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.

Golden Week PAU!

Enjoy the music of Clay Aiken
See Kishimoto Kyouichi blog

Today is the last day of Golden Week and up until yesterday, it has been quite an adventure.  There are so many people that I am appreciative for, they include: Yonezawa, Jun Nakano, Ryoji Soranaka,  Yumiko Sensei & Miwa, Kishi & Ikuko, and last but not least Sekino (Hula Hawaii).  

This year, there were so many nice opportunities to share my music and hula with many people here in Japan.  I would not have been able to do so without all these people mentioned above.  

I also have a deep appreciation for our students Naupaka and Anapanapa.  You all hung in there with us and did well to represent our halau(s). Mahalo.

To all my friends and family, I wish your days and weeks were as happy.  May you always be blessed too.  

Me ke aloha HIkari.

Here are a few of my photos to recaps the week of hula, music we all had.  

Me dancing with Utsunomiya Band at Hiratsuka.  Kaneohe Good Guys :Yuji, Yutaka and Higuchi.

Anapanapa Ohana in the forest.

Kawena Keiki dancers.

Hiratsuka Hula Garden with Izumi and mele hula.

Hiratsuka Hula Garden doing music with Kishi.  Hula by our students.

Kishi and I started the music in the forest.  Was very nice and cozy. All of our students, families and friends enjoyed!

Lei Kiele by Anapanapa

Nice community show with our students.

This student is so sweet.  Just like all the other keiki.

Erisa Kumu and her students Pua Mokihana (Odaiba).
Very nice dance Ipo!

Anapanapa students came to support Erisa and I at Odaiba Hula Stage.

Another nice photo of Erisa Kumu doing her hula. Odaiba

Kishi and I went to Gunma (Jyomokogen).
There they have a beautiful castle. When I have more time I would like to go back with Ipo and do more site seeing.
Mahalo Miwa 

Anapanapa and I at Disney Ikspiari.
I am appreciative for our Alakai Sayako to help organize this event for us.

Mahalo Ryoji Soranaka.  You organized a wonderful show (Harumi Spring Kanikapila) with some
great musicians.  All of my students enjoyed the hula portion then the great concert afterwards. Looking forward to next September stage.

Harumi Spring Kanikapila

Me dancing Mahinahina a song written by Nathan Aweau.
 It was a very nice experience to dance to his music again.  It was even a greater experience
to sing Kuulei Awapuhi with him too. Mahalo N8

Here is Kishi!  He and I was stuck together this entire Golden Week.  Kishi is a kind gentleman and wonderful musician.  I always pray for his success and hope more people can know more of his talents as a guitarist and
a sound/recording engineer. 

Mahalo to Holi Sensei.  I enjoyed doing the music for Kana at Yokohama Bay Quarter.  Its always nice to see you.

This is Yukiko Sensei and her students along with
Kana from Tiare  Hula Group.  Aloha to Yukiko Sensei, students: Akiko(Miss Hula Hawaii) , Tomoko, Kaori and Kana(Miss Hula Hawaii Keiki).  

Me and Asayo.  Asayo's smile helped me out during my
Yokohama Bay Quarter performance.  Mahalo Asayo.

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.