroll down to August 27th, and click on the link for a pdf with all the information about "An Evening in Paradise".

All of this will be held at La Villita Assembly Building, at 401 Villita, San Antonio, Texas. This is located downtown, near the "Riverwalk". There are many nearby hotels to choose from, if you register soon.

Dennis Pavao-- a Hawaiian Teasure, Embellished

2005-06-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

For some time, I have been enjoying a c.d. called "Dennis Pavao, The Golden Voice of Hawaii, Vol. 1", copyright 2004 Kapa Kuiki Records. Obviously, others have been enjoying it, too-- this recording recently won the 2005 "Male Vocalist of the Year" award at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards ceremony.

I have to start this "review" by pointing out a few things: I'm a Texan, and a haole, and not an expert in Hawaiian music-- this is my own opinion. I'm just a person who loves traditional Hawaiian music, and has a ridiculous number of c.d's, albums, etc.-- and who was crazy enough to want to take Hawaiian language courses to be able to understand, at least on a "surface" level, some of the lyrics of the songs.

Okay, having said that, let me recommend this c.d. to anyone who loves Hawaiian music. In my opinion, this is not the best Dennis Pavao c.d. I own, but I have enjoyed it very much. It features Dennis Pavao singing, playing guitar and ukelele, augmented by the vocal talents of Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Raiatea Helm, and the instrumental contributions of Bobby Ingano and other talented musicians.

Dennis Pavao passed away, at age 51, in January, 2002, leaving his wife and six children behind to mourn him and all of us to miss him. This album is based on unfinished, unreleased recordings, as well as some previously released recordings, but they were all embellished and finished posthumously, by these talented musicians and artists. It is a loving tribute to Dennis, and a good album which should make his children very proud, and also, hopefully, help to support them as their father would have wanted to.

Among my favorites is Dennis' recording of "I Kona". I always associated this song with his cousin, Ledward Kaapana, but I think Dennis' version is excellent, with vocal harmonies by Raiatea Helm, gorgeous steel guitar work by Bobby Ingano, and other musical contributions, all integrated in a very subtle way. Raitea Helm also sings on "Bora Bora Nui", a Tahitian-language song.

"Makee 'Ailana" is one of my favorite mele. Sonny Chillingworth did the previous "definitive recording" of this song, in my opinion, but Dennis Pavao does a hauntingly-soulful version, about half-tempo of the way Sonny did the song. The gorgeous vocal and an almost-ghostly guitar sound gave me goose-bumps (or "chicken skin", if I lived Hawaii). Marcus Johnson does a very subtle, excellent bass on this and other songs.

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom adds her harmonies to several songs, but also takes the lead in a number of them, enhancing the songs beyond what Dennis Pavao could have done by himself. On "Ke Kali Nei Au", she sings first, and does harmonies to his vocals, as well. The result is a really lovely recording of this song-- a true duet. Two other Hawaiian-language classics, "'Imi 'Au Ia 'Oe" and "Ipo Lei Manu" also combine the two voices beautifully and are very moving.

There are two English-language songs, "Haleakala" and "Keanae", which I liked, and two hapa-haole songs, which are not my favorite type of song. The first, "Hanalei Moon", is okay, but I've NEVER liked the song "Sweet Singing Bamboo", and Dennis' version on this c.d. hadn't changed my mind. I think it's an awful, silly song, but it is a "period piece". In addition, there is a lovely slack key guitar instrumental, simply called "Kiho'alu".

All in all, I recommend this c.d. It's fun to listen to, and should please most anyone who likes Hawaiian music. You can listen to clips of all the songs here . (Note: There are quite a few websites where you can order the c.d. online, but I have had good experience with Mele.com and haven't tried the others.)

Pretty Terrific-- Earthbound at The Vibe

2005-06-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Aloha kakou-- did I forget to mention how good Ka'u Keiki Kane's band, Earthbound, was on Tuesday night at The Vibe? I'm sure I did, because I was too tired to post after sorting through all the photos I took (none too good) and posting one.

The Vibe is a club on 6th Street, the "live-music" district of Austin. Unfortunately, thanks to our local "political heroes" (i.e. the city council), the "live-music" district is also now home to the city's "homeless services" buildings, as well as the Salvation Army shelter. This has led to an interesting mix of people on the streets in that area: 1.) people enjoying live music, 2.) people going to the clubs primarily for the alcohol and drugs (some of whom get really messed up and use the alleyways as their private bathrooms) and 3.) the homeless persons who don't want to enter either the Salvation Army or the City-funded homeless services building and prefer to stay out on the streets. Some of these homeless are pan-handling and scamming folks in the area, too. One scam is to pose as parking-lot attendants, prior to the arrival of real parking lot attendants who come to work about 9 or 10 p.m. These "fake" lot-attendants greet people parking in the pay lots and collect money from them, just like "real" attendants, but take off with the money. When the "real" lot-attendant comes on duty, he might have your car towed away! At very least, you will have to pay (again) for parking. This happened to us the other night, and we were fortunate to avoid being towed.

Anyway, Ka'u Keiki Kane's band, Earthbound, was the first band of the night, and played from 9 p.m. until about 10 p.m. About 25 or 30 of their friends came to the club, along with some who heard thm at the party the other night. Now, the band got this "gig" on Tuesday night because Tuesday and Sunday are the slowest nights. The manager, though, liked the band and said he might book them again.

The band members really enjoyed playing their first "official" gig in a real club in Austin. They're having lots of fun, and getting good experience, but definitely not making any money. They made $25.00 in tips, gave a $10. tip to the sound guy (which I think was a great idea), and were left with a net of $15. If Ka'u Kane hadn't paid the parking for two cars (at $6. each-- I'm not counting the money we initially got scammed out of, although if their cars had been towed it would have cost even more) they would have cleared $3. for the night, and would have paid out more than that for bottles of water (which Ka'u Kane bought for all of them several times).

You're doing great, Earthbound. Hang in there.

2005-05-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

Earthbound playing at The Vibe on 6th Street tonight

"Jaded" is now "Earthbound"

2005-05-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

The band formerly known as "Jaded", which is the band Ka'u Keiki Kane (my son) has been with since last summer, changed it's name a couple of months ago to "Earthbound". They have recorded some songs for a demo and gotten several gigs recently. Tonight they played at a private party, and were all set up to play outside when a typical Texas thunderstorm decided to form. They ended up setting their stuff up in the living room, indoors, while their party-guest audience sat outside the open double French-doors on the patio, under an overhanging roof. Naturally Ka'u Kane (my husband) and I had to go take a few photos and visit with the parents of the other band members, but the band was very well-received by the college-aged audience, and will be playing in a club in town day-after-tomorrow. This being the first few gigs they've had (now that school is out for the summer), they're really excited-- unfortunately, as beginners, none of these gigs are for money (just tips), so they can't quit their day jobs. I think they are having lots of fun and will learn lots of "life-lessons" by doing this. It's easy to become disappointed and give up, but I don't think they will. I don't know if they will gain a following, but I think this will be a good experience for all of them.

Graduation, Genealogy, and Reflections on Names

2005-05-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

In Hawaiian culture, there are different types of chants, but one special kind is the genealogy chant, naming and honoring ancestors in lineal descent. These chants were especially sacred and important for many reasons (not least of which is because there was no written language to record those names, and no cemeteries with gravestones to visit. Hawaiians are very careful in naming, believing there is power and importance in the name, and this is also reflected in the language. I have come to believe that the Hawaiians, by chanting, recalling and perpetuating the names and facts of their ancestors' lives, instill a sense of pride and continuity in the younger generations, motivating them to continue, in their lives, the good ways of their kupuna (ancestors).

Ka'u Keiki Kane (my son) graduated from high school last night and I was very moved as the names of the graduates were solemnly called, one by one. These were the full, formal names, seldom used in their entirity, the names lovingly bestowed by parents, years ago, when these fine young men and women were newborns, with unknown talents and potential. When we named our son, we gave him two family names which are common in multiple "lines" of his kupuna. I know our family's naming traditions are far different than those of the Hawaiians, but, obviously, we must have felt there is importance and significance and "mana" (i.e. power) in names, as Hawaiians do-- otherwise, why would we have chosen names we wanted to perpetuate from our ancestors into the next generation?

Ko'u Makuahine (my mother), who died in 2003, was the family genealogist of her generation, and she thoroughly enjoyed tracking down "moldy, old ancestors", as she called them (with great respect, despite the humor). Now, I have become the family genealogist, continuing the work she began. In truth, my mother "trained" me well, even before I was interested. She would talk about the various "lines" she was researching, and tell me of her progress, and the ways she used to "track them down". I had little interest when I was younger, but would often accompany her on trips to other cities and states, to cemeteries (to find and photograph ancestors' gravestones), to courthouses, libraries, and State Archives. She would look for ancestors in my maternal lines (i.e. hers), while she encouraged and helped me to research my fraternal lines (i.e. my father's). We actually had lots of fun together on these excursions, and I learned more from her than I realized at the time (I thought I was just "keeping her company").

