Play Ball

Aloha, Welcome!

click on photos to enlarge

Morning in Waikiki!

"Modern man thinks he loses something - time - when he does not do things quickly. Yet he does not know what to do with the time he gains except kill it."

Erich Fromm

This young man changed America

"If anyone can figure out a way for me to collect my royalties posthumously, I will hurry up and reincarnate."

Noel Coward

He grew into a leading citizen of his adopted home town

"In the end, people will act more on their personalities than on their politics." Chris Fox

The roots of baseball lie far to the east.

Its legends are enshrined in Cooperstown New York, but every year on April 17, true devotees of "America's pastime" make their way here to Honolulu.

Gathering at historic Oahu Cemetery before a handsome pinkish monument, they oft find baseballs, bats, lei, and even baseball cards, waiting there on the hallowed ground for them. For this is the grave of Alexander Joy Cartwright, the inventor of the game of baseball. This year marked the 189th anniversary of his birth.

He served as trustee of Queen Emma's estate, President of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, and was 40 years Chief of the Honolulu Fire Department, dying just a year before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. These facts of his life describe the very coming-of-age of our city.

But it is what he accomplished before taking ship for Hawaii that assures his place among the immortals. In 1845 he and some friends founded the Knickerbocker Baseball Club in Hoboken New Jersey where they played at the aptly named Elysian Fields. It was during those Summer afternoons, that AJC formalized the new game's rules, differentiating it from English "Rounders" or any other game. His creation has been by called "The Perfect Game" for over a hundred years.

The influential Spalding family supported the myth that Abner Doubleday, a Civil War general, was the game's inventor. But the Hall of Fame, and scholars of the game agree: Alexander Joy Cartwright is the rightful father.

This year Alexander Joy Cartwright IV was here on the island with us. And his sincere pride was evident.

Not far from Waikiki, in the Makiki neighborhood, recreational leagues play the game at Cartwright Field, a Honolulu City Park. I bet lots of kids (and adults) never give the field's name a second thought. But fanatics of the game are lobbying for a AJC postal stamp, and there is talk of launching a web site. I wish them all the best.

As for why the gentleman made such a momentous move in those days of sailing ships around "The Horn?"

I just think of the crowded 19th century City of New York, and of the sweet smelling trade winds that refresh our town; I think of the lovely character of these islands and her people and one thing becomes abundantly clear.

With the middle name of "Joy" AJC evidently had much in common with the citizens of Honolulu, where joy will always have a home. . .

A L O H A! Cloudia

You Already Are

Aloha & Welcome!

Click on photos to enlarge

Another beauty by Ted Trimmer

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn." Gore Vidal

Solemn Hawaiian Ceremonies

"Travelers, there is no path, the path is made by walking."

Antonio Machado

Ulu (breadfruit) leaf; a popular Hawaiian Quilt pattern!

"If you don't risk anything, you risk even more."

Erica Jong

My dad is being moved from the hospital to hospice-at-home care tomorrow.

They live around a mile from me, but despite my efforts and the support of the wonderful hospice folks, my mom will be alone with all of it.

Though I berate myself for my lack of finances that could make this all so much easier, and feel guilty for not doing more, nevertheless I'm exhausted from the "too little" I've already done!

But this blog, and all of you, are my somehow secret garden. Here I can repair and recreate among like-minded humans. The Grandpa http://wordmechanic.blogspot.com/ has kindly sent me a published volume of his poems, A Matter of Mind;

and lovely Jenn Jilks http://myreflectionsmusings.blogspot.com/ has thrown me a lifeline in the form of her book, Living and Dying with Dignity - A Daughter's Journey Through Long-Term Care.

Let me share a few thoughts from my notebook:

Sometimes I ask myself: WWDLD? What would the Dali Lama do?

What you fear to be

that you already are

welcome it home

to see it's disguised beauty.

Aloha my friends! And forgive me for my lapses in commenting on your wonderful blogs. Just know that I'm lurking about the blogosphere in my stolen moments and take great pleasure in all of you.

You know who you are ;-)

A L O H A! Cloudia

My Town Monday: The Grand

Aloha, Welcome!

Click on photos to enlarge A Sweet Little Boutique Hotel

"It's not necessary to go far and wide. I mean, you can really find exciting and inspiring things within your hometown."

Daryl Hannah

Great View of DH from the Grand,
"Front Row Seat"

"As I get older, I get smaller. I see other parts of the world I didn't see before. Other points of view. I see outside myself more."

Neil Young

From Across da Street, Zoo parking, da Park, and Queen's Surf Beach.

Nice!

"A stair not worn hollow by footsteps is, regarded from its own point of view, only a boring something made of wood."

Franz Kafka

Proposed Site of My Dotage!

Location Location LOCATION!


A favorite little "boutique" hotel of mine is the fortunately located Waikiki Grand Hotel (http://www.waikikigrand.com/)
at the corner of Kapahulu & Kalakaua.


Directly across the street from Kapiolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo, and steps from the Queen's Surf beach area, the Grand boasts Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, and Teddy's Bigger Burgers on site.



The Hustle & Bustle of Waikiki Beach meets the giant green park here. Check the epic view (close!) of Diamond Head from the Grand's tenth floor sun deck! Bonus: guests at the Grand often hear animal noises from the zoo close by.


Which brings us to: Rumor Alert! Credible sources whisper that Violet the orangutan was spotted wandering outside of her zoo enclosure after hours a while back. Incredibly strong and smart, the "forest people" will reportedly hide hand tools they find (or steal;-) and use them to escape. Maybe she just wanted a room upgrade to the Grand. Clever staff prevailed on Violet's mate Rusty to help lure her back. . .


