September 1, 2010

* * * * * * * * * *ALOHA OE, WARRIOR PRINCESS ASHLEY AVEN * * * * * * * * * *

They came….they came, well over a hundred of them…the handsome, the beautiful, the athletic young people…. in a multitude of ethnicities, they came to pay final respects to one of their own……many wore bright reddish orange tee shirts that had “She fought Cancer…so can We” printed on the front and “Aven…..#2…..Deep Breath” on the back!

Memorial Services were held on August 25, 2010 for Ashley Kealoha Aven, daughter of Bill and Tamara Aven, sister to Leticia and Eric…. mo`opuna of Williama Aven and Connie Perry! Ashley, with her dark eyes, radiant black hair and an always warm, beaming smile was a beautiful young lady, beautiful enough to be a Princess……and she was a warrior who fought valiantly against the Cancer that finally wore her down at the too young age of 18!

In July 2009, Ashley Aven was looking forward to her Summer break before starting her Senior year in high school, to a time for fun and relaxation! But the headaches and the tiredness and high fever hit and she thought it was maybe the swine flu.  But then came the devastating news….tests established that she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and the doctors thought she had 6-8 weeks to live. But Ashley decided it was not her time to go yet so, in her words: “While in the hospital I went through three rounds of chemo that just kicked my butt, lost weight, lost my hair but I never quit fighting.  We were in the hospital from July 2009 until January 2, 2010!” On January 2, 2010, the doctors decided there wasn’t anything more they could do for her. Her cancer levels never got low enough for a bone marrow transplant. She was given two months to live and allowed to go home. Ashley and her “Team” (her family and friends) decided it still was not  her time to go so Ashley wrote down thirteen things she wanted to do including such things as “going to the Zoo/to the Aquarium/to see Grandma Connie in California/to watch Blindside/go to Cecilia’s for dinner/go to Linda’s house/go to Las Vegas/eat Dad’s Lemon Chicken/go to the Pike Street Market/go to Laverne’s house/go do glazed pottery” and two other things that were very important to her:

—to walk down the graduation aisle with her Meadowdale classmates in June 2010

—to go to her Senior Prom on June 5, 2010

She did everything on her “list”….and more! She got to throw out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariner baseball game…she was honored by the nationally ranked UW Softball team…she got to go to Disneyland as a “Make A Wish” guest!

And while I picture her as a beautiful Princess, we should call her a Queen because her Meadowdale High School classmates elected her 2010 Senior Prom Queen!!!!!

Ashley’s valiant fight against her AML disease earned her the admiration and respect of thousands of people throughout the Pacific NW…..she was a softball player for the Meadowdale HS team and even though she was unable to play because of the AML, she was elected team captain for the 2010 team…Ashley became close friends with Danielle Lawrie of the U of Washington softball team who was the 2010 USA Softball Player of the Year….another fan and admirer of Ashley’s was Jay Buhner (who was at the Memorial service), the great, former Seattle Mariners baseball player…..another fan was KJR Radio Star Dave “Softy” Mahler……besides the hundreds of young people at Ashley’s  Memorial Service, there were lots more people there representing family and friends including many from the Hawaiian Islander community (because you see, she was one of ours too!)

By the way, the “Deep Breath” printed on the back of the tee shirts honoring Ashley was for one of her favorite sayings….when things got tough, she’d say “take a Big, Deep Breath and move on, step by step and never stop fighting!”…..so, for Ashley, let’s all take a big, deep breath and move on in our fight against Cancer!

The Minister defined Ashley’s middle name Kealoha as “Beloved”… and that she definitely was:  Beloved!!!!   Aloha Oe Ashley!!!!!!!!!

Now for the story behind “the story”…. Because of the Recession, Bill Aven was between jobs in July 2009 when Ashley was diagnosed with AML and given 6 to 8 weeks to live!  Bill had no insurance but made a choice to be with Ashley every day and help her fight the disease. Ashley’s valiant battle with AML lasted over a year longer than the doctors had first predicted she would live and has resulted in huge medical expenses for the Aven ohana.  There have been several fund raising efforts made on Ashley’s behalf but there is still a need for more financial support! Donations may be made to the Ashley K. Aven Foundation at any Wells Fargo bank!  Bill Aven plans to honor Ashley by doing anything/everything he can to help other families with children who have cancer!