While we haole (non-Hawaiians) don't have genealogical chants to help us know our kupuna, we might, if we are lucky, have an older relative or two who inherited "family bibles", or who remember enough about our families to get us started in researching our kupuna. I was very fortunate in this regard, but I've learned that genealogical research can be, alternately, fun and frustrating, tedious and rewarding. Genealogy is something you can work at, off and on, for years and years. Genealogy is a puzzle where each answer leads to new questions, where each newly-discovered ancestor adds new "lines" and more work to be done, but it can be addictive, if you have the right temperment. The names of our ancestors, and many of the facts of their lives, can often be found in census records, state birth, marriage and death records, land and probate records, immigration records, church and cemetery records, newspaper archives and books of local history. Today, there are also many useful websites, both free and subscription, where some of this information is more quickly and easily accesssible than it used to be, and more is being added all the time. However, there continues to be the need for other, various approaches, including the time-honored request by mail for records searches and copies, tromping around cemetaries (though many volunteers are putting information and photos of gravestones online), and spending time in various libraries and courthouses. Sometimes, in genealogical research, despite your best efforts and your determination, there may be a few frustrating mysteries and questions which may never be answered-- instances where records were not kept or have been lost, destroyed, or transcribed incorrectly, where gravestones have been destroyed or weathered beyond legibility, where time and fate have conspired to prevent certainty and confirmation. The farther back in time you trace your kupuna, the more this seems to be a factor.

Not having the ability or talent to write a genealogical chant, I am trying to preserve our genealogical information in family sheets, charts, and scrapbooks of carefully-labelled photographs and "proofs". I will soon be adding the printed program from Ka'u Keiki Kane's commencement ceremony, his senior and graduation photographs, and the announcement we mailed to his living relatives and godparents. Someday, perhaps, his grandchildren will look at them and think them quaint and old-fashioned. Perhaps they will be surprised to learn about some of his early achievements and talents, and the way he looked when he was 18 years old. Most of all, I hope they will be just as proud of him as I am today, and that his name will be remembered by all of his descendants.

We love you and are so proud of you, Stephen!

E ola mau na inoa ko kakou mau kupuna (May the names of our-- this means all of us-- ancestors live forever)!

"Compromise"?

2005-05-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have not been blogging lately for two major reasons: 1.) various deaths in family, and need to do stuff about that, and all the various feelings, etc., and 2.) no one reads my blogs anyway, so I didn't think I'd be missed.

Tonight I have to blog to blow off some steam-- because I am really furious at a number of spineless worms who call themselves Republican Senators, and most especially at the proverbial snake-in-the-grass, John McCain. I have already written numerous emails pledging lack-of-support, but I'm still mad. I've read some blogs trying to spin this as a potentially good "compromise" (as in Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch), but I don't buy that.

I was immediately suspicious when I heard references to "trust" during the news conference announcing the "compromise". Next was the announcement that only three up-or-down votes would be guaranteed as part of the "compromise". My son thought I was crazed when he heard me moaning and yelling (at the t.v.) "No.... No!!!!! What idiots!!!! They're getting nothing!!!!" as the details were announced. That was my first, visceral reaction, and I think it will be proved true (though I hope not).

I know I won't give any money or other support to McCain, ever, and I don't plan to support the Republican Senatorial or Congressional fundraising efforts unless and until the Republicans repeal or drastically modify the McCain-Feingold bill's provisions which cripple the common people's ability to speak out during election campaigns.

2005-02-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

What is this? A fur hat?

2005-02-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

This is actually a fluffy, big (17 pound), Texas cat (shown sniffing a tortilla chip...)

Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2, Wins Grammy

2005-02-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the 47th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, and the winner of the Grammy Award for the "Best Hawaiian Music Album" (Category 69, in Field 14) has been announced on the Grammy website.

The winning album is:
Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2
Various Artists
Charles Michael Brotman, Producer
Palm Records
(You can listen to clips here)

Congratulations to everyone involved in making this album, which features the ki ho'alu (slack key guitar) talents of Bryan Kessler, Sonny Lim, Randy Lorenzo, Jeff Peterson, Keoki Kahumoku, Charles Michael Brotman, John Keawe, Charlie Recaido, John Cruz, and Ken Emerson.

Some expressed surprised when this album was nominated for the new Grammy category, but I found it very appropriate, because ki ho'alu is a unique and purely Hawaiian style of guitar playing. I must admit, however, I never expected an album of instrumental music to win.

If you are interested in further information about this Hawaiian style of guitar, you may like to read a "Brief History of Slack Key Guitar" by Keola Beamer, a well-known and accomplished slack key guitarist. Many of Hawaii's very best have recorded for the "Slack Key Guitar Masters Series" on Dancing Cat Records, founded by George Winston. Available to read online is the Dancing Cat Records Hawaiian Slack Key Book, which covers in great depth and detail a wealth of information on slack key history, tunings, styles, artists, recommended recordings and much more.

Congratulations to Our "Adopted" Soldier

2005-02-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Our "adopted" soldier, recently returned home from Iraq, has gotten married! We are wishing them all the very best, as she and her husband begin their new life together. She is a very special person, and we are so pleased for them both.

"Classic" Lim Family on Newly-Released C.D.

2005-02-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

Talk about "chicken-skin" (goosebumps), just wait until you listen to clips from the newly-released c.d. titled "Launa'ole=Unequalled", by The Lim Family.

The Lim Family, of Kohala, named "Group of the Year" at the 2002 Na Hoku Henoheno awards, began their recording career making five albums on Pumehana Records between 1979 and 1984. Two of these albums received Na Hoku Hanohano awards for "Traditional Hawaiian Album", in 1981 and in 1982. Unfortunately, those albums have not been available for some time.

Now "Launa'ole= Unequalled" features 16 beautiful tracks of beautiful Lim Family music, re-released from those first five albums. At the time of these recordings, I believe the Lim Family consisted of Elmer Lim, Sr., Nani Lim Yap, Lorna Lim, Elmer "Sonny" Lim, Jr., and one other female singer, either his wife, Mary Ann Lim, or another daughter, possibly Leialoha Lim. Mr. Elmer Lim, Sr. has since passed away, but the rest of the family has an impressive number of recordings to their credit, recorded both individually and as a group. I ordered the c.d. yesterday and am very much looking forward to receiving it.

I first fell in love with the voice of Nani Lim Yap on the Paniolo O Hawaii c.d. She is co-kumu hula, along with her sister, Leialoha Lim Amina, of the halau Na Lei O Kaholoku, which was judged to be "Overall Winner", in 2004, at the 41st annual Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Competition. You can see photos of the halau in competition here and here.

I have to admit I am prejudiced toward the Lim Family in almost any situation, because I had the pleasure of watching both Mary Ann Lim and Lorna Lim perform in the Honu Bar of the Mauna Lani Hotel during one week of October, 2001. It was so incredible to me that no one else in the audience seemed to know who they were, and many could care less about the beautiful Hawaiian-language songs they performed so well. I was enthralled, however, and their nightly two-hour appearances (along with a lovely hula dancer) were the highlight of that particular trip for me!

Tomorrow night will be the Grammy Awards, and one of the albums nominated in this year's new "Best Hawaiian Music Album" catagory, Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2, features two tracks recorded by Sonny Lim, "Punahele" and "Anuhea's Song", (along with recordings by other wonderful slack key artists).

Some of my all-time favorite c.d.s also feature recordings by various members of The Lim Family: Mele Hula Vol. 1, 2, and 3. You can hear clips from Vol. 2 here, and Vol. 3 here.

2005-02-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

Watching the Bacchus parade inside the convention center

2005-02-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

Title float of Bacchus parade 2005

Our "Mardi Gras for the Middle-Aged"

2005-02-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

So, what do middle-aged people do in New Orleans at Mardi Gras time, while all the college students are getting drunk in the French Quarter? Some of them spend lots of time in the French Quarter, too, but I like to spend my time in other parts of town.

Ka'u Kane and I flew to New Orleans Friday morning, Feb. 4th, and back to Austin Monday afternoon, on the 7th. We have been going to New Orleans to spend the weekend before Mardi Gras for 17 years, and we have various "traditions" or routines we've fallen into. For instance, Friday night is always "dinner at Mulate's". Some years we have more out-of-town people with us, and some years fewer, but we always get everyone together and go to Mulate's Restaurant, to listen to the band playing Cajun music, watch the dancers, and eat some good fried seafood and Cajun food. We catch up and visit as we eat, then we wander over to the parade route to watch the Krewe of Hermes parade, which is one of our favorites, and sometimes stay to watch the Krewe d'Etat parade.

On Saturdays, we usually try to see two of our favorite parades, Krewe of Iris (an all-female krewe) parade, followed by the Krewe of Tucks parade. I like to watch these parades on St. Charles Street, out towards the start of the parade route, where the people are mostly families who live in New Orleans. This year we were surprised to find that our New Orleans friends had just bought a condo on St. Charles, and they invited us to join them and their family, to watch the parades on Saturday in style and comfort (i.e. with access to indoor plumbing, refrigerator, etc.). It was a sunny, beautiful afternoon, and we all had a great time.

On Sundays, Ka'u Kane spends most of the day getting ready to ride in the Krewe of Bacchus parade that night. He's been a member of Krewe of Bacchus since 1992, so he pretty much has this preparation down to a fine art by now. This year two friends and his brother were riding on the same float with him (as "guest riders", meaning they're not actual members of Bacchus, but riding in place of some other member who chose not to ride this year). They all went over to the convention center, about 11 a.m., by taxi, with all their boxes and boxes and boxes of beads, and loaded them on their float. They spent some time organizing beads, had lunch with fellow float-riders, and then came back to the hotel, briefly, to get the rest of the stuff they'd need for the parade. When they returned to the convention center, I knew they'd be busy for the rest of the afternoon, and we spouses wouldn't see them again until the parade, which officially starts "to roll" at 6 p.m., had finished up inside the convention center-- which could be anywhere from about 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., in my experience. When the parade rolls into the convention center, the spouses and friends waiting there, in long, formal dresses and tuxedos, usually jump for beads and yell with just as much abandon as those who see the parade on the street! They clap just as loudly for the bands and drill teams who perform in the parade, too.

