This month, Honolulu theatergoers have a rare chance to catch Katsura Kan, one of Japan’s great masters of Butoh, in performance at The Arts at Mark’s Garage, courtesy of Tangentz Performance Group. Emerging from the ashes of World War II Japan, Butoh delves into the heart of the human condition and has subsequently become one of the world’s most haunting dance forms. In the midst of rehearsals, Kaila Hawai‘i caught up with Tangentz’ Creative Director Lori Ohtani to learn more about Butoh and the upcoming performance.
 
 
Butoh has been around for a few decades now, but there may be many in the islands who are unfamiliar with it. How would you describe butoh?

Enigmatic beauty that is unconventional and profound.

And what distinguishes it from other dance forms?

Aside from its signature distinguishing features—white body make-up and slow meditative movement—the Butoh dancer strives to penetrate into the many layers of the body,  such as consciousness, skin, bone, cell, nerve… going to the body’s deepest layer. From this beginning, the Butoh dancer has access to many hidden treasures of their background, history, culture, and environment… in turn transforming the dancer  into a new being/beginning and space.

Katsura-kan is one of Japan’s great butoh masters. How did your paths cross?

Tangentz was fortunate to be able to collaborate with Katsura Kan in 1995.

You’ve recently finished a series of butoh workshops with Katsura Kan. How did that experience go for you as well as the participants?

It was very stimulating and fun. I think that everyone who had participated gained the same experience as well as added insights into how our bodies can house unique information about yourself.

On December 16 and 17, Tangentz will present “Curious Fish” with Katsura Kan at The Arts at Mark’s Garage. What is the concept behind the show?

To offer the Hawai‘i audience an opportunity to see a Butoh Master perform in one of his signature works.

And what is the meaning behind “Curious Fish”?

Kan describes Curious Fish as such….“In 1970s Japan, we faced a variety of serious environmental crisis. This crisis was a result of enormously high economic growth. Japan was in deep tragedy. In Japan we especially saw many “strange fish” in our rivers and the sea. I witnessed many cats, dogs, and chickens dancing a type of DEATH DANCE-so to speak… Resulting from the consumption of these strange fish. Sadly, humans also consumed these strange fish. My fragmental dance pieces/ “Curious Fish” are a requiem to the spirits who couldn’t become human, and their lives having been erased before coming into this world.”

Every dance form has its own distinctive language and code—whether it’s hula, classical ballet or Bharata Natyam.  For a new viewer, what is the best way to approach a butoh performance?

With an open mind and no preconceived ideas or expectations.
 

CURIOUS FISH

with Butoh Master Katsura Kan
Presented by Tangentz
Friday, December 16 & Saturday, December 17
The ARTS at MARKS GARAGE
1159 Nu’uanu Avenue
Doors open at 7:00 pm
Show starts at 7:30pm
Tickets: $15 at the door

Tags: butoh, Katsura-Kan, Tangentz

 
Smartly chic, Deena Tearney is the up-and-coming island taste-maker behind UMEE Honolulu, now available at Therapy at Kahala Mall and The Kahala Hotel and Resort (a perfect stop après lunch at Plumeria Beach House). Before Deena jetted off for the holidays, the Waikīkī resident took the time to answer a few questions for Kaila Hawai‘i as we bring 2011 to a close.

What do you love most about the holiday season?

To me, the Christmas Spirit is what makes this the most wonderful time of the year.  When people smile more, share holiday greetings to passing strangers, and help each other out in small ways, there is an overall feeling of cheer in the air.  It’s the best.

You’ve lived in a few different places—not to mention that you travel quite a bit. How is it for you spending the season in the tropics?

It doesn’t exactly feel like the Holidays in the traditional sense, but O‘ahu has a lot to offer.  We have a bit of a Holiday routine:  We listen to “Mele Kalikimaka” about a thousand times, visit all the Christmas trees in the Waikīkī hotels, request Christmas songs at Lewers Lounge, and check out Honolulu City Lights.  Then, we head off to Kentucky and spend Christmas with my husband’s family on their horse farm, hoping for a white Christmas.  We are truly blessed.

