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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2011 17:53:43 GMT
Janet, your reports are so wonderful that I am really hoping that you will show us some day that you have been somewhere other than Kaua'i and Paris.  Cheyenne, Wyoming? Birmingham, Alabama? Kandahar, Afghanistan? (just kidding -- but I would like to see your talent and your clear and interesting descriptions all over the place!) |
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Post by koloagirl on Jun 29, 2011 18:25:33 GMT
;D
Aloha from Kaua'i!
LOL - "Kerouac2" - honestly I'm such a homebody, the only places that I've been in the last 10-15 years is here in Hawai'i and 3 visits to Tahiti (which I LOVE) - and of course - Paris!!
I've been neglecting this site and apologize - my plan is today to come back after my exercise class and upload some photos from the Lei Contest at our Kaua'i Museum - I have some that came out pretty well.
If you'd like I'd be happy to post pictures of my last trip to Tahiti - if we weren't going back to Paris this year, we'd definitely be heading back there - it only takes 5 hours to get there and it is the same time zone as Hawai'i as well. I've got tons of pictures as well - so if I can get myself motivated and ready - I'll do that as well!
In the meantime, off to exercise in the pool and have a nice walk!!
Malama Pono,
Janet
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2011 18:47:14 GMT
I would love to see your Tahiti photos, Janet (and I'm not the only one!). I made a small and boring Tahiti thread a long time ago, and I am certain that you could do a better job. I thought of you the other day when "Les Grands Ballets de Tahiti" was performing on a TV program. There was a lot of high speed "booty shaking" going on  and I was wondering if your dances were less frenetic. Of course, when you live in places where volcanoes can suddenly erupt and wipe everybody out (or else a tsunami!), I suppose it is best to live life to the fullest. |
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Post by koloagirl on Jun 30, 2011 7:29:23 GMT
;D Aloha from Kaua'i! Okay...as promised, albeit a little late (these pics are from May!) - here are a few of the pictures from the Lei Day contest at our Kaua'i Museum - as explained before, May 1st is Lei Day and this is an island wide competition of the best lei makers on island - I was working at the Museum and since it was so packed, I'm afraid I didn't do a great job of photo taking - but the lei are still so beautiful!        As you can see, there were a few categories, one being "lei papale" - which means hat lei - and I was the winner of the silent auction for the last one pictures - I wore it as a lei po'o (head lei) for the torchlighting ceremony I narrate for at the Hyatt and it lasted for well over a week. This is always such a fun event - I wish that somehow I could cut and paste the scent that was in the Museum - because that was as amazing as the lei themselves! "kerouac2" - I'll dig out my Tahiti pictures and do a section on Mo'orea, which is the island that I'm most familiar with and where I've stayed when I've gone to Tahiti - promise!! ;D  Malama Pono, Janet |
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Post by jeri on Oct 14, 2011 19:51:48 GMT
Janet,
I really enjoyed reading your thread. The pictures bring back wonderful memories. My husband and I visited Kauai this past March and actually went to the museum and watched Kaleo making his lei's. I even have a picture my husband took of Kaleo and I wearing his beautiful work. During our vacation, my husband and I became fascinated with Niihau and its culture. I don't see anyway on this blog to message you privately, as I have a something I want to talk to you about, but not on a public forum. Would you be willing to email me and I will explain more? jmckeeken@live.com Thanks Janet.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 14, 2011 21:00:04 GMT
jeri, I believe you could PM if you had signed in, but as a guest some features are blocked to you.
And thanks for bringing this thread back to the top. It's nice to revisit it.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 15, 2011 1:40:44 GMT
Hi Jeri & lovely to hear of other great experiences in Kaua'i.
Please don't feel any pressure to sign up. Guests are welcome to visit and to leave comments as much as they like. Of course, if you do ever decide to join in the forum as a member, that would be super, too.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 19, 2012 2:24:36 GMT
Looking at those glorious hats again....they are splendid aren't they?
