This little LIGHT of mine, I'm going to let it SHINE

This little LIGHT of mine, I'm going to let it SHINE

On April 28, me Kawena HIkari and my band Hi'ilawe Aloha (Kishimoto Kyouichi & Shige Ikari) will be at YOKOHAMA BAY QUARTER for an event sponsored by Hula Hawaii.  See the EVENT tab above to learn more about other events that I will be at  this month and next.

Having the Yokohama event lined up,  I thought that it would really be nice for the  HA Band to have matching aloha influenced shirts.  So, I headed out to our local Uniqlo, which is equivalent to GAP or Target back at home.  I found the cheapest dress shirt that my money could buy which was ￥990. Then started to let the magic flow.

Before I begin, I want to tell you that I actually wanted to do much more to this shirt but because I am under a lot of time restraints, I didn't.   Sorry to disappoint you all but the "flowing magic" I mentioned above wasn't flowing so much.   

Since I have a lot of fabric from my favorite designer NAKEU.  I wanted to use that fabric to embellish the shirts I had bought.  Oh by the way, please when you go to Hawaii visit his store in Kalihi.  His aloha shirts and dresses are dazzling and very chic. Check out the link I provided.

Step 1. Cut the fabric pieces.  What I had envisioned was to do a little  embellishment on the pocket area of this shirt.  Note: I didn't measure the fabric. I only matched it up against the shirt and then cut the pieces roughly.

Step 2. Use a seam ripper and open the pocket area a little.  For my project removing the entire pocket wasn't necessary.

Step 3. Simply fold the fabric piece into a rectangle shape.  I just wanted to make a strip of fabric cover the upper part of the pocket.  After you folded the fabric to size pin it onto the shirt.  Another idea that I could have done was actually make a new pocket.  To do do, you could remove the old pocket and then use this pocket as a pattern to create a new one.                 

Step 4.  Sew the fabric piece onto the shirt.  After this is done,  reattach the upper parts of the pocket by sewing it onto the shirt.

DEKIMASHITA.  This is the final product.  Keep in mind if I had more time, I would have liked to experiment by making a new collar.  Or,  I would have like to add pieces of fabric to the bottom sides of the shirt.    The total time to complete this project was 20 minutes.  

If you have some time, please come to Yokohama Bay Quarter.  Tell me what you think of my band Hi'ilawe Aloha and their new shirts.  I think they will look COOL!  God bless!  Aloha  HIkari

毎日 FUN under 日本 SUN

Kazukiko, you made a very nice ipu heke,
Omedetou!

The past few days have been long and tiresome.  Besides having my classes,  I always try to make time for my craft work.  Recently, as many of you have already seen, I have been making ipu heke here since an acquaintance of mine from another halau asked me to teach him.  Of course my answer was, 'yes.'  Kazuhiko san, who lives in Nagoya, left early and arrived at my home 10 AM here in Shonan.  

E Malama, take care!

I am always very happy to share ike, knowledge with others.  I love when people come here because I enjoy the company. Most times, I work alone.  

When learning to make ipu heke or any other craft,  the student must be makaala, aware or alert.  I love this word.  The student should do more listening and watching rather than talking.  Nana ka maka, ho'olohe ka pepeiao and pa'a ka waha.  This is always the teacher's expectation of their haumana.     I love Japanese learners because they do this well;  they are detail orientated and they are always very respectful.  

  

After craft making, lets have some
fun time at local restaurant.
CAUTION! Too much fun not
good for your health.

Many kawaii ipu heke!

One thing I want to share with you is my idea of spirituality and mana as it relates to my craft work.  I believe my ideas has been shaped by my hula and craft teachers.  One of my teachers Loea Hewett, says that mana can be increased through the good we do.  I remembered his word very strongly and have thought about it so many times since he first uttered them to me.  Having this ike,  I always think about the good things I can produce with my hands.   'Hand work' Hewett shared with me,  'reflects what is in our heart.'   It is always a nice thing to remember ike and its source.  I believe remembering the source of ike makes us more spiritual since it is the connection to our teachers and kupuna.  As for mana, power  there is both positive and negative.  I believe my teachers have instilled in me a kind and gentle mana.  It is with this essence, I do my work.  The things that I do and my focus is never about competition nor do I want my deeds hurting others.  I love the fact that my abilities can encourage others and to help lift them up.   I truly feel this is a good philosophy.   To always have great meaning and purpose for the things we do.  This is my very important goal.  

