THE MUSIC OF QUEEN LILIUOKALANI

Charles E. King was prominent in the wide list of contributors to Hawaiian music, but the most important, and tutor to King, was Queen Liliuokalani.  Born Lydia Kamakaeha in 1838, she became the final monarch, being overthrown in 1893.  At birth, she (right, at the age of 15) was informally adopted by Abner Paki and Laura Konia, parents of Bernice Pauahi Bishop.  She married John Owen Dominis, who later became Governor of Oahu.  Liliuokalani was named a princess when her brother, David Kalakaua became King in 1874.

When King Kalakaua made his world tour in 1881, she acted as Regent.  Smallpox came to Hawaii that year and mostly affected Native Hawaiians.  Her actions helped control this disease.

She ascended to the throne in 1891.  In her short reign, she attempted to draft a new constitution to restore the power of the monarchy and bring voting rights to the economically disenfranchised.  Many reasons are given for her subsequent deposal in 1893, but this move was the most probably cause for establishment of the Republic of Hawaii, which led to annexation by the USA in 1895, a reaction to the Spanish-American War.

She supposedly lived a love-less marriage and had no children.  Music composition became her passion, where she could express her feelings for her people and the politics of Hawaii.  Aloha Oe, which was also called Farewell to Thee, was published in 1884. She wrote Queen's Prayer when she was under house arrest in Iolani Palace in 1895.   While she wrote more than 200 songs, many are still only just being discovered.  She passed away in 1917.  Here is another version of Aloha Oe by actress Tia Carrere, who was born in Honolulu.

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While Typhoon Bualoi passed east of Japan, a separate storm brought flooding, killing at least seven.  This is in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis, which had a death toll of 70.

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THE MUSIC OF CHARLES E. KING

Yesterday I indicated that I would provide a Part 2 to my personal encounter with potential dementia, which can be read by scrolling down to the next article.  However, as the title will be something like My Final Journey, I thought a more appropriate day for this posting would be Sunday.

The other day when I published IMUA KAMEHAMEHA, I noticed that the author was Charles E. King.  I only barely remembered his name, so went to Wikipedia.  Wow, was he prolific.  He is like the Hawaiian music equivalent of Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.  He was born as Charles Edward King in 1874.

He was in the first graduating class of the Kamehameha School for Boys (standing, second from right) in 1891, nearly 120 year ago.  He was 1/4 Hawaiian and lived on the lands of Queen Emma in Nuuanu Valley.  He was christened by her at St. Andrew's Cathedral and was a protege of Queen Liliuokalani.  Charles Reed Bishop (husband of Bernice Pauahi Bishop) paid King's tuition to a teachers' college in New York.  He returned to teach music on the Big Island.

To the left, his photo in 1916.  He successfully ran as a Republican in 1918 for a seat in the Territory of Hawaii Senate.  He introduced Senate Bill 76 in 1919 to establish the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

At the age of 42 he began to write music.  Kamehameha Waltz was his paen to his alma mater and Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who created the trust fund to establish the school.  It is sung at every annual Kam School song contest (both Imua Kamehameha and Kamehameha Waltz).

He also wrote Ke Kali Nei Au, better known as the Hawaiian Wedding Song, first recorded in 1928.  Actually the English translation is Waiting For Thee, and has nothing to do with weddings.

He went on to serve two terms as conductor of the Royal Hawaiian Band, 1932-1934 and 1939-1941.  He moved to New York in 1941 and passed away in 1950.

Among his other compositions are:

• Aloha Oe E Kuu Lei
• Elue
• Hawaii
• Hawaii Nei
• Hawaiian Mother's Lullaby
• Imua Kamehameha
• Kaala
• Kaimana Hila
• Kamehameha March

• Kuu Lei Pikake
• Lehua
• Lei Ilima, Leilani
• Leilehua
• Mauna Loa
• Mau Day is Lei Day Too
• Na Lei O Hawaii (Song of the Islands)
• Palolo
• Pidgin English Hula
• Pua Roselani

• and many more.

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ARE THESE SIGNS OF DEMENTIA?

Yesterday was an irksome and frustrating day, wrapped around a fabulous lunch at Senia.  For the past few days I was irritated by hair scratching my ears.  I finally decided when I woke up to get a haircut above everything else.  So I called my barber, and she squeezed me in for a 10:35 appointment.  