* * * * * * * * *ON THE ISLAND, THEY DO IT ISLAND STYLE* * * * * * * * *

The 2010 Ukefest on Vashon Island was almost like being back home….the Sun was shining and it was kinda Waimanalo dusty (da kine dat da dirt stay on da ground but swirls around da feet wen you walk) and was almost like Hawaii hot…..and in da air was da sound of ukuleles and slack key guitar music!

It was a “Ukefest” so of course there were a few Ukulele vendors selling their various makes and models…..The Sound Ukulele guys (Russ Hayes, KS ’68 guy and Lana`i’s own Ray Alonzo had their booth there)….Japan’s best ukuleles were there courtesy of Hitomi Kato and his Kiwaya USA Ukulele shop…Zac Stemle and his Oceana Ukuleles had a booth there…one of the more fascinating guys there was Bob Krinsky and his Vashon Guitar Company (auwe, Bob had some very nice guitars for sale which he designs and has manufactured in South Korea…but while guitars are his passion, Bob earns his living as a Trial Attorney).

Other vendors were Kiha Kinney and his Kamehameha Schools Alumni/Pacific NW group (Greg Chu, Stan Dahlin, Carolyn Morikawa, Franklin Johnson, me plus friends of Kamehameha Cindy Schardt, Makenna Terrana, Craig Hashimoto, and Wailana Johnson) selling beverages right next door to Ali`i & Sumo’s Hawaiian Grill booth (owners are Bert Dollente (Kalihi guy) and his wife Valerie Dollente (Waialua gal)) Ali`i & Sumo’s Hawaiian Grill is in the Parkland area of Tacoma (14125 Pacific Avenue) and their food is very, very good (plus the serving portions are beeeeg!!!) Sandy Alonzo (KS ’68) had a booth promoting the Nourish the Children foundation…..some of the Hawaiian Islanders in the crowd included Robert Lopez (Farrington guy), Kathleen Lopez (McKinley HS) and Mel Calvan (another McKinley grad)….Seattle Ukulele Player Association folks there included Joan D’Andrea and Pat Nelson……The Magic Magpie Studio booth was having fun applying Henna tattoos……

Besides the vendors, there were several workshops being taught by folks like Al Tringali (Kiho`alu guitar) and Ray Alonzo, Tutu Gregg Porter (giving ukulele lessons)…..

The featured headliner entertainers at the concert that evening were Herb Ohta Jr and Michael Powers who put on an awesome show!!!!

* * * * * * * * * * A DAY AT DA HORSE RACE TRACK * * * * * * * * * *

Back row:    Robin Makapagal, Corene Morgan, Rocky Sansone

Front row:    Deidre Glendon, Darlene Stansell, Manono McMillan, Kealoha Simeona, “Kip” Kippen

IMUA KAMEHAMEHA rang through the floors at the Emerald Downs Race Track in Auburn, WA as the Kamehameha Schools mighty Class of 1968 drove/walked/flew in from all over the US of A for a Reunion!!!  Nah, was not da 20^th or 30^th Reunion or anyting like dat…..these folks just LOVE to party and give dem any kine excuse and dey going come….some of these folks even went down to the Winner’s Circle and sang the IMUA song over the P.A. system for the crowd….in fact the bugler who normally blows the “Post the Horses” theme before every race played “Imua Kamehameha” before the 5^th race (which was dedicated to the KS Class of ’68)…auwe, chicken skin stuff……..