 
Speaking of living in the islands, what’s so refreshing about UMEE Honolulu is that it’s is at once island-inspired but cosmopolitan—making it perfect for a Sunday stroll or a weekend jaunt to the West Coast. Which of your pieces would recommend as a gift for that sophisticated island girl who likes to get up and go?

Our new “from Hawaii with love” tee is a really great gift for all those sophisticated gals on your Christmas list.  For my city look in San Francisco, I wear it under a blazer with a long necklace and pants.  When I’m back on the island, it’s super cute with a denim mini or shorts.  I’m also really digging our kimono headbands and think they make unique and stylish gifts or stocking stuffers. There is nothing quite like this accessory.

 
I know you like to pair your favorite UMEE items with pieces from other collections.  Since New Year’s is right around the corner, which UMEE piece would you wear for New Year’s Eve and how you would you dress it up for the big night out?

Our black silk strapless dress is my Holiday must-have.  It’s a great dress to style for Holiday parties or New Year’s celebrations and is a perfect way to compliment all the amazing accessory options this season – lace tights, fur bag, fur scarf… Can you say “wow?!”  This season, I’ll be doing something special and wearing mine with a sparkly white lace knit scarf my Mom made for me.

 
And how do you plan on ringing in the New Year?  Any special wishes or resolutions as we go into 2012?

We are in the middle of purchasing a condo, so we’ll be back on the island for New Year’s.  I hope to be welcoming 2012 sipping champagne in our new condo, thick firework smoke outside (it shouldn’t be there but we know it will be!), and surrounded by boxes.

As for 2012, I’m super excited about the launch of our next collection and all the friends we’ll make along the way.
 

HOLIDAY PICKS FROM UMEE HONOLULU

‘from Hawaii with love’ tee, $23
Kimono headbands, $12
Black silk strapless dress

Available online at UMEE Honolulu. Pieces from UMEE’s current collection are also available at Therapy and The Kahala Hotel and Resort. 

Tags: Deena Tearney, UMEE Honolulu, Waikīkī

When we’re not going local with our coffee, our favorite place for a little kaffeeklatsch is Crema Coffee Bar at the Honolulu Design Center. The coffee is classic Illy, and the sandwiches and pastries are from the same kitchen as Stage on the Design Center’s second floor. With the building’s modern design, Crema is a great spot to get away from the ho-hum. Plus, it’s right near Kaila favs Aloha Rag and Jimmy Choo. And we think an Illy coffee cup makes a far better accessory than one from Starbucks, as we demonstrate in our Jimmy Choo-Illy combo above. (On a side note, check out the clip on our post on American Vogue editor Anna Wintour to see which coffee graces Vogue’s offices in New York’s Times Square.)

DETAILS

Crema Coffee Bar

Honolulu Design Center

1st Floor

1250 Kapiʻolani Boulevard

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96814

Open from 7 am, Monday – Saturday

Open from 8 am, Sunday

EDITORIAL NOTE

In case you didn’t catch the cultural reference in the title, it comes from the song “You’re the Cream in My Coffee,” once performed by many. But we like the version sung by the one and only Mr. Nat King Cole.

Tags: Aloha Rag, coffee, Crema Coffee Bar, Honolulu Design Center, Illy, Jimmy Choo, Nat King Cole

When I opened up to the Editor’s Page of the June 2010 issue of Honolulu magazine, I was quickly reminded why I have enjoyed this publication since I was a teenager out on the ‘Ewa side. The June issue is all about Hawai’i doctors, and editor A. Kam Napier addresses the subject, of course.

However, while desribing his early impressions of doctors, he makes a curious cultural reference… to Star Trek.  I have to admit a sincere delight to know that the character Dr. Leonard McCoy, the 23rd century country doctor played by the late Deforest Kelley, has influenced a voice in Hawai’i media… especially one who recently admitted that he had never seen an episode of Lost. (I, too, admit that I never watch it either.)