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 19, 2012 2:46:09 GMT
Once you see them, it suddenly makes way more sense to have a hat & decorate it with different fresh flowers and leaves every time you wear it.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 19, 2012 3:55:33 GMT
I have a straw hat that's got a couple of bee badges on it...maybe I'll start dressing it up more in the summer when I go out....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 4:31:57 GMT
You mean you have a bee in your bonnet?
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Post by koloagirl on Feb 19, 2012 21:55:45 GMT
;D Aloha from Kaua'i! Well, sorry I haven't been around for awhile - I've been more of a "lurker" lately I'm afraid! Glad you enjoy the photos of the papale lei (hat lei) from last year - I'll try to upload some photos from some more recent events here - such as our Hula Ho'ike (hula show) that the hula school I belong to does every year as a fund-raiser. We had that the first Sat. of February and it was a huge success, we had well over 1,000 people attend! I'll get my Photobucket account set with some new pics and post some here - promise! Malama Pono (take care) Janet |
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Post by Kimby on Feb 20, 2012 18:55:45 GMT
I'll try to upload some photos from some more recent events here - such as our Hula Ho'ike (hula show) that the hula school I belong to does every year as a fund-raiser Yes, yes! Looking forward to more Aloha spirit in my life! |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2012 22:11:01 GMT
Hmmm... still waiting for your Paris report as well.... |
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Post by koloagirl on Feb 24, 2012 6:18:56 GMT
Aloha "kerouac2"!! Honestly I'd be more than happy to do that long (  ) overdue Paris report - if you'd like! I never got around to it last year and I feel so badly about it - but since now I'm starting to plan my return in September I'm "raring to go" if you don't think it is too long ago now. Truly just let me know and I'll do it - would be fun! Malama Pono (take care) Janet |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2012 6:30:06 GMT
Paris (or any other) reports never go out of date. When they are older, they become historical. And since each person sees things from a different perspective, they are never redundant. |
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Post by mich64 on Feb 24, 2012 16:00:51 GMT
I agree with Kerouac! I have been waiting too... I really enjoy reading them and seeing photos, even if I have seen or been there, I enjoy seeing it from someone else's perspective.
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by Kimby on Feb 24, 2012 21:25:38 GMT
Though prices and businesses change, centuries-old buildings and major museums are always relevant.
Bring it on!
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Post by liga on Mar 5, 2012 17:51:11 GMT
Hi! I absolutely adore your pictures! I came across your topic actually while searching about how to make leis and kupe'es, and you are the reason I stumbled upon this wonderful forum! ahahaha, actually my love for hawaiian islands started a month ago. I live in Italy, and Hawaii are directly on the opposite side of the world! While searching for this and that on you tube, I found the videos of Merry Monarch festival and I fell absolutely in love with hula and the islands dance traditions. Unfortunately, here in Italy you can't find anything in this area, so I am doing a lot of learning by myself. I gather videos on you tube, I am trying to learn some hawaiian to understand the songs and I am dreaming that some day I will be able to gather the enourmous sum of money to go across the ocean! Oh, sorry I got a little off topic! So, the big big question I wanted to ask you is about lei and kupe'e making. The only instructions I have found are for the ti leaf long leis, but how do you actually make those beautiful thick ti leaf leis so used in dancing? We don't have ti plant here in Europe, but we do have a lot of fern. Do you know how to make fern head lei? Could I possibly ask you this huge favor to put some pictures from the process of making one? I know the simpliest method we use in my native country (Latvia) for our midsummer nights celebrations weaving together different field flowers or acorn leaves for men crowns. I will add some links so you can see our traditional "leis"  I won't attach them, cause the pictures are not mine and I don't know how it works with the copywright plicy! img1.eyefetch.com/p/50/858721-799f47e1-842b-4bed-8b09-58fc6bd6a551.jpgwww.ir.lv/upload/image_file/name/2010_06/9276/grf_1797-media_large.jpg?1276697896www.kasjauns.lv/lv/bildes/Latvija/00.2011/25.06.2011/Vaira-ligo2.jpgWarm greetings! A hui hou!  |
