The Blue Girl Hawaii Tiki Lounge

Aloha, Don Ho!

2007-04-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

Let's all raise our tiki mugs to the lani (sky/heavens) and wish Mr. Don Ho a final aloha.
May he still bring effervescent smiles to our faces from his big papa-san chair in the sky.
Me ke aloha, Don. You will be missed!

Road Trip to Love

2007-02-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

"Love is all a matter of timing.
It's no good meeting the right person... too soon or too late."
-from Wong Kar Wai's lush visual feast 2046

We've all been there. Right person, wrong time.
Destiny connects you with those you are meant to meet on life's journey, but it's still up to you to be ready for them when they arrive. Otherwise, they will bump into you and keep going. Sad, but true.
Take it from a girl who's had her share of hit and runs, it's all about timing.
Metaphysically speaking, perfect synchronicity can only occur when you have straightened out your timeline. If you don't want to take anymore detours through Loserville, then it's time to smooth out the road you're traveling on.
Try Aura Soma's Coral Pomander (available at auntvisgarden.com) and be on time for your fated appointment with your future love.

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Sing...Sing a Mele

2007-02-02T19:16:00.002-07:00

7:30 a.m. Rise and shine with...
Hawaiiannette - Annette Funicello

9:00 a.m. Drive to work with...
Gidget Goes Hawaiian - James Darren

10:30 Time for a coffee break with...
The Hukilau Song - Alfred Apaka

12:00 Let's eat with...
Pearly Shells - Don Ho

1:30 Daydream of paradise with...
Blue Hawaii - Elvis

3:00 Get through the afternoon slump with...
Sweet Leilani - Chris Isaak

4:30 Count down the minutes with...
Last Ride In - Green Day

6:00 Stuck in traffic with...
Hawaii - Beach Boys

7:30 Kick back with...
Happy Hawaii - Abba

10:00 Fall asleep with...
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - IZ

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Wahine-on-the-Go

2007-01-27T00:16:00.002-07:00

Shave ice at Matsumoto’s, flirting up hot surfer boys on the North
Shore, shopping for bikinis till you drop.
How can you experience any of that if you’re afraid to fly?
All that’s about to change sweetie, so start packing!

Banish fear of flying!

Fearlessness Combination, Pacific Essences: Allows you to be fully present, centered, courageous.
Take four drops orally, every every four hours. If using spray, spritz around yourself and in immediate area, every four hours.
I recommend that you begin using this essence about one month before embarking on your journey. This way it has time to take effect before you travel. This essence can also be used during your flight to give you a shot of energetic courage.

In the event that you need an extra bit of help to relax, Kava Kava is miraculous. Take 2-3 caps half and hour before takeoff and every four hours thereafter, as needed. Just be sure to check with your doc first.

Blue Girl exercise for fearless flying:
Look out the window and imagine little menehunes (the little fairy people of Hawaii) preparing the plane for takeoff: tightening bolts, sweeping away debris, etc. Keep your imagination going until these little people actually seem to materialize. Acknowledge them and you may be surprised to see them respond. If you begin to feel uncomfortable when the plane is in the air, peek out the window and see what tasks the menehune are performing to keep the plane safe. If you are sitting in an aisle seat, no worries, they’ll oblige you by keeping hard at work inside the plane, too. Don’t believe me? Who do you think ate all the ‘ono snacks before you got on the plane, leaving the flight attendants to make due with half a soda and a bag of roasted peanuts per person?

Happy travels!
Blue Girl

Little Miss Pā-'ana-a-ka-lā

2007-01-19T12:45:00.001-07:00

Have the winter blues?
Check out da kine stuff on Blue Girl’s shortlist, and put a little sunshine in your life.
Kahuna’s orders!

My Old Sweetheart/The Whiteness of Bones/Sleeping Beauty - Susanna Moore
A loosely woven trilogy. Childhood, crazy families, and life on the islands.