I wish I had a McCoy in my office right now, if only so I could say, “Bones, could you look this article over, tell me what you think?”
Then he could say, “Dammit, Kam! I’m a doctor, not a copy editor!”

That would be awesome.

And let us not forget that McCoy often broke out a stash of some rare alien liquor to smooth out space’s (and life’s) rougher moments. Now, that’s the kind of doctor we really appreciate.

MORE

Check out the full June 2010 Editor’s page of Honolulu magazine right here.

Tags: doctors, Honolulu magazine, Star Trek

While it’s hard to beat a bottle of Champagne in our books, the economic crisis has made us think twice before shelling out for imported bubbly.  During our recent runs to Tamura’s and R. Field, we’ve been putting a particualrly fine Californian sparkler into our basket instead.  While many Californian sparkling wines have left us feeling less than enthusiastic – especially since they’re priced higher than comparable but more satisfying offerings from Spain and Italy – J Cuvée 20 Brut has renewed our faith in domestic sparkling wines. It’s an elegant blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier with notes of Fuji apple and honeysuckle – a perfect way to wrap up a long work week without breaking the piggy bank.

WHERE TO BUY

J Cuvée 20 Brut is available in Honolulu from two of our favorite wine purveyors:

Tamura’s Fine Wine and Liquors

3496 Waiʻalae Avenue, 808 735 7100

R. Field Wine Company

At Foodland, 460 South Beretania Street, 808 596 9463

Those who prefer alcohol to come to them can have a case of J Cuvée 20 Brut shipped directly by Wine.com.

MORE ON J CUVÉE 20

Learn more about this great sparkling wine from J. Vineyards and Winery.

Tags: Champagne, J Cuvée 20 Brut, J. Vineyards and Winery, sparkling wine

When British director’s Marc Forby’s period piece (loosely) based on the life of Ke Kamāliʻi Wahine Victoria Kawēkiu Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kaʻiulani made its debut at the Honolulu International Film Festival last fall, much of the public controversy swirled around the name then chosen for the film, Barbarian Princess.

When questioned publically about name, Forby said, as quoted by the Honolulu Advertiser, “The title was meant to bring in, and then challenge audiences from, say, middle America who might be expecting something like sexy dances at a luau … We wanted to draw attention to how Hawaiians were treated in the 1800s; this has never been about exploiting the Hawaiian people. I never knew it would get so heated. I thought the irony would be obvious.”

I thought Forby’s argument was a flimsy one. Moreover, it quickly summed up his actual stance. While not apparently not wanting to fall into a trap of tourist expectations, Forby indicated that his film was for a certain kind of market, one that needs everything needs spelled out for it and unable to handle a Hawaiian name in the title. At the same time, it seems that, for Forby, a Hawaiian name like Kaʻiulani–perhaps, any Hawaiian word at all–could only conjure exoticism, ignoring the number of films that retain their native language titles.

What if we were to apply his argument to prominent, valued historical figures from other country’s without their input? Whatever their personal opinion of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, I doubt most Americans would appreciate a film titled The Adultrous President. Possible criticism for content aside, Oliver Stone went with JFK and W. for his presidential flicks. I doubt Forby’s fellow Brits would have tolerated a sensationalized name for any film about any of their royals.  Consider instead the titles for films about important figures. Across the “pond”, Stephen Frear chose the simple The Queen for his 2006 film about Queen Elizabeth II.

Since the Hawaiʻi 2009 debut, Forby and his team have reconsidered their marketing strategy and dropped the barbarian idea. As of May 2010, viewers across the United States can now head out and watch Princess Kaiulani (note: no ʻokina) instead. While I was relieved of the name change, I still couldn’t help but cringe when I saw the melodramatic trailer.

Since the film’s debut last week, I have been entertained to see what American critics think of the film and how Forby’s film comes across to those unfamiliar with Hawaiʻi.

The Los Angeles Times’ Gary Goldstein said the film made for “starchy entertainment”. Goldstein goes on to describe actress Q’orianka Kilcher’s portrayal of Kaʻiulani as bloodless. Unsurprisingly, the film only earned two stars.

