Sad songs!

Today, is October 3rd and Hoike is this weekend on Sunday.  I am quite excited as well as all of our students.  Everyone is making their lei, preparing their costumes and practicing hard.  My lei are done, and I feel like I have landed a little.  Just have some final practices then show time.  Hawaiian guests will arrive tomorrow.  Loea and Ula Hewett are on the rock and maybe just as excited as us to get this thing going.

For this blog I wanted to step away from  the hussle that has basically taken over my life these past months getting ready for the Big One. As always before going to sleep, I practice with my guitar from about 12:00 to 1:00 AM.  I feel sorry for my next door neighbor's children,  I try to practice quietly.  Well last night, a little inspiration came and I wrote a sad song.    And, I was ecstatic both yesterday and today.  Why could anyone be happy about a sad song?  I dont know!  Maybe from life we just have to be happy and make  the best of what we are given.  

Here are the lyrics...Aloha HIkari.

Kawena Mann

October 2, 2013

I wrote my first sad song.  The reason why I wrote this song was because the day before while jogging I was listening to all this country music with some really sad stories that didn't make you sad it just made you chuckle or laugh inside.  This song was just a little creation piece I did before going to bed.    In this song its similar to those country songs that I  listened too with sad stories, but maybe my purpose for this song is satirical. There some definite truth in this song but in life and through living our lives there is lots of joy and happiness too.   

Why are you sitting

So far away from me?

Is it because 2-days ago we fought

Looking back to why we act this way

Maybe its because we’ve grown apart

            When I recall our earlier days

            we were happy

            Singing a song beside a waterfall

            Dreaming a dream together forever

            Living our lives together as one

Now when we are home

we hardly talk

Laughing like before is rare

Our eyes never meet there either here or there

Our lips dry from the cold air

            Chorus

You love the moon I like the sun

Mornings I wake up late , to find your gone

Day to day,  gets harder and harder to  live this way

To love one another with pure hearts.

Aloha Kakahiaka

Today is another nice day here in Japan. The past two days I have been in Chiba doing music for two of my friends that have their own halau.  Kumu KAMALANI Kia had his hoike in Funabashi and Lee Sensei held her hoike in Chiba Chuo.  I think both concerts had a very nice warm and tender feeling.  Last night was truly special because I could share the stage with our teacher Loea Kawaikapu Hewett.  

Music performance is still new for me.  Trying to achieve an ambient sound; trying to connect with an audience; being able to perform naturally is still hard for me.  However, one basic thing that I've learned to do was to do all things with love and respect and also to include and acknowledge God.  These things I hold in my heart all the time and helps to settle me.

Soon I will be returning home to Kugenuma Kaigan,  but there's more work awaiting me. I think everything will be ok though.  I just approach each piece of work slowly and it will get done.  Later I will share some of my photos from today's happenings.

God bless you all back at home and abroad.  To my Japanese haumana/Ohana have a nice holiday today.  It's windy!

Aloha HIkari

Hoike Hula Aloha

Hoike Hula Aloha is near, October 6, 2013 at Kamakura Geijutsukan.  Everyone has been practicing hard, sewing costumes, ordering leis, leaves and flower.   We have invited many of our friends and hula sensei to enjoy our special day with us.  We have made preparations to bring our teacher Loea Hewett and his daughter Ula Hewett from Hawaii as well as Pu'ukapu band (Sonny Lim, Wailau Ryder and Kevin Kealoha).   I think all of our students are very excited.  I hope they can enjoy themselves and not be overwhelmed with their kuleana.  Regarding my blog, I am really sorry I cannot keep the events page up to date.  But with little information when I can provide it, I truly hope I can see and meet you (my internet friend, Facebook friend or other acquaintance).  God bless you all...HIkari.

Air Supply

I feel my Air Supply was super charged from tonight's performance.  The Blue Note in Tokyo is  always a great venue for intimate concerts featuring famous musicians.  