But—da party almost nevah happen cause our hostess, da beautiful wahine from Moloka`i (Manono McMillan), one of the primary planners for the event, had a nasty accident on the bus that was transporting a number of the party group to the Race Track. She was standing up front, announcing instructions as the bus pulled off the highway when the bus driver hit the brakes to avoid hitting another car—-Manono went head over heels into the windshield and got a wrenched knee, body bruises and a nasty gash just above her eyes! But like the good tough Moloka`i country gal that she is, Manono got bandaged up by the medics and rode a wheel chair into the party room…..other of her classmates included folks like Vernon Funn (with wife Laura) who flew in from California….W. “Dutch” Kay (with wife Lorraine) from Kailua, Oahu….Lollie De Best from Camas, WA…..Carol Brown (yes, from dat Kihei Brown/Hilo family) of Honolulu…..Moke & Debbie Hauanio from Kailua, Kona….Margo Makanani from Mililani….Mary Luckey (Ewa/Campbell HS wahine) with Kenneth (her hubby, class of ’68 guy)….Doss Tannehill of Kaimuki……Greycelyn (Calles) Maluo from Hilo….Sandy Alonso and her man Ray (Lana`i guy)….Doug Walter (Hilo HS ’68) who now lives in Port Ludlow, WA with his wife Liz (KS ’68)….Noela Bishaw, Honolulu…….Gwyn Taliaferro also of Honolulu…..Amelia Lai Hipp Hew Sang who is now a teacher at Radford HS….Dan Hano (KS ’69) of Gig Harbor, WA….Bernard Makuakane of Honolulu……Creighton Lam Ho of Honolulu…….Robin Williams Makapagal of Kailua…..another beauty (like Manono) from Moloka`i, Corene Helm (Raiatea is her niece)….there were many others whose names I did not get but one of my favorite KS ’68 guys is Russ Hayes (there with his lovely wife Denise) who now lives on Vashon Island, WA and was one of the primary planners of the 2010 Vashon Ukefest… Another KS ’68 favorite of mine who was there is Kealoha Simeona, the daughter of the man I consider one of my mentors on things Hawaiian (Ahoi Simeona)! One of the special guests at the pahty was the gorgeous Doreen Vitek, Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel (where most of the out of State visitors were housed) Marketing Staff…Doreen has been instrumental in helping Hawaiian Islanders when they visit Seattle/Tacoma (mahalo Doreen)!

Probably the best known member of the KS ’68 Class has a business Card that reads “My God….It’s Roland”…of course he is Roland “Boz” Cazimero of the world renowned “Brothers Cazimero” musical duo….Roland was there with his beautiful wife Lauwa`e….Roland is having a few health issues at the moment but plans to get some rest and recuperation before he and brother Robert have to hit the around the world music circuit again!

It was a real fun party and I think several of the folks won a few dollars betting on the horses………..IMUA!!!!!

* * * * * * * FINALLY!!! A POLYNESIAN KINE TATTOO PLACE JUST FOR US* * * * * * *

Just in time for Christmas…..now you all can go get your own, authentic Polynesian kine tattoo!! Around your leg or arm or neck or wherevah…

Uhi is the term used for tattoo/Hawaiian style and Uhi has been a part of our Hawaiian culture for hundreds of years!  The initial Hawaiian tattoo designs were basically geometrical or symmetrical and they depicted celebrations, self expressions or, most commonly, to mark “tribal” membership.  The Ali`i (Hawaiian Royalty) had the most detailed and highly crafted tattoos while the Maka`ainana (commoners) had tattoos of lesser size and details. Tattoos became more pictorial (flowers, animals, et al) after the arrival of the Haoles in Hawaii.

Mel Holi emailed me to tell me about Island Republic Tattoos (IRT) which recently established their new facility at 7319 NE 37^th Avenue in Vancouver, WA (702-321-7531).  The Grand Opening for IRT is scheduled for October 1, 2010! Mel says that IRT will specialize in Polynesian and Asian Tribal tattoos to include Hawaiian, Tahitian, Samoan, Ton Fijian, Filipino, Japanese and Chinese plus doing Portraits, Calligraphy, touch ups and coverups!  Mel says that what makes IRT so unique is that they are the only Tattoo shop in the Pacific NW that will offer TATAU (Traditional tapping style for applying tattoos) with most of the Tatau work being done by Tatau Grandmaster Suluape!

The Island Republic Tattoo shop is a beautifully laid out site in a 2,000 square foot sized building (of which 700 square feet will be offered to Hula Halaus for use as a dance studio)! Mel invites one and all to the October 1, 2010 Grand Opening….I plan to go and hope to see some of you there too….hmmm, where do I want to put my first ever tattoo??

* * * * * * * SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: HERE COMES BRENT * * * * * * *

First time I’ve been to a Hawaiian themed party where the musical entertainment was—–can you guess what??

Nah, you’ll never guess it so I’ll spell it out: C-L-A-S-S-I-C-A-L  C-H-A-M-B-E-R music…not ukuleles and guitars but cellos, violas and violins….and the music was soooooo good, particularly considering that the musicians were young students from Ballard High School in Seattle!