God bless you all always,

HIkari

Same Ice Cream truck.  I think there is definitely
NO ice cream in this truck.

Looking like we have a lot of time.
After this brief time of having fun, we headed to Tokyo. 

Today: Ipo & I scream for ICECREAM

It just so happened that when we took this photo it was next to this Icecream truck. By the way,  I think there is no ice-cream in there. It's just a facade.  We had just finished our lesson  which is very near to our home.  Our student is doing great!  Ganbatte...ke ha'a la'a i ke kai....



Today, up until this moment, it has been a nice day.  Earlier in the morning,  I had a lei making lesson with one of my students.  Correction,  two of my students if you count my niece Emmalei.  Emmalei loves lei making.  Sometimes, she says, ʻI am Kawenaʻs student.ʻ And, 'I can teach, too.'  And my response is ʻmada mada.ʻ  Not yet!  She is one energetic kamaliʻi that loves lei making.  She will someday take over my work with hulalei.

After our lei class,  I cooked us lunch.  Check out this fish.  I don't even know what the name is.  But when I saw it in the fish store, I wanted it.  Oishikatta!  Onolicious.   Japan is excellent.  すごい　です。Japan has so many oishi things like meat, fish, eggs, chicken, vegetables.  Cooking is fun and always such a pleasure. For my ohana back at home, this is a fish oven.  We don't have this back at home. Its quite convenient to やく　 or broil fish with one of these.  One doesn't need to heat up the barbecue.

Kore kara, from now, I have another lesson with my keiki in Shonan.  Seeing them and teaching them is always great.  I learn something new from them all the time.  They are a machine that keeps on running. They should be known as my Green Class. Green meaning eco.   For example, this  class needs no gas (Kawena Kumu)  input, they just work, function, operate like a well oiled machine.  

Aloha Malaki (３月）もう すぐ おわります。

Me Ka Haku Lei (見て）

March was a very busy month.  I am appreciative for the opportunity to have traveled to many Japan cities with Yonezawa and Jun of Yonezawa GK.  This year they  included: Nigata, Kamakura, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukushima and Utsunomiya.  On this tour, it's always nice seeing and meeting participating halau, talking with all the sensei, jamming with the band members: Hookena & Weldon's group, and hulaing with the hula ladies Kuulei Hashimoto Sensei, Skyler and Nicole Fox. To Braddah Scott, take care.  Nice to see you! I really appreciate Yonezawa's team and their dedication to producing a concert filled with Aloha.

Other things that happened during this month include: doing a live at Il Chianti, going to Disneyland two times, spending wonderful two days with my friend and teacher Ray Abregano, cooking and hosting a big luau for my Mahalo keiki students at my home. Oh! Cant forget the welcoming of Sakura. Hanami (Sakura watching) came around quickly this year.   I enjoyed every minute of everything.

One thing I have realized a while ago and I have to remind myself everyday is to take care of my health.  Right now Japan's weather and temperature fluctuates between warm and cold.  Drinking lots of water is important which I remember to do but don't drink enough of it. And, one more thing, taking care of your teeth by using a soft tooth brush to prevent receding gums. Sorry, I digressed a little but I really wanted to tell you these health things.  

So to you all my family and friends,  take care of yourself and others.  Live each day with aloha spirit.  Hawaii is getting busier and busier I see it in the news and when I return home. HAPPY EASTER!.  Thank you Jesus.  