A Little Too Much Is Enough - Kathleen Tyau
A great read for anyone whose family worships food like a religion.

Shag's Tiki Drinks Deck: 52 Ways to Shake Your Way to Paradise - Adam Rocke
Mai Tais anyone?

Gidget Goes Hawaiian (DVD)
Can Gidge can keep Moondoggie wrapped around her little finger or will he drop her for a fellow vacationer? Watch and find out.

North Shore (DVD)
Love and surfing on Oahu. Goofy but fun.

Don Ho Greatest Hits-Don Ho
He’s my musical ‘aumakua. What more can I say?

Hawaii Five-O - The Ventures
Surf’s up, baby!

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Hawaii Five-O...

2007-01-12T12:11:00.001-07:00

1) Don Ho’s Island Grill
This joint has gone from ‘ono to O- NO!
The delish food, fun, kitsch, and namesake owner are gone. What remains? A dreary overpriced tourist trap with poor service, bad food, and a wilted atmosphere. So sad!

2) Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Last week, I drove to the North Shore just to satiate my craving for these plump, garlic- infused oceanic dream bites. Will I do that again? Probably not. The plate lunch I ingested was beyond insipid— scrawny little shrimp, barely detectable garlic, chewy rice. O-NO!
Save your cash for Matsumoto’s, in Haleiwa, and buy a much coveted tee shirt and shave ice with azuki beans, instead. O-YEAH!

3)Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association
H.S.P.A. has dispersed its archives. O-NO! If your g-pop immigrated to the islands to work as a contract laborer, you now need to head to BYU or Hawaii or UofH at Manoa to do your research. And, as my Grandpa would say, “Da people der... bery nice... bery nice!” O-YEAH!

4) Hawaiiana Hotel
Want a low-key place to kick it while staying on Oahu? Then the Hawaiiana is the hotel for you. However, make sure NOT to book a standard room. O-NO! My little sis and I were so SHOCKED by its tired flop house decor, and unexpected view of the wall and maintenance area, that we fled the scene immediately and pleaded for an upgrade. If you really want to treat yourself, ask for an Ali’i room— the King Kamehameha or Princess Ka’iulani, perhaps— and channel your inner royalty. O-YEAH!

5) Dave’s Ice Cream in Sears
Sears? Yes, Sears. Seeking out Dave’s— on the bottom floor of Sears— at the Ala Moana Center was like time-traveling back to the ‘70s of my childhood: muumuus, airline tickets, and ice cream all in the same store. So old-school; so cool!
Take the time to lose yourself in the retro-ambiance of this one stop department store and then treat yourself to a scoop— or two— of the best green tea ice cream on the planet! O-YEAH!

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Kalaupapa Exile

2007-01-05T17:48:00.001-07:00

Do yourself a favor ...run to your local bookseller and buy Molokai by Alan Brennert.
This transcendent novel of life and love, at the leprosy settlement on Molokai, was the most emotionally charged read of my entire life. This book truly touched my soul.

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Water is Life

2006-12-29T14:14:00.001-07:00

“Water teaches in a very clear way how we must live our lives. The story of water reaches from every individual cell to encompass the entire cosmos.”
-Dr. Masaru Emoto from The Hidden Messages in Water

“Water sustains all life. Her songs begin in the tiniest of raindrops, transform to flowing rivers, travel to majestic oceans and thundering clouds and back to earth to being again. When water is threatened, all living things are threatened.” -Indigenous Declaration on Water

This past weekend I had the unique opportunity to hear, the world renowned Japanese scientist, Dr. Emoto speak to an intimate gathering of people on the Hopi reservation—in Northern Arizona— where my little bro has the honor of teaching.
Emoto is a friend of the Hopi people and shares their deep and profound respect for the life-giving power of water. His visit coincided with the annual Water is Life festival— held in honor of the nineteen Hopi men imprisoned at Alcatraz, in 1895, for refusing to send their children to a U.S. Government school established to “civilize” them. Personally, I think the government had that one backwards— but that’s another story. Anyway... Mr. E. He’s cute, he’s humble, and he has a wicked sense of humor. Not only did I walk away enlightened and inspired, but also highly entertained. If you have a chance to hear him speak, please do so! In the meantime, pick up a copy of his book: The Hidden Messages in Water. It’s a must read for all.

