Native Hawaiian “A Voyage to Health” exhibit comes to Tucson

Showing September 9 to October 19 at Arizona Health Sciences Library (near Java City cafe), 1501 N. Campbell, University of Arizona Medical Center.
Hours:
Sun – Thurs 7 AM – 8PM
Fri – Sat 7 AM – 7 PM

A Voyage to Health explores the history of Kaho‘olawe and traditional voyaging, and how the resurgence of Native Hawaiian culture helped heal the soul of the community.

A Voyage To Health explores the recent revival of the ancient arts of navigation and voyaging that first brought the people of Hawai‘i to their island homes. Much of the valuable knowledge of voyaging was lost as a consequence of the suppression of traditional ways. As part of a wider movement to reintroduce traditional ways, Native Hawaiians are mastering the knowledge and skills of their elders. By restoring their heritage, this new generation seeks to heal the people. A Voyage to Health explores this resurgence and its significance for health, well-being, and self-determination.

Please note: There is a parking fee of $1.50 per hour, cash only, Mondays-Fridays, 6a.m.-9p.m. (free on Saturdays and Sundays) in the University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus Visitor/Patient Parking Garage; the Arizona Health Sciences Library, Tucson Campus, is unable to validate parking. The UA 2012 Lot Specific Permit parking lot,southwest of the library, on North Cherry Avenue between East Drachman Street and East Mabel Street, has several metered parking spaces and parking in the lot is free after 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and all day Saturdays and Sundays. Free parking is also available in nearby UA Zone 1 lots after 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and all day Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Jeanette Ryan, Deputy Director, Arizona Health Sciences Library, Tucson Campus, 520-626-6143.

More info on this traveling exhibit from National Institute of Health website.

Having grown up on the Big Island of Hawai’i, facing the islands of Maui and Kaho’olawe to the north, I well understand the traditions embodied in this new health exhibit. I dropped by to see it today and was impressed with the accuracy of the history on the 6 display panels, and information about the cultural healing and practices now instituted on the small island of Kaho’o lawe, which had been eroded by invasive goats, cattle & sheep, and ruined by U.S. Navy bombing for 50 years after 1941. There are also two Hawaiian display cabinets with Hawaiian fruit, a shell lei, lauhala coin purse. I especially liked the medicinal display cabinet with photos of native plants, explanations of their uses, and medicinal samples. See photo below courtesy of Arizona Health Sciences Center.

See this exhibit to learn more about Native Hawaiian cultural and healing practices, especially as it relates to the uninhabited island of Kaho’olawe, County of Maui.

Hawaiian HAPA to perform at the Rialto Theater

“Hapa” is the Hawaiian word for half, so half Caucasian/Anglo people in Hawaii are called “Hapa-haole” (and there are many different varieties of bi-racial people there, with so many intermarriages going on).

The popular Hawaiian group “HAPA” will be coming to Tucson and performing at the Rialto theater, 318 E. Congress St. on July 21.

More info: www.rialtotheatre.com.

Doors open at 7 p.m., show is at 8 p.m. reserved seating. Tickets on sale online or at Bookman’s.

From the Rialto’s website:

Like the Hawaiian Islands themselves, HAPA’s Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of infuences ranging from ancient genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fisherman, Spanish cowboys, and the inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. Add to this a dose of American acoustic folk/rock, and you have what has been described as the “most exciting and beautiful contemporary Hawaiian music the world knows!”… (Maui Times).

These disparate ingredients blended together musically in the Pacific emotes the unique flavor of what Hawaii and HAPA music is: “beautiful, fragile, spiritual, powerful”… (L.A. Times).

Often encapsulated as the “Sound of Maui”, HAPA’s music evokes a place that many people at different times have referred to as heavenly. The overriding quality of their music is one of beauty and serenity, found in the majestic tones of the oli (chant), mele (song), the elegant movements of the sacred dance known as hula, and the exhilarating innovative sounds of virtuoso slack key guitar. HAPA’s self entitled debut cd released in 1993, swept the 1994 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s equivalent of the Grammy’s), becoming the biggest selling CD by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music. The group’s ground breaking music has established them as the most recognized name in Hawaiian music internationally since their debut release, with sold-out shows from Tokyo to New York.

Written by Barry Rivers, President, Maui Film Festival
June, 2003

I don’t think I’ve ever heard this group perform back home, but I hope to in the future.

Celebrate Children’s Day (May 5) at Yume Japanese Gardens

Children under 12 admitted free at Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon way on May 5, 2013, Children’s Day in Japanese culture.

