My Blog

WOW... ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE I'VE LAST POSTED....

charles — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:03:04 GMT

Last evening was our company holiday party, this year held at the MACC, rumor had it that Ziggy Marley was going to be playing at the event... Sure enough, he was there in the flesh with his band...OMG talk about unreal... This was an unreal evening, 2 hours non stop of great music....mind you I'm not a reggae fan, but this dude is an awesome entertainer, and great music is great music no matter the style...I'll not forget this evening ever....

Moloka'i Home Sweet Home

charles — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:31:04 GMT

Tomorrow afternoon I take the shuttle boat to Moloka'i from Lahaina. It will be a bittersweet moment, and it seems that the only time I get to go home so to speak is when there is a funeral to attend. The older i get the more it seems to be the case rather then the exception. Uncle Sauce as he was called married my father's younger sister, she is Herietta Kahini'au Ka'upu Mokiao, simply known as Aunty Darling. Their children are Leila Perreira, Sharon Kana'e, Darlene Naki, Solomon Jr, and Serena Willing. All born and raised on Moloka'i. All living on Hawaiian Homestead Land at Kapa'kea near Kaunakakai. We begin the celebration of his life at Kalaiakamanu Hou Church tomorrow evening and end with his inturnment at Kapa'akea Cemetary on the day of his 78th birthday Saturday afternoon...... 'Aue ku'u matua e..... Ua ho'i 'oe me te atua e..... Ke mihinei ia matou e.... I tou ala hele loa e...... Ua hanau 'ia i te one o Kakuhihewa e..... He pua ta 'ilima e.................. He pua mae'ole e................. 'Aue ho'i e............. Ku nei e Kamakou e............. Ka piko o Hina e................ Ua hina, ua mate loa e...................... 'Auhea ho'i 'oe e............ Tu'u matua e.................. Aloha ho'i 'oe e............................. this is a portion of his song of parting in our Hawaiian Tradition.....he mele kanikau a matua mokiao.....

PO'AHA-THURSDAY 31 MEI 2007 I IAPANA....

charles — Wed, 30 May 2007 21:45:57 GMT

ITS THURSDAY HERE IN JAPAN A BIT RAINY AND NEVERTHELESS A NEW ADVENTURE AWAITS... MY SECOND PORTION OF THIS STAY IS ABOUT TO EMBARK THIS AFTERNOON........ MY FRIENDS FROM OAKLAND ARE ARRIVING HERE AND 2 MUSICANS FROM HAWAI'I ISLAND AS WELL. WE ARE TRAVELLING AS THE ACADEMY OF HAWAIIAN ARTS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KUMU HULA MARK KELI'I HO'OMALU... HE IS THE HAWAIIAN GENIUS BEHIND THE FIRST RELEASE OF LILO AND STICH, DOING THE HAWAIIAN DANCE/CHANT VOICE AS WELL AS THE WRITING OF THE SURF SONG ETC.... MORE IMPORTANT HOWEVER IS HIS ABILITY TO BRING INTO THIS WORLD A NEW VIEW ON HOW HULA IS APPROACHED... MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF MY TRADITIONALIST BROTHERS AND SISTERS..... I AM OF THE FIRM BELIEF THAT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THIS IS JUST ONE ROUTE THAT HULA CAN TAKE... NO MATTER THE TRADITIONALIST'S VIEW AND PRACTICE CAN CONTINUE...THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME WHO WILL PURSUE THIS LINE OF LEARNING, HOWEVER, THE MASSES WILL FLOCK TO MARK BECAUSE OF HIS ABILITY TO BRIDGE THE GAP OF NOT UNDERSTADING HAWAIIAN (THE LANGUAGE) BUT MOST CERTAINLY FIGURING IT OUT WITH HIS PRESENTATIONS..... THAT IS BY FAR AS IMPORTANT AS KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE..... OUR SOJOURN BEGINS AT NARITA INTERNATIONAL WHERE I MEET WITH THEM AND THEN OFF TO OSAKA BY PLANE ARRIVING IN KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.... AN AMAZING PLACE SINCE THIS PARTICULAR AIRPORT WAS BUILT OUT INTO THE OCEAN RATHER THAN ON KANTO (JAPAN)... WE ARE THERE TILL THE NIGHT OF THE 2ND AND THEN BACK TO TOKYO AND INTO SHIBUYA-KU STAYING AT IKEBUKURO FOR 4 DAYS AND THEN YOKOSUKA FOR 2 DAYS AND LASTLY NIIGATA FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS BEFORE LEAVING FOR HOME.... I AT 1840 ON JAL076 ON JUNE 10TH AND ARRIVING HOME THE SAME DAY BUT THE MORNING OF.....LOL HERE ARE THE PERMORING ARTS CENTERS THAT WE ARE ARE AT: JUNE 2 HYOGO PERMORMING ARTS CENTER JUNE 3 BUNKAMARU, ORCHARD HALL JUNE 4 BUNKAMARU, ORCHARD HALL JUNE 5 BUNKAMARU, ORCHARD HALL 2 SHOWS JUNE 7 YOKOSUKA ARTS THEATRE JUNE 9 NIIGATA PREFECTUAL CIVIC CENTER THIS WILL BE THE WHIRWIND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE......AND I AM TRULY ALONG FOR THE RIDE! THESE SHOWS ARE NEARLY SOLD OUT...SO THIS FIRST SHOWING IS TRULY WELL WORTH THE PREPERATION THAT THESE DANCERS AND THEIR KUMU HAVE DONE.....I AM SO BLESSED TO BE WITH THEM AND GRATEFUL TO OUR AKUA FOR THIS CHANCE..... THE UNIVERSE HAS OPENED HER ARMS FOR ME ONCE AGAIN.....

