Am sitting here at work (hospital lab) listening to your interview with John Cruz. Even though I like kahiko better, one of my favorite hapa-haole tunes to dance hula is "Hanalei Moon." My kumu also choreographed "Island Style," which is also a blast to dance to. John Cruz is one of my favorite artists.
Wanted to thank you for this project. I lived in Hawaii from 1974-78. My girl friend and I were looking to escape the snow after spending our lives, including college, in Western New York (Buffalo/Rochester). We toured the islands as a graduation gift from or parents (and almost didn't come home after meeting some ono local boys on Kauai and applied at every hospital. I worked first on Oahu, at the old Kaikeolani Children's Hospital and later at Wahiawa General. My friend went to Kapiolani. We lived in Waikiki near the Lolipop Club and then moved to Pearl City, Waipahu and finally Wahiawa.
I met my husband (Navy) and we were married in Wahiawa Botanical Gardens by a gay ex-priest from San Francisco. Our son was born at Kahuku Hospital and his middle name is Kuokoa, which means "independent." We finally left so that my parents could be closer to their only grandchild. But a part of us still remains, tied to the aina and moana.
We returned on our 25th anniversary and stayed at Schrader's in Kaneohe and it was wonderful: the bay lapped up under our lanai. Only spent one night in Waikiki--too much concrete and Gucci. No more sugar cane fields in Waipahu. But the mountains were still beautiful. We rode horses on the beach, saw a monk seal and visited some of our old haunts. Big disappointment for my husband: the Waipahu strip joint, Little Egypt's is now a pizza place. And no one to buy a little "Kona Gold" from.
I keep in touch with Hawaii through my halau in Rochester, Gallery Kauai. I play a little ukulele and slack key but my main thing is hula and chant. Too old to do da kine stuff that the younger dancers can do, but I love it and do what I can to tell the story,
Anyway, needless to say we were tuned to KKUA and Whodaguy Ron Jacobs when we lived in Hawaii. Listening to you now brings back great memories. Still listen to your Home Grown albums. Thank you for deciding to put your time and money into this project. I brings great joy to me because of my time in the islands, but it is so important to document this history. Dancing hula has given me a great appreciation of Hawaiian culture that I didn't haven when I lived there. I remember the struggle over Kahoolawe and even those who lost their lives at sea. It's great to listen to the many artists you have interviewed and their passion for their culture and music.
Mahalo nui loa, RJ. I hope we will see the islands yet again. May you continue on for many, many years.
Sharon Knorr
Dear Sharon,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write. There's a bunch of dedicated folks who keep this going, it's a labor of love and aloha. I will forward the crew your note. Hearing from someone across the Pacific and the mainland still gives me chicken skin. The fact that you are listening to our house in Kaneohe--and so many other local folks and Hawaiians At Heart everywhere, in every time zone--gives me the same juice I had when radio was fun, back when you were here. I'm an Old School type. Can't "talk to" a microphone, gotta imagine who is along for the ride. From now on that includes you. Mahalo nui loa for your support.
Ron Jacobs
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