Mike Hale of the New York Times went further in criticizing the film. He describes it as “an odd hybrid” and “deeply silly and stagebound”. He says, “At times it’s the sort of ridiculously anachronistic period film in which historical characters act like 21st-century teenagers who happen to be wearing hoop skirts.”

Reading his reviews, it’s clear that Mr. Hale read up at least a little on Hawaiian history, enough to catch Forby’s errors. Hale states that Forby

“fudges in ways small (an early scene shows Ka’iulani playing a significant role in a palace function she did not attend) and large (the circumstances of her departure for England are much more dramatic and historically relevant in the film than they were in real life). By the time Ka’iulani, having returned home as a figurehead crown princess, French kisses Clive in full view of her retinue, all you can do is shake your head.”

And while his nomenclature is off (Hale calls an ʻokina an apostrophe), even the New York City journalist can catch the film’s spelling error:

A final note: the film’s title drops the apostrophe in Ka’iulani — so that strictly speaking, “Princess Kaiulani” seems to refer to the Waikiki hotel rather than to the princess herself. It didn’t matter at a screening this week, however, as the print shown to critics still carried the film’s original and less felicitous title: “Barbarian Princess.”

That said, Mr. Hale’s review is not without its own inaccuracies or flaws. I strongly disagree, for instance, with his one-liner that the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom is “a complex and sometimes squalid story with less-than-admirable behavior on all sides” is highly debatable. But I won’t make the mistake of thinking of him as a historian or a scholar. I quote him here a film critic four thousand miles away from Hawaiʻi, who, with a little research and working under a pressing deadline, could detect the film’s flaws.

Interestingly enough, I found that one local newspaper’s review didn’t find any of these weaknesses, offering a mostly sunny, encouraging words about Princess Kaiulani. This, of course, came as no surprise, as quite often, more local newspaper critics write more like PR reps than actual critics. At least, the review from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin read more like a review, though I disagree with the critic’s opinion that films can play with history because we watch movies just for entertainment… and not, say, to learn about the human experience or be inspired.

That said, I have not brought myself around to watching Princess Kaiulani yet. Kircher’s stilted pronunciation of Hawaiʻi was discouraging enough. After all, what kind of princess can’t even say the name of her own kingdom right?

All the strife around Princess Kaiulani film underscores the need to support kānaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) filmmakers so an authentic perspective of Hawaiian culture can find its rightful place on the silver screen. In the meantime, I would rather spend my money to watch one of the screening’s at the Honolulu Academy of Arts’ ʻŌiwi Film Festival and wait to see Forby’s film on Netflix.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF

I think the trailer for Princess Kaiulani says enough about the film.

Tags: Princess Kaiulani (film), Princess Kaʻiulani, Q'orianka Kilcher

“Onaona ke ‘ala o ka maile i ka līhau ‘ia e ka ua noe”
Fragrant is the scent the maile, kept fresh and moist by the misty rain.

“Ku‘u pua ponimō‘ī”

One of our absolute favorite fragrances is maile, the twisting, native vine so familiar at local weddings and graduations. But maile is much more than just a lei to be given at special occasions.

Its delicate fragrance is imbued with the divine. In Hawaiian mythology, the Maile (nā Maile) are four sister goddesses whose kinolau (body form) are the four different kinds of maile. Where ever the sisters had ventured, the maile vine was surely to be found.

Maile is also sacred to Laka, the goddess of hula. Consequently, maile was draped on the hula altar, or kuahu. Dancers, or ‘ōlapa, would traditionally wear maile for skill and inspiration.

Unfortunately, maile is nowadays far more difficult to be found. Its rarity and cost has made its beloved scent a thing for special occasions.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy ke ‘ala o ka maile, the fragrance of maile, everyday. Kaua‘i-based company Mālie Organics has captured the essence of the maile in a range of beauty products it has called Koke‘e, named after Kōke‘e State Park on Kaua‘i. Mālie’s Koke‘e line includes a soy candle, body cream, and body wash. But our favorite is the organic mist. Just one spritz, and the scent of maile gently hangs in the air—making it perfect for a room or bed linens. It just makes us think a hike in the uplands or one of our childhood vists to a lei stand.