O HANA NO E KA 'OI.... HANA IS THE BEST

charles — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:18:46 GMT

Well friends Kaua and John flew in from Honolulu on Thursday and off to Hana we went... There to Chris and Leokane's home in Maka'alae just outside of Hana Town. It was a great 2 day trip and a great time spent with friends in a beautiful setting... the drive in and out was such a picture perfect postcard moment around every turn and through our rainforest...waterfalls, taro patches, crashing waves....azure blue pacific..... How great to see it with friends......

ALOHA TO CALIFORNIA.... ITS BEEN A MONTH OR SO..

charles — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 07:27:47 GMT

I am headed back to Hawai'i in the morning arriving in Honolulu at 1245 and home to Kahului shortly thereafter. I've been here in California for the past several weeks, nearly a month since leaving Maui in February. I can't tell you how much I miss my island home and the fact that I need to recharge my batteries. It has been truly a Blessing to be here, beginning in San Diego and travelling through Irvine and onward to San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz, San Francisco and repeating San Diego, New Port Beach, Beverly Hills and ending up in the City by the Bay.... Hapa, Barry, Nathan, Les and Pi'ilani were my travelling companions in the first portion of the trip. We played a few towns and gigs until Winters at the new Palms.... It was a memorable trip is all I can say... While in Irvine, I got the chance to meet Kengi... Lou if you will, and dropped somethings off for the houseless cousins of ours... While waiting to do Mark's fundraiser at Skyline High in Oakland on Saturday, I took a quick trip to Santa Cruz to see some new found friends, helping Robert to be at ease in his passing, along with his wife and sons... with their friends, we chanted and talked about Robert's flight that will take place shortly... that is when he is ready. Mark's fundraiser was the bomb.... 3 kahiko hula segements and wedged between was the music of Hoku and Ioane... 'Kana'e'... beautiful dance and song..... MVB the Maui Visitor's Bureau was the final portion of this trip. La Jolla to San Francisco... Media events for the week, and rubbing elbows with those that write of our islands to pique the interest of our West Coast folk. All in all work, and fun, pain and pleasure.... all for the love of my island home... Oh how I long to smell the ocean breeze, and the scented nights and feel the warmth of my motherland once again... Oh Hawai'i I miss you so....

