A day at the Museum

Felt like I needed a break from working on the house so I decided to go to the Honolulu Museum of Art. Turned out to be very satisfying. I sat by myself with John Singer Sargent and James McNeil Whistler. Made a couple of sketches. Don’t usually feel comfortable taking up other people’s time while I just sit and sketch. I wish they had a more extensive collection, but I do enjoy what little they have occasionally. The special exhibition by Chinese Artist Li Huayi was very satisfying. Titled Contemporary Landscapes they were large pieces done on paper with ink.

Finished my day by going to the The Burger King down the street. Ordered the Junior Whopper Meal. Seemed simple enough. The young counter person then proceeded to ask if I wanted it, ‘????,$??”. I said I didn’t understand. She repeated, “?????, $$??”. I looked at her and said, just give me the meal deal or what ever the first one was. Don’t seem to understand localish. She looked at me with a “Stupid Man” look, or at as the say in Chinese, “Dum Guy”. I can see why lines back up. A meal deal should be a meal deal. 

There are places where I think I could be happy. Art Museum are one, because I think I belong in them. Anyway that’s my story.

This is what life is about

Wishing we all could be together to celebrate your Birthday. Hope you have a nice one.

Play it again Sam

My faithful companion 

The Relentless Night

I think Kali missed me! When Leslie picked me up she mentioned she hadn't seen Kali the whole time I was gone. She stayed under the bed and meowed at her but never came out. After settling in after the long flight I peeled of the protective covering on the bed and started talking to her. She eventually realized who it was and jumped up on the bed and started talking to me and rubbing like crazy and licking me. Made myself a drink, of course and tried to watch TV. She came out walked all over me, back and forth, up and down. Finally gave up try to stay awake and went to bed. The night was spent with her purring, walking in circles, sitting, licking, nudging, looking for the crook between my legs. I gave up at 4:45 am., made coffee, petted and brushed her. She is still pacing back and forth and giving me that pitiful meow. I think she needed some LOVING! 

Oh, by the way I got to see the sun rise that Sugar often mentions. 

The Way is easy, Yet People prefer by paths.

Choosing a new path. 

Long Story Short: Niu Valley Surfing

Back in 1954 my parents bought a house in Niu Valley. In those days it was a rural area with little development beyond Aina Haina and Niu Valley. Hawaii Kai was just fish ponds and pig farms deep in the valleys. I attended Aina Haina Elementary, Niu Valley Intermediate and Kalani High School. I can’t imagine a better place to grow up and explore. We played army in the fields, hiked up the ridge and camped in the pine groves, walked down to the ocean and went out on Pfluegers Pier to swim and surf.

Gerry Lopez, Dennis Pang and Randy Rarick were all Niu Valley surfers and we all had our own surf spots; from Piko, Reverse, Snipes and Toes. My particular spot was Reverse and Snipes and a crowded day had 6 of us out in the water. Of course Gerry, Dennis and Randy became well known in the Surf Community. 

My posse was comprised of Dana Ishibashi, David Lim, Donald Yukitomo, and Peter Dye. I loved surfing and competed in the Makaha International and moved to Hermosa Beach to go to school and Surf California. Finally got serious and came back to Honolulu and got my BFA from the University of Hawaii. Moved to Michigan and got my MFA from Michigan State University. Briefly moved back to Hawaii to teach and finally moved to Ann Arbor where I spent over 35+ years living and raising a family. I retired in 2015 and moved back to the family home in Niu Valley and have tried to bring back to life the house and yard. I still surf and will see Peter Dye occasionally in the water. In certain moments you can still feel the sensations of old, but extensive development has changed the landscape forever. Progress is a double edged sword.

Long Story Short Series: Niu Valley

We had been living in Moana Valley on Woodlawn Dr. in a house that was rented. I remember the living room and the outside gazebo where my brother and sister had me take a drag on a cigarette. They told me to inhale deeply, it burned the hell out of my lungs and probably stopped me from ever smoking. Of course they had a good laugh. In 1955 the house in Niu Valley was being built and we were one of the earliest families to move out to the area. It was still farmland and pig farms back in the Valley. The famous cow Lanimoo was at the dairy were Niu Valley shopping center would one day be built. I started kindergarten at Aina Haina Elementary and proceeded thru 6th grade before moving on to Niu Valley Intermediate. In those days you didn’t wear shoes in Elementary school. I can remember looking forward to moving on to Intermediate school and getting my first pair of shoes. I just hated dirt between my toes and dirty feet. The first pair of shoes was a big deal, we went to the shoe store and I had to have black and white oxfords. Mighty Cool! 

I loved playing Cowboys and Indians in those early days. I of course identified with the Indians. We could run wild in the Cane fields and climb the hill side and shoot my  bow and arrows along with BB guns and 22 caliber rifles. We could walk the streets with our weapons of choice. Playing Army was a lot of fun and Pork Chop Hill was our game. My friend's father was in the army reserve and he had towns of equipment we could use. He also flew a helicopter and would land in the field by Halekamani St. We could see and hear in coming and would take off like a shot to watch it land. Imagine all of us dressed in our makeshift army outfits running thru the Valley fields like little mad men. The gang at that time was Dennis Young, Roy Marchessi, Don Mike Gillis, Dana Ishibashi, David Lim, David Cook, Pat Culimber. Don Mike was the oldest and biggest. He was scary!

Other games we played were, marbles,king of the hill, dodgeball, big time wrestling, home run derby, we rode our bikes and skateboarded.