(no subject)

This weekend was maybe the best Hula seminar ever. It wasn't just the Hulas that Kumu Sonny taught--although those were great--it was even more than that. It was a very small group this time, and mostly familiar faces. A few new people who must have gotten a really good introduction to seminars, too; they seemed to be having as wonderful a time as everyone else.

I got there, as usual, an hour before class, and grabbed a spot up front, because I'm a geek like that. Kamai came in before class started. I waved at her and she said, "Jules, come talk to me." So she grabbed my hand and we went outside the class, and then she gave me the biggest hug and we talked about recent events. Kawehi came long a minute later and we had another very meaningful chat. (More later in a locked post.) But it was so completely awesome, and afterwards, everything thta had been bugging me seemed so trite and pointless. I can't believe I wasted a week worrying. 'Cause you see, in the last week, I'd got to questioning my involvment in Hula. And now I can't believe I ever even wondered. This really is where I belong.

Then Hini came along (I had saved him a place,) and Sonny and Lopaka started teaching us our two Hulas for the day. Which happened to be mele ma'i, which means "genital chant." Remember after the Indiana seminar I posted about the naughty mele ma'i that Keali'i had performed. We did that one as well as another one. It wasn't that it was physically taxing, but the first one took a lot of thought. At lunch, Hini and I went outside to sit on the grass and eat, but first Ginger Lavoi (lovely dancer who does Hawaiian quilting) came by to warn us of fire ants. Directly after that, on of the hotel workers warned us against both chemicals on the grass, and the sprinklers about to go off. Having seen just enough of House MD lately, the word "chemicals" was enough to make me want to get moving.

After class, I had a pint of ice cream and then Hini and I went to Starbucks. Then it was time to get ready to go to the lu'au, so I went ot my room to tart myself up. Hini came to get me just after six and we drove to the lu'au, but not without getting lost. That's partly because we were singing in the car, and not paying too much attention to the exit signs. But we did get there in plenty of time.

The lu'au was the usual lu'au, but it was very cool of the dancers to acknowledge Kumu Sonny as the choreographer at the end of the show. Afterwards, Hini and I thought about going out dancing, but then we decided we were too tired, and we went back to my room to surf the internet, which we did until like 1:30 AM.

Today was 'auana, and Sonny's 'auana dances are always so juicy. We did two of them, one of which was to one of my favorite songs from Keali'i Reichel's album. These were somewhat harder than yesterday's, and I vowed to myself that I would take notes on everything, so that I could commit it to memory and practice it this week and at home. I actually managed it, too.

These things are always over way too soon. I called my Dad to pick me up, and asked if as many people from my family could come, too. Kawehi had been asking after Spencer and Meghan, and I wanted them to be there, too, and to meet Sonny and Lopaka and everyone else. But my aunt and uncle didn't want them to quit what they were doing--big disappointment. Still, Mom, Dad and Gran showed up. I finally got to introduce them to Hini and Sonny and Lopaka and Kamai. (They already know Kawehi and Auntie Kau'i and Kai.) My Mom's thought on Sonny was, "Wow, he's beautiful." (Also her and my Grandma's thoughts on Hini, as well.)

Before I move on to my locked post, some things to remember: Trying to give Lopaka a chiropractic adjustment (must email him with links!) Sonny catching me out of the corner of his eye and saying, (on the tape, by the way,) "Jules, I can see you yawning over there!" (That's going to be hilarious.) Those meat-donuts everyone was eating. Seeing Auntie Kau'i and Kawehi dancing Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride together.

I think everything else needs to be locked.

(no subject)

This weekend was maybe the best Hula seminar ever. It wasn't just the Hulas that Kumu Sonny taught--although those were great--it was even more than that. It was a very small group this time, and mostly familiar faces. A few new people who must have gotten a really good introduction to seminars, too; they seemed to be having as wonderful a time as everyone else.

I got there, as usual, an hour before class, and grabbed a spot up front, because I'm a geek like that. Kamai came in before class started. I waved at her and she said, "Jules, come talk to me." So she grabbed my hand and we went outside the class, and then she gave me the biggest hug and we talked about recent events. Kawehi came long a minute later and we had another very meaningful chat. (More later in a locked post.) But it was so completely awesome, and afterwards, everything thta had been bugging me seemed so trite and pointless. I can't believe I wasted a week worrying. 'Cause you see, in the last week, I'd got to questioning my involvment in Hula. And now I can't believe I ever even wondered. This really is where I belong.

Then Hini came along (I had saved him a place,) and Sonny and Lopaka started teaching us our two Hulas for the day. Which happened to be mele ma'i, which means "genital chant." Remember after the Indiana seminar I posted about the naughty mele ma'i that Keali'i had performed. We did that one as well as another one. It wasn't that it was physically taxing, but the first one took a lot of thought. At lunch, Hini and I went outside to sit on the grass and eat, but first Ginger Lavoi (lovely dancer who does Hawaiian quilting) came by to warn us of fire ants. Directly after that, on of the hotel workers warned us against both chemicals on the grass, and the sprinklers about to go off. Having seen just enough of House MD lately, the word "chemicals" was enough to make me want to get moving.

After class, I had a pint of ice cream and then Hini and I went to Starbucks. Then it was time to get ready to go to the lu'au, so I went ot my room to tart myself up. Hini came to get me just after six and we drove to the lu'au, but not without getting lost. That's partly because we were singing in the car, and not paying too much attention to the exit signs. But we did get there in plenty of time.

The lu'au was the usual lu'au, but it was very cool of the dancers to acknowledge Kumu Sonny as the choreographer at the end of the show. Afterwards, Hini and I thought about going out dancing, but then we decided we were too tired, and we went back to my room to surf the internet, which we did until like 1:30 AM.

Today was 'auana, and Sonny's 'auana dances are always so juicy. We did two of them, one of which was to one of my favorite songs from Keali'i Reichel's album. These were somewhat harder than yesterday's, and I vowed to myself that I would take notes on everything, so that I could commit it to memory and practice it this week and at home. I actually managed it, too.

These things are always over way too soon. I called my Dad to pick me up, and asked if as many people from my family could come, too. Kawehi had been asking after Spencer and Meghan, and I wanted them to be there, too, and to meet Sonny and Lopaka and everyone else. But my aunt and uncle didn't want them to quit what they were doing--big disappointment. Still, Mom, Dad and Gran showed up. I finally got to introduce them to Hini and Sonny and Lopaka and Kamai. (They already know Kawehi and Auntie Kau'i and Kai.) My Mom's thought on Sonny was, "Wow, he's beautiful." (Also her and my Grandma's thoughts on Hini, as well.)

Before I move on to my locked post, some things to remember: Trying to give Lopaka a chiropractic adjustment (must email him with links!) Sonny catching me out of the corner of his eye and saying, (on the tape, by the way,) "Jules, I can see you yawning over there!" (That's going to be hilarious.) Those meat-donuts everyone was eating. Seeing Auntie Kau'i and Kawehi dancing Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride together.

I think everything else needs to be locked.