From the Archives: Rae Fonseca in 2004

I was contacted by the Honolulu Advertiser to say something about Rae, so I wrote this. (I don't know if they used it or not.)
"Rae Fonseca was always witty, present in the moment, a bit rushed at times, he had this upbeat energy about him, smoking too much, you could tell when Rae was on the stage,he had a unique voice, an accelerated rhythm, and a style that was his own.
And man, it was impressive.
Listening to Rae chant, it made you want to dance.
And you better know the steps, cause Rae ain't going to slow down for you."

(videos and photo by Randy Magnus)

Kumu Hula Rae Fonseca Passes Away at Age 56

Kumu Hula great Rae Fonseca from Hilo, Hawaii passed away today. I remember watching his halau practicing for Merrie Monarch, and Rae walks in a half hour late, straps a drum on his knee, and starts drumming away with no one missing a beat.
I told him that I was proud of his hula halau for starting without him, and how well they practiced without him. Rae responded that they have better know the dances by now, for it was too late for learning with their performance in two days.
Rae was a longtime hula student under Uncle George Na'ope.

(From the archives: Rae Fonseca with a kupuna group from the Puna District that he was working with in 2006 during a noontime show at Merrie Monarch.
Photo by Randy Magnus)

Auntie Dottie Passes Away

Hawaii lost a living treasure. Big Island resident Dorothy Thompson, affectionately known as "Auntie Dottie," was a driving force behind the Big Island's Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Her with Uncle George Na'ope were the co-founders of the festival, and it was Dottie who kept the festival going on a yearly basis.
Thompson died in Hilo early Friday evening, her daughter said. She was 88.

The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival won't be the same without the two founders, Auntie Dottie and Uncle George.
"This is my mom's legacy and I want to do her the honor and that's why I try to make this festival a success," her daughter Luana Thompson said.
Dottie Thompson will forever be remembered for her passion to keep the integrity of hula intact.

(photo from the archives by Randy Magnus)

Amy Hanaiali'i Performs A Hukilau

Amy Hanaiali'i performing a jazzy version of "A Hukilau" at Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort.

Valorie with MC Skylark at the Annual King Kamehameha III Concert held at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort.




Photo and Video by Randy Magnus.

Magic Sands Seen Through a Sealife Reefmaster Underwater Camera

I had gotten this waterproof camera from a musician friend at a yard sale he was having.
Its a little plastic camera that goes inside a bright yellow rubberized housing.
I loaded it up for the tsunami that didn't happen, and thought I should try the camera out. So off to Magic Sands I went.
I saw a honu (turtle) about 10 yards away and instead of chasing after it, I placed the camera under the water, and the honu came to me. He stuck his head up to say hi, and looked right at the camera, and hung around until I ran out of film. (Maybe it was the color he was attracted to.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Buildings in Kona, HI

The little beach in front of the Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort. Half of the restoration is complete.

The `Ahu `Ena Heiau is being rebuilt from scratch.

Have I mentioned a termite problem here in the semi-tropics? Another tented house.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Recent Meals

One of my favorite lunchbox meals - steak, asparagus, and red potatoes.

A $5.00 mini-plate of chile verde at Habaneros in Keauhou Shopping Center.

Rice noodles with vegetables,
Thai style (fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce,) cooked at home.
(Wijit loved it.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Bite Me Fish Market and Grill

Located next to the boat ramp in the Honokohau Boat Harbor, the Bite Me Fish Market and Grill has some delicious fresh fish right off the boat. I had a fish taco with a Caesar salad and fish fillet, for under eight dollars. I enjoyed the stuffed fish collection on the walls.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

10th Annual Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival

Last weekend at the Queen's Marketplace was the Waikoloa Ukulele Festival featuring Troy Fernandez, MC Danny Kaleikini, Na Kupuna O Kona Ali'i, and many others.

It did have a larger than usual audience, with grass fires closing the road to Waikoloa Village, many of its residence waited by enjoying the music.



(photos by Randy Magnus)

From the Archives: Two Home Up In CoffeeLand

Here are examples of both an old coffee shack and a new house in a new subdivision, both up in the Holualoa Village area.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Tsunami Day in Hawaii 2-27-2010

5am - lines are forming at the gas stations, people in stores getting supplies.

11am - The beginning of the last siren is being heard. 10 min. to go....
Oceanfront property - here it comes.....
The mainland folks are in shopping center parking lots. Keauhou Shopping Center is packed with people and cars.

11:09am - The local guys are up the hill, with ice chests and barbecues and beer, having a party......

11:26am - No wave yet. What's up with that? ........

11:59am - In Hilo, the tide is going in and out, changing directions every 3 minutes or so. Building momentum ............ (?)

Delson said: it stopped going out now ...

Ahh Delson, you made it stop.

I'm going to make a pastrami sandwich.