There will be gold fish netting, origami paper folding, traditional Japanese toys, yukata (light kimono like clothing), plus taiko drumming by Odaiko Sonora. New Hours for May at the gardens is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traditionally May 5 was Boys’ Day, with Girls’ Day being on March 3. Note the calendar sequences of numbers, 5-5 for boys, 3-3 for girls, which is how we remembered it growing up in Hawaii, where May 5 is still considered Boys’ Day. Families fly wind sock koi over their homes on bamboo poles to indicate how many boys they have in the family. So my biological family always flew two carp koinobori for my two brothers.

Celebrate Children’s Day, and honor the boys in your family as well.

Hawaiian music on KXCI on Saturday mornings

A friend told me about this two hour Hawaiian music show a while ago, but Saturday mornings from 6 to 8 a.m. is a bit early even for me. But I finally listened to it last week, and encourage you to do so as well if you enjoy Hawaiian music. The host is John Putnam, who play a variety of English (plus hapa-haole) and Hawaiian songs for this Mele O Hawai’i show.

KXCI community radio website info: www.kxci.org, 91.3 FM radio. Request line is 520-622-5924.

Last week Putnam played favorites by Raiatea Helm, Israel Kamakawiwio’ole, Cyril Pahinui, Mark Yamanaka, Brothers Cazimero, Cecilio & Kapono, etc. I just heard Cyril, Mark, and Lehua play live a few weeks ago at the Hawaii County “Magic of the Season” events. But the best singer for that holiday event was Henry Kapono (of former Cecilio & Kapono duo) who sang “Danny’s Song” and other favorites to a huge crowd in Hilo, Hawaii.

KXCI even lists their programming playlist (click here for January 5 show).

My favorite Hawaiian music station on the Big Island (when I get to go home) is KAPA 100.3/99.1 FM, where the radio hosts speak Pidgin English and have a Hawaiian word of the day for the listeners. And by the way, one of my favorite singers who plays slack key is Kohala local boy/friend John Keawe, who attended the same high school as me. I think I own all of his CDs.

And save the date: February 21 for George Kahumoku, Jr. at the Fox Theater, 17 W. Congress St.

Then after two hours of Hawaiian music, you can head over to Lani’s Luau for authentic Hawaiian food for lunch. They say they “speak aloha” at that restaurant, located at 2532 S. Harrison Rd. (NW corner of Golf Links Rd).

Listen to Mele O Hawai’i tomorrow morning, and every Saturday morning.

Authentic Hawaiian plate lunches at Broadway Village farmer’s market on Friday

News from the “Hawaiian Cuisine King” aka Ed Fong from Waianae, Oahu:

Join Us Again For More… We’re Bringing Full Plate Lunches This Time!
We’ll Be There Again at the “Friday’s Farmers Market” on January 4th, between 10am-2p at The BROADWAY VILLAGE – 2929 E Broadway Blvd.

Aloha,

Thanks so much to all of you who came out and joined us at the Friday’s Farmer’s Market. Julia’s Ono Hawaiian Coconut Bars were a smashing hit.

Julia’s making the specialty Hawaiian recipes that she got from my mom while were in Hawaii. But this time we’re going all out! We’re going to be bringing full plate lunches also.

Here’s a short list of some of the Hawaiian goodies you’ll be able to enjoy when you come out this Friday:

Our Most Popular Kalua Pig
Ed’s Famous Teriyaki Chicken
Sesame Ginger Dressing Asian Salad
Grilled Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ginger Glazed Pineapple Spears
Hawaiian Mac Salad
Julia’s Ono (Yummy) Hawaiian Coconut Bars
and much, much, more…

Join us this Friday at: The Broadway Village, 2929 E Broadway Blvd., from 10am to 2pm.

Hope to see you there!

Mahalo,
Ed & Julia Fong
520-392-5924
Our mailing address is:
A Little Taste of Aloha
511 N. Columbia Avenenue
Tucson, AZ 85745

Website for this ono (delicious) & authentic Hawaiian food caterer: http://www.alittletasteofaloha.com/
I know Ed and he loves to cook (since he comes from a Waianae family of caterers), so if you need exotic food for an event, please call 392-5924 or send an email to ed.fong@alittletasteofaloha.com.

And Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year) again.

“Go fo’ broke” in memory of President Pro Tempore Senator Daniel K. Inouye

Like many in Hawaii I grew up hearing about the legendary U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives when Hawaii attained statehood in 1959. He passed away at age 88 on December 17, 2012, the 2nd longest serving U.S. Senator in American history, and President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate (third in line of U.S. Presidential succession).