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Pau Hana

2006-12-22T18:20:00.003-07:00

For laborers who immigrated to the islands in the early part of the last century, “Pau Hana”— which translates literally as “stop work”— signaled the end of a day of back breaking toil in the sugar cane fields of Hawaii.
Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Portuguese men dreaming of a new life made Hawaii their adopted home and, in the process, created a pupu platter culture that has given the islands their distinct and original flavor.
Outside of the Hawaiian islands, the stories of plantation life and the men who travailed are untold or simply forgotten.
My grandfather was one of these dreamers who made Hawaii his home. He followed the song of the islands to the north, hoping for a life of ease filled with riches. He found neither, but his years spent on the Wailuku Sugar Plantation, in Maui, filled him with enough wondrous tales to talk story long into the afternoon with his granddaughter— me. His tales of the islands shaped me; they are tales that I carry with me still.
Listen up! Learn the stories of your ‘ohana (family), talk story deep into the night, do not forget where you came from, allow the stories to lead you to where you belong.

Research: What is your story? Did your grandpa or great-grandpa work on a Hawaiian sugarcane or pineapple plantation, too? Want to learn more?
Contact:
Hawaii Agricultural Research Center
99-193 Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 300
Aiea, HI 96701-3911

If your pop came to the mainland, after his sojourn in Hawaii, chances are he began his mainland adventure in Seattle, as mine did.
If you want to research the logs of the Hawaiian passenger ships that brought contracted labor to the the mainland— post-plantation life— head over to:
The National Archives
6125 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, Washington
Warning: come with the arrival year in hand or be prepared to spend countless hours in front of the microfiche machine.

Explore: Hawaii’s Plantation Village at Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, Oahu
The village features thirty original and replicated homes and buildings representing the various cultures that immigrated to Hawaii, to work the sugarcane fields, between 1900-1930.

Read: All I Asking For Is My Body by Milton Murayama
A Nisei boy coming-of-age, on a Maui sugar plantation, circa 1940.

Watch: Picture Bride
A slow moving, but emotionally evocative story of a Japanese picture bride adjusting to life on a Hawaiian sugar plantation.

Visit: The Sugar Cane Museum in Pu‘unene, Maui.
Housed in the former home of a plantation luna, or supervisor, this museum seeks to educate its visitors on plantation life in Hawaii.

Word: kau kau (Hawaiian) food or eat (English)
“We go kau kau?”
Something my grandpa was always asking me— in his broken English, coupled with the pidgin he picked up on the plantation— even if we both had full tummies. My answer was invariably... “yes!”

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Hello Dalai!

2006-12-15T09:40:00.001-07:00

The Dalai Lama: humble monk, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, spiritual rock star.
A rare political and spiritual leader who walks the talk. Not to mention the fact that he has the most uplifting, infectious giggle I’ve ever heard.
Buddhist or not, everyone can learn a thing or two from the life and philosophy of the man whose name translates as “Ocean of Wisdom.”

Quote: “My religion is kindness.” -The Dalai Lama

Man of the Hour: His Holiness, The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso
Hands down, the coolest guy on the planet! He is the living embodiment of aloha— Tibetan style.

Watch: Kundun
A visually beautiful and emotionally stirring film about the the fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Listen: The Fourteenth Dalai Lama in Hawaii
This combination seems almost too good to be true, but it is.
This audio cd contains excerpts from the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Hawaii a few years ago. It also features music and chants from Hawaiian and Tibetan culture.
Buy your copy at amazon.com

Read: Anything by the Dalai Lama.
H.H. has written a number of books, so it will be easy to find at least one that suits your spiritual needs.

