Oahu Part 2

The point of our trip was to paint with PAPOH (Plein Air Painters of Hawaii) and AHA (Association of Hawaiian Artists?--I think). First day was at Kailua Beach. Arthur and I perched ourselves under the closest tree cover to the beach. If you click on the photo you can see that I used the sand as a convenient brush holder.

Here's a painting start by Mark Brown of Oahu. He also teaches on the island, there was a small contingent of his students who were a part of the paint out.
And here's my friend, Lynne Boyer, painting her fave, the ocean. (I miss those gentle Oahu waves too, now that I'm back in the land of Kehena Beach where the swells are 6-7 feet at times and it loves to grab your ankles and pull you back out to sea... thanks to the full moon action.)

Arthur of course had time to start another painting.


A group of local girls came to practice their hula while we painted.

Merrie Monarch in Hilo

It's time to watch Merrie Monarch, the premiere hula competition. If you're not on the islands you can catch it live online at www.kitv.com!

Merrie Monarch in Hilo

This week is the biggest Hawaiian Hula competition in the world. It happens in Hilo and we have more visitors here than probably at any other time. After a day of festivities at the gallery (me painting--that made it sooo festive) Arthur talked me into going to see the festival. I usually watch it on TV. You who are reading this can also see it online at http://thehawaiichannel.com.

On the first day it's more of an international day which means a big halau from Tokyo performs 1/2 the program. The other international performers were from New Zealand (Maori dancers). The finale were Sonny Ching's halau from Oahu. I should add that the whole show started with the procession by the Royal Court, followed by chanting by the Kanaka'ole sisters, the venerable halau of Hawaii.

Try to catch tonight's (4/13/07). It's the most exciting with traditional performances by male (kane) and female (wahine) dancers in competition. It's like 6 hours long, a marathon for the audience as well. I will be watching from my sofa. Tomorrow night is the last night with modern dance performances.