I walked to the bus stop at 9:45, and thought I'd pull out my iPhone to see when The Bus was coming.  Yikes, I could not find it on me, so had to walk back to my apartment.  I searched around, and finally realized the phone was in one my vest pockets.  As you know, I have all kinds of pockets in these vest shirts I make in Bangkok.

Feeling dumb and vexed, I returned to the bus stop, and no one else was waiting, so of course The Bus had come and gone.  However, my phone said that the next one was coming at 10:23.  I could just about make that 10:35 schedule.  A few minutes later I checked the phone again, and the company had cancelled the next bus.  So I called the barber to inform her I would be a little late, with huge apologies.

At 10:37 my phone rang.  The clinic at 15 Craigside was wondering why I was not there for my 10:30 appointment.  This was one of those few days when I forgot to check my calendar.  This was my Annual Comprehensive Assessment.  A big deal here.  Essentially, it is to track your coming dementia.  Strike one for me.  It's not that if you do not score 100% they immediately move you to the second floor hospital floor.  So my life has not come to a near end.  It is, though, profoundly embarrassing.  

I mumbled on the phone something about having to be away, and sorry, but when can I re-schedule?  I had made a quick personal decision to pick the barber over the inquisitor because I had not yet put together my package of paperwork to bring with me:  insurance cards, current medications, orders for life-sustaining treatment and something called an advance directive, which fails my memory on what this might be.  If someone in the 15 Craigside administration reads this posting, that person could well send a copy to my assessment monitor.  Strike two.  Apparently, anxiety is terrible for memory loss.

Anyway, the bus finally came at 10:50 so I showed up for my haircut at 11:05.  She was just finishing cutting a man's hair.  An old lady was waiting.  However, my barber summoned me to the chair.  I felt a bit guilty, but who am I to tell her what to do.  She might have a queueing theory beyond my comprehension.  I asked her to cut my hair really short because I hate hair touching my ears.  I now sport a virtual buzz cut, as short as when I was in Army basic training a long time ago.

Rainbow Hair Styling is located between Little Village Noodle House (usually voted best Chinese restaurant) and Lucky Belly (best ramen in the world).  However, I just had a Chinese meal and also too a bowl of saimin.  So strolled around town and happened to pass by Senia, which was open for lunch.

I've been here several times.  Senia (pronounced sen-ya) came in second this year to Merriman's Honolulu as the best Oahu restaurant in the 36th annual Hale Aina Awards.  Next door is The Pig and the Lady, a Vietnamese spot, which was #3.  Senia's co-chef are Chris Kajioka (came from Vintage Cave) and Anthony Rush (from the UK), former employees of Per Se.  Hostess is Katherine Nomura Rush.

The restaurant was almost filled with customers.  Photos of my lunch:

I ordered a rose' and champagne to go with the Tuna Tataki, Ahi Burger and Le Canneli, a custard dessert:

While good enough, I thought I would add some character to the tataki, so asked for some hot sauce:

I thought this improved the dish.  The burger was huge and terrific:

At this point Anthony Rush showed up and opened a mailing of frozen foie gras.  We chatted a bit.

I congratulated him on the cuisine and staff, but jokingly remarked that everyone is so robotically orchestrated to get the job done, that no one smiles.  I expect most of them over time to become the head chef at their personal restaurant.

The dessert was a crispy custard. Excellent.

I truly enjoyed this lunch, exactly the opposite of what had occurred earlier in the day, and continued in the afternoon.  

Why befuddles me, but as I was outside Ross, I went in and bought another shirt, even though I have enough of them to last three lifetimes.  I then walked to Long's on Beretania to purchase butter and some batteries.  Then to the closest bus stop, and just as I got there, The Bus left.  At that point I realized that I was missing my walking cane.  Dementia item #3.

I remembered placing the cane next to a hanger when picking out my shirt, so decided to get back to Ross.  Across the street was a #4 bus heading into town, so finally got lucky.  Went down to the men's section and did not see the cane where I thought I had left it.  Asked around, and no cane. 