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Post by koloagirl on Mar 5, 2012 18:28:00 GMT
 Aloha from Kaua'i! Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) - "liga" - I appreciate your kind comments! I do know how to weave a ti leaf lei and the basic types of flower lei - the thick ti leaf lei that you see sometimes on dancers are actually several individual lei that are braided together to make them very thick. I'm not sure if I have any photos of the process of making the lei - but I'll look back in my old photos and see if I can't find something that might help you. There is the simple "poepoe" style lei - basically just flowers on a lei needle back to back (that is my specialty since it is the easiest!) - and then there are the intricate "haku lei" which are made for your head or a hat - these use ferns, flowers, and almost anything we have to weave beautiful lei that you see in those pictures I posted last year. Those are definitely beyond my capability! I thank you for your interest and I'm in the process of downloading pictures onto my Photobucket for the Paris Trip Report so long overdue (see Kerouac2 - I'm working on it! lol) - but I'll look for some more descriptive photos of lei (lei is plural or singular) to show here as well. Have a lovely day! It has been raining very hard here for many days now and we are having a lot of flooding around the island - a really bad winter storm! Malama Pono (take care) Janet ;D
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Post by liga on Mar 5, 2012 21:29:54 GMT
Thanks for the fast reply! And mahalo nui loa for the additional language lesson! That was so cool! Do you speak it fluently? I am watching some educational videos on the web and the kids speak so fast! Please don't feel rushed to find some photos, it is not urgent ( and the ferns have not yet started to grow! ahaha, we have last days of winter here too!) And in two days I am going home to visit my parents to Latvia, and she said it's 9 degrees Celsium below zero, brrr.... Oh, Liga is my name, I saw you wondered about that in ""! It is very traditional latvian name, but it has no meaning, our surnames do. So literally I would be - Liga the dragonfly by full name! Take care ( oh, I don't recall how you said it, promise I'll learn that!) It was very nice to get to know you! Hope to see many more pictures! Liga |
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 6, 2012 14:32:54 GMT
Your photos are wonderful, Koloagirl. I've enjoyed looking at them several times, although I'm just now commenting. You live in such a beautiful place. I, also, am interested in seeing your Paris TR. Welcome to the board, Liga! You're going to find a lot of interesting stuff on here. |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Mar 10, 2012 21:07:37 GMT
Aloha from Leicester, England ;D
I thought of you today Koloagirl, I managed to find myself a colocasia bulb (like the taro you pictured on the first page of this thread) and because I love leafy exotics sooooo much I bought it. I hope that it grows well. ;D
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Post by liga on Mar 19, 2012 13:05:51 GMT
Hey! How are you? Everything ok? How are the islands doing? Miss your photos! Liga |
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Post by koloagirl on Mar 25, 2012 0:59:53 GMT
;D Aloha from Kaua'i! Kala mai (sorry) - I seem to be saying that a lot lately, but am trying to post here as much as I can - I have a decent link for Liga about making a ti-leaf lei - I'm still trying to find some photos, but I think I'll end up taking some myself, since the ones on the web are just not helpful IMO. Here is a link to look at in the meantime, the instructions are pretty basic, but pictures will also help! www.ehow.com/how_4706564_make-hawaiian-lei-ti-leaves.htmlI've got a ton of photos on my iPhone, just had to figure out how to get them now onto Photobucket! I tend to use my phone for most of my pics lately! Here are a very few photos from the Pa'ina Mele Kalikimaka (merry christmas party) that my 'Olelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language) class had in December - my Kumu (teacher) of Hawaiian language and his Kumu are the man and woman dancing -   This photo is of 2 of my hula sisters (on either end) with my Kumu Hula (hula teacher) who is also my best friend - in the middle  This is a wonderful Hawaiian musician named Darryl Gonsalves - I don't know if you've heard of the movie "The Descendants", which was mostly filmed here on Kaua'i and for which George Clooney was nominated for Best Actor in the Oscars - but in this film, Darryl figures prominently in a scene in a "tiki bar" here on Kaua'i playing music - at the time I was at this party, he hadn't even seen the film - maybe he still hasn't! Oh, and it is me hugging him!  As soon as I download from my iPhone - I'll have more photos - so be forewarned! LOL ;D |
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Post by liga on Mar 25, 2012 8:01:37 GMT
Thank you Janet! I had already found that link, but unfortunately it doesn't provide any pictures! Well, at least until I'll gather all the information, I could plant a ti plant! See how it grows in our climate! Many many warm greetings! Liga |
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Post by koloagirl on Mar 25, 2012 19:16:43 GMT
;D Aloha from Kaua'i! Well, shoots - I'll try to make a point to pick some ti leaves from the garden and weave a lei and take some pics while I'm doing it - some people do it a little differently - I anchor one end of the "braid" with my toes and work from there up.......I usually microwave my leaves for a very short period of time as well to get them soft and pliable - some people "iron" them to get the same result. Anyhow - hopefully it will be of use to you - I'll do my best to get it online this week. Have a great day! Malama Pono, Janet |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2012 20:53:13 GMT
Aha, I always suspected that you microwaved the leaves just like the ancient Hawaiians. |
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Post by koloagirl on Mar 27, 2012 1:50:45 GMT
;D Aloha from Kaua'i! Yes indeed - it is a well known fact that the ancient Hawaiians were very proficient in utilizing their microwaves for many duties! LOL! BYW, today is Prince Kuhio Day - a Hawai'i State holiday - it honors the birthday of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole - who was born actually about a mile away from my home here. If the monarchy had not been overthrown illegally in 1893, he would have been the heir to the Hawaiian throne (upon the death of the heir, Princess Ka'iulani in 1899). As it was, he became involved in a rebellion to restore the Monarchy, for which he spent 2 years in jail, and then subsequently became a delegate to the United States Congress for the Territory of Hawai'i. He is remembered also for spearheading the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. In response to the fast dwindling native Hawaiian population, Prince Kûhiô convinced Congress to create a rehabilitation program for Hawaiians. In 1921, with the enactment of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the United States set aside approximately 200,000 acres of land to establish a permanent homeland for native Hawaiians, who were a landless and “dying” people. Hau'oli la Hanau (Happy Birthday) Prince Kuhio!  |
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Post by liga on Mar 30, 2012 11:12:32 GMT
Hi Janet! Pehea 'oe? I just had to share an unexpected event I had today! You remember, I asked you about ti leis and told that we have only ferns here? Well, now I have my own ti plant! I went to the botanical garden (Giardino dei Semplici) of Florence which is just on the opposite side of my university library. There are some glass houses with all sorts of tropical plants, and I thought to search if they had a ti plant! And they had! So I circled around the plant until a senior gardener came to me to inquire if I had any questions - so I asked if it could be possible to buy a small ti plant from them. And see what he gave me - for free! They had to clean away all the baby sprouts and leave just the bigger plants anyway, and in place of throwing the unneeded plants away, he was happy to give them away! Of course I have to pray for it's survival and it will be long time before I can attempt to make at least an anklet Do you have any tips or suggestions on "the grooming" of the plant? I know it doesn't love full sun and too much water. I am so so happy! Wish you a wonderful day! Liga  |
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Cheyenne, Wyoming? Birmingham, Alabama? Kandahar, Afghanistan? (just kidding -- but I would like to see your talent and your clear and interesting descriptions all over the place!)
and I was wondering if your dances were less frenetic. Of course, when you live in places where volcanoes can suddenly erupt and wipe everybody out (or else a tsunami!), I suppose it is best to live life to the fullest. 
) overdue Paris report - if you'd like!
I won't attach them, cause the pictures are not mine and I don't know how it works with the copywright plicy!