ON TOUR IN CALIFORNIA....

charles — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:56:34 GMT

Well it's almost over for now... our 2007 winter tour of California wraps up this weekend, and we are in San Francisco at the moment... It is always magical and fun to bring the music of home here to the mainland... to see the joy that people experience and give back to us is priceless. So to those of you who have made it so I am ever grateful to you all.... to those of you who can, check out the web-site, www.hapa.com for our scheudle and see if you can't join us. You won't be dissapointed unless what you want is heavy metal....LOL Our winter tour continues in March at the end of the month in Washington D.C. and onward to Annapolis, New York City, Sommerville Mass., Grant's Pass Oregon, Eugene, Portland, and Seattle.... hope to see all of you soon.... charles

SANTA MONICA

charles — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:46:21 GMT

Well let me say that today began in Carlsbad California and that's after playing at the Sherwood Theater in La Jolla. We left at 1010 this morning arriving in Irvine at just a little past 11. Jerome was there to meet me and we set off from the hotel and over to Walmart for supplies... We got to Santa Monica and dropped off somethings to Kengi and had to return to Irvine for sound check and the first concert at 5pm. It was a BRIEF encounter, but the handful of great souls gathered there helped to unload some things for our houseless friends living and exsisting with great problems facing them. Those that were there are a great hui, group of people no souls... great beings... if you will... B eauty E volving I n N everending G oodness.... B.E.I.N.G. (s).... get it? Anyway digressing here... The point I wish to make to those that wish to make this a better place, HOME... if you will , you may not be as visible as these new friends, but I have faith that soon you too will help in whatever way, shape or form that you choose for any problem that you see that needs addressing. That you take action, proactive rather than reactive... You may not affect hundreds or thousands... but isn't one more just as rewarding? Isn't there good reason to lend a hand? When Barry and Nathan (Hapa Duo) went to get the rent a car, there was only 1 agent and like Murphy's Law goes, was not only bombarded by a long line, he had to deal with the fact that the 'GOLD' customers didn't have their contract in the car and yada yada yada... 3 Customer's reamed this poor kid, and needless to say HAD THEIR SAY... Here is my observation... Isn't it pointless to pick on the only person there, who obviously represents... BUT DOES THAT GIVE THE CUSTOMER THE RIGHT TO ABUSE ANOTHER? IS THE CUSOTMER ALWAYS RIGHT? for me, I'D HANG BACK AND WATCH HOW NOT TO BE... I'll repeat... I'D HANG BACK AND WATCH HOW NOT BE... that's the Hawaiian Way... NO BIG DEAL, deal with and move on..... anyway... the trick is always to DO NO HARM... to others and especially YOURSELF... can you look in the mirror and REALLY LOVE WHAT YOU ARE?....great... use your mana (humaness) wisely... and simply DO.... its fun... and personally rewarding when you can help to bring about change... xoxo charles

MY FRIEND KENGI

charles — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 06:10:45 GMT

What prompts me to blog today is the saga of Kengi in Santa Monica, he has set aside for the time being saftey and has pledged to hit the street for a 30 day period and blogging about life on the streets through the eyes and experience of a homelss person. You should read his blogs by hooking up to mine, via my friends list if you like and witness for yourself his work... Whether you believe in lending a hand, changing a view-point, maybe even the ability to affect change if you so desire. I hope that you simply get the word out through your frineds and theirs and before you know it our tribe mass will at least take the time to set aside cultural considerations, learned logic and simply become the godly beings that we should already be, no matter, compassion and love for another. I would hope that we can ALL learn how to treat one another, and say what you mean, not be mean at what you say.... to do no harm to another... What do you think?