It was a send off party for Brent Tanaka, son of Mona and the one-and-only Uncle Ed Tanaka (the legendary Seattle area radio (Hawaii Radio Connection)/stage host).  Brent was one of the primary violinists in the music group. By the time you read this, Brent will be in his dorm at Syracuse University in New York where he plans to major in communications (auwe, maybe he’ll be Uncle Brent on the Hawaii Radio Connection show twenty years from now???)

While the music was not Pacific Islander stuff, the food was definitely “local” (even had poi) prepared by that great St Louis HS ’61 alum, Chef Joe Abad (if you want GREAT food for your pahty, contact Chef Abad at honu41@hotmal.com or 425-876-9129).  If you call him, no tell him you know me ‘cause he probably charge you more (you know how St Louis Crusaders like Joe are such rivals with da Warriors from Kapalama (like me)!

Also….the Inari sushi at da pahty was absolutely GREAT (prepared by dat legendary Uncle Ed guy so if you want some, call him!!)

Hey Brent……..take care, have fun and much success on your college career!!!!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *COMING EVENTS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

First:  The Ken Makuakane workshops and concerts that had been scheduled for early September have been cancelled!

September 4, 2010…..CD Fund Raiser party for Gary Medeiros at the Oahu Hawaiian Restaurant, 7319 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA

September 8, 2010…..Hokulani (the beautiful Kumu Hula/dancer Kathy Deguair), Chad Deguair (kane hula dancer) and Elias Kauhane (super entertainer/ukulele player) will be appearing at the Northern Lights Casino in the Swinomish, WA area.  Updates on Hokulani’s family: son Chad will be graduating from Western Washington University in December with a double degree (Anthropolgy and Psychology) while daughter Cheryl was the one selected from several thousand applicants for an internship in Washington, D.C. Cheryl will be earning her Master’s degree by May, 2010! Congrats to Cheryl and Chad as well as proud parents Kathy and Mike Deguair!!!

September 10, 2010 Perfect Moments in the Islands – Aloha Friday at Westlake Center Plaza (featuring Oahu & Maui) – http://gohawaii.com/aloha

September 11, 2010….Fiji, Nesian Nine and Ilona Irvine at the Snoqualmie Casino, North Bend, WA at 9 p.m.

September 12, 2010……It’s the 3d Annual “LIVE ALOHA, A HAWAIIAN FESTIVAL” at the Seattle Center!  THIS IS A MUST GO SEE EVENT!!!!! Featuring some of the best Hawaiian Islander talent in the Seattle Metropolitan area (music, food, arts and crafts, vendors, cultural activities) PLUS Headliner entertainers Cyril Pahinui, Herb Ohta Jr and Keoki Kahumoku! ALL DAY AND ALL FREE!!!!

September 21, 2010….Willie K and Led Ka`apana in concert at the Triple Door Mainstage in Seattle. I got my ticket already…see you there?????

September 24, 2010….Perfect Moments in the Islands – Aloha Friday at Westlake Center Plaza (featuring Kauai & Big Island) – http://gohawaii.com/aloha

September 27, 2010….Perfect Moments in Hawaii with Brother Noland at the Triple Door Main Stage in Seattle.

October 2, 2010…..the Lokahi Foundation Fall Ho`olaulea at the Chief Leschi Schools complex in Puyallup, WA.

October 8-10, 2010….the BEEG B.B.B.!!! Yep, tis time again for the annual Blue Bridge Bash in Tri-Cities/Kennewick, WA area where lots of Hawaiians/Hawaiian Islanders who mostly live on the East side of the Cascades gather for a 3 day, back-home-in-Hawaii-backyard  style festival!

October 16, 2010….The second annual Seattle Slack Festival featuring Cyril Pahinui happens at the Seattle Town Hall.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *PERFECT MOMENTS IN HAWAII * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau is making a full-fledged “attack” on the City of Seattle with a whole series of “consumer events” showcasing the music/dance/flavors and culture of Hawaii! Yup...THEY WANT YOU….AND YOU….AND ALL OF YOU to go to Hawaii!! The events actually began on August 31, 2010 and will continue through the entire month of September 2010…….here are some of the highlight events for September…….