Tonight the Air Supply concert was no different.  AS was so generous, kind and thoughtful while sharing their greatest hits like: All out of Love, Making Love Out of Nothing at All , Even the Nights Are Better, and others.  What an experience it was.  Enjoy the video!

http://youtu.be/-Dx8KDxHv1o

Oh by the way, Russell Hitchcock shook my hand and he kissed Emma Lei's hand.   

Me ke aloha HIkari and Ipo

Coming up for a breath of air now!

Wow, been away from this blog for quite a long time now.  Maybe if you have been following me on my Facebook page, you could see a lot has been happening: danced with Lehua Tomoko Sensei and our kane at Aloha Yokohama, danced with Kamakakehau Fernandez at Aloha Yokohama, went to Morioka with my kane students for Big Mahalo concert,  went to Ikaho and participated in the exhibition their with my Anapanapa students and joined the Hiratsuka concert last evening again with my Anapanapa students.  

For me the best thing about being busy is that I get to meet many people.  Its always quite a pleasure to reconnect  and to make new acquantances. 

Anyway, maybe I have one day to settle down tomorrow which is Tuesday my normal day off.  I will try to do nothing and really enjoy the day. Ooops I forgot I have band practice in the morning.  Ok after that, I will try try not to do anything.

Here are a few pictures of my students and I at Ikaho.  We were so happy to see Kumu Chinky and  halau Kawailiula.   Me ke aloha always HIkari.

A few days ago, my brother Poki'i and his daughter came to visit me for a week.  I am enjoying spending time with them.  During the past two days we've been site seeing around my home area and Kamakura.  It's been great seeing different shrines and seeing the 大　ぶつ at Kamakura.  As a side note, yesterday our halau performed twice: Enoshima and Fujisawa.  We enjoyed both performances  because always get to see many friends.  Here are a few photos from these past few days. Aloha  HIkari.

アロハ　ふじさわ

アロハ　まこ　and トム

お金　あらいました

大　ぶつ

Bye Bye Love

Enjoy the music by the Everly Brothers & Makaha Sons

Click here: Bye Bye Love

Click here:Drums of the Island Makaha Sons

Click here: Kawailiula 2013 1st place kahiko

'Bye Bye Love'...I can finally say this after months spent working on these puniu.  This project could have been completed much faster had I not been preoccupied with other things.  Everyday for two months, I looked at these cuties stationed by my window.  Well, that's all behind me now.  It's time to go and bang on them and play them loudly...Lets go wake up the neighbors with the sounds of hula drums.   I am just saying of course I will not do these things.  We have to MALAMA.  

I Got it! =(

Enjoy the photos and the captions.

Congratulations Kumu Chinky Mahoe and the kane of Kawaili'ula.

Kawailiula Photo

Erisa Ipo working as an MC for Enoshima Hula event.  I  was multitasking by keeping her company and working on my puniu.

Here I am lashing the skin to the drum.  By the way, I make these drums exactly like my teacher's.  Uncle Buddy from Laie.

More tying!   This process is quite fun because within me is anticipation that the process of making these drums will be completed soon. 

There in front are ka made from lauhala.   One thing we learn from doing hula crafts is conservation.
The lauhala I used were from scrap pieces that I saved from doing lauhala bracelets, book covers and fans.

Here I am adding the cord to the base of the puniu.  The cord is used to secure the drum to the dancers knee.  This cord that I had bought, looks very natural.  When I bought this cord, I was very happy because it was inexpensive.
 I think this bunch was 180 円。やすいだった。

The puniu are packed up in a nice carrying bag.  They are all pretty. Anxiously, I am looking forward to giving them to my students.

Ha'ina pau photo next to the window that went
from winter cold to summer hot. No more will you have to rest here my friends.  Go and be with your rightful owner!

Aloha Masa from 801Table I am looking forward to doing another live at your restaurant June 29. In the meantime, my friends, check him out at Enoshima for some ono malasadas. 

Enoshima has some ono beer.