This year, the theme of the Bacchus parade was "Bacchus' Super Sunday", because the Super Bowl was held the same evening. The floats featured various towns and their football teams (plus the usual floats which are in the parade every year, like the "Bacchagator"). Ka'u Kane and his friends were on the "Seattle" float, which had a small version of the Space Needle, and various Seattle Sea Hawks motifs. It was a pretty good parade this year.

To learn more about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, including the history, traditions, and information about the krewes and parades, visit the website of Professor Carl Nivale here or here.

2005-02-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

Kaua'ula Cocktail

My Kaua'ula Cocktail

2005-02-02T18:28:00.000-08:00

Kumu Keola, in the (one) comment on my attempt to create a Keali'i-inspired drink, suggests that I consider a different drink, since Keali'i is a Maui guy (and 'Ewa is on O'ahu). He proposes the name "Kaua'ula", the name of a wind at Lahaina, which is mentioned in the song "Lahainaluna" on Keali'i's grammy-nominated album. Keali'i is also a graduate of Lahainaluna High School, founded in 1831, the oldest school west of the Rocky Mountains.

I had considered the possibility of a drink based on the song "Lahainaluna", but said, "'Lahainaluna' is a fun, light-hearted song, written by Albert Kaleikini about Lahainaluna High School, the oldest school west of the Mississippi. But some might consider an alcoholic drink inspired by a song about a high school to be inappropriate, plus, a Lahainaluna cocktail would probably have to be some kind of awful punch made with 'Everclear' (at least, that is what illicit party punches were made with when I was in high school). "

Now, I have reconsidered. (We should all listen to our kumu, right)? A drink called Kaua'ula would be much more symbolic, I think.

The first two definitions for the word Kaua'ula, in the Hawaiian Dictionary, by Pukui and Elbert, are: "1. A strong mountain wind, often destructive, at Lahaina, Maui. Lit. the red rain (referring to red soil washed away by a storm). 2. Ke kekui pio 'ole i ke Ka-ua-'ula, the light not extinguished by the Ka-ua-'ula (in praise of Lahaina Luna school)...".

Then came the challenge: how to make a semi-stong-and-destructive drink (which needs to be red) to commemorate the wind and the high school at Lahainaluna, without resorting to Hawaiian Punch (no pun intended-- it's just red) and "Everclear", or Boone's Farm "Strawberry Hill" (which is what my high school friends probably would have started with). There were several avenues to pursue: cranberry juice (which is not Hawaiian, except that the missionaries came from cranberry country, i.e. New England), a variation on a sangria (red wine plus other goodies, also not Hawaiian), or strawberries (ditto).

I finally decided that I could get red color, plus some symbolism, with tea made from hibiscus. Hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii, and dried red hibiscus is the main ingredient in herb teas such as "Celestial Seasonings (brand) "Red Zinger" and "Lemon Berry Zinger" teabags. I quickly learned the secret to red color is not to let the tea steep too long-- it gets brown. After steeping only a minute or two, the tea is a pretty red color, but needs some additional ingredients to make it into something more than plain "iced herb tea".

So, here is my recipe for two drinks:

2 cups of boiling water
2 teabags of "Red zinger" or "Lemon Berry Zinger"" tea (Celestial Seasonings brand)
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. grenadine (I use Rose's brand)
2 ounces vodka
ice
1 can ginger ale, your favorite brand

Pour boiling water over teabags and sugar. Let steep only one to two minute. Remove teabags, stir, add grenadine, and chill until ready to make drinks.

When ready to make your Kaua'ula cocktails, put one-half of the tea mixture (about one cup) into each of two large footed glasses. Add 1 ounce vodka to each glass. Add ice and fill with ginger ale.

A Historic Day Today, and a Silly Day Tomorrow

2005-01-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

Today was a wonderful day, as we saw the pictures and videos of Iraqis, in great numbers, who went and voted despite threats of violence against them. It was emotional and moving to see how much this meant to them, and how brave and hopeful and happy they were on voting day.

Tomorrow will be a very silly day: Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. I was not aware of "Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day" until I read an article in the Austin American-Statesman on Friday, but it seems that tomorrow, January 31, is the day. It was started in 2001 by WVNI FM Radio Station "Spirit 95", in Bloomington, Indiana. Tomorrow the station plans to hold the "1st Annual Bubblympiad", but I have no idea what the Bubblympiad will entail.

The Sealed Air Corporation, which makes Bubble Wrap (registered trademark, but I don't know how to type the little-r-in-a-circle), has a page on the website about Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, too. Bubble Wrap in various colors is the focus at this website, which is also appreciating the product, but the most fun Bubble Wrap webite is the Virtual Bubble Wrap site, where you can pop "virtual Bubble Wrap", and listen to the realistic Bubble-Wrap-being-popped sounds! It's oddly satisfying and addictive-- almost like real Bubble Wrap. It's a Shockwave Flash online game, and there is a link to download free Macromedia Flash Player, if you need it.

So, while the Iraqis are concerned with trying to make a safe and free country for their children and grandchildren, some in our great country are only concerned with political posturing and pontificating, in ways that are about as useful and meaningful as popping Bubble Wrap. My prediction: Look for the release of lots of air tomorrow, from Bubble Wrap and from politicians.

2005-01-27T18:29:00.000-08:00

Pupu a 'o 'Ewa cocktail and ingredients

My Pupu A 'O 'Ewa Cocktail

2005-01-27T17:12:00.000-08:00

Here is my newly-invented cocktail, inspired by Keali'i Reichel's music. (See my post below).
This not-too-sweet drink, a pale shell-pink color, is fairly light (only 1 ounce of liquor, instead of 2), fairly low-calorie (7-Up Plus has only 10 calories per can), and is a fun cocktail which has little "pupu" (i.e. shells) of very thin fresh ginger slices. These ginger-pupu occasionally move in the carbonated bubbles at the bottom of the glass, as if they were being caressed by the gentlest surf.

Here is the easy recipe for one cocktail:
2 to 3 very thin slices of peeled, fresh ginger
1 ounce coconut-flavored rum (I used Malibu brand)
7-Up Plus brand ("mixed berry" flavor fruit juice, with calcium and vitamin C), chilled
ice cubes
Peel ginger and slice very thinly. The amount to use depends on how much you like the refreshing, slightly peppery taste of fresh ginger. Press the side of the knife into the ginger slices, to "bruise", then cut each slice in half and place in bottom of glass. Pour 1 ounce coconut-flavored rum over the ginger slices, stir together, and then allow to stand for a couple of minutes, so the rum becomes flavored with ginger. Add some ice cubes to the glass, and fill with chilled 7-Up Plus. (If you don't have or don't like 7-Up Plus, I'm sure you can use regular 7-Up and tint the cocktail a very pale pink with a bit of grenadine or marashino cherry juice.)

E Keali'i, he mea inu hu'ihu'i keia, inspired by your Grammy-nominated album.

"Best Hawaiian Music" Grammy Inspires Cocktail Competition

2005-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

Aloha ya'll! The 47th Grammy Awards ceremony will be February 13, 2005, and this year, for the first time, a Grammy will be given for "Best Hawaiian Music Album" to one of these five nominees:
"Some Call It Aloha...Don't Tell" by The Brothers Cazimero
"Amy & Willie Live" by Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K.
"Cool Elevation" by Ho'okena
"Ke'alaokamaile" by Keali'i Reichel
"Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2", a multiartist compilation (with recordings by Sonny Lim, Randy Lorenzo, John Keawe, Keoki Kahumoku, and others)
(Click links to hear clips from all the songs on these albums at www.mele.com )

Now, for further Grammy-inspired fun, the Outrigger Waikiki sponsored a "Grammy Awards Drink Contest", and some local Honolulu bartenders have created drinks in honor of the first Hawaiian artists to be nominated for a Grammy. The winning drink was going to be announced and served yesterday at the Award Ceremony, from 5 until 7 p.m., at the Hula Grill, with free admission and entertainment.

The drinks featured in this Honolulu Star-Bulletin article about the contest were the Haleiwa Hula, Kuuipo, and Waterfall, inspired by the music of Willy K. and Amy Gilliom, the Fuzzy Hawaiian, inspired by the Brothers Cazimero, the Cool Elevation, inspired by Ho'okena, and Na Hua Lani (meaning "The Heavenly Fruits"), inspired by Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2, specifically "Celtic Summer" by Brian Kessler. (Scroll down to the bottom of the paper's article for photos and recipes for five of these cocktails).

Conspicuously absent, in the article, was any mention of a drink inspired by Keali'i Reichel's album. What to make of this? Keali's album is not inspirational? I think not, since it won 7 of the 2004 Na Hoku Hanohano awards, including "Album of the Year".

Okay, maybe we'll just have to make our own Keali'i-inspired drink.