See: The Dalai Lama
I have loved and respected this man for years. After being in the same room with him— I now want to be a member of his posse and the president of his fan club!
Check out dalailama.com for his complete schedule.

Learn: Surf on over to www.buddhanet.net to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism.

Subscribe: Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
An intelligent, yet pragmatic, quarterly focusing on all aspects of Buddhist thought and practice.
www.tricycle.com

Meditate: Om Mani Padme Hum
This Tibetan mantra literally translates as, “The jewel is in the lotus.”
Metaphorically speaking, we are the lotus flower and the jewels of wisdom and compassion are contained within us. Help your inner flower bloom through meditation on loving-kindness, or metta. Keep in mind, while meditating, that what you seek is already inside of you. Whatever that may be!
Traditionally this mantra is repeated 108 times. Use prayer beads, or mala, to help you keep track.

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Everybody Loves Don

2006-12-08T08:55:00.001-07:00

It was hard not to take notice of Don Ho in the 1960s and ‘70s: cameo appearances on television’s most popular sitcoms, a chart-topping single, his own variety show, and of course, his nightly live show at the Polynesian Palace in Waikiki.
When I was a child, I assumed— and still do— that everybody knows and loves this man and his music.
He is an integral stitch in the fabric of American pop-culture; an icon, the King of Waikiki.
I heard through the local coffee vine that Don was hospitalized recently and may have to cancel his upcoming mainland tour.
Let’s all take a moment to send some aloha-filled mana his way for a speedy and full recovery. Me ke aloha, Don Ho. Get well soon!

Listen: Don Ho Show- Don Ho
Listen to the album that started it all.

Retro-TV Watch: Don Ho Variety Show
This daytime variety show aired from October 1976 - March 1977.
Don was the host and island hopped, like mad, with various guests.

Eat: Don Ho’s Island Grill at Aloha Tower Marketplace
Lobster fried rice and a Suck ‘Em Up mai tai, anyone?

See: Don Ho
The man, the legend.... Mr. Don Ho. Live at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
Check donho.com for the current schedule.

Word: mele (Hawaiian), song (English)
The mele of the islands has the voice of Don Ho.

Aloha!
Blue Girl

We Are Family

2006-12-01T02:53:00.002-07:00

While living large, as a pre-teen wahine, in San Clemente, California, I often complained to my mother that the stork had dropped me off on the wrong coast, in the wrong time period, to the wrong family. I was certain that I belonged to a Jewish family in 1950’s Manhattan. After grooving with the Crujido clan for over three decades, I’m thankful that directionally challenged, big-billed bird deposited me into the arms of my chaotic, bohemian, left-of center ‘ohana— where love and good food are never in short supply.
Families. Love them or not, they’re yours for life. If nothing else, take time to find the humor in the soundtrack they provide for your life.

Watch: Whale Rider
Little Paikia proves her love and worth to her grandpa in this modern day classic and one of my favorite movies of all time. Paikia is my hero!

Word: ‘ohana (Hawaiian), family (English)
My ‘ohana drives me pupule, but I love them madly.

Read: Shark Dialogues- Kiana Davenport
A strong, beautiful, kahuna mama and her family. I love this book. Just buy it and read it!

Listen: Anne Murray- Greatest Hits, Kenny Rogers- Greatest Hits
Huh? Oh yes, you read that correctly. These two cassettes were played— over and over and over again— on every Crujido family road trip throughout my childhood.

Eat: Lau lau (sweet bread), shrimp, lumpias (Filipino eggrolls), and macaroni salad. A few of my favorite offerings at a Crujido family lu’au.

Hang: T-Street Beach, San Clemente, California.
Many a summer day was spent here, hanging with my fam.

Respect: Hotei
Known to many as the fat, happy Buddha. He was actually a dude named Hotei, or Ho-Ti, who brought stories, laughter , and protection to keiki (children) everywhere. In this respect, and the fact that he and my pop could pass for twins, he’s like a member of my family.

