Rachel Cruz Photo Shoot

I tagged along with Erick today as he shot photos for the cover of Rachel Cruz's new CD. It was fun. I wish I could've spent more time with them.

Sweet Sour Spareribs

Once again Wendell followed the recipe in Jean Watanabe Hee's Hawaii's Best Local Dishes, a most awesome cookbook.

Coat 3 pounds of spareribs in flour and brown the ribs in oil. Mix together 3/4 c. brown sugar, 1 c. water, 1/2 c. cider vinegar, 4 T. sugar, 3 cloves minced garlic and add to ribs. Simmer for 2 hours or until soft.

Long Live the Hive

Last year I discovered the BHiver Wall and learned about Matt Smith. I wrote about it in two separate blogs, BHiver Wall and Bhiver Wall Revisited. I recently received an e-mail from Matt's mom, Annette, and learned that his legacy continues.

"Dear Jalna - your photos are exquisite, the Bhiver Wall is amazing, not only in it's artistic power but in it's meaning of respect, friendship and love for my son from his true friends....we should all be so lucky to have such true friends. My son, "Matty" had just finished his art studies at U.H., Manoa. He was a graffiti artist - painter and a lithographer. He loved lithography ... his professor/mentor, Charlie Cohan really helped Matty to explore and develop a love of lithography. When Matty died we wanted to honor him and inspire other artists as well, something that was true to Matty's core - encouragement and love of all his fellow students' artistic creations. We established the Matt Smith Art Award, an annual award/scholarship, which grants three students 1500.00/each to help continue their studies in lithography through the U.H. Art Dept., Charlie Cohan oversees the award. Last year three were awarded, two of the students had been in classes with Matty and this year three more students were just anounced...Matty would be so "stoked." What has been so fantastic about these awards/scholarships is that Matty's friends and fellow artists in Seattle, organize an art show, each summer, to help raise money for the scholarships, they donate their art and we print t-shirts and sell CD's, Matty also wrote music and I would be happy to send you one of his CD's to thank you for recognizing the fantastic art of the Bhiver Wall. This Feb. 28th will mark the 2 yr passing of our Matty, but his Bhiver Spirit is alive and thriving in the hearts and minds of his talented friends and artists everywhere....Long Live The Hive!!!!! Sincerely, Annette"

As the anniversary of his passing approaches, I felt compelled today to return to the wall. I decided to take a few close-up shots.

I lingered for awhile not wanting to leave, half wishing for some kind of sign from Matt. And he arrived. His name is Leif. He had spotted the wall yesterday and decided to return to get a few shots. I wonder if it's a coincidence that Leif is visiting from Seattle where Matt and his family are from. And I wonder if it's a coincidence that according to Wikipedia "Leif" is Scandinavian in origin and can be pronounced "Life". I think not. I think it's not a coincidence at all, and I think that Matty wants us to know that The Hive Does Live On.

Mardi Gras 2009 in Downtown Honolulu

Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday, a work night. I can't believe I went. Thanks to Erick and Leslie and all the other crazy people that were out, I had a great time.

This guy was throwing out beads, and I couldn't believe it when one landed right by my feet. I also couldn't believe it when it got snatched right out of my hands . . .
by the woman on the right. Looks like she gave it to her mom, so all was forgiven.
After this picture was taken, the beautiful woman gave me and Les our only beads for the night, and we didn't even have to expose anything.

The booze was flowing . . . but not for me and Les. We got some jambalaya with cornbread instead, and boy was it good!

Me and Les were in the perfect spot when the parade started.

This is Leslie's newest friend, Ghandi Jones. Check out his dance moves on Leslie's blog.

Chad Does Body Painting at the Mardi Gras

Chad Morisato is an awesome air-brush artist. As part of tonight's Mardi Gras celebration he did a body painting exhibition. You can check out his work at his website, A Touch of Air.