The Hula Honeys Blog

Summer Rain

2009-06-18T21:46:00.001-07:00

The Hula Honeys whirlwind tour of Hilo should begin with a shot of us poised and clean at the airport. But the first photo is of Shave Ice. It should be at the end but I am an awkward blogger. Once in Hilo we were picked up by good friend Jesse and transported straight to the Hilo Farmers Market, where we lusted after everything. I ended up buying a loaf of bread and a bag of purple potatoes (remember I'm traveling), a hand full of gardenias, a bag of cookies and an arm full of Antherium. Which we later wrapped in newspaper and lugged along with us. After this gastronomic taunting we were compelled to get Ahi burgers, (see forth photo) I can't remember the name of the place but it's behind the fish market and the lady that served us was originally from Kuao on Maui and very nice. Lots more happened but food was a constant theme. Pats Pancakes presented us with a menu that had to be revered, remember this is only one page, there was nothing that was not there at Pats, including us. Thanks for checking in, Ginger and the Honeys

June Is Busting Out All Over

2009-06-03T23:42:00.001-07:00

Its been a grand month. A lot of folks have given up time to help us out and it shows. The "Hula Maidens" came across Big Time.
They danced their hearts out at the big CD release party in Haiku on May 28th, for the Hula Honeys release of "Girl Talk", on Ululoa . Thanks to everyone who came by, and for all the dancers and the lei, and for the wonderful support. We were dwarfed by loving supporters and humbled by friends bearing flowers and more. Both Robyn and I need to stop for a moment to thank the people that did more than their share. THANKS GUYS! It was one of those nights when you wonder if it was real and you hope you thanked everybody and you were sure that you had not. People mopped the floors so we could get our deposit back; stuff like that. It makes you humble when people are so nice . And people are that nice and more. Come to our corner of the Pacific to find a wonderful collection of women dancers, and a community of caring and soulful support and a trio of outlandish creative optimism, that's The Hula Honeys, and their support team, which should not be overlooked. Mahalo from the Honeys!

The Merry Month Of May

2009-05-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

The month of May has been eventful. We've worked and played hard and it's over as of tomorrow. May that is. We had a wonderful CD release party (Girl Talk)
at the Haiku Community center. We had help from many friends that we now owe. Eric and Julie, and Mike Malick brought us tropical flowers that would have cost a bundle. Flowers as big as me! Hula Maidens put flower arrangements together as we figured out how best to use the space. It was a group effort that paid off for the Honeys and we have many friends to thank for that. The Hula Girls danced perfectly. It was so sweet to watch all my friends conquer performance fear and just let their beauty shine, I'm so proud of my Hula Sisters, (and so glad I didn't have to dance because I was singing) The community center worked out well, the breezes from the ocean were welcome in such hot weather and it was all over and we were cleaning up before we knew what happened. Thanks to all who went the extra mile, there were a few of you. Honey Smooches XXX

May Maddness brings out Hula Girls

2009-05-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

With the first signs of summer the islands blossom into song. Good friends from Oakland, Chris Grampp and his lovely wife Nina Feldman, came to our little nest in the Pacific and we enjoyed a Kanikapila at my house with them. They left us with several contrapuntal pieces we immediately adopted into our schizophrenic songbook. Mahalo Chris and Nina, please think of us stranded in the sea, while you travel to all those neat music camps on the mainland this summer.
Compulsive photographer Jack Grace is finally captured on film, oops not film, but this is how he appears most often, sort of a genial cyclops. And finally the fabulous Hula Sisters made their way to the club joining Kumu Robyn for a surprise mass hula. These are the sisters that were all once so shy that such a thing was impossible. We have danced together for years and somehow they all snapped out of their shells at once like a massive field of flowers all bursting into bloom. Not me though, I stayed on my perch and played the song. More better that way I think. It's wonderful how music and dance bring us together. Well done girls! And now that they are so good they have agreed to grace us once more at our upcoming CD release party later this month. Be there or be square! With love and Aloha, The Honeys.....

Spring Time Feasting at the Grand

2009-04-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is! Jake and Laurie Rhore of Ululoa Productions took the Honeys to brunch at the Grand Wailea where we collectively swooned to the music of our dear friends, Ahumanu. It was so good to hear Liz and Joanie, who sