The Marianist owner of this ‘ukulele chose the quality of its sound from all of the other brands in its price range.

As part of his goal to develop his gift of music after moving into the newly-built Hale Malia Marianist Community in 2002, this Marianist invested in this G-String soprano and began taking formal ‘ukulele lessons through the adult education courses at Kaimukī high school school.

“Old kine Hawaiian songs” are what this Marianist likes to sing and play with this ‘ukulele—Makalapua, Ua Like Nō, Kimo Hula, Ahi Wela, Pua Mana, Manu O‘o, Kaimana Hila, Ku‘u Home o Kahalu‘u, Hawai‘i Aloha, Aloha ‘Oe and others.

Shortly after the late Brother Franklin Ka‘imi‘ikepono Pao, S.M. passed away a few years ago, the Queen’s Jubilee was sung in his honor as the communion hymn during a eucharist at Hale Malia.

Below is a recording of this song, played on the G-String Soprano:

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Waikīkī and Diamond Head as seen from ‘Ewa Beach, just before sunrise

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The gift of a new day gives us another opportunity to live it well by serving God and sharing our gifts of time, talent, treasure and aloha with others.

The photo above shows the dawn of a new day, as seen from the shore outside of the Marianist retreat house in ‘Ewa Beach, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i; it is there where numerous prayers have been offered by many in the past to greet the day, ask for inspiration to live it well and seek wisdom to discern how to serve God and others.

As the summer closes and a new academic year begins for many of our Marianist educational institutions—particularly for the three universities where we have served, Chaminade University of Honolulu, St. Mary’s University and the University of Dayton—perhaps it is appropriate to offer this Hawaiian prayer to greet the new year, ask for wisdom to live it well and the foresight to see how our efforts yield future benefits.

This prayer acknowledges the presence of God in our life and expresses hope for a good day.

The oli, Hawaiian chant, was recorded by the late Kumu Hula John Keola Lake and Nā Wa‘a Lālani Kahuna o Pu‘ukoholā.

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E ala, ua ao, ua mālamalama
Ua hele kānaka, aia i luna
Ua kaiao ka ho‘okā ‘ula
Ka ho‘okā lei
Nau i hoa i kāu pū‘awa
Pū‘awa uli, pū‘awa kea,
Moa kāne, moa (wa)hine
Mahiki Nā Kao, lele i ka lani
‘O wau ka li‘oli‘o e, he aka
‘O ke aka nō ia, mai Kahiki kū a Kahiki moe
Mai Kahiki kapakapa ua e Kāne
[Eia ma ka pule ka waioha]
Kānanenae iā ‘oe, e ke akua
E ola nō e

English Translation:
Awake, it is day, it is light
People are moving, there above
Shown is the red dawn
The wreath of morning
For you [I] secured your ‘awa offering
Dark ‘awa offering, light ‘awa offering
Male chicken [cock], female chicken [hen]
The darts [Orion’s belt] appears, flies to heaven
I am the brightness, a shadow
It is the appearance [of daybreak] indeed from upright Kahiki to prostrate Kahiki
From Kahiki invoked rain by Kāne
Here at the prayer [is] the joy[ful]
Supplication to you, o God
Grant life indeed

An ice cream dessert served at Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts Hawai‘i, the bubbies navel is described as “a fetal dip (Vanilla, Chocolate, Espresso, or Oreo Ice Cream) sandwiched between two chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, half-dipped in fine Belgian Chocolate.”

A great way to cool off in the summer heat and ease into the reality that the summer vacation is over…take a closer look at this special dessert:

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From Washington to Ohio to Texas to California to even as far as Korea, less than a month ago our Marianist Lay family gathered together with our Hawai’i Lay family as ohana to experience fellowship, share culture, and to learn from one another. In their 8thContinental Assembly they explored the theme “Ke Aloha, Ka Pono, Ka Ohana” and discovered how the aloha spirit has welcomed and shaped the uniqueness of Hawaiian Marianist spirituality over the 125+ years since its arrival.

