A Hula Lesson

We found Crystal and Kaleka on Craigslist.  They came to the house to give us a private hula lesson.  We learned Auana, the modern style hula. They started the class teaching us four basic hula steps. 

Crystal and Kaleka

 Ha'a is the hula stance, feet slightly apart, knees bent, hands on hips with fingers closed.  Fists on hips for the guys.

Kaholo is the ha'a vamp step which goes side to side with hips moving side to side in the opposite direction.  

Ami is the rotation of the hips in a counter clockwise direction.

 Ami kuku is is an Ami done at triple speed.  We tried this a couple of times before Crystal decided to cut it from our repertoire. 

Ami kuku not working

 Towards the end of the hour we had a naughty little hula with choreography customized for our skill level.

Ami til your spine aches

 

Visit www.ahuariidesigns.org

Crystal and Kaleka have Ahuari'i Designs.  They specialize in hand made Hawaiian jewelry, graphic design and Polynesian costume design.  They put together a custom package for us that was quite reasonable.  Options include memorable costumes, cds, head pieces, and leis. 

Post Hula Sunset cocktail:  The Tsunami

After the lesson, we were very thirsty.  We timed the lesson to end just before sunset so we could refresh ourselves with the the Tiki drink of the day.

The Tsunami

Fill a hurricane glass with crushed ice.  

Add: 

1.5 oz of light rum

.5 oz Rose's Lime

.5 oz fresh lime juice

3 oz pineapple juice

Float .5 oz dark rum on top.  

Garnish with a tropical fruit skewer.  

(We used fresh pineapple, apple banana, kiwi, and strawberry) 

North Shore, Oahu - Massage

MAUREEN LAND


We met Maureen, the massage therapist in '06 during our stay at Keiki beach. Christi spotted a little home-made sign for oceanfront massage so we called her up. Back then she was set up at Keiki Beach Bungalows but this year, much to our delight, she also does out calls.

Maureen is one of the very best massage therapists I've experienced, and I think Christi would agree. We had her come over and set up on our balcony overlooking the beach. She works really strong but never to the level of pain or discomfort. Her quick intuition takes her to the problem spots without too much verbal interaction.

Unless you want to talk. Maureen also has the gift of gab. Or maybe it's me. She can sense when a person needs to zone out, as reported by Christi and Rick who both claim she was quiet as night during their massages. Without spoiling the plot, I'll just report that I've been lucky enough to catch her during her story telling moods and she is hilarious, wise, and world weary.

I love Maureen. You will, too. Oh yeah, she also does out call airbrush tanning, if for some reason you need a quick tan. 808-782-1000

North Shore, Oahu - Kahuku Kai

HORSEBACK RIDING WITH LINDA

We just spent our third vacation in a row on the North Shore of Oahu. Each fall we've rented a house on the beach and for the past two years we convinced our good friends, Christi and Dan Schimpke, to go with us. Actually this year it took no convincing.

We made a couple of new discoveries this year. One is a great horseback riding tour in Kahuku with a retired woman cop named Linda. She (and her horses) were really good with the less experienced rider and let us open the horses up on the beach. The ride started at Linda's stable and cut over some gorgeous North Shore rural farm land.

Within minutes the dirt trail became sand and we were on a long abandoned stretch of beach. My horse, Opal, the self appointed alpha female, was half Arabian and half quarter horse and she took off like a shot. When everyone caught up Linda tried to assemble the group for a photo, which was pretty amusing. Christi's horse, Peaches, is a retired polo horse, vying for a promotion in the group. At one point I looked back just as Peaches had bitten Mr. Krinkles who was bucking sideways. Rick, the greenhorn of the group, hung on like J. J. Elshere. Dan's horse, Sunfire, was the laid back horse who seemed to get along with everyone.

We wound through some trees and the trail ran along the edge of Kahuku Golf Course, a reasonably priced public course if you're so inclined. We passed a nicely located old graveyard that dated back to the 1800's. Linda has a great gift of gab and knows and loves her horses. Pack a pair of jeans if you think you might ride. 808-293-8081