E malama mau kakou  HIkari
Enjoy the video Me Ka Haku Lei

Mahalo Luau

Luau (Taro Leaves)

Lomi salmon (I used smoked salmon)

Preparing for a luau here in Japan is similar to that back at home.  Luau, party requires much time: cutting, mixing and cooking many ingredients.   Luckily 99% percent of all the ingredients I used today was bought here in Japan.   The most important ingredient being luau, or cooked taro leaves.  I was lucky to find them in a store way out in Tajimi which is 45 minutes from Nagoya station.  These taro leaves are dried and packaged in a vinyl bag.   They taste delicious.  One thing I did buy from Hawaii was liquid smoke for my kalua pig.  I actually had some real kalua pig in my freezer but I am saving it for another special occasion.   One sad moment for me was my haupia. It did not set so I could not cut them into nice cubes.  I think I know why.  I mixed all the ingredients in the pot.  I should have mixed a little in the pot and wait for it to thicken then add the remaining ingredients.  I will try again to make haupia and I will be more determined to make it right.  We still ate the haupia pudding.  It was kokodelicious as in coconut delicious. (Hey, shout out to the Koko ohana).  

Kalua Pig

Why such a big fuss to make a luau party? My keiki students are on their spring break, I wanted them to come to my home and enjoy eating Hawaiian food and making a craft.  I was so satisfied with them.   There was nothing that they did not like.  Sometimes children can be fussy eaters.  I was a little worried about them eating luau, cooked taro leaves. Mondai nakkata, no problem.  Looks like these kamaliʻi could survive on the Hawaiian diet. They ate everything on their plate and more.  Todayʻs Hawaiian plate included:luau stew, chicken long rice, kalua pig, haupia. lomi salmon, and chocolate cake.  I think my ohana from Waianae would be very proud of me. Mahalo and lots of love to the Keamo Ohana.

I think the tray was too big.

After my keiki filled their opu, stomach with lots of Hawaiian food, we did a craft together.  They all succeeded and completed their hair clip.  I was very proud of them because they helped each other and they waited patiently for their turn. Oops, wait a minute,  they were doing their best to be patient. I heard my name called some 50 millions times.   I think they were excited to finish and see their results.

Having my keiki over today is certainly a blessing for me.  I love each and every one of them.  After all we have spent much time together learning hula.  Something about being close to them, hearing them and seeing them laugh and smile brings lots of joy to my spirit.  Its very sad when they have to go home.   


Well you can see I had a great day, right?  It wasn't pau. After the keiki left, another wave of students came over to our home to eat Hawaiian food too.  Then after these students filled their opu with Hawaiian kaukau, they too, wanted to learn how to make my latest craft.  Add two-hours more onto the three-hours I spent with the keiki.  Today, kekko nagai datta.

Mahalo everyone for coming today.  I really hope you enjoyed yourselves.   God bless and aloha for now  HIkari

Keiki are amazing!

自分　作りました

Aloha Keiki...Mahalo nui loa!!!

E hana ka lima kakou

Aloha ahiahi, good evening!
My how quickly today had gone by.  Today like most days, I was busy taking care of my hula kuleana (responsibilities).   Mainly the work today focused on making uliuli for my kane students.  Now why am I making the uliuli for the kane dancers you may presume? Well, I actually want to because I know I can get the work done quickly.  I am just a little, what you would call an enabler.  Being an enabler isnʻt a good thing because it takes away the opportunity for others to learn valuable lessons.  For the record, I donʻt do everything for my students.  I want to but its impossible.

Now, can I share with you a story of another kumu hula that does everything for his students?
Yes, none other than Kumu Chinky Mahoe.  I am very much like Kumu Chinky.  Kumu Chinky made everything for his kane including: aloha shirt, shell lei, uliuli, malo, etc.  The list is endless.  His joy has always been from doing the work that was required for is halau.  I have a lot of respect for this aspect of being a kumu hula. To make the craft, we are able to infuse mana, our personal power.  Having seen my teacher always working so hard instilled in me a love to work hard for my haumana too.  In this story I mentioned Chinky but all of my kumu were the same: Kawaikapu, Makahinu and Keola.   Take the time to learn the crafts and increase your knowledge of hula.  Always please come and talk with me.  My home is open and I would love to help you.