Aloha!
Blue Girl

I Dream of Molokai

2006-11-24T17:31:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time there was a wahine kahuna living in exile, far far away from her beloved island home. More often than not, she was filled with longing and sadness. In time, this led to a volcanic malaise that, no matter how hard she swiveled her hula hips, she just couldn’t shake. Then one night, she dreamt that she was flying over the Hawaiian archipelago. As she passed over each island— Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau— she felt that each bestowed a gift upon her: a lost piece of her soul.
When she awoke the next morning, she felt —for the first time in years— that she was whole again and ready to rock the world. Ancient Hawaiian secret? No way! The healing power of the islands is available to anyone, anywhere— whether they visit, meditate, or dream its powerful, aloha-filled mana.

Hawaii
Akua: Pele (Volcano Girl)
Energy Center: First or root chakra, located at the base of the spine
Color: Red
Mana: Grounded, passionate, fearless
Kahuna Stone: Ruby
Lei: Lehua— red blossoms sacred to Miss Pele

Maui
Akua: Haumea (Earth Mama)
Energy Center: Second or sacral chakra, located about two inches below the belly button
Color: Orange
Mana: Creative, sensual, sanguine, intuitive
Kahuna Stone: Green Jasper
Lei: Lokelani— a delicate sweetly scented pink bloom

Lanai
Akua: Hi’iaka (Kahuna Girl)
Energy Center: Third or solar plexus chakra, located below the chest, above the belly button
Color: Yellow
Mana: Happy, relaxed, confident
Kahuna Stone: Gold
Lei: Kaunaoa— light orange vines

Molokai
Akua: Laka (Love Girl)
Energy Center: Fourth or heart chakra, located in center of the chest
Color: Green
Mana: Aloha-filled, compassionate, forgiving, calm
Kahuna Stone: Rose Quartz
Lei: Kukui— white flowers and silver-green leaves

Oahu
Akua: Kapo (Bohemian Girl)
Energy Center: Fifth or throat chakra, located in the hollow of the throat
Color: Blue
Mana: Artistic, centered, true to self, living in the present moment
Kahuna Stone: Aquamarine
Lei: ‘Ilima— delicate orange velvety blossoms

Kauai
Akua: Uli (Dream Girl)
Energy Center: Sixth or third eye, located slightly above and between the eyebrows
Color: Violet
Mana: Charismatic, psychic, able to manifest dreams, connected to the spiritual Big Kahuna
Kahuna Stone: Herkimer Diamond
Lei: Mokihana— purplish, anise-scented berries

Niihau
Akua: Hina (Moon Mama)
Energy Center: Seventh or crown chakra, located on the top of the head
Color: White
Mana: Positive, cosmically connected, living life to the fullest
Kahuna Stone: Amethyst
Lei: Pupu— white shells

Until next week, I will leave you with this thought:
“Hawaii isn’t just a place in the middle of the Pacific, it’s a place inside you— a place that, wherever you go in the world, is still inside you.” -Tad James

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Tiki: An Homage To My Polynesian Pop Loving Parents

2006-11-17T15:01:00.002-07:00

In the early 1970s, as a micro-mini wahine, growing up across the bay from the city to end all cities— San Francisco— my parents were indoctrinating me into the cult of Tiki. The sound of exotica was lilting from hi-fi’s everywhere, Mai Tais were the drink of the moment, and Trader Vic’s could be found from coast to coast.

Read: The Book of Tiki: The Cult of Polynesian Pop in Fifties America-Sven A. Kirsten
A must read for those of you obsessed with kitschy Hawaiiana.

Listen: Quite Village/Enchanted Sea-Martin Denny
Exotica at its finest. Play this during your next tiki inspired bash.