DA BEEGIE EVENTS:

September 12: Live Aloha Festival, Seattle Center

September 12: Seattle Aquarium

September 21: Perfect Moments in Hawaii with Willie K and Ledward Ka`apana at the Triple Door Mainstage in Seattle

September 27: Perfect Moments in Hawaii with Brother Noland at the Triple Door Mainstage in Seattle

Mai Tai Happy Hours in Seattle

August 31:                   Barrio Capitol Hill, 1420 12^th Ave

September 2:             Naga Cocktail Bar, 601 108^th Ave NE

September 7:             Vessel Seattle, 1312 5^th Ave

September 9:             Tavern Law, 1406 12^th Ave

September 14:            Mistral Kitchen, 2020 Westlake Ave

September 16:           Rob Roy, 2332 2d Ave

September 21:            Sazerac, 1101 Fourth Ave

September 23:            Cicchetti, 121 E Boston St

September 29:       MAI TAI MASTER FINALE @ SODO Hall, 3200 1^st Ave

Aloha Fridays

September 10:       @ Westlake Center Plaza, 400 Pine St focus on Oahu, Maui

September 24:       @ Westlake Center Plaza, focus on Kaua`i and Hawai`i @

* * * * * * * * * * * ALOHA `OE EARL MITOSHI KAWAMURA * * * * * * * * * * *

The Puget Sound water was calm, lapping gently on the shore of the Edmonds, WA beach….it was 6 p.m. and the sun was just beginning to drop into the far horizon! Sitting on the shoreline was a red “canoe”, bedecked with flower leis. In the quietness of the evening dusk, a crowd of nearly a hundred family and friends were gathered, embracing each other and sharing stories….they had come together to say Aloha Oe to Earl Mitoshi Kawamura, a big, gentle man from Maui who had lived in the Edmonds area the past few years. Earl died unexpectedly on August 22, 2010, just a few days after celebrating his 10^th wedding anniversary with his wife Adrienne .

It was a simple but very poignant Memorial Ceremony for a man who had become known for his passion for helping animals.  In typical Hawaiian style, the ceremony opened with the haunting sound of the conch shell (blown by young Kai Miyata) followed by the melancholy Oli (sung by Kai`s Mom Pomai Miyata) asking for blessings of Akua and calling Earl’s ohana and his friends to come and share of the moment when Earl was to start on his journey back to Akua.  There were eulogies, some sad, some joyful and there were the hulas (done by Moani Espiritu and Pomai Miyata) and the singing of “Aloha Oe” and “Hawaii Aloha” (led by Kermet Apio and I). In the midst of the ceremonies, Earl’s beloved wife Adrienne Kawamura boarded the canoe and was paddled a few yards out into the sea where she scattered some of Earl’s ashes (the remaining ashes are to be scattered in the ocean off Maui at a later ceremony). Condolences to Adrienne and the Kawamura ohana (several of whom had flown to Seattle for the Memorial Service).  Aloha `oe Earl Kawamura…………….

* * * * * * * * * * * AFTER ACTION REPORT * * * * * * * * * * *

—KALAMA HERITAGE DAYS (August 27-29, 2010) Pictures tell the story……

Attendance at the 2010 Kalama Heritage Days might not have been as large as hoped for but there certainly was an abundance of Hawaiian and native American talent there,,and the crowd that did show up enjoyed an awesome show……

—-the main entertainment attraction was Kekoa Kaluhiwa and his Hoku Hanohano award winning group Holunape. Kinda hard to believe that it was just a few years ago that Kekoa was a student at the U of Washington, a very popular Hawaiian entertainer in Seattle. Now, he lives in Hawaii, plays music and stays very busy helping make the world “Greener” via the wind generation industry (the firm he works for has a wind farm on Maui and is building one in Kahuku)…..welcome back Kekoa……..

Among others there were Seattle area entertainers, musicians and dancers like Bernie Simeona and Kana, Uncle Gregg and “Naki`i”, da Udda Guys, Al Tringali, the Halau Napualani and Lehua Hula Academy. A descendant of John Kalama (for whom the city of Kalama, WA was named and in whose honor the Festival is held) was there……

I think it’s fair to say that a good time was had by all………….and Bill & Gloria Nahalea promise that it will get even bigger and better next year…………

Hey, gotta go….time to hele on down da road……a hui hou e malama pono…….Danny

Special mahalos to Momi for all her picture contributions!

Tags: festival, island, kalama, Kamehameha, ukulele

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 9:32 pm and is filed under Holoholo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.