One final note,  you see in my post that I try to keep myself busy everyday.  There is meaning and purpose in that.  In Hawaii, many of us are born Christians.  At the time of our birth, not only do we receive a Hawaiian name but we also receive a Christian name.  Mine is Anthony after St. Anthony.  Growing up I wasn't so fond of the name Anthony.  I really liked being called Kawena.  However, nowadays, I love my Christian name.  I don't mind being called Anthony or Tony for short.

Now that you know what my faith is,  I want to share with you a verse found in the Christian bible pertaining to idle hands.  You might not be a Christian but the valuable lesson in these words relates to all people. Idle hands simply means hands that arenʻt involved in work.  The connotation of idle means to be still or not moving. Here is that bible verse from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[a]

This is how I learned to live my life.  My teachers were not lazy.  My parents weren't lazy.  When we are diligently involved in our work then there is no wasted time to be intrusive upon others.  Stay focused on your own kuleana and refrain from being niele (inquisitive) or maha ʻoi (impudent) towards others.  Being niele and maha ʻoi, i believe negatively affects your pono (harmony).

Mahalo for reading my long post today.  I am actually quite relieved and satisfied with the work I completed.  I am almost finished with the feather tops for the uliuli.  I worked on nine uliuli today.  I need 15 total.  My work isn't pau  but slowly it will get done.  e hana ka lima kakou...Keep those hands moving my friends.

Me ke aloha pumehana HI-kari.

Aloha from Nigata

Four years ago, when I first moved here. I visited Nigata for the first time. Two-days ago, I came back to Nigata.   I had so much to look forward to on this trip back, a Hawaiian concert and famous onsen.    When I first went to Nigata,  I actually dreaded it because we drove to and from Kanagawa which is maybe a 6-hours drive one way.  This time we went in style.  We rode the Shinkansen which was a comfortable 2-hour ride.  When we arrived we were greeted by our student Kodama 先生。After meeting us, she took us to a nice bistro that served delicious dishes, for example: osso bucco, iberico ham salad, and deer liver paste.  Sounds delicious doesn't it?

The night of the Nigata show was quite awesome.  The acoustics in that concert hall were superb.  The concert promoters were so pleased with the result and were boisterously pounding their chest when giving themselves props for doing such a fine job with their sound setup.  Really though I must agree, the sound was SWEET.  God job to my friend Jun and Yonezawa and all their staff.

Nigataʻs concert was special for another reason.  Our student Kodama and her students were participants.  For some of her students, it was their first time to dance on a large stage.  Kodamaʻs students danced Ke Aloha and Akahikuleanaakapiko (Hewett).  Watching them was a little nerve wrecking, maybe likened to parents seeing their child take their first baby steps.  Needless to say, they all did awesome.  I think the beautiful thing about Kodama and her halau is that they all danced with so much care (ていねい） and aloha（あい）.  For me and Erisa their dance was the perfect dance. Congratulations to you all.

I have to say one thing about Erisa.  She is a loving person.  She might not be able at times to say how much she really loves all her students but I know and see from her actions that she will stand behind anyone of you, 100%.

One last mahalo to Kodama and for the students that made my beautiful lei.  A lei gift is something I treasure very deeply.  I appreciate all the time, effort and expense that went into making my lei.  The lei you all made was exceptionally gorgeous.  I took care of the lei and wore it during my show in Utsunomiya.   I will wear it again during my lesson with my keiki on Monday.

Well my friends, I couldn't pass up this opportunity to write my blog to commemorate my wonderful time in Nigata.  All the concert organizers, vendors,  that are always kind to me, mahalo and see you real soon. To Kodama 先生 keep up the great work.  To Ipo,  thank you for coming with me on this trip to Nigata.   We got to do more than what we had planned.  We got to spend some relaxing onsen time together.

Nigata...hope to see you next year or sometime soon!

Me ke aloha always HI-kari.

Check the lei out...Gorgeous...

Nice fish light...dont know what it's for, didn't really care...It was in the hall way distracting me from my pursuit of the hot water

おゆ。

Here is the onsen bath.  Can't take pictures when you go to onsen.  

Having said that I took a lot of photos.  I took a really nice one of my Hawaiian feet.

I couldn't upload that one for you all. Sorry.