Goodbye Yamano Aiko Beauty Salon at the Prince Hotel

Goodbye Yamano Aiko Beauty Spa and Salon.
They will be closing their doors permanently in a few days as the Hawaii Prince Hotel begins it's renovation.
Sigh.  Things change.  My mother in law had been going there for about 25 years until she passed away last year.
Luckily the girl who does my hair found another Salon so it will be a smooth transition for me, but we will miss it very much.

Also, the comfortable Reef Lounge will close next month.
I can still have their clam chowder at the Prince Court restaurant upstairs, which will be open during renovations, but it won't be the same.

R's ahi sashimi.
It was fun dining here before my hula class every week.

We'll also miss chatting with the two girls at the lounge!
Hopefully they'll be able to move upstairs when it closes in a month.

The lobby store where grandma used to buy her chocolate macadamia nut boxes to give as gifts to her visiting friends from Japan.   

The lobby which will be completely renovated.
Renovations should be finished by next year, hopefully.

Shimizu Voice studio interview, spaghetti and ramen

Happy eating with Jay and Denise at Spaghetti Factory in Ward's Warehouse, saturday.
Recently I have a craving for their Mizithra Brown Butter pasta, although Denise's Ravioli was delicious too.

Contrast in lighting

Today we had lunch at Manichi Ramen.
The red and black color scheme is invigorating.

Tonkotsu ramen, plain, and with black garlic oil in the black bowl.

Nothing like something cold and sweet after ramen, and  chocolate frozen yogurt with almonds at Forty Carrots in Bloomingdales hit the spot.

We can sit anywhere to enjoy it, apparently, so we chose our usual table in the bedding section.  Strange.


Special night!

Nikkei Spirit, a radio program at KZOO station in the Japanese Cutural Center,  did a feature on Craig Shimizu's Voice Studio, so four of us students went down to be interviewed tonight.
With  such a group you can't help but relax and have fun!

Three Grand Champions of the KZOO Karaoke Contest,
Amy Matsumoto, Aolani Silva, and Tevita Apina.

We  were each interviewed by Cyrus Tamashiro the president of the United Japanese Society about singing and Shimizu Voice.
Of course, we all agreed that our teacher, Craig, has taught us so much about not only voice, but presentation, and stage action.
And I might add, with lots of patience, persistence, and a sense of humor!

Mr. Tamashiro also noted how much camaraderie there was.
Isn't that what counts?

What a fun night it was.

Naginata, this and that

Saturday, Sensei handed out the certificates to those who took the test and successfully passed.

Sharon receiving her certificate.

Even littlest naginata princess (she's a great fan of Disney's princesses) received an award.
Proud dad, our sempai Nobu, beams.

Later, trying to learn the intricacies of the  Kusarigama, one of the weapons of our Jikishinkageryu.
** **
Another recommendation from Todd, our Shiatsu friend, is Mama Woo's, a Korean take out place on Beretania Street.

The selection of sides varies, but the Bulgogi and spicy barbecue pork were  good.

Pretty St. Mary's Episcopal Church across the parking lot from Mama Woo's.

A Hokulani sighting at the Mall!
She is always fashionable and we've been seeing her at the mall, where her daddy takes her "walking" , for years.  She is always
willling to pose with anyone.

The water lilies are in bloom next to the tables of Magnolia Bakery's outdoor kiosk

Our favorite stop for a slice of Bundt cake and a muffin to take home for breakfast coffees.  

Day brighteners

Beautiful gardenias from Janie's garden.
She always remembers that I once told her  my mom used to have gardenias in our house from a prolific bush in her yard and they remind me of her.
Janie has a couple of varieties of gardenias but unfortunately, although they are fragrant, they last for only a day.
She also has several varieties of ferns, which by themselves, are very pretty.

Janie and her sister (with gardenias) at the Honolulu Symphony concert.

Rokkaku Hamakatsu, a Japanese restaurant at the Ala Moana Mall, serves great fish dishes.  The other day at lunch some friends and I all had fish!

Tekka don (maguro over sushi rice)

Ahi tempura.

Madai no Kabuto Ni.  Tai fish head (cut around the eyes) simmered nitsuke style.



After our walk around the mall, R and I stopped at the Habitant, a little bar area in Nordstrom's for a refreshing drink and pupus.

We shared the Ahi Tuna Poke, which was fresh and tasty.
The waiters have to go upstairs to Ruscello, the restaurant where the food on their menu is prepared.  Luckily the bar is next to the escalator.
(This actually turned out to be our dinner, since we had had a filling lunch.  Kept me satisfied all night.)

Week of dance and music

Catching up because of my computer malfunction.

 Saturday, the 30th,  was the Hawaiian Book and Music Festival on the Grounds of City Hall.
A yearly fair of books, authors, and music, I attended because I wanted to watch our Halau (Halau Hula Ka No'Eau) perform.

Our Kumu, Michael Pili Pang, before the performance.

There were 60 dancers of all ages, men and women.   All were great performers.

But of course, the tiniest dancers stole the show.  Here is Kumu arranging them on stage.

Such poise and energy!  And soo cute.

                                        Next day, Sunday, was May Day, and the yearly Fair and entertainment were held at the Waikiki Bandstand in Kapiolani Park.

                        

Denise's Halau performs every year and we enjoyed it so much last year we came again.

The ladies centering themselves before the performance.

The dances were varied and colorful.  Too bad the cellophane skirts didn't photograph well.  They were shiny and glittering and fun to watch as the dancers twirled.

A fun version of Hasegawa General Store.

In the ponds behind the Bandstand, this dragonfly eternally reaches out to pounce on the many ducks that swim there.

Diamond Head.

That evening R and I headed to Sorabol, a Korean restaurant on Keeaumoku Street.  

Samgyetang, ginseng chicken soup.  Hot and nourshing.


And on Friday, we went to Blaisdell concert hall where  the Pop performance was "Totally 80's",
with Stuart Chafetz conducting the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.
Aaron Finley and Nicole Parker were the vocalists.

The orchestra members, usually in their formal black, were feeling the 80's in casual dress style.

Aaron Finley singing one of the songs - The only one I really recognized was Every Breath You Take.

Contestants from the audience in the 80's costume contest.