Watch: The Brady Bunch
1) Episode 72: Hawaii Bound
While wandering around the Sheraton Waikiki, Bobby & Cindy happen upon Don Ho.
Don, ukulele in hand, serenades them with an acoustic rendition of “Sweet Someone.”
Bobby finds a tiki, but doesn’t believe it’s kapu to take it from it’s sacred site. Havoc ensues.

2) Episode 73: Pass The Tabu
Bad luck continues for the Brady clan.

3)Episode 74: The Tiki Caves
The Brady’s finally realize that when Hawaiians say something is kapu it’s not to be taken lightly. The boys return the tiki to its original burial ground, the curse is lifted, and the Brady’s wrap up their Hawaiian vacation with a lu‘au.

Artist: Derek
A hep cat from down south that really knows how to make his paintbrush swing.
Check it out for yourself at derekart.com

Peruse: Tiki Magazine
The new kid on the block raising its tiki mug to all things— you guessed it— Tiki.
Subscribe at tikimag.net

Date: The Tonga Room at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco
When my Polynesian papa, an island hottie, and Scandinavian mama, a Nordic beauty, used to hit the town— pre-me— they would head to one of the original purveyors of all things tiki, the Tonga Room. There they would gaze at one another, while sipping tropical libations and sharing a pupu platter as exotic as their pairing.
Although the bloom had faded on the original Tonga Room, it’s still open for you and your kane to share a drink and dream the future— just like my mom and pop did many years ago.

Sleep: Caliente Tropics Resort, Palm Springs
Elvis slept here. As did Dean and the rest of his crew.
This 1960s hipster playground was my choice when I rolled into town a few years ago to see the Foo’s rock Coachella. I loved the iconic grounds and tiki touches. I think you will too!

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Menehune: The Oompa-Loompas of Hawaii

2006-11-10T15:15:00.001-07:00

I can already hear the tiny Menehune voices protesting the comparison to Wonka’s uncomely little helpers. In fairness, I should clarify that the menehune are smaller, shapelier, and much better looking than the ompaloompas— nouveau or original. In fact, it is said that the menehune were miniature hotties that enticed many a full- sized Hawaiian native into an interracial union. How’s that for confidence?

Listen: Menehune love to dive from cliffs; if you hear splashing in the ocean, late at night, keep your eyes peeled— you just might spot one of these mischievous menes at play.

Word: Kolohe (Hawaiian), Naughty (English)
“I love kolohe menehune boys. They’re so hot!” Overheard being said by the village’s prettiest and most popular menehune girl to her best friend; while their dads toiled— one night— building yet another heiau.

Sweeter than haupia: Johnny Depp. Take him out of his Wonka-wear, outfit him in a vintage aloha shirt and a pair of slippas, and he could pass for a beautiful hapa-haole Hawaiian boy.

Eat: Menehunes favorite guilty pleasure— shrimp. One of the best places— on the island of Oahu or anywhere for that matter— to get your fill of these tasty little crustaceans is Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck on the North Shore. Scrumpdillyicious!

Read: Tutu Nene: The Hawaiian Mother Goose by Debra Ryll
A book for keiki (little kids) that gives props in one rhyme to Hawaii’s little people.

Ohana: A kissing-cousin of the Menehune is the leprechaun.
Hmmm, could that how those beautiful Dublin boys acquired their dark beauty? A traveling menehune hangin’ on the Emerald Isle with his Eire cuz?

Visit: Puu O Mahuka Heiau
Check out the menehune handiwork at this sacrificial heiau (temple) on the North Shore of Oahu.
The menehune, expert stonemasons, exclusively rocked the midnight shift— fuled by ‘ono grinds (yummy food) and rockin’ tunes— and hammered away on each project for a single night. If the sun began to rise before their work was complete, it was left unfinished.
Note: In spite of the sweeping picture-perfect view of Waimea Bay and seemingly romantic splendor at Puu O Mahuka , it must be remembered that this is a sacred site and needs to be treated as such. No need to anger the Hawaiian Gods!

