Ka Hula Hou 2010

Over the weekend, I joined a few members of my halau, Ke'ala 'O Kamailelauli'ili'i & Manawaiopuna, for the 2nd annual Ka Hula Hou competition.  I had the best mini-vaca away from the family & enjoyed my time with some of my most favorite people in the world.

In the first round, we lost our challenge to Kaleo O Nalani from San Diego.  In the second round, we lost to Halau Hula 'O Walea.  In the third round, we challenged Academy of Hawaiian Arts (who are huge rivals of ours) & we beat them.  In the end, the bar was raised when another $1,000 was added to the already existing $1,000 grand prize & all of the kumu hula were asked if they wanted to have a clean slate & battle one last time.    Here are the final performances...

The men of Manawaiopuna




And then another $1,000 was added to make it a $3,000 grand prize....

The men of Kaleo O Nalani




And then another $1,000 was added.  Making it a grand total of a $4,000 grand prize.

The men of Halau Hula 'O Walea
(this wasn't their final performance, i can't find it.  but here's one of theirs from the evening)




The men of Academy of Hawaiian Arts




AHA took the grand prize in the end & it was well deserved.  Even though we didn't come home with the grand prize, the fact that we beat AHA in our round is pretty awesome!!

Here are a few photos that I took of the evening!!

Happy Anniversary!!

On this day, 9 years ago, I married the one I had the hugest crush on in junior high.  To him, I was "too ghetto."  Hey, it was in back then ok?  I wore the baggy pants, the big hooded sweatshirts.  I was seriously in style back in 1994.

After high school, we'd frequently run in to one another at a dance club.  We'd dance together here & there, but it was never anything serious.  Until the night before Thanksgiving in 1998.  We've pretty much been inseparable ever since.

Today, as we celebrate our 9 years of marriage, our daughters, our love, laughs, strengths & the work it took to get us here, I just wanted you to know how grateful I am to be where we are today.  I love you.

Inspired

This week, I attended my first photography workshop - WPPI Road Trip.  At first, I didn't feel like I deserved to go.  I want to get back in to photography & re-launch my business, but I felt that this seminar was "too much for me," like I was going to be the only one that was "re-launching" or "starting over."  I was wrong.  I shared a room with 400 other photographers who ranged from those that have been in the business to those that were just starting from scratch.  It was all over the spectrum & I was just so happy that I did in fact fit in.

I learned so much from each speaker.  I have at least 3 pages of notes from each one of their speeches.  Even though they each had different things to say regarding their individual practices, i took something great from each of them.  The fact that they shared so willingly made the seminar so worth it.

Of course, my favorite part, was hearing my favorite photographer, Jasmine Star, speak on marketing, branding & being YOU.  I've been following her blog & her work for almost 3 years now.  I think what drew me to her was that she was so honest about her trials & tribulations & how she didn't have professional training or an education in photography.  She simply loved it & wanted to make a living doing what she loved.  Who can't be a fan of someone that does something like that?

When Melissa, William (Melissa's assistant photographer) & Rikki went upstairs to have our lunch, I quickly noticed Jasmine & JD checking in to the hotel.  I instantly became star struck.  It was almost as if I had just seen Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block.  Seriously.  Such a dork!  So after I put my lunch down, I grabbed my camera & told the others that I was going to get my picture before she had to be downstairs for the seminar.  Melissa came with me so that she could snap the picture for me.  I walked over & asked if I could bother then for a photo.  When JD offered to move their luggage away, I said "NO, JD, YOU TOO!"  As if JD & I went WAY back.  Again...big dork! So he jumped in the photo, we did a little dance around to figure out who was going to be in the middle & we took a picture....

Afterwards, JD asked what my name was & I replied "Tanya."  Jasmine asked "Tanya what?" & I said "Tanya Jose" & she said "I know that name?  How do I know you?"  And I mentioned that I'd been following her for almost 3 years, I mentioned how I won a gift card from her for THIS POST & that I leave comments on her blog all the time.  It rang a bell with her & she knew who I was & that I was from Seattle.

OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!

The fact that my name "rang a bell" was it for me.  Nothing.  I mean NOTHING, could've ruined my day after that.  I was completely giddy while I ate my lunch & kicking my feet while opening my cookie.  You'd think that I had just won a golden ticket to meet Willy Wonka.

Looking back on it, when I had won that gift card, I remember calling a few people in extreme excitement that I had been mentioned on Jasmine's blog.  I remember my shaking hands & my shakey voice & all.  That's EXACTLY how I was when she said that she knew my name.