VOYAGE 2007 TO MICRONESIA AND JAPAN - POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY - HOKULE'A AND ALINGANO MAISU

charles — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:20:53 GMT

The Voyaging Double Hulled Canoes Hokule'a and Maisu are headed to the Marshall Islands in Micronesia with a gift for Mau Piailug, Master Navigator and Star Gazer, who taught Nainoa Thompson the art of the Wayferer... Kilo Hoku as they are called by our people. Since the 70s Nainoa has been taught the ancient art of using Celestial Navigation to guide the Hokule'a from Island group to Island group, over 30 years this canoe has trained and inspired many Polynesian Nations to look to thier roots so to speak and understand the magnitude of discovery by their ancestors... They having sailed and settle many island groups before the explorers of Europe even set sail into the atlantic, hundreds of years before to give you and idea. By the time the European Explorers set foot on foreign soil, Polynesia had long been settled and purposeful travel from group to group had been underway for many generations. The Maisu is a gift to Mau and his family for his contribution to the revival of an ancient art... If not for him, this part of our cultural revolution would be indeed dead. Because of him hundreds and thousands have been inspired to learn, have a better sense of who they are, and reinstilled a pride that colonization has stripped from many. After the delivery of this canoe, the Hokule'a will sail on to Yokohama Japan, to re-establish ties with that country, tracing the route taken by King Kalakaua when he visited there in 1880. It is the most dangerous of voyages to date, due to the cyclones that they may encounter along the way... If you are interested, you can track them via their web-site at www.pvs.com (polynesian voyaging society hokulea). Keep them in your prayers for a safe journey to and back home to Hawai'i...

A DAY NOT FORGOTTEN

charles — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:02:16 GMT

On January 17, 1893, 114 years ago the Kingdom of Hawai'i was invaded and occupied by the United States of America. This accomplished by then Minister Stevens and a bunch of American Businessmen with the help of the United States Navy who felt that Hawai'i's future was best served (their interests that is) if it were a part of America. Queen Lili'uokalani abdicated as Head of State until such time as the American Government and her People would reinstate Hawai'i's Sovereignty. Its been 114 years and this sole act for the Hawaiian is a sore point in history. A history that is continuing today, and its lesson not learned by America and our actions. When will we learn to do better to others?

'UWE KA LANI OLA KA HONUA....

charles — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:18:28 GMT

When the heavens weep, the earth is alive..... an ancient saying of our people in Hawai'i... It is gently raining upon O'ahu, nice soft rain, ka ua po'aihale as it is called in this part of Honolulu at Kapalama. I am blessed by the presence of my tutu this day. I've decided to spend New Years in Hawaii Kai with some friends that I've not been in their company for many years and am looking forward to gathering with them. As we bring this year to a close here is what I am truly thankful for. Work, it is and will always be a pleasure to do what I do. My integrity is still intact and I refuse (gently, always gently) to digress from there. Play is a part of work so in that I am blessed. Friends, who for the most part fill the void of loneliness with laughter and joy, and Family who are always there for you no matter our differences. Their LOVE sustains me. My health...this is the joy in life and I cannot thank the Creator for this....this great UNIVERSE that I get to be a part of....Lastly my friend Wade who has taught and continues to teach me in life, I am ever grateful for.....for teaching me that those around me are a reflection of me including him.....my cup runneth over...for my STUDENTS my HAUMANA for allowing me to teach and thus live on through you...I AM BLESSED....AND TO MY GOD WHO SUSTAINS AND LOVES AND CONTINUES TO CO-CREATE ALONG WITH ME..... An ancient story has it's setting at Pu'uloa, Pearl Harbor as its called today. It involved an elderly couple who were childless and set about their daily tasks without fail... Theirs was a hard life, as all were during those days, but away they plugged. Unkowledgeble about prayers, the did so anyway day in day out to their gods.... One day Kane and Kanalo paid them a visit, these being their gods, intent on teaching them properly how to pray to them. The two would call upon the couple and as was tradition they were welcomed with great respect, even though they knew nothing of who these men were. They were fed, given drink and led to rest in the Hale Noa...the sleeping mats laid, the two lay to rest. The couple as well. During this time period, Kane and Kanaloa set about fixing a few problems with their predicament. You see, Tutu Kane (Grandfather) would trek for nearly a mile daily for water albeit brackish, nevertheless water. This was for both their household use and garden. Kane fixed that with bringing forth a spring just a few feet from their compound. Kanaloa cleared a larger portion of land and planted more crops for them to tend and sustain life. They caught and began drying fish for them as well, all while in their godly spirit form with their flesh still and asleep (if you will) on the mats. Once the couple had rested (as well as their guests) they then sat together and Kane and Kanaloa made known to them who they were. Falling to their faces they apologized greatly for not knowing this....their gods then told them to raise their faces to them and proceeded to teach them about prayer, when and how to petition them. In all that they do from morning to the setting of the sun. They were shown the gifts and abundance for them, and off they went....leaving them stunned....and of course happy. The story reinforces several key themes in Hawaiian life, in part even to this very day.... When you visit family or friend, you're made to feel welcomed, call to come in and eat and then rest..... Only after this would business be taken care of, i.e. the reason for the visit.... You never went empty handed there was a gift given to the visited, and in turn upon leaving gifts were given as well. These normally were food items in any shape or form, done to symbolize the ties that bind. It also teaches us the greatest lesson of all, and that is MAKE WELCOME THE STRANGER FOR YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR GOD IS CALLING....since it is his/her form that we have taken on, we are the reflection of our CREATOR......(S) So to all I wish you what we say in greetings and goddbyes that simply is ALOHA.... May LOVE lead you on your path of ABUNDANCE and that you never for WANT but only to receive all that you could ever wish for.....PEACE here on PAPA HONUAMEA.. Mother Earth, JOY for all humanity....LIGHT to lead us everywhere and HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU.... Happy New Year EVERYONE ALOHA charles