Now, a drink with "Kealaokamaile" (meaning "the scent of the maile") would be a little hard to do, since I don't know of anything which smells as hauntingly lovely and unique as maile, but there are a couple of other songs on the album which might inspire cocktails. "Lahainaluna" is a fun, light-hearted song, written by Albert Kaleikini about Lahainaluna High School, the oldest school west of the Mississippi. But some might consider an alcoholic drink inspired by a song about a high school to be inappropriate, plus, a Lahainaluna cocktail would probably have to be some kind of awful punch made with "Everclear" (at least, that is what illicit party punches were made with when I was in high school). "Ka Nohona Pili Kai", might inspire a hanging-out-at-the-beach-house kind of cocktail, and since "ka malu ulu niu" (meaning "the shade of the coconut grove" is specifically mentioned in the song, maybe it could be a cocktail with coconut milk as one of the ingredients. One disadvantage of a drink called Ka Nohona Pili Kai is that most people would be intimidated about trying to pronounce it. So, I think my top pick for inspiration would be the song "Pupu A 'O 'Ewa". It's got a bouncy, sprightly tune, it has history, and it has familiarity, since most people have heard "Pearly Shells", which is the same melody but with English lyrics (which are not a direct translation-- you can read the lyrics to each song by clicking on the title.) I think it shouldn't be too hard to make a light, refreshing, shell-pink colored cocktail and call it the Pupu A 'O 'Ewa or even Pearly Shells.

2005-01-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

Jaded, performing 1/22/05 at WHS Battle of the Bands

10th Annual WHS Battle of the Bands

2005-01-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

I feel a little bit like a Kerry supporter today, but I'm not going to go all "moonbat". I just think there was a lot of tough competition in last night's "Battle of the Bands".

Ka'u Keiki Kane's band gave a really great performance last night. Each of the band members was terrific, and their many hours of recent practice showed in the way they played so well together. While the lead guitar player received the "Best Guitarist" award, and the drummer received the "Best Drummer" award, the band didn't place at all in the "Best Band" catagory, in which the top three bands were given awards for First, Second, and Third Places.

As with Kerry supporters, the band's supporters have various theories about why Jaded didn't win-- the most prevalent, at the moment, is that "they were in first place and would have won, except they were disqualified because the drummer took his shirt off". Now, really, why would the four judges disqualify the band from the "Best Band" catagory because the drummer removed his shirt in the middle of the set, and then turn around and give him the "Best Drummer" award?

My view is that there were a number of good bands, and the criteria for choosing a winner probably left a lot of room for the subjective preferences of the judges. The band members were disappointed last night but seem fine today, and they're looking forward to new plans and challenges.

Update: 1/24/05: As Ka'u Keiki Kane told me today "There are lots of rumors flying around at school." Here are the latest high school "moonbat" theories I've heard: Certain judges might have had connections to people in some bands (either theory #a: some judges were 2000 graduates of the high school, or else, theory #b: there were two judges whose kids had been rejected by some of the bands, and may have wanted revenge because of that), and therefore should not have been judges. Give me a break! Is anything going to change if any of these "theories" are proved to be true? I can understand, in a way, why kids might buy in to these theories, but not adults. As we mothers often tell our kids, "Life is not always fair". The codicils (of recent vintage) are: "Deal with it", "Get Over It", or "Move On".

Closing in on "The Battle"

2005-01-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night is the big "Battle of the Bands", and Ka'u Keiki Kane has been working hard all week, along with all the other band members. This afternoon they are moving their equipment to the high school, and have "sound check" scheduled for 5 p.m. Tomorrow will be a long day of waiting, I imagine, as the "Battle" doesn't start until 7 p.m., and his band, Jaded, plays last in the program, after 7 other bands.

Ka'u Keiki Kane seems very composed and philosophical about it-- he told me today he doesn't think his band will win, "There's another band that is probably more appealing than we are". I had to agree the "popularity factor" of the music might have a lot to do with winning, and his band does all original songs which people aren't familiar with-- but that's a choice they made, and they have to wait and see how it works out.

Nonetheless, he thinks his band will play well and he's happy to be playing before such a large audience (this is very big high school, and this is, traditionally, a well-attended event). We makua-types will be there to cheer for the band, too, and it should be a fun and loud evening.

A Proud Mom Blog

2005-01-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

I am proud of Ka'u Keiki Kane, most times, although there have been a few times I've wanted to give him a one-way ticket to Alaska.

I mentioned, previously, that his band will be performing in the "Battle of the Bands" later this month. Today, all the bands were asked to provide something which could be raffled off for charity-- specifically, to raise money to be donated for Red Cross for Tsunami relief.

Ka'u Keiki Kane came home and got on the phone, hoping to find a music store willing to donate a guitar, or one which would give him a very reduced price, so his band could afford to buy a guitar to donate themselves. He called five different stores, starting with the one where he buys most of his guitars and equipment. Four of the store managers agreed to sell him a guitar "at cost".

He went to a few stores, to check their guitars and prices, before choosing a very cool-looking, but inexpensive, Squier electric guitar in a green-ish blue color (probably something discontinued, because it was such a good price).

Am I a proud mom today, or what? No one else in the band had the idea, or the cajones, to call around, and get something to raffle for charity. I think Ka'u Keiki Kane was very polite and articulate on the phone, and did well in soliciting the best deal he could find.

Update 1/21/05: All the band members autographed the guitar, but no one has contributed any money yet. I'll probably give Ka'u Keiki Kane half of what he paid for the guitar, if no one else does.

2005-01-14T20:54:00.000-08:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

CQ's "World Relief Day" on January 12th

2005-01-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

Update 1/12/05: Today is the big day! "World Relief Day" donations to World Vision have been a very generous, far surpassing the initial goal of $5,000! Check the current total, and please donate today, if you haven't already. Many thanks to all of you!

Update 1/6/05: This slideshow from World Vision today, has photos of some of their relief efforts to date.

Original Post 1/1/05: Captain Ed, of Captain's Quarters, has declared January 12th "World Relief Day" in the Blogosphere, and he challenges us all to donate the amount of our take-home pay for January 12th (one day's take-home pay) to World Vision Asia Tsunami Relief. I have already donated to World Vision, and I encourage everyone to do so. Captain Ed is providing a link for donations, and you may donate in advance of January 12th, or on the day itself. One day's take-home pay is just a suggestion, because all donations-- as much or as little as you can afford-- will be of great help!

Update 1/3/05: Thank you, Captain Ed, for linking to this humble blog, and I say, "E Komo Mai" (welcome) to any new visitors. I hope you enjoy looking around-- here's a link to the main page, and to my other blog "The One Star Blog".

2005-01-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

Jaded, in concert, 1/8/04 at Austin School of Music

Last night's concert was very exciting for the band members, and all their families and friends. They played two "sets" of five songs each, with a 20-minute break. I was amazed by how comfortable they seemed on stage, and how much fun they were having! I estimate about 60 people attended (this photo shows less than half the audience), and we all had a good time. The band had printed up a list of songs, in the order they were performed, and asked the audience members to vote for their four favorites. This gave them feedback on which should be performed for "Battle of the Bands", on the 22nd.

Afterwards, about 25 kids, and a few parents, came to eat pizza at our house, and we quickly ran through 6 extra-large pizzas and a bunch of soft drinks, and had to fill in with tortilla chips and salsa. What a nice, polite group of kids-- they had lots of fun, but cleaned up and threw their paper plates away, too.

First Concert Tonight for Ka'u Keiki Kane's Band

2005-01-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

This is the day Ka'u Keiki Kane (my son) has been waiting for: his band is giving their first concert tonight. They auditioned for, and will be performing in, his school's "Battle of the Bands" on January 22nd, but tonight will be their debut performance. This came about not because they are so good someone wanted to book them, but because the bass-player's parents booked the performance space at Austin School of Music tonight, as a birthday gift to the bass-player.

Ka'u Kane (my husband) and I haven't ever heard this particular band, since they have always practiced at the bass-player's house (since around September, when the band formed). The band does lots of original songs, mostly written by Ka'u Keiki Kane (so he tells me), but they're going to do some covers in order to have enough songs for a concert tonight. Ka'u Keiki Kane has been in a number of short-lived garage bands, but we've seen him perform at Antone's with R&R Camp bands every summer since he was 13 or 14, so we know the drill.

Ka'u Kane, the clever man, got online and placed an order for earplugs (they come 200 per bag, enough for sharing at lots of concerts). They've arrived, so we Makua-types will be in good shape, ready to listen and applaud!

Welcome Home

2005-01-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

Our "adopted" soldier, in Iraq, 2004. This was taken on the day of the "grand opening" of a medical clinic set up to serve local Iraqis. (Of course, you can't really tell what she looks like, which is why I felt comfortable about posting this.)

Our "Adopted" Soldier is Home!

2005-01-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

Our "adopted" soldier is home, safe, from Iraq. I hadn't heard from her for several weeks, and knew she wouldn't write much while she was "in transit". Still, I rejoiced today when I read her short email! She got back before Christmas, and I'm sure it was a very special one for her and her family and friends.

Our prayers are with all our troops, around the world.

Asian Jelly Glass?

2005-01-04T07:33:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, we had lots of "jelly glasses". Maybe you remember: you ate all the jelly, then the container it came in was used for a drinking glass, and sometimes the glasses had designs printed on them. I think this might be the Asian equivalent. This brand of instant noodles (on left) is made in Thailand, and comes shrink-wrapped in an attractive, covered plastic bowl. Inside is a fork, the dry noodles, a packet of soup base, a packet of dehydrated vegetables and herbs (for example, green onion, mint, lemon grass, etc.), and sometimes a packet of dried chili pepper or flavored oil, depending on the flavor. After you eat the noodles, you can use reuse the bowl. This brand, with bowl, cost 79-cents. The types of noodles without bowl cost 39-cents, and come in many more flavors. My question: how can anything made in Viet Nam or Thailand, then shipped halfway around the world, be sold at 39-cents? (Doesn't seem there would be much profit.) These noodles from Viet Nam or Thailand are much more "ono" than the regular supermarket ramen noodles-- they are really delicious!

