In 2006, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii named Carol Yotsuda a “Living Treasure” for her efforts in preserving the culture of Hawaii. Carol is the executive director of the Garden Island Arts Council, a volunteer position she’s held since 1998. She is also a retired teacher, active artist, and she produces E Kanikapila Kakou, a Hawaiian music program held on Monday evenings through March on Kauai. The gatherings are conducted in the style of backyard musical jam sessions for which Hawaii is known. This year’s EKK theme is “The Stories behind the Songs.” Here, Carol recaps three recent performances by Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole and Sean Na'auao, Cody Pueo Pata, and Aaron Sala and Snowbird Bento.

Guest blogger Carol Yotsuda recaps the third performance of E Kanikapila Kakou on Kauai. In its 27th year, the Hawaiian music program is held Monday evenings through March. The gatherings are conducted in the style of backyard musical jam sessions for which Hawaii is known, with many bringing their own ukulele to strum along and hula dancers stepping up to share their gifts. This year’s theme is “The Stories behind the Songs.” The February 1st event featured award-winning composer and Hawaiian language specialist Puakea Nogelmeier. He was accompanied by Lolena Niau Nicholas and Hau'oli Akaka. 

George’s introduction to playing music at age 11 is his famous story about cleaning cars for Lippy Espinda at ten cents a car and playing a three-minute gig for Kui Lee at Forbidden City that scored him $27.10 from the appreciative audience of construction workers and stevedores. 

Contrary to what people believe, we do experience the change in seasons here in Hawaii - you just need to be able to recognize the subtleties beyond the temperature, sunshine, and rain.

It's a short walk from my position as an unsophisticated bird looker to birding mania, to some kind of performance attire, a laminated card, and a pair of very expensive binoculars. Thing is, I am inscrutably fond of birds. I pretend not to know them by name, but really, I do, I look them up and more and more, I recognize them by voice, too. After all, a coot does not sound like a duck, not one bit, really, and those little red hatted cardinals sound nothing like the morning doves that make such an appealing racket as the sun comes up over the Pacific. 

Every Saturday morning locals and visitors alike gather at the foot of Diamond Head to sip fresh brewed Hawaii coffee, peruse the rows of local produce and sample a delectable variety of freshly made foods that range from grilled burgers made with 100% grass fed beef from North Shore Cattle Company to Licious Dishes’ vegan raw offerings sourced from local farmers. The Farmer’s Market at KCC happens every Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Kapiolani Community College. 

 Perhaps one of the most enduring vacation sentiments from times past that persists today is "Wish you were here!" It used to be emblazoned on post cards; now it fills email and text messages as well as Facebook pages. With the free tools of the social web though, you can now bring your friends and family along with you as virtual companions.