So embarrassing!!

But with all that said, I came out of the seminar feeling so inspired.  Inspired to focus on how to re-launch my business, start up a website that best represents ME & keeping it all real while doing so.  I hope that you'll enjoy this ride as much as I will.

Samantha & Trevor - Married

Samantha & I go way back. Ok, not WAY back, but we go back a good few number of years. Her Auntie, is my Best Friend (you'll see that i typically refer to her as my BFF).

Trevor & Samantha met where many people meet....at work. I still remember the first time that he came to meet the family, at a birthday bbq. I'm sure he was overwhelmed not only by all the people, but by the food as well. Because we always have enough food to feed an army.

Last week, at The Orting Manor, they vowed to love one another for all eternity. They were surrounded by those that have loved them since they were little & those who have become their friends along the way.

Samantha & Trevor, I hope that you enjoy your new married life & your time in Jamaica as well. I wish you nothing but love & happiness. Love you...

Auntie Ami's 50th Birthday Party!

I am an only child. I don't say that with bitterness, I'm just saying it because it's fact. I'd like to think that I never acted like "one of them," but who knows, maybe I did act like a diva once in awhile. I know for sure that I do sometimes act like one now & then. But I own it & I think it's fun.

If you've known me since I was little, you've known that I was raised with my cousins, Chelsea & Chandra. Chelsea & I are the same age & Chan is 3 years younger than us. I can remember so many things about my childhood & spending my weekends with them. Most of all I remember my Auntie & Uncle ALWAYS having the family over. I remember tons of food, lots of laughing, music, more laughing, dancing, drinks & more laughing. It's always been that way for as long as I can remember.

A few months ago, while having lunch with my cousins, discussion of throwing my Auntie a surprise 50th birthday party came up & before we knew it, plans were in the works. All seemed to go perfect....until TWO DAYS prior when the tents showed up at the house. So it didn't turn out EXACTLY as planned but it was still so much fun. It was just like old times, hanging out in the yard, listening to music, eating, drinking & dancing....with tons of laughter.

Auntie Ami....i love you!! Even though I called you a "party ruiner," it was all in fun. I hope you had a GREAT birthday party & I hope to look as fabulous as you when I turn 50. love you...

Kamehameha Class of 1968 Birthday Celebration

Growing up in the mainland, I know that I missed out on A LOT of things.  I often wonder how things would be different for me had I been raised in Hawaii.  I remember during my freshman year in junior high, my Dad asked me if I'd be interested in going to Hawaii to finish school.  I told him "NO! What about my friends?"  Looking back, I now know why he wanted me to go.  It was because I would never experience certain things here, that I would there.

While taking photos for the Kamehameha School Class of 1968 60th Birthday celebration last evening, I had a deep appreciation for what I was seeing & was asked to be a part of.  I was envious of the friendships that still remain after all these years & the closeness of everyone.  You could tell who was the kolohe ones, because they still are.  And you could tell the ones that were in charge, because they took charge last night.  The evening consisted of dinner, a few small speeches, cake & a couple of slideshows.  One slideshow in memory of the classmates that are no longer with us.  And another slideshow of everyone's senior photo with a few recent photos.  The best part was that the slideshows were put together with their class singing 'Sail On, O My Soul' at the 1968 Kamehameha School Song Contest.

Auntie Mervina, thank you so much for asking me to take photos of this memorable night for you folks.  Not only did I meet someone that I was related to (crazy small world), but it was a nice reminder of how friendships & staying in touch with one another is so important in life.

Okekai & Steven - Married

Yesterday I had the pleasure of shooting Okekai & Steven's wedding day. I remember last year when the planning began & I was asked if I'd be their photographer...the year flew by so fast.

The morning started with the girls getting their makeup done at the MAC counter at Nordstrom's at the Tacoma Mall while sipping on iced mocha's. It seemed as though from the moment we left there, the day took full speed & before I knew it, the ceremony was in full swing.

As the 93 degree weather beamed down on the guests, there wasn't a dry eye as Steven confessed his love & admiration for Okekai. I found myself wiping my eyes several times so that I could focus on what I was shooting. The ceremony was short & sweet ending with a sand ceremony & then they were announced as husband & wife.

Okekai & Steven, thank you. Thank you for reminding me that love is so sweet & so kind. I admire the love & sincerity that surrounds the both of you & your boys. Mahalo for everything...