The Concept of "Buy South Asian"

2005-01-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

I was reading a post the other day on "The Truth Laid Bear", which suggested we should not only send donations for immediate disaster relief, but should continue to vacation in those areas, and buy products produced in those countries, in order to help their economic recovery. We all remember how the drastic decrease in tourism negatively affected New York City's economy after 9/11, and Florida's economy following the hurricanes, so this would seem to be a very simple and obvious idea.

The question then became: what sorts of things can we buy which would help? Sadly, it seems we Americans don't know much about what is produced in those countries, except for coffee from Sumatra, and tea from some other areas. Some people offered other suggestions, like Thai silk and teak, Indian measuring instruments, rattan and wicker furniture from Indonesia, and even a kind of Thai "country and western" music, called Loogthung. (By the way, there are now many links posted on the site to order "fair trade" Sumatran coffee, and even some for buying other suggested products, but it's obvious we're basically clueless about how people make a living in that part of the world.)

(Added note: I have to say, I have serious doubts that enough people would/could buy these particular things to make any significant difference. This seems to be one of those concepts which sounds okay at first, but isn't really practical or effective.)

My stomach and taste-buds seem to have been in sympathy with the tsunami-affected areas all last week, because I found myself longing for foods from the area. Even before I read that post, I'd had lunch at the local Indian restaurant one day, dinner at my favorite Indonesian restaurant another, ate at the Thai restaurant, cooked Yose-nabe for our neighbors (okay, so Japan wasn't affected, but they're helping with the relief efforts) another night, and made a Vietnamese dish with shrimp for my family on another. (As a matter of fact, it seems like New Year's Day was the only day I cooked "Texan" food, both a delicious "New Year's Black-Eyed Pea Soup" recipe from our newspaper, and the "Lucky Salad" I make every year, which consists of "hopping john" (black-eyed peas, rice, and cooked onions) served over finely shredded, lightly cooked, cabbage and onions, served with salsa.)

Yesterday, I went to the My Thanh Supermarket, to re-supply myself with some Asian ingredients. My friend Phi, who does my nails, recommended My Thanh as the biggest, most complete Asian store in Austin, and I have to agree with her. When I walked from the parking lot to the door, I noticed there were two nice couples standing outside, with posters and collection-boxes, collecting money for tsunami relief. I'd already donated to Red Cross and World Vision, but gave them a little money-- these folks were spending their Sunday afternoon collecting for this cause, after all. Inside the busy store, I made a point of looking for brands made in the affected areas, even though I'm just one person, and probably won't make too much difference.

Today, it occurred to me that many of owners and employees of the locally-owned restaurants I'd patronized last week might have relatives or friends affected by the tsunamis. They might be sending money to charities in those countries, or to help their family members.

At this point, I've already donated to several relief agencies, and I don't really know how to "buy South Asian" in any significant way, so I guess I'll just continue to enjoy South Asian food and help support our local restaurants and groceries.

2004-12-31T22:47:00.000-08:00

Aia au ma Maui me ka'u kane a me ka'u keiki kane
(photo taken in June 2004)

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

2004-12-31T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou is the way to say "Happy New Year" in Hawaiian language. It's a little bit more of a direct translation than "Mele Kalikimaka" (see my earlier post), although it doesn't seem quite grammatical to me (based on my limited knowledge, which consists only of Hawaiian 101 and 102 courses, taken online from University of Hawaii at Hilo). Don't pay attention to me, though, because it's what everyone says in Hawaii.

Hau'oli= to be happy
Makahiki= year
Hou= to be new, fresh

So, at least "Hau'oli Makahiki Hou" is made of actual Hawaiian words, and I won't go into what I think this construction is missing (because I could be wrong), but will just ramble a bit, with some year-end reflections, on this New Year's Eve 2004.

Last night I checked a blog I recently discovered, 5xmom, written by an interesting woman who lives in Penang, in Malaysia. I was startled to see she was writing a New Year's Eve entry until I realized she lives on the other side of the International Date Line, so she lives one day ahead of me all the time. And yet, here we both are, on our respective sides of the world, blogging away from time to time, and able to read each other's posts as soon as they are posted!

In 2004 I felt the impact of the internet on my life far more than in previous years. The quick rise of sites for sharing information about news and events, authored and organized by "real people" is amazing to me. (New Year's Resolution: I want to figure out how to add a blogroll with some of my favorite sites.) Emailing back and forth with our "adopted" soldier in Iraq, and our family friend who is living in the Ukraine has meant so much this year. People I know have been sharing family and vacation photos with me online, and using services like Evite to organize parties. The volunteer organizations I belong to are more often using email and online newsletters this year. Being able to take college courses in Hawaiian language (a dream of mine, but I couldn't find any in my area) has been fantastic! My online classes at University of Hawaii at Hilo included students from all over the world-- most from various states in the U.S., but also from Switzerland, Japan, and Germany. All our lessons were specially formatted and available online (based on the same textbook used in the on-campus classes), and we had wonderful teachers and all the technical support we to help us succeed. The two semesters I have finished were difficult and challenging, but wonderful, too.

That we students could be studying the same lessons together, but in our respective time-zones, at any time of day that was convenient to us, was the vision of our wonderful "Kumu Keola" Donaghy. He mea makamae 'o ia (He is a treasure)! His computer and technical knowledge, combined with his dedication to perpetuating the Hawaiian language and culture (not to mention his seemingly boundless energy) literally made possible these online classes, working over years to make the vision a reality. During the classes he gave so generously of his time, mana'o and aloha to all the students, supported the teachers, helped us all with software and technical issues, took care of server issues, answered our language-related questions, provided extra practice opportunities, and he even ended up taking on teaching and grading duties when one kumu had to quit teaching! It was almost impossible to comprehend that, during the same year, Kumu Keola also 1.) continued to be very involved in the Hawaiian music community, as a voting member of HARA, working with others to have Hawaiian music recognized as a separate grammy catagory, writing liner notes, and in many other ways, 2.) continued writing and maintaining a wonderful, informative and very extensive website, Nahenahe.net 3.) was completing his Master's thesis on the music of John Kameaaloha Almeida (written entirely in Hawaiian language!), which is now available online 4.) spent time with his family (and had a life, too) and 5.) who knows what else he was doing?

So, I am going to give my humble blog's "2003-2004 Person of the Year Award" to Kumu Keola Donaghy, in appreciation for all he has done for me and all of his students, past, present and future, and because he is just (as my son would say) "awesome".

I am going to put his name up in the title frame, and, as my kupuna kane used to say, "that and a nickle will get you a cup of coffee"(must have been during the depression, way before Starbucks' ruled the world). Nui ko'u mahalo ia 'oe, e Kumu Keola. (E kala mai ia'u, a'ohe a'u kahako i keia blog, a me, kekahi, for any mistakes I make-- they don't reflect in any way on your teaching abilities, but on my own poor, feeble brain!)

The wide variety of types blogs and bloggers is wonderful! A few months ago, I became an "accidental blogger" (I was trying to register so I could make comments on "blogspot" blogs, and then realized they were giving me my own blog!). With trepidation, I tried it, and have had so much fun, I now have two. Check out my other blog, The One Star Blog, where I posted last night about the Texas Tech/Cal rout in the Holiday Bowl (shameless self-promotion...).

And, now, as the fireworks are getting an early start, I will say "A hui hou" (until we are together again/bye) and "Hau'oli Makahiki Hou". Also, "Hook 'Em Horns", because the University of Texas Longhorns are playing in the Rose Bowl tomorrow, and we will be eating black-eyed peas (Texans eat them every New Year's Day, supposed to bring luck) and watching the game!

May God bless and keep all of us, around the world, and guide us in this coming year.

Chistmas Gifts of Hawaiian Falsetto Singing

2004-12-27T18:30:00.000-08:00

Santa was very good to me this year, and I'm enjoying many new Hawaiian music c.d.s which were left under the tree! One of my favorites is "Hawaii's Mahi Beamer". (Whoever decided to re-release this album on c.d. has done us all a great favor!) As best I can tell, the original album was released on Capital Records in 1959, but the new c.d. is released by EMI Special Markets, on Hula Records, 2004. Not only is Mahi Beamer's voice extremely beautiful and well-trained, but he pronounces Hawaiian language so well and sings it so naturally, he conveys the emotion and mana'o of the songs with great skill. On this c.d are several songs written by his aunt, Helen Desha Beamer, a very famous composer of Hawaiian songs. (One of my most favorite songs is her "Kimo Hula", and Mahi does a wonderful version on track 11 of this c.d.). The songs on this album are excellenly sung and recorded, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Hawaiian falsetto singing, because Mahi Beamer is one of the all-time best, and a member of one of Hawaii's great musical families. The excellent liner notes include lyrics for all of the songs, and a wealth of other information. A fun "bonus" is the wonderful photo of the young Mahi, poised in mid-hula, from the original cover art of the 1959 album!