Here are photos (front & back) of the President Pro Tempore commemorative coin he sent me last year:

18 members of my Sugiyama family attended his Big Island memorial service on December 27, 2012 at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Hawaii. Over a thousand people came through that afternoon to say a final “aloha” to this distinguished man. His 2nd wife Irene Hirano Inouye and his only child Kenny Inouye were present to receive condolences from constituents, politicians, veterans, seniors, Native Hawaiians, relatives — all people who knew him and knew his good work over 50 years in the U.S. Senate and three and a half years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Particularly moving was the singing of his favorite songs “Danny Boy” and “Kaimana Hila” sung by local Hilo musicians Mark Yamanaka and Friends. Junior Hawaii Senator Dan Akaka’s son Kahu Daniel “Kaniela” Akaka, Jr. performed the invocation & benediction.
Link to Hawaii Tribune Herald article on this service, with photos (click here).

Memorial services were held for the Senator at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C, Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu (where his first wife Maggie Awamura Inouye is buried), and on the neighbor islands of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke at the Washington National Cathedral and attended the service at Punchbowl.

Inouye was also decorated for being a member of the famous & extremely courageous 442nd Regimental Combat team, which served honorably in Europe during WWII. He was a 2nd Lt. who lost his right arm in a battle in 1945 in Italy. That combat team was famous for their motto “Go fo’ broke”, which in Pidgin English means to use all your best to prevail, to “wager everything”.

He was like that, a man who exemplified excellence, competence, and dedication. As a young woman attorney I worked for him for 2 years on Capitol Hill at his Senate office, and we became friends thereafter. He was like an “Uncle” to me and our family. To read my previous tribute on the day he passed away (click here). We Hawaiians will miss him.

Mahalo nui loat (thank you very much) Senator for your decades of public service. You really did “go fo’ broke.”

Lava coils on Mars? updated

http://azstarnet.com/news/science/asu-grad-student-spies-odd-lava-spirals-near-martian-equator/article_87957678-e676-5c8e-9486-d7fbe0d2c1db.html

Science surprise of the day: read this morning that lava coils/spirals have been discovered on Mars near the equator. The Arizona Daily Star article (above) says they look similar to lava coils in Hawaii. The Martian ones are apparently 16 to 100 feet across.

I grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii (which has the only live volcanoes in the State of Hawaii) and have seen numerous eruptions of both a’a (chunky) and pahoehoe (smooth, river-like) lava flows. I’ve noticed some coils but not quite like that or that many as shown in the aerial photo, which accompanies that Star article.

Next time I’m back home on Hawaii Island, it will definitely be worth a trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to take another look. All national parks and monuments are free this week (National Park Week) till April 29 (click here).

Update: Here’s the original article in Science Journal (click here), entitled:

“Coils and Polygonal Crust in the Athabasca Valles Region, Mars, as Evidence for a Volcanic History” by Andrew J. Ryan and Philip R. Christensen.

Photos of Martian (and Hawaiian) lava coils published separately:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2012/04/27/photos-of-martian-and-hawaiian-lava-coils/

Spread a little “aloha” on Valentine’s Day (video)

So what is love? I’ll know it if I see it, and I thankfully see it around me with my husband, son, friends, family, etc.

If you’re lucky enough to be in love this Valentine’s Day, express it in the Hawaiian way, by spreading a bit of “aloha” through our “aloha spirit”. What does that mean?

“Aloha” is the Hawaiian word for love (and hello & goodbye), but we use it to express actions “me ke aloha” (with love, caring).

So “aloha spirit” is our local Hawaiian way of extending kindness & caring — without expecting anything back. Lots of people practice it back home on all of the 8 main islands…Oahu (where the Capital city of Honolulu is located), Hawaii Island where I am from, Kauai & Maui (islands I worked on), Molokai, Lanai, and the 2 smallest isles Niihau & Kahoolawe (both off limits to tourism).

Once I rented a car back home in Hawaii & was worried on the last day that the car was a bit too dirty to return without washing off some of the mud that had accumulated on it. (Rains a lot on the Big Island of Hawaii). So I asked a woman operating a lunch wagon for some water. She didn’t have any to give me in a cup, but handed me a bottle of water, free of charge. I thanked her and used the bottled water to wash off the car with my hands. Then I ran back to her wagon & left her a $1 tip in the jar and said “mahalo” (thanks) for her “aloha spirit.”

And I’ve written this before (which many of you may not believe) but on Hawaii Island, if you get in a traffic jam, it’s bad form to honk your horn — it’s not polite, just not the “aloha way” of doing things.

Last week here in Tucson, while riding the Sun Tran bus, I observed several riders assist a blind rider who needed to be informed when his stop was imminent. And later I overheard another rider giving his $3.50 day pass to someone else to use again, since he was done riding for the day and it was only about 12 noon. Now that’s spreading “aloha”.

So today, Valentine’s Day, how about practicing a little bit of “aloha” by spreading some of your caring to others in Southern Arizona?