Then, it occurred to me that I had left the cane when I checked out of Long's.  It would have been a two-minute walk if I had returned from that bus stop.  So again went there and asked.  No one reported my cane, but the guard noticed this cane hanging near one of the check-out counters.  That was mine.  Ah, success.  But when I got back to that same bus stop, no one was waiting and my iPhone said that the next bus was in 24 minutes, so, clearly, it had just left.  About half an hour later, The Bus arrived and I got home, exhausted, for I must have walked at least nine holes.  Took a bath with a scotch and rocks.

As relatively crummy as the day had gone, something about my still euphoric attitude made all that experience memorably okay.  After all, I was not mugged or did not fall during my trying efforts. I also had a satisfying lunch and found my cane.  Life is good.

Early signs of dementia?  I'll continue this subject tomorrow, and also mention Biogen's Aducanumab, a possible pill to delay Alzheimer's.

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Typhoon Bualoi remains at 100 MPH, but is projected to have a path sufficiently east of Japan to cause any problems.

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IMUA KAMEHAMEHA

The history of native Hawaiians protesting is linked to the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.  This local melange of locals is unhappy about a lack of opportunity and the need for self-determination, going back to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.

They are sincere in their opposition to almost anything that misrepresents and insults their culture, including Gods and especially territory.  I was involved way back in the 1970's when I was a reservoir engineer drilling for geothermal energy in Puna.  With rain forest freaks, marijuana growers and environmentalist, they  (saying goddess Pele was being desecrated) prevailed with a ruling from Judge David Ezra.  In a way, they probably did companies a favor, for all Hawaii geothermal hotspots are over active volcanoes.

Today, there are three active protests:  construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea as an insult to sacredness, Sherwood Forest in Waimanalo and the latest bank of windmills in Kahuku.  However, surveys taken by the Star-Advertiser all show that the great majority of those in Hawaii don't support their opposition, mostly because all these projects went through the formal legal process and make sense for the future of the state.

The TMT on Mauna Kea poll results have previously been summarized here.  Two latest results:

• What do you think about the recent spread of "kapu aloha" demonstrations to block projects in Kahuku and at Sherwood Forest in Waimanalo? (16October2019)
• 80%  They're breaking the law and should be stopped
• 17%  They're legitimate forms of protest
•   3%  Not sure
• Do you think the Thirty Meter Telescope will be built on Mauna Kea? (13October 2019)

• 76%  Yes, eventually
• 16%  No, the opposition is too strong
•   8%  Not sure

I look upon all the above and, while I respect the right of protesters to express their point of view, I'm thinking, everything they're doing is PREVENTING something, or RETROGRESSING to the PAST.  Why don't they promote for PROGRESS?  Why only undercut?  All that effort for what?  Where does it really get you?  Especially when the general populace by a wide margin deplore your efforts.

My preliminary analysis of these recent protests is that those Hawaiian immersion schools focused on teaching their students to protest something happening...not work in partnership with all sectors of the community to accomplish something good for future.  The Department of Education should review what is really happening in those charter school efforts.

IMUA in Hawaiian means to move forward or move ahead toward a goal.  The term was made famous by King Kamehameha I, the one who unified the Hawaiian islands.  Imua Kamehameha is one of my very favorite songs and the fight song of Kamehameha Schools.

One hopes that amidst these troubled times a forward-thinking modern-day Kamehameha can rise and lead Hawaiians and Hawaii to a progressive future.  Kanaloa is the Hawaiian God of the Deep Ocean.

A driving force for progress is required for the Blue Revolution.  Help!

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All signs point to Typhoon Bualoi, now a Category 3, to weaken and ease past the east side of Japan, affecting only scattered islands like Ogasawara and Iwo Jima.  

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WHO IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY ANYWAY?

UPDATE ON PROBLEMS WITH THIS BLOG SITE:

I'm using Safari on my portable Mac Air to see if this change will solve the problem cited by many who complained that this site is too slow.  LET ME KNOW IF THIS SOLUTION WORKS!

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Israel is in a mess.  Did you know their president is someone named Reuven Rivlin (left)?  Like Germany (whose president is not Angela Merkel, it is Frank-Walter Steinmeier), Israel has a system of government based on a parliamentary democracy.  The Prime Minister is leader of a multi-party system, while the President, elected by the Knesset, is mostly powerless with a ceremonial role.  He/she signs laws and treaties, and importantly, appoints the Prime Minister.