I received, as well, "Dennis Pavao, the Golden Voice of Hawai'i, Vol.1", a more recent recording. Dennis Pavao began his recording career in the 1970's, singing with his cousins, Led Kaapana and Ned Kaapana, in the popular and successful group "Hui Ohana". They recorded many albums together, some of which are available on c.d today. Dennis then went on to record as a solo artist, much loved and admired for his beautiful falsetto singing. On January 19, 2002, at age 50, in the prime of his life and talent, Dennis died of a brain aneurysm, and he is greatly missed by his family, friends and fans.

Dennis recorded these vocal, guitar and 'ukulele tracks before he died, but a number of excellent Hawaiian artists helped finish this work, adding their own talents and making it ready to release. Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Raiatea Helm recorded for the c.d., and their lovely voices compliment Dennis' quite well. Bobby Ingano contributed his lovely and sensitive steel guitar to the recordings, and other excellent musicians are featured on bass, piano and 'ukulele. The producers, Pilialoha Duro and Trav Duro Jr., and all those involved in this project have made a c.d. which is obviously a labor of love, and a wonderful tribute to Dennis Pavao. We can look forward to another c.d. (Vol. 2), due to be released in 2005. While there are no lyrics in the liner notes, most of them should be available online at Huapala.

If you are a fan of Hawaiian music, especially ka leo ki'iki'e (Hawaiian falsetto singing), you need to buy both of these c.d.s! For extra fun, also buy "The Music of George Helm, a True Hawaiian", and enjoy each man's unique singing style!

Note: When you click on the names of the albums mentioned, you can listen to clips of all the songs (if you have RealPlayer) at mele.com. I have no connection with this site, except it is where I buy most of my c.d.s.

2004-12-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

This is the closest we came to a "White Christmas", when the sap of some type of weed split the plant open and froze into beautiful, white, fluffy-looking patterns during the two days when the temperature stayed under 32 degrees. This photo was taken on December 24, 2004, in our "front pasture".

Mele Kalikimaka!

2004-12-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

Mele Kalikimaka is the way to say "Merry Christmas" in the Hawaiian language.

Of course, "Merry Christmas" is not an indigenous Hawaiian concept, but one brought by the missionaries in 1820. These same missionaries also made the completely oral language of the Hawaiian people into a written language, in order to print a Bible in Hawaiian language. They decided which letters should represent the sounds they heard in the spoken language, and which should not. So, the words "Merry Christmas" became "Mele Kalikimaka", a kind of "phonetic" transformation of the English sounds into Hawaiian sounds, but not a literal translation.

There is good and bad to be said about the way the missionaries, who were not native speakers, made arbitrary decisions which affected the Hawaiian language, but there is no doubt there are advantages to having a written form of the language.

Today, there are many people dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the Hawaiian language and culture. Because of them, there are Hawaiian language "immersion preschools", there are schools which teach all content from K-12 in Hawaiian language, there are Hawaiian language programs in community colleges and universities. Because of them, Hawaiian language songs, chants, and stories are recorded for us all to enjoy, and there are text books and videos to help us learn. Because of them, the hula halau (hula schools) continue, and there are festivals, workshops, and performances which perpetuate Hawaiian language and culture. Because of them, there are now laws which support the use of Hawaiian language.

Because of dedicated people, the internet now offers many useful resources. It possible for those around the world to explore Hawaiian language and culture via websites, or even to study the language in courses offered online. There are easy ways to learn about Hawaiian music, to hear Hawaiian songs, to look up lyrics, and buy Hawaiian language c.d.'s and videos. There are free keyboard programs to download, and free access to historic Hawaiian language newspapers, scholarly papers and books. This is only the smallest taste of the wealth of information available on the internet for those who love the Hawaiian language.

And so, because of the missionaries, who made a written form of the Hawaiian language, and all those who have dedicated themselves to preserving, perpetuating and sharing the Hawaiian language and culture, this one haole Texan is able to wish you all "Mele Kalikimaka" a me "Hau'oli Makahiki Hou" (Happy New Year) in this blog!

Nominees for "Best Hawaiian Music Album" Grammy

2004-12-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

This is very big news for all of us who love Hawaiian music! The first-ever slate of nominees has been announced for the new Grammy category "Best Hawaiian Music Album", and one will be the winner, announced at the 47th Grammy Awards ceremony on February 13, 2005. The nominees are all terrific:

"Some Call It Aloha...Don't Tell" by The Brothers Cazimero
"Amy & Willie Live" by Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K.
"Cool Elevation" by Ho'okena
"Ke'alaokamaile" by Keali'i Reichel
"Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2", a multiartist compilation (with recordings by Sonny Lim, Randy Lorenzo, John Keawe, Keoki Kahumoku, and others)

These are all excellent albums, by well-known (in Hawaii, at least) artists. Most of these artists have been winners of Na Hoku Hanohano awards in the past.

For those who are not familiar with Hawaiian music, you can listen to samples from these albums at Auntie Maria's Hawaiian Music Island website, if you have RealPlayer. I have linked the album titles, above, to make it easy for you to find and listen to clips from all the songs on each album. (Obviously, you can also buy them here, too, but I have no relationship with this site other than it's the place where I most frequently buy my cd's).

Now, I must admit, I would vote for Keali'i Reichel's album, Ke'alaokamaile, because as much as I love The Brothers Caz and the others, this album is my favorite of these five. But, whoever wins the Grammy, I'll be very happy, because they're all terrific.

Update 12/15/04: Mahalo nui loa (thanks very much) to the Pryhills for featuring us in the "Carnival of the Vanities" this week! What a terrific job they did of integrating all the disparate submissions from all sorts of blogs into a single shopping trip! (You need to read this to see how they did it! Very clever, ya'll.

A New Name and Address

2004-12-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yippee!!! This humble blog has been honored by Hugh Hewitt, Minnesota Master of the Horse, Warden of the Collegiate Peaks, and State Sommelier of California, who awarded us the constellation Equuleus. Mr. Hewitt was acting in his capacity as "official right-wing talk radio blogger star registry", when he made this award, and he also suggested the blog might wish to name itself something which could be remembered!

Consequently, this blog has been renamed "The One Star Blog" and is moving. I may continue to post here, from time to time, possibly about Hawaiian music, but refer anyone interested to "The One Star Blog, The Blog Formerly Known as Ka Ho'okahi Hoku"

This blog is thrilled and honored to be awarded Equuleus, "The Little Horse", one of the smallest constellations in the heavens! Thank you very much, Mr. Hewitt.

Red-State Fun

2004-12-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

Today my sweet husband took me out for a late lunch before going to Red's Indoor Range for some target shooting. (We were going to include a trip to Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, but got a late start on the excursion and decided those trips could wait until another day, especially because they'd be crowded on a weekend close to Christmas.) It struck me that we were doing exactly what Blue-Staters expect Red-Staters to do!

My friend who lives in New York would be horrified! She did reply to my email, finally, and seemed to despair over me-- she said "What I am wondering is, how someone that I thought I knew would support these policies and behaviors. When did this transformation occur? Or did I ever really know this person that I call friend?"

This reaction was elicited by just knowing I voted for Bush! I will never tell her I have had a Concealed Handgun License from the State of Texas for two years, and actually enjoy target-shooting (I won't impart that information because I'm afraid she'd have a heart attack!). Never mind that I am an educated person, with a wide range of interests and pursuits... she decided I'm--- I don't know what, exactly-- just because I voted for Bush! Well, "live and let live", as we say. I like her even though she's a misguided liberal.

The one thing I don't really understand is why so many liberals hate Wal-Mart. They hate it just as much, if not more, as they hate George Bush. I'm sure most of those who profess to hate Wal-Mart have probably never even been in a Wal-Mart store.

I have lived in New England, from '82 to '86, so I can understand why some wish to preserve their small-town businesses in those Blue States. But growing up in Texas, in two different small towns, I can confidently say that Wal-Mart is a real improvement over what was available in most small Texas towns, and is welcomed by those who live in them. We used to have to travel to the nearest "big town" to shop for many things, and Wal-Mart has brought a much better selection, at better prices, to these small towns, and the people have enthusiastically embraced Wal-Mart, for the most part. Even the quality of the grocery items in Wal-Mart's "SuperCenters" is far superior, with better prices, than those offered by the locally-owned groceries, so it's no wonder to me the small groceries have been driven out of business in these small towns. It is sad for those who owned the small groceries, but it's a big deal to those who have to live and cook and feed their families in those towns-- they are able to shop for a wider variety, and to pay less.

I live in a larger town (a city, actually), and can afford to shop anywhere in town. Being a Red-Stater, I prefer to shop at Wal-Mart for basics, and I think Wal-Mart gives many local folks good jobs and the rest good value. My only concern is the amount of imports from China that Wal-Mart sells. I'm not going to quit shopping there, though. I just choose things which aren't imported, whenever possible.

One other thing I appreciate about Wal-Mart, especially this year, is they allow the Salvation Army bell-ringers to set up their kettles outside their stores! The bell-ringers always smile, whether people drop money in the kettle or not-- and it puts me in the holiday spirit. I support the Salvation Army, by check, several times a year, but I always enjoy the chance to drop five or ten dollars into the kettle, as well.

Thanksgiving 2004

2004-11-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

Today our little family has much to be thankful for. Personally, I'm thanking my Higher Power, who I call God, because we live in a great country where, theoretically, we can all worship and celebrate Thanksgiving according to our own beliefs (as long as we're not in a public school in Maryland).

I have a huge, huge list of things I'm thankful for today, including this clear, sunny, gorgeous day to share with my husband and son, and all the good food we ate for Thanksgiving dinner (most of it was even prepared and cooked by Whole Foods, so--more thanks-- I didn't even have to cook it!). I'm not going to go through the whole list of things here, because I've already shared it with God.