aloha...if i remember correctly can mean.....

charles — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:21:36 GMT

Tutu Pilahi Paki taught many, helped many and enlightened many in many ways..... an elder, teacher, stateswoman (ali'i), world citizen, great human being, hawaiian.... still to this day reminds us of this word; A for kindness or akahai expressed with tenderness L for unity or lokahi expressed with harmony O for agreeables or 'olu'olu expressed with pleasantness H for humility or ha'aha'a expressed with modesty A for patient and persevering or 'ahonui. She said it was a state of mind, the spirit of humanity and the recognition of that god within ourselves. Others equate the same as being able to find the higher self. i know our tutu saw it as all encompassing and not a seperation of any kind from the flesh and spirit. It links into everything that we do and say. Theirs was this saying....'hanalima'... work with the hand.... the entire picture being...."You are judged by your works" Its not so much what you say...rather the result of your actions... Kinda like that this recognition in others is as important then as it is especially now. What to you think? I goes back to their premise that in the word there is life and death. If what you choose to say can only be interpreted as being of light (things that don't hurt) versus hurtful things...which would you consider counter productive. Sometimes name calling actually hurts.... do you think? What do you think? better yet..... HOW DO YOU ACT or as we'd say here.....how you gonna ack..... food for thought... MORE LATERZ charles

2006 OCTOBER 20

charles — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 06:12:33 GMT

On October 20th I would leave this earthly realm to once again commune with the spirit world if only for a short while. What transpired was DEATH, literally and clinically dead for awhile...oxygen deprivation for some 15 minutes and touch and go for the next few hours. Critically Grave and with very little hope, I would die the day before my 49th birthday and revived on the very day of my birth 49 years ago. I am stunned that my choice was to return here to this plain of life as it is. With full knowledge of what could have been. My work they say is not over. And so here I am to testify to you that there is a god, call him/her what you like, it doesn't matter only that you call upon he/she to commune with you. Know this, that you are a part of god, and that god is never apart from you. You are that devine being, ever evolving towards the higher goal of BEING and of Selflessness, ever serving the betterment of ALL. What I found out is that I am indeed worthy of love and since have been blessed with someone that I know loves me. Perhaps I needed to die to understand this, and for this I am grateful for.....to you my friend I LOVE YOU...and thank you for openning this door of LIFE for me as well. You are the angel that god sent to me and will always be a part of who I am. Peace - Love - Light - Blessings to ALL

BEING

charles — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:18:57 GMT

I am not sure who said this exactly but to be Human is fine, however, to be a BEING is much more to the point... BEAUTY EVOLVING IN NEVERENDING GOODNESS. This I hope is something we all strive to be....peace love and light to you all.....