Category Archives: hula

Honoka‘a People’s Theatre – helping us fly our freak flags

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Diane Scheurell

My interactions with the Honoka‘a People’s Theatre (HPT) last week once again confirmed that it is the heart of our wonderfully eclectic town. The owner, Dr. Tawn Keeney and his daughter and Theatre Manager, Phaethon, have really amped up how … Continue reading →

Posted in gratitude, Hawaiian Culture Class - Lanakila Mangauil, Honoka'a, Honoka'a People's Theatre, hula | Tagged | 5 Comments

My Hawaiian culture class is pau

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

It’s Monday afternoon. I feel strangely “unbusy.” My Hawaiian Culture Class, the activity that consumed me for the last 12 weeks, is pau (finished). The graduation ceremony, the ho‘ike, was such a rush. Four chants, five hulas, friends and family in … Continue reading →

Posted in Chants and blessings, Hawaiian Culture Class - Lanakila Mangauil, hula, island culture, learnng new things, Personal growth, plants in my yard, Resurgence of Hawaiian Culture | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Prepping for our ho‘ike – no time to let my J droop

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

Julia: “Look! There’s some kukui leaves!” Me: “Nope; not unfettered.” Julia: “Oh pooh. Let your J droop a little.” Julia and I were on the hunt for kukui leaves. Because of its many uses, the kukui was named the State … Continue reading →

Posted in Being present, Chants and blessings, Honoring tradition, hula, learnng new things, plants in my yard, Waipio Valley | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

No longer just cultural anthropology

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

Someone asked me if my recent blog posts about Pele (Honoring Pele) and Laka (Saving Hawaiian Traditions) go against Christianity’s teachings of worshipping only one God. The question surprised me into a self-dialog that left me with a satisfactory answer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chants and blessings, Honoring tradition, hula, lava, learnng new things, Pele, volcano | Tagged | 16 Comments

Honoring Pele

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

My Hawaiian Culture Class took a second field trip, this time to the mother of all Parks – Volcanoes National Park. In this case “mother” refers to Pele, birthing new land. Halema’uma’u Crater in the Kilauea Caldera is traditionally known … Continue reading →

Posted in Chants and blessings, Honoring tradition, hula, island time, learnng new things, Pele, Resurgence of Hawaiian Culture, volcano | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Scheurell does the hula

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

When you think of Scheurell, do you imagine hula? No, me neither, until now. Because this weekend, I danced two hulas on stage at the Honoka‘a People’s Theatre. No one was more surprised than me… The theatre raised the $60,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Chants and blessings, getting out of my comfort zone, Hawaiian language, Honoka'a, Honoka'a People's Theatre, Honoring tradition, hula, learnng new things | Tagged , | 19 Comments

A testosterone event: Hawaiian Falsetto Contest

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

Julia and I went to a Hawaiian Falsetto Contest this weekend that celebrated the Hawaiian tradition of men singing in that high range an octave above normal. This was part of the month-long series of festivities known as Hawaii Island … Continue reading →

Posted in Hawaii's melting pot - ethnic groups, Hawaiian language, Holidays and festivals, hula, island culture, learnng new things, music in Hawaii, Resurgence of Hawaiian Culture | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Plantation Days Festival: Celebrating our differences together

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Diane Scheurell

My first introduction to the importance of sugar here on the Big Island came in a sermon from Father Bob. He reminded us that 18 years before, the people all along the Hāmākua Coast were invited to step outside their homes … Continue reading →

Posted in eating in Hawaii, Hamakua, Hawaii's melting pot - ethnic groups, Holidays and festivals, Honoka'a, hula, learnng new things, Plantation era | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Christmas, Big Island style

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Diane Scheurell

This is my third Christmas living in Hawai‘i, and I still feel a bit discombobulated at the contrast with the holiday celebrations of the Midwest. In Hawai‘i we often see Santa depicted in board shorts holding a long board (thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Hawaii cowboy country, Holidays and festivals, Honoring tradition, hula, island culture, volcano, Waimea | Tagged | 1 Comment