Just for fun, I have a bit of nostalgia for baby boomers to enjoy on this day (even through no one reads this blog...). There is a local radio station, KGSR 107.1 FM (we call it K-geezer, because it plays music for us old folks) in Austin, Texas. This station usually plays one of Arlo Guthrie's most famous songs, "Alice's Restaurant", on Thanksgiving day, but I missed it this year. For those of my generation, who probably used to know ALL the words to this song, here are the lyrics, as posted on Arlo Guthrie's website. Here's another link which also has the lyrics and story of how the song came to be written. It seems the song was released again, in 1996, on a c.d. called "Alice's Restaurant: 30th Anniversary Edition", but I have not heard that c.d-- don't know if it is the original late-sixties' version, or a more recently recorded one.

All I Have to Say About the Election

2004-11-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

I’ve been rather silent on this blog lately. Partly, that was due to the election. I’d voted early, on October 18th, and spent some time doing other things I thought might help get folks out to vote for Bush. My husband and I actually spent part of election day traveling, because the funeral of my husband’s favorite uncle was the next day, on November 3rd, in a town which is a 6 hour drive from ours. We heard, briefly, on one radio station, that John Kerry had conceded, so we listened to cd’s most of the trip home, just enjoying some good driving music. Kerry’s prompt and unequivocal concession to Bush is the one thing I will always respect him for. It also saved him from becoming a big joke, like Al Gore.

Once I returned to house and computer, it was rather amazing to read what the Democrats were saying! What depression and despair and looniness. This prompted me to send an email to one friend, formerly a very good friend, who grew up in Wisconsin, but lived in Texas, where we became friends, for about 10 or 12 years. She moved to New York City about five years ago, and we kept in touch by email until she started sending me myriad “Common Cause” articles. In Spring, 2003, after about 5 of these articles, I wrote to tell her I didn’t share her views, and that we’d just have to agree to disagree. I haven’t heard from her since the election, even in reply to my (pleasant, I thought) email. I just hope she isn’t one of the suicidal ones.

I had sent some emails, prior to the election, to various friends (but not the New York one) and family, with links to what I described as “interesting articles”, all well-reasoned and slanted toward why Bush was a superior choice, which I hoped they would read. Interestingly, one dear friend from Florida wrote back that she and her husband were both planning to vote for Bush, although, she confided, “I could never be a Republican, because that is the “Party of Lincoln”. She is a very delightful, well-educated woman from a well-known family of Mississippi, whose father was a long-time force in Mississippi state politics (and Democrat, naturally).

My native state, Texas, was also traditionally Democrat, and was even home to the term “Yellow-Dog Democrat”, so I’m told. I can’t vouch for that, since it was before my time, but a “Yellow-Dog Democrat” is a person who would vote for a yellow dog before they would ever vote for a Republican.

Now, Texas is a Red State most everywhere (except for a few counties, most along the Mexican border). One single Blue County, Travis County, floats in a giant sea of Red Counties, in the very center of Texas, and that is where I live. It is home to University of Texas, the State Capital, and the “Third Coast” music scene. While Austin has always been liberal because of those three factors, we also have quite a number of people who moved here from California and other liberal states during the 1990’s (during the so-called “Tech Boom”).

Even with the great numbers of Kerry voters here in Travis County, I haven’t heard any mention of getting “counselors”, like they have in Florida, to help with depression, etc. We Texans are pretty resilient folks—always have been. One of my favorite quotes, which I think is from Mark Twain, though I couldn’t swear to it…”Texas is great land for Men and Dogs, but Hell on Women and Horses”. Nonetheless, we’ve all survived!

And my friends, husband, and I are all very pleased with the outcome of the election!

"Noblesse Oblige" in the Global War on Terror

2004-10-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

It just hit me today, the answer to what bothers me most about Senator Kerry's "outsourcing in Tora Bora" comments, which he has repeated, ad nauseum.

My grandmother, a lovely lady, born in 1899, who I loved very much, was a rather wealthy, snooty, prejudiced, class-conscious woman. I would laugh at this, and I wrote it off to her being raised in a different generation. She traveled often and planned a trip to Russia as soon as Americans were allowed, legally, to go as tourists. She complained, in advance, about how drab it would be, and how bad the food would be, so I asked why she wanted to go if it would be so bad. She said, "I have to go so they can meet the "Right Kind of Americans." It suddenly hit me: Noblesse Oblige!

So now I understand: Mr. Kerry is just as snooty, prejudiced, class-conscious, and blind as my grandmother was. The Afghanistani fighters who helped us with their superior knowledge of the territory, language, tribal clans, and things we wouldn't know, at that point in the short war, those who did so much of the hard work-- in conjunction with our special forces-- were not the "Right Kind of Allies", so he says we "outsourced" the job.

At least my grandmother was born in the 19th century, but Kerry doesn't have that excuse for his outdated attitudes, including his "Old Europe" allegiance.

Why in the world would he, at this point in history, think we need him just because he thinks he is "superior", and because he is offering his service to "the common man" because of a sense of Noblesse Oblige-- So we will show the world "The Right Kind of American"?

Is Kerry Being "Clintonated"?

2004-10-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one who found it curious when Bill Clinton sent some of his "A-team" players in to play for Kerry? I mean, we all know a Kerry victory wouldn't be a good thing for Senator Clinton, and we all know how sweet and forgiving she is. If Kerry accidentally won, Bill might be afraid to fall asleep anywhere, anytime, for the rest of his life, because his lovely spouse would be biding her time for a chance to emulate Lorena Bobbitt (or so it seemed to me).

Then it occurred to me that perhaps the Clintons were planning to sandbag Kerry, in some rather subtle way. The Clintons are consummate politicians, if nothing else, and their operatives are incredibly skilled. I kept waiting to see what would happen, but nothing negative was obvious, for weeks and weeks. The Clintonistas seemed to totally rejuvenate the floundering Kerry campaign and made their man look and sound better than ever (except for the orange fake tan, and that was probably his own idea...). It seemed very odd to me.

Now, I think they were just gaining control of Kerry-- winning his confidence and trust--so he would go with Clintonista advice rather than Shrum advice in any situation. I think it was a very subtle con game, and they were looking for an opportunity to bring Kerry down, using his hubris against him.

Now, I think Kerry has been "Clintonated".

Look at what happened with the New York Times story. It was run, front page, on the very day Bill Clinton was going to be campaigning with Kerry. Now, we know Lockhart knew, in advance, what Mary Mapes and Dan Rather were working on, and cooperated with them, during Rathergate. How can we believe the Kerry campaign would not know what was happening with the current CBS/New York Times story? I suspect Joe and Mike, et al, saw their "opening" and helped push in favor of having the New York Times run it, rather than wait for CBS, because they wanted the story published on this particular day when Bill Clinton was on the trail with Kerry. I mean, if it was such a great story, why not run it on Sunday? Why wait a day?

I can just imagine the excitement Kerry felt, as Bill Clinton (Himself!) told him what a great opportunity this was, and cheered him on ("Boy, John, this is so great-- you're just going to hit Bush out of the ball park. This is better than the Red Sox! Just don't let up, hit "W" really hard with this one... it's the bottom of the 9th, and you've got it, Dude! This is so cool. You should make a commercial about this! Can you imagine we got this lucky? Just go with it, man..."). And, Kerry really did look "up" all day, as he carried out his assignment, but he didn't realize he wasn't hitting balls, but throwing boomerangs. Bill Clinton was smart enough to get out of the way, focusing, in his part of the speeches, primarily on himself and his legacy, with a few mentions of Kerry thrown in almost as an afterthought, it seemed to me.

Bush just sat back and said nothing, at first, and was criticized for it. But Bush and Clinton both let Kerry run with this story, and giving him plenty of the proverbial rope to hang himself with.

I'm a Quilter and a Gun-Owner-- so I voted Bush!

2004-10-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

I hope there are many like me out there-- I'm a Republican, a mother, a community volunteer, a quilter, a reader of both books and blogs, a student of Hawaiian language and culture, a fan of Hawaiian music, a supporter of George W. Bush and I'm also a gun owner, legally licenced by my state to carry a concealed handgun.

As much as I enjoy the quiet creativity of making quilts, I also enjoy the slightly louder (when muffled by very good "ear protection") fun of shooting a few hundred rounds at our local indoor range, where my husband and I have a "family membership". I have a Glock 19 and a Glock 19C. I am a pretty good shot, but my husband, who was trained by the U.S. Marine Corps, is much more accurate than I am. Nonetheless, I have to tell you my paper targets (which don't shoot back) would all be very dead by the time I empty a magazine...

I know that my handgun is not going to shoot people by itself. I have seen it sitting around, loaded, for months and months, in a secured location, and not do any damage to anyone! My gun has not committed any crimes. It is totally harmless, in and of itself, until I take it out of its case and point it down-range and shoot at a paper target.

I know the company that manufactured my Glock 19 and 19c has made good handguns, and shipped them according to law to the place where I lawfully bought them. Glock makes good guns, and I am a good gun-owner, one who follows the laws of my state. How can the company that made my Glocks control what is done whith their handguns? How can they be held responsible for what bad people (i.e. criminals) do with their guns??? This is almost too stupid to debate.