As a participant I was able to attend the several workshops, activities, and prayer services throughout the four days. Given the invitation to assist in a presentation, I shared some history of my culture as well as some of my uke skills(or lack of. haha). Last, but certainly not least, as one of the shuttle drivers, I got to meet and greet with so many wonderful people from our Marianist family. I got to admit, my loyal and patient shuttle riders were my favorite people!

Can’t think of a better way to conclude my summer visit home. Here are some clips I took with my point-and-shoot. Mahalo to everyone for making this such a great experience!

Kāhili Malianika
Feather standard for the Marianist family

Two years ago, I was inspired to create this Hawaiian craft project based on the kāhili displayed at Queen Emma’s Summer Palace. Auntie Paulette of Nā Lima Hulu Mili No‘eau taught me how to make this based on the replicate she created in the shop. Originally, it was intended to be an Easter kāhili, based on the white and gold colors.

The project start by making the first dozen feathered flowers in late-July 2008. As the summer ended and the academic year began, I was unable to make further progress until December when preparations for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of Marianist presence in Hawai‘i.

A number of professed and lay Marianists helped to complete about 60 feathered flowers which were used during the prayer service on Saturday, January 24, 2009, honoring our deceased Marianists laid to rest at Diamond Head (see photos below).

Despite the fact that nearly 70 feathered flowers already were completed, the kāhili remained unfinished until this past June.

Inspired by the desire to finish this—and other unfinished Hawaiian craft projects—I finally obtained the 4′ dowel and additional floral tape needed to finish the kāhili.

When putting the kāhili together, I found that the length of the flowers were too long; therefore, the flowers were reduced to 5 1/2 inches in length, starting from the base of the flower to the end of the floral wire stem.

The design of this kāhili includes six rows of 16 feathered flowers, for a total of 96 flowers needed. It took approximately two hours to create the final 16 feathers and approximately another three hours to piece together the final parts.

The additional parts included a white central (yes, I should’ve used white floral tape in the first place!), a shaped canvass of 9.5 inches in diameter for the top and bottom, three yards of white ribbon for the bows and two yards of yellow ribbon for decoration.

The final challenge left is to figure out how to make a stand for the kāhili as the glass vase filled with polished stones and kukui nuts are not adequate.

Appropriately called Kāhili Malianika, this feather standard now is a symbols which celebrates our rich Marianist heritage in the islands and gathers all members of a community take part in its construction.

As was the case for kāhili in the past, this project holds lots of sacred mana from having used the feathered flowers to honor our Marianist ‘aum
ākua, ancestors, as well positive mana from the many hands that contributed to its completion with meticulous care and aloha.

Its completion inspires me to make, in the near future, a second one to complete the set and, perhaps in the future, a new set with different designs, colors and possibly skirts and stands.

So, does this make the kāhili completed?  I’d like to think so! Look at the photo gallery below and see the steps needed to complete this project.

By the way, I saw a small hand kāhili (about 3 feet long, yellow feathers and a wooden stand) on “sale” in a Waikīkī shop for $795 dollars!

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Lei Pukanawila, kui poepoe
Bouganvillea lei, sewn circular

Although its flowers have no fragrance, the pukanawila, when its blossoms are strung as a lei, result in a long-lasting and photogenic garland of flowers.

The pukanawila is an excellent landscaping plant, as evidence by its prolific presence on Kalaepōhaku; the most dominant color is purple, with pink and red variations also seen on campus.

Although the pukanawila plant is found in abundance throughout Hale Malia and on campus, the best location for finding blossoms that contain flowers is right behind the flag pole.

For this lei, I chose only those flowers that had blossoms, hoping to make the lei as photogenic and attractive as possible.

Compared to other fresh flower lei, this one can last up to three days. To keep it fresh, sprinkle it with a bit of water, shake off the excess and put in a sealed back for refrigeration.

This lei pukanawila used 180 blossoms and measured approximately 36 inches in length.

NEXT WEEK: not a lei, however, a Hawaiian craft project that took two years—and lots ‘ohana Malianika help–to complete.

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