Even better, Mālie Organics products are natural with no chemicals or additives. Mālie’s founders, Dana and Shaun Roberts, extract their fragrance from local, sustainably grown plants in a hydrosol distillation process that captures their essence. Plus, every time you purchase a product from the Koke ‘e line, Mālie makes a donation to the Kōke‘e Resource Conservation Program.

Where to buy

Mālie Organic’s Kōke‘e Organic Mist  and line is available for $40 on the company’s online store. For a list of retailers carrying Mālie Organics products, click here.

Learn more about maile

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i speakers can read more about the Maile sisters in S. N. Hale‘ole’s Ke Ka’ao o Lā‘ieikawai, available here on Ulukau.org.

Credits

Photos used above are used in accordance with the Creative Commons License. For photo information, click here for maile image and here for picture of Kōke‘e State Park on Kaua‘i.

Tags: Hawaiian Mythology, Kaua`i, Koke'e, Kōke‘e State Park, maile, Mālie Organics

On this day, Kaila Hawai‘i would like to celebrate the birthday of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Pi‘ikoi. Prince Kūhiō was born on March 26, 1871 in Kōloa, Kaua‘i to High Chief David Kahalepouli Pi‘ikoi and High Chiefess Victoria Kekaulike Kinoiki. He later became the hānai son of King David Kalākaua and Queen Kapi‘olani. Prince Kūhiō is widely celebrated for his political expertise in post-annexation Hawai‘i, especially for the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The day of his birth is now known in Hawai‘i as Kūhiō Day, while his name now honors places all over the Hawaiian archipelago.

But Prince Kūhiō also helped to spread traditional Hawaiian culture. In the 1880s, Prince Kūhiō, along with his brothers Prince David Kawānanakoa and Prince Edward Keli‘iahonui, attended Saint Matthew’s School in San Mateo, California. In the summer of 1885, Prince Kūhiō and his fellow young ali‘i visited family friends in Santa Cruz. During their time there, the young princes headed out into the waves to enjoy the royal pastime of he‘enalu, or surfing, at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. The people of Santa Cruz quickly took note.  The July 20, 1885 edition of Santa Cruz’ The Daily Surf comments:

The young Hawaiian princes were in the water, enjoying it hugely and giving interesting exhibitions of surf-board swimming as practiced in their native islands.

Unlike the surfers of today, these 19th century ali‘i headed out on massive 15 foot, 100 lb boards made out of local Californian redwood. Though it is still not widely known, these young ali‘i are now credited with introducing surfing to the United States.

And surfing was not the only physical art that Prince Kūhiō’s had mastered. He was also a skilled athlete, a marksman, and, a true rarity for his time, a practitioner of the traditional martial art of Lua.

Prince Kūhiō’s wide range of accomplishments still resound 139 years later and serve as a fine example to all Hawaiians and residents of Hawai‘i.

Tags: Kūhiō Day, Prince David Kawānanakoa, Prince Edward Keli‘iahonui, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, Santa Cruz, surfing

In general, I prefer my cocktails on the lean and mean side, such as a classic gin Martini or the bourbon-based Old Fashioned. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. For me, these include a well-crafted Cosmopolitan (made with real cranberry juice, Cointreau, and a fine citrus-vodka) and the Mai Tai.

When I lived away from Hawaiʻi nei, I developed quite an affinity for the Mai Tai, which always felt like sunshine in the cup. According to my Internet bartender of choice, Mr. Robert Hess,  the Mai Tai was created back in 1944 at Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron at his Trader Vic’s restaurant in Oakland, California. The story goes that a few guests from Tahiti tasted it and exclaimed, “Maitaʻi roa aʻe!” Often, this phrase is translated as “Out of this world!”. But to my Hawaiian ears, it seems more like “Really, really good!” In any case, the word maitaʻi stuck, but the glottal stop was eliminated, leading to the twangy “my-tie” pronunciation. Thankfully, the quality of this tropical cocktail surpasses any minor aversion its name may produce.