Mr. Kerry may say he killed a goose in Ohio, hoping to gain votes from gun-owners, but he doesn't fool me. He has spent his Senate career trying to undermine gun-owners and gun manufacturers. Just check out the NRA website on Kerry. His past senate votes have proved he is not a believer in unrestricted Constitutional 2nd Amendment Rights. I don't believe Mr. Kerry is a true friend to gun-owners and hunters, whatever he may say now, in the last days before the election.

The Texas laws which allow me to legally carry a handgun were passed when President Bush was our governor.

Anyone can buy a camo jacket and try to convince you he is "on your side" or "fighting for you". In my opinion, Mr. Kerry will say anything to get elected. If you listen closely, you'll notice he hasn't made any specific promises to gun-owners. I believe Mr. Kerry and his vice-represidential candidate, Mr. Edwards, the Trial Lawyer, will work to abridge the rights of gun-owners, and to increase liability on gun manufacturers. Mr. Kerry voted that way in the Senate, and I don't think he's really changed, despite his camo.

Mr. Kerry, Carry Your Own Goose

2004-10-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Mr. Kerry allegedly shot a goose this morning. He got dressed in camo and went out, in Ohio, with three other hunters. According to Kerry, they each "got a goose", but zero reporters (about 20 were invited to check out the "kill", afterwards) viewed the actual shooting. So, why didn't Mr. Kerry carry his own goose home? Did Senator Kerry, for some reason, not wish to be photographed with a dead bird? This is too bizarre!

Okay, folks, how many REAL hunters do you know who are not proud of their "kill" (i.e. the animal they are taking back to eat with their loved ones). My own answer, based on my own experience, is: None. I am not a hunter, but I'm married to one. I know lots of hunters. I live in Texas, where some people like the flavor of game and grew up hunting for birds, deer, and other wildlife.

These real hunters are the most serious conservationists/ecologists I know. They are very much attuned to the need for gun safety, too. They never kill animals indiscriminately, and they would be very upset if anyone killed "just for fun", rather than to honor the life of the dead animal by eating and enjoying it for food and nutrition.

So, why, I ask again, why is John Kerry not proudly carrying this goose, which he claims to have killed, back to Teresa (or her chefs) to enjoy for dinner? I know he's on the campaign trail, but he's probably staying in a hotel somewhere-- why not have the hotel chef cook his bird?

I have only two explanations which seem to fit this scenario: 1.) Either he is giving his goose to another hunter to take home and cook or 2.) He doesn't want PETA or some other animal-rights activist group to have a photo of him with a dead animal. My own opinion is that if #1 is true, he was just "hunting for votes", as various newspapers have accused him of. If #2 is true, he's an incredible hypocrite-- trying to get votes from hunters and NRA members, but pandering to PETA types by denying them evidence he actually killed any bird.

What a jerk!

Gee, Thanks, Mrs. Ketchup

2004-10-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

So, Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, I don't have a "real job"? That's news to me, but I'm just a idiot, one of "the common man" (except I'm one who does see you "like some rich witch").

I used to have a "real job", just like Laura Bush. A long time ago, B.C. (before child), I was a "real person", an R.N. with a B.S.N. degree, certified as a perioperative nurse (C.N.O.R.), and I worked in "real hospitals" for "real money".

In the eighteen years I've been an "unemployed" mother, I've had numerous "unreal jobs"-- jobs I do for no pay. My biggest job, of course, is as Mom-in-Chief to our son. But Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, you might be surprised by some of the other "unreal jobs" we unemployed mothers and fathers do. Some of us consider ourselves "community volunteers" when we take on these "unreal jobs".

Earth to Mrs. Ketchup, here is the concept: Not all American mothers and fathers without "real jobs" are just sitting around eating bon-bons and watching soap-operas! There are many jobs which "the common man" (or woman) does for free in our great country. In addition to taking care of our kids, we are raising money to support charities, helping kids in our schools and sports programs, working for our political parties, and we are helping all sorts of people in our communities (just to name a few things we do). Sometimes we even learn new things-- "real skills"-- while we are doing these "unreal jobs". Imagine that, Mrs. Heinz-Kerry!

Through the years, I have enjoyed meeting and working with many, many effective community volunteers who give so much of their time and their talents. My life has been much enriched by working in these "unreal jobs". You might want to try it sometime, Mrs. Heinz-Kerry.

And, by the way, when was the last time you cleaned your own toilet?

Phi likes "the Republics"

2004-10-21T05:14:00.000-07:00

The young woman who does my acrylic nails is called Phi. She became a United States Citizen last year, and I saw how diligently she studied, over several months, to learn everything she needed to know to pass her citizenship examination. I am so proud of her--she knows more about the consititution and they way the government is supposed to work than many native-born Americans. (This is a sad truth. I have a 17-year-old high school senior who was not taught, in public school, a third of what Phi learned.)

Phi is very excited about being able to vote this year. She is a tiny, rather reserved young woman, with two young daughters, a hard-working husband. She was born in Viet Nam, and still has family there, although many members of her extended family live in Texas.

I saw her two days ago for my usual appointment, and she was wearing a t-shirt adorned with a picture of an American flag and the letters USA. At one point, while she filed and buffed, I told her I had voted the day before (the first day of early voting in Texas). She said she hadn't decided whether to vote early or wait until November 2nd. A short while later she said, in a very quiet voice, "I have known you a long time, and I like you very much, but I don't know if it is okay to ask you... would you mind telling me who you think is best for President, if you don't mind." I told her, "Phi, I don't mind telling you, I just voted for President Bush. I think he is the best choice."

She broke into a smile, and continued in that same quiet voice, "I think so too. I like the Republics very much. My whole family likes the Republics. We think the Republics are best for us."

Why Bush, Why not Kerry

2004-10-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

for the Hugh Hewett Vox Bloguli symposium

As to why I am not for Kerry...

I think Kerry has positioned himself as a "blue screen" upon which anyone can project their own position and beliefs. Kerry has made so many statements, of so many positions, trying to appeal to so many different people, that ANYONE (even me, who does not plan to vote for him) can find a statement he has made which aligns with their own beliefs. Who is the real Kerry? What does he believe? Hard to tell from everything he's said so far in this campaign. Do voters not care if he changes positions frequently? I do, but some can always say (to themselves and others) "Kerry agrees with me on x, he said so..." There are many, I think, who may grab onto that and not listen when he espouses positions y and z (which don't agree with their positions at all). Poor, misguided souls.

I would never vote for such a spineless political opportunist and bag of hot political air as Mr. Kerry, but I think the Clinton operatives on his campaign have been very effective in maneuvering Mr. Kerry into a better position this past month. In Texas, we have an expression, "clear as mud", and Mr. Kerry has certainly been "clear as mud" on his positions, and I believe it has helped him.

If, for some reason, Mr. Kerry is elected, I think he will have to do many of the same things as Bush has done. His phantom "allies" have already announced they don't plan to play along with Kerry, he won't have control of the House and Senate, and, most of all, if Mr. Kerry wants to be remembered well by history, I don't really see how he could do much but continue what President Bush has started. Will Mr. Kerry's supporters be surprised?

Now, for why I am for Bush...

I am a native Texan-- 7th generation-- and I am a conservative. I can tell you George W. Bush was a very good governor. He absolutely did bring both parties together in the Texas legislature, (his inability to do so in Washington, I think, says more about Washington than about George W. Bush). He was able to pass many good laws with both parties onboard, because of his clear leadership. Many of us miss him in Texas-- the current Republican governor, who replaced Bush, and then got re-elected, is not nearly so good.

George W. Bush has a very clear vision about how to fight the Global War on Terrorism (which includes Iraq), and I agree with him. I think this is some kind of quote from a kid's book-- I think it may a Dr. Suess book (but I can't remember which one), so I apologize, in advance, if I am misquoting whoever I am misquoting, and also if I am mangling the quote--- but Mr. Bush "says what he means, and means what he says". Mr. Bush has been very clear about his goals and plans, and he has been steadfast in his support of our troops, our allies, and the mission. He has many intelligent and capable people in his administration, who are dedicated to our country, and I believe we need to give them four more years. On September 11, 2001, I remember thinking "I'm so glad the 'adults' are in charge." I found that thought extremely reassuring-- and by "adults" I meant Mr. Bush, and his administration, as opposed to the party guys and spinners.

Mr. Kerry's "plan" is... for what? For "getting Ben Ladin", who may have already been got? For responding to every attack? For training Iraqi soldiers and policemen "faster" than Bush is doing? What's Kerry's plan for keeping them from getting blown up almost as fast as they are trained? He hasn't bothered to divulge any details of any of his plans, just keeps insisting he would do better than Bush. Am I feeling lucky? No, thanks, I don't think I'll take a chance on this guy.

On the matter of "domestic issues", I don't always agree with Bush, but some of the past things he did came under the heading of "trying to get along with Democrats, and bring us all together", as he did in Texas. Bush isn't stupid, despite his critics, and I don't know if he will do that much more... but WHO cares? The domestic stuff doesn't matter as much as the GWOT, and War in Iraq, so I will let it ride. And I hope any Democrats of open mind will do the same, but I doubt it...

na Keaukina

Welcome

2004-10-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "The Lone Star" blog. That is what Ka Ho'okahi Hoku means in Hawaiian language. At least, I sincerely hope it does...

I have taken two semesters of ka 'olelo Hawai'i at University of Hawaii at Hilo, and love learning about the language and culture of Hawai'i, and especially love the music and mele of Hawai'i.

E komo mai... Welcome.

na Keaukina