Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!

If you received our holiday card in the mail, then you’ve already seen this (albeit with a couple of minor typos, since corrected). If not, send us your home address and we’ll add you to the list!

ALOHA!

As much as we already feel at home in Hawaiʻi, we constantly discover ways to dig our toes even deeper into the sand. Joining a traditional hālau is teaching us that hula is more than just a class, but an ongoing, lifelong practice encompassing dance, history, customs, language and a deep appreciation of the land. It’s probably great that we’re learning a lot, because it’s doubtful we’ll ever be any good at it…

Did you know hula is always danced barefoot? That’s also how the Oʻahu Choral Society sometimes performs. This year Danny was recruited onto the OCS Board of Directors, and with Andrew a recent new tenor (already got a couple of solos), it seems fitting that we’re once again members of the same symphonic chorus — just like when we first met.

Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre remains Andrew’s primary focus. He’s already very busy preparing to direct one production in the spring, followed by a premiere of HOT’s first commissioned opera, Kamalehua: The Sheltering Tree. Although officially retired, Danny juggles OCS with board responsibilities for our neighborhood association (he runs their website), and at least attempts to keep up with year-round yard work, plus daily Duolingo in Hawaiian language.

While we’ve added activities, life has reduced a few as well. Andrew’s mother passed away in January, and Andrew’s Sundays seem incomplete without their usual phone calls, and we both will miss summer trips to Chicago to celebrate her birthday. Then after so firmly integrating herself into our lives and especially our Hawaiian adventures, our Ella succumbed to a brain tumor in May. We still mourn her loss deeply, and the cats (especially Muku) clearly miss a constant companion and favored nap partner.

Visitors? Not counting the feral cat family (sisters Sheena, Kolu and Lua with mother Margaret) who made themselves at home in the back yard over the summer, we’ve been blessed with memorable visits from Bay Area friends, as well as family on both sides. Guests undoubtedly appreciated the cool provided by the new central air units, which unfortunately put a damper on our own travel budget this year. We’ll see what 2026 brings…

Until then, we send lots of warmth and best wishes for happy, healthy and safe holidays for you and yours. Aloha!

—Andrew, Danny, Muku & Hilo

IMAGE CREDITS:

The first photo started as a sunset dinner on the Big Island, and AI did the rest (Danny spends far too much time with ChatGPT’s “Anime” style). Here is just Ella, as we like to remember her.