Aloha!
Blue Girl

Pele: The Original Volcano Girl

2006-11-03T15:03:00.001-07:00

Pele is one of the sexiest and most powerful Goddess in the Hawaiian islands.
Miss P, originally hailed from Tahiti, but like most of us needed a new view and set sail, with her bros in tow, to find a new place to hang. After trying a few of the islands on for size, she finally settled on the big island of Hawaii.
Fiery, tempestuous, sensual. Creator and destroyer. She’s a mega babe—and single mama— that deserves the utmost respect.

Read: Pele: Goddess of Hawaii by Herb Kawainui Kane. This slim volume is replete with enough Pele lore for even the most ardent follower.

Crib: Halemaumau Crater on Kilauea. If you want to visit Pele at home, be sure to bring a gift: flowers, a handful of ‘ohelo berries (cranberry’s Hawaiian cousin) or a bottle of gin— Volcano Girl’s favorite libation.

Word: Nalu (Hawaiian), Surf (English)
“Nalu’s up, Pele! Let’s hang ten and then check out da kine local boys.” Hi’iaka to her big sister, Pele, one lazy afternoon.

Kane of the week: Pele’s main man— Kamapua’a. Kamapua’a was apparently a duel- natured hottie with a bit of a secret; he was a baby pig at birth. Pele and Kama loved and hated each other madly.

Stone: Olivine/Periodot, aka the “Luck of Pele.”
Carry this stone in your pocket to soak up its empowering vibe and remind you of the power of Pele within you.

Color: Wear red underthings to privately connect with the Pele of your interior. Red is the color of bold, daring sexuality. It is also the color of power. It will work energetically, while wearing, to balance your first chakra—the energy center of fearlessness and passion.

Tip: Never, and I repeat never, take lava rock from the islands. The mana of Pele is present in even the smallest stone and she will unleash her wrath upon you, if you dare to take one from its island home.

Aloha Wahine!
Blue Girl

Viva... Las Vegas?

2006-10-27T03:05:00.001-07:00

Yes girls, if you look hard enough you can find a bit of the islands wherever you happen to be. Case in point, my recent trip to Las Vegas where my little sister and I made a pilgrimmage to Mecca— otherwise known as Elvis-O-Rama.
For a mere $13.00 we assuaged our need for Elvis worship, without traveling all the way to Graceland. Personal highlights of the museum included a photo of Elvis with Don Ho (another musical amakua of mine) and original Blue Hawaii movie posters, lobby cards, LPs, and 45s. There was also a photo of Elvis on his motorcycle, looking so rugged and extra-foxy, that I almost lost it right then and there. All I can say is that Miss Pricilla was one lucky girl!

Read: Elvis Presley: Silver Screen Icon by Steve Templeton
This book is a visual gold mine filled with reproductions of movie posters— international and domestic— from all of the King’s movies.

Watch: Blue Hawaii/Girls!Girls!Girls!/Paradise Hawaiian Style
Elvis croons and the girls swoon. The difference is that these gems are set in Hawaii.

Listen: Elvis – Aloha From Hawaii
A childhood favorite of mine. It rocked then and it rocks now.

Shop: Elvis-O-Rama Gift Shop
Blue Hawaii posters, postcards, and kitschy trinkets; as well as original Elvis-owned collectibles.

Word: mahalo (Hawaiian), thank you (English)
Mahalo, mahalo nui loa. Translation: Thank you, thank you very much. Cute, huh!

Sweeter than haupia: Elvis in his ‘68 comeback special. Totally ‘ono!

Hotel: Mandalay Bay
Oceanic-theme for island loving girls, yummy restaurants, great shopping (not to mention, the only hotel on the strip that boasts a book shop). Can’t beat that now can you?

Tip: Load on the sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Vegas in the summer time will wilt fair wahines— faster than a sumo wrestler can down a sushi platter— so be prepared.

Aloha!
Blue Girl