Where to Drink It

Despite its fame, it’s hard to find an exceptional Mai Tai. The worst can taste like alcohol and lead to a headache more memorable than the drink itself. But there are a few Oʻahu establishments that do offer a fine Mai Tai. For instance, the Mai Tai in the photos above comes from the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Helumoa, Waikīkī. The outdoor bar offers a few sophisticated variations of the original recipe. I personally prefer the Royal Mai Tai, which includes fresh squeezed pineapple, fresh squeezed orange juice, cherry-vanilla purée, Bacardi Superior,  Cointreau, and Amaretto Di Disaronno liqueur topped with Whaler’s Dark Rum.

Another favorite spot is the House without a Key at the Halekūlani at Kawehewehe, Waikīkī. While House without a Key does not offer the variations on the theme, the Mai Tai at the Halekūlani (above) is sophisticated nonetheles. Moreover, it’s a perfect complement for the hula stylings of Ms. Kanoe Miller, who performs at House with a Key from Monday to Saturday.

I have also enjoyed some exceptional Mai Tai at Indigo in Chinatown. But let me offer this caveat: it all depends on the bartender. When I brought a perfumer friend visiting from New York to the Green Room awhile back, a tatted Thai bartender pulled off a Mai Tai with panache. On another night, a young twenty-something behind the bar could only make a sub-par disappointment. I’ll therefore suggest you try a Mai Tai at Indigo on a slower evening, when the youngsters are away and the downtown business crowd seeks real libations.

How to Make It

If you’d like to attempt it, making a Mai Tai ʻono enough that you’ll say “Maitaʻi roa aʻe!” will require that you stock up on a few quality ingredients. The classic recipe below comes from Mr. Robert Hess’ website DrinkBoy. While many do insist on the pineapple garnish, I’d suggest finding a more elegant accompaniment.

1 ounce light rum
1 ounce gold rum
1/2 ounce orange curaçao
1/2 ounce orgeat
1/2 ounce lime juice
Garnish: Float of dark rum, and garnish with speared pineapple chunk and cherry.
Shake with ice. Strain into an ice filled Old Fashioned glass.

Addresses

House without a Key

Halekūlani
2199 Kālia Road
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
808 923 2311

Indigo

1121 Nuʻuanu Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817
808 521 2900

Mai Tai Bar

Royal Hawaiian Hotel
2259 Kalākaua Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
808 923 7311

Tags: Halekulani, House without a Key, Indigo, Kanoe Miller, Mai Tai Bar, maitai, reo māʻohi, Robert Hess, Tahitian language, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Trader Vic's

Time to start practicing your tāmurē, ladies. And gentlemen, better learn how to impress your girlfriends with fine, thigh-firming paʻoti before a tāne with smoother moves beats you to it. Why, you may ask?

Because the biggest Tahitian party to rock the Hawaiian archipelago in 2010 is about to go down Saturday, March 27, 2010. Nella Media Group (the folks behind Go Airlines’s eco-chic in-air magazine Innov8) and Maʻohi Nui, purveyor of the finest Tahitian dance moves, have come together to rock Aloha Tower with earth-shaking ʻōteʻa and local grooves for Spring Broke III. And what better excuse is there party when it all benefits a local charity? Party down guilt-free to the sounds of Miko Sweet, Beach 5 and OOKLAH THE MOC and check out the latest fashions from Hinano. So even if you can’t make it for Hawaiian Airlines’ Honolulu-Papeʻete flight for spring break, you can still experience the full māʻohi flavor right here at home.

Interested?

Check out ticket details in the Kaila Hawaiʻi ʻAlemanaka (Calendar). And if you’re not convinced yet, check out some these clips of Maʻohi Nui at last year’s Spring Broke.

Tags: Hinano, Maʻohi Nui, Nella Media Group, Spring Broke III, Tahiti