After my huge weekend (three big services: a 90-minute double funeral on Saturday, a service at Nuuanu Congregational and a Solemn Mass at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church) I wanted to let you know that I was given a special “honoraria” from the parish of St. Mark’s—a five-strand pikake leí! (In addition to a check, of… Read More Five-strand pikake lei!
We know that the pandemic has changed our lifestyles in many ways, but none so more as in our ways of worship and entertainment. Church services have gone virtual, as have all concerts, it seems. What made me sit up and take notice, though, was this recent Washington Post headline which read: “The pandemic forced… Read More Gamechanger
The organ world is mourning the passing of longtime organist and teacher, Marilyn Mason, who died on April 4th at the age of 93. You can read her complete obituary here, but now I will share an anecdote of her trip to Hawaii in 2007 which I’ve never told before. For those who don’t know,… Read More RIP Marilyn Mason 1925-2019
One constant in our Hawai’i Chapter American Guild of Organist concerts is the “spiel” given by Karl Bachman at intermission to encourage people to give offerings. I always look forward to hearing these little “sermonettes” — filled with humor, and sometimes I’ve gotten a shout-out. Here is an excerpt from yesterday’s concert with Adam Pajan:… Read More A HUGE leap of faith!
Sunday’s concert by the Windward Choral Society marked the tenth anniversary of this choir, and it was on all accounts, a total triumph! This, in spite of the fact that “90% of the people don’t read music” according to director Susan McCreary Duprey. Here’s the letter that she wrote to the singers, ringers and orchestra: Mahalo… Read More Windward Choral Society triumph
https://youtu.be/0YW-uv3Ibm8 Since I grew up without television, I had never watched the show, “Queen for a Day,” which began as a radio show in 1945 then ran on NBC Television from 1956-1960 and on ABC from 1960-1964. Every show began with the question, “Would YOU like to be Queen for a day?” A number of… Read More Queen for a Day
I’ve had a houseguest for a week—my good friend Joan Ishibashi, a United Church of Christ pastor, massage therapist, former Hawaii resident for 15 years, and all-around BFF (best friends forever!) Nearly five years ago my husband Carl, son Stephen and I were in Los Angeles, attending Joan’s wedding to Kantila Vaghela, where I wrote… Read More I survived an amazing weekend!
Today the Hawaii Tribune-Herald newspaper on the Big Island published a story by Katie Young Yamanaka about our homeboy, Joey Fala, and his upcoming recital at the Higashi Hongwanji Mission, Sunday, March 12th at 3:00 pm. I was surprised that Joey came up with the same analogy as I have previously written about, particularly in regards… Read More Like going into someone else’s kitchen
Last Sunday about 4:00 pm after I had just settled into my seat at the Symphony concert and before the music began, my phone vibrated, indicating that I had a new email message. It was from Chandra Peters, the chapel coordinator of Punahou School, who coincidentally sang with the Lutheran Church of Honolulu choir for… Read More A life of leisure … NOT!
Today I attended Samuel Lam‘s last service as organist of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. I’ve known Sam for years now ever since he moved back to Hawaii in 1985 after getting his doctorate at the University of Michigan and living in Ann Arbor, MI. Sam grew up in Honolulu and graduated from Hawaiian Mission Academy. I… Read More Mixed emotions