Someday, the favorite husband and I would like to retire at the Grand. I could cross da street and visit the orangutans every day!

For more My Town Monday posts, click on:

http://traviserwin.blogspot.com/

A L O H A Cloudia

Bi-Ped Captives of Duality

Aloha Welcome!

Click on photos to enlarge Sunday at da Beach

"You never find yourself until you face the truth."
Pearl Bailey

"Life is what happens while you are making other plans."
John Lennon

Reflected Palm

"A smile is the shortest distance between two people."
Victor Borge

Want a Schnack? Downtown Honolulu

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."
William James

Definition from Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui & Ebert; University of Hawaii Press:

"Aloha: Love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, loved one, beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, be fond of, to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; to venerate; to remember with affection; to greet, hail. Greetings! Hello! Goodbye! Farewell! Alas!"

A L O H A to YOU! Cloudia

Wong Ho Lane

Aloha Greetings! E Komo Mai, Come in!Waianae Valley, Oahu

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

-Hans Christian Anderson

(Click on photos to enlarge!"

Farrington Highway, Makaha Bound

To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."

Emily Dickinson

NOT Bruddah Israel Kamakawio`ole

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can."

Danny Kaye

Just a few idle Saturday thoughts today. . .

There are few things as innocently pleasant as a brief, no consequences conversation with a stranger in public.

To make the world "POP," to make the air sweeter, the skies bluer, just spend an hour visiting in a hospital room.

"What can I do?"

I can really believe in the value of every person I see, or interact with today. I can treat each one with consideration, even a small thing like slowing to let someone go first. When I feel Aloha for this person before me, they feel it without words. Today I can spread peace, warmth, and understanding.

Just for today

I can do something.

A L O H A! Cloudia

Tradition, Wonder & FUN!

Aloha! Welcome!

Click on photos to enlarge

King Kalakaua's coronation pavillion, Iolani Palace, Honolulu

"Hula is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

King Kalakaua

Comfort Sprial's Cousin

“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril”
Winston Churchill quotes

Distant Cousin Swirl

“We learn simply by the exposure of living, and what we learn most natively is the tradition in which we live.”
David P. Gardner

Come on in, sit down and SHUSH.

Look, the Merrie Monarch is about to begin on TV!

The 46th year of Hula's annual party in Hilo Town, my 22nd watching.

This is the real stuff

the way we do it for ourselves.

To honor Kalakaua the Merrie Monarch

who saved Hula, Chant & so much more

as it trembled on the brink

of nonexistence.

He's still our King,

Some people say.

And the year turns on the weekend after Easter.

It has all led up to this.

The practice, fundraisers, laughter & tears

together in the Halau.

Auntie's gone all gray,

and Uncle George Naope is too frail to dance

while the judges tally on final night.

But I hope the Kumu, the teachers, the "source"

will all dance impromptu that night.

This is a family reunion, after all.

The goddess Pele,

sister Hi`iaka,

and the beloved royals all come

in the chants

and the adornments

red lehua blossoms,

fragrant maile from the uplands.

And when the young men dance

all the ladies squeal with delight

at their sheer manly beauty.

So sit by me

(via the link below)

and eat some kaki mochi.

Get planny grindz

and room fo' you

Brudah, Sistah

here on da floor

before da big screen.

Cause dis weekend

we ALL stay

Local

!

Info, streaming video, Hula Terms Dictionary & MORE here:
http://www.kitv.com/merriemonarch/index.html

A L O H A! Cloudia

Fallow Gal

Aloha Welcome!

Click on photos to enlarge

A biblical Hawaii sunset

“To seek approval is to have no resting place, no sanctuary. Like all judgment, approval encourages a constant striving. It makes us uncertain of who we are and of our true value. Approval cannot be trusted. It can be withdrawn at any time no matter what our track record has been. It is as nourishing of real growth as cotton candy. Yet many of us spend our lives pursuing it.”

Rachel Naomi Remen

Open roof above the central courtyard, Hawaii State Capitol

“Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business."
Tom Robbins

Fallen Pink Lehua Blossom.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

Unknown

Ah! Fertile downtime!

I'm fallow today

allowing subtle energies to trickle down,

to fill up all my empty places

I'm recalling mis-remembered faces

revisiting those inner spaces

until the new spring

burbles forth.

#

Long ago, about a mile or so from where we're sitting, there lived an old Hawaiian couple.

Every morning the husband would hike inland to hunt, while his wife took their calabash gourds to the fresh springs of Mo`ili`ili down towards the shoreline. There she filled them with the day's needed water, carrying them home as the sun reached mid-heaven.

One day the gourds felt particularly heavy.

"Wela i ka la" (Hot, the sun!) she said to herself.

"We are getting old." She told her husband that afternoon when he returned. We have no children. Who will help me carry the water as it grows heavier day by day?

Just then a visitor came by.

"E komo mai" (welcome) they called humbly. "Come into our hale and share our meal."

They didn't recognize Lono, the god of peace and increase. But Lono had heard their worries, and their simple piety had touched his heart.

Striking the dry, rocky soil close by their dwelling

he caused a fresh spring, a puna hou, to gush forth.

Now they could easily grow food close at hand

and water would flow

without labor.

The old couple lived for many more years

always welcoming their many guests

who brought them poi and fish to eat

with warm respect.

And the punahou never ran dry;

In fact it still murmurs today on the campus of the Punahou School; Alma Mater of President Barack Obama.

A L O H A, Cloudia