If you've been keeping up with their recent elections, the vote was so close that Rivlin asked Benjamin Netanyahu (left), the past Prime Minister, to see what he could do about forming a government, thus retaining his position as PM.  After 26 days at it, he failed, so Rivlin just asked Benny Gantz (right) of the Blue and White party to try.  Odds are that he, too, will fail.  So where will the country be?  Who knows. 

It is pretty clear, though, that Netanyahu is still leader of the Likud party...and will most likely be indicted by November for corruption, something he calls a witch hunt.  The most probably future course is something called the Rivlin Plan.   When Gantz fails, Rivlin appoints Netanyahu as PM, but only on the condition that he takes an extended break to fight corruption charges.  Gantz would then become PM.

Canada just had an election.  Justin Trudeau will continue as Prime Minister, but his Liberal party is now in the minority.  Four years ago when first elected, Trudeau showed hope and promise.  His popularity decline can be attributed to a whole host of reasons, but the indiscretion of being in blackface when in 2001 while a teacher certainly tarnished his image.

Then, of course, there is the US of A.  What no-no did President Donald Trump perpetrate today?  Nothing much, but acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor (left), before a closed House hearing, reportedly contradicted the testimony of Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to Europe having to do with Taylor's text message in which he called the quid pro quo "crazy."  He is still in that acting role, and that will seriously piss off Trump.

Can't end on those notes.  You should know that the National Basketball Association starts today with the Pelicans meeting the toothless Raptors and Lakers playing the Clippers.  Can you believe that, if the NBA finals goes to a seventh game, the last day of the season will be on 21 June 2020?  Eight months!

Also, too, today is game one of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.  My fantasy team is on the edge of making money or not, depending on how well Josh Reddick of the Astros does.  No one else above me has him on its team.  Tonight, Gerrit Cole vs Max Scherzer.  Everyone has both.

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Typhoon Bualoi is now up to 144 MPH, but the projected track at this time shows that the eye will remain sufficiently offshore from Japan:

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ZOMBIELAND 2 BUCA to JOKER

I'VE HEARD FROM TOO MANY THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS BLOG SITE.   I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING IS TOO SLOW.  SORRY.  TURNS OUT THAT IF YOU USE EXPLORER OR SAFARI AS THE BROWSER, THIS HAPPENS FOR SOME.  IF YOU USE CHROME, NO PROBLEM.  SOMETHING TO DO WITH APPLE VERSUS GOOGLE VERSUS MICROSOFT.  I'M SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP.  IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU USE CHROME AS THE BROWSER, YOU SHOULD BE OKAY.

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Two R-rated movies and Buca di Beppo yesterday.

                                          Rotten Tomatoes     Box Office Mojo  My Grade

                                     Reviewers  Audiences

Zombieland  2                      66             91                  #2                     B-

Zombieland  1                      90             86       

Joker                                     68             89                  #3                     B-

I added above the original 2009 Zombieland because the cast remained the same for Double Tap (2).  The latest Maleficent was #1.

Went to Ward Consolidated Theater:

I'm trying to figure out why I saw Zombieland 2 (I didn't even remember there was an original), for I avoid zombie films.  My last one was World War Z seven years ago because I didn't know Z stood for zombie.

Zombies...John Wick ...bloody... dark ...gruesome... virus...Graceland... Elvis...Babylon... spoofy...'nuff said.  

Of course there will be a Z3, this time with perhaps Bill Murray back.  Might even be filmed in Hawaii.

Then down for lunch at Buca di Beppo:

Minestrone, Caesar salad, red wine and beer, with too much bread.

Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix--might even be nominated for an Oscar--with Robert De Niro.  Edgy ...dark ...Gotham City ...link with Batman as a child ...disturbing.  Has already grossed nearly three-fourths of a billion in revenues worldwide.  No sequel planned, but perhaps Phoenix will return in a future Batman film.

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There are two storms approaching Japan.  First Tropical Storm Neoguri will bring some rain, while Typhoon Bualoi, now at 120 MPH, will strengthen to at least 140 MPH, but at this time appears on a track to turn north, then northwest and only skirt Japan.

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