The Hawaiian group Mana’o Company sang this popular “Spread a Little Aloha” song:

[tnivideo caption=”” credit=””]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaprpYfH4Rg[/tnivideo]

Let me know if anything interesting happens — in the comment section below. Random acts of kindness definitely qualify.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

And Happy Birthday to the State of Arizona, turning 100 today.

Finding a message of “aloha”

Since we have no ocean here in Tucson, it’s not likely one would find a message in a bottle floating in the sea. But today I did receive a “message” of aloha from as unlikely a source — an inaugural quarterly news publication called “The Arizona Grillzette”.

There I was waiting for my smoothie order at a fast food restaurant (starting with the large letter “M”) on Campbell Avenue in central Tucson when I happened to pick up a free news publication lying on the counter. It was the Spring 2011 Volume 1, issue 1 of The Arizona Grillzette, published by a company in town called Arizona Grill & Hearth.

But the amazing message was not on the front page (articles about BBQ Paradise, grilling steaks and a cool beverage), but on page 2, an article entitled “Working Together in The Spirit of Aloha” (with a photo of coral stones spelling out the word “ALOHA”, on a lava bed). Now that resonated with me, a “local girl” born & raised on the Big Island, and here are well-written excerpts from that article:

“The literal meaning of aloha is “the presence of breath” or “the breath of life.” It comes from “Alo” meaning presence, front and face, and “ha” meaning breath. Aloha is a way of living and treating each other wth love and respect. Its deep meaning starts by teaching ourselves to love our own beings first and afterwards to spread the love to others.”

It goes on to say “Aloha is living in harmony. When you live with the Spirit of Aloha, you create positive feelings and thoughts, which are never gone… “Aloha” means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return”… “Aloha
is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.”

Wow, the person who wrote this must be Hawaiian or from Hawaii, but there was no by-line to the article. Who was this mysterious person who wrote this message?

I found this message timely for me, as I seem to have forgotten a bit of the “aloha spirit” which I grew up with in Hawaii, especially when working with U.S. Mainlanders and living here for years in Arizona.

So this article made me reflect again on what aloha means to me, and how to keep spreading it here in the SW desert. Mahalo nui loa (thanks very much) to AZ Grill & Hearth for the uplifting, meaningful message today.

Here’s my previous blog about “practicing aloha” (click here).

The rest of the publication (8 pages) is all about grilling, barbeques, recipes (even for grilled tilapia), with ads by various local businesses.

More info contact Arizona Grill & Hearth at 520-623-0924, 2600 N. Stone Avenue 85705, www.azgrillnhearth.com.

And keep spreading that “aloha spirit.”

MLK, Dr. Cornel West, and racial “colorblindness”

Today April 4 is the 43rd anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader who advocated for judging of people by the “content of their character, not the color of their skin.”

Dr. Cornel West, from wikipedia

On Friday night Dr. Cornel West, Princeton professor and author of a 1993 book “Race Matters”, spoke at Centennial Hall, invoking the legacy of Dr. King, asking the audience of about 1500 people, if America had become “colorblind as MLK envisioned.” He then went on to say that we have become “blind to the suffering of the poor, working people, indigenous people”. He said he was glad to be here in Arizona, the “epicenter of human rights”, that ethnic studies at TUSD was the “quest for truth.” Dr. West was highly critical of America saying that corporate greed/avarice had made us “well adjusted to injustice” and being “indifferent to the poor and other evils”. Read more about Dr. West (who has also acted in two Matrix movies) in wikipedia (click here.) And if you want to hear a 2 minute audio of his talk posted in the Tucson Weekly by John deDios (click here).

So have we become racially/ethnically “colorblind” in 2011?

Recently a man at an art show starting speaking to me in Japanese. When I answered him in English, he started asking me if I was part-Native American and what tribe I belonged to. He just had to know what I was racially and I refused to say, as I didn’t think it was relevant at an art show. He was first treating me as “foreign”– as a visiting Japanese tourist, which I am not.

I did grow up “colorblind” on the Big Island of Hawaii. I had public school teachers who were Caucasian, Korean, Japanese, Native Hawaiian, Chinese, etc. and it never occurred to me to categorize them by race. The were all the same to us students, only different by their last names. We accept people in Hawaii by their culture and character. I knew some people in my community were Puerto Rican but that meant to me that they ate pasteles at their parties and danced to “kachi kachi” music. That’s all, it was cultural, as it was with my Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian, Samoan friends (and lots of those who were of mixed ancestry, very common in Hawaii).

I didn’t even know that I belonged to a racial “minority” until I went to Boston to attend law school. It was then that I learned what it was like for Black Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, etc. on the U.S. Mainland. Ask most members of a racial minority if there is racism/discrimination in America, and they will likely answer in the affirmative.

Being as today is the anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination, let us reflect upon race relations in America, and strive to be better and more accepting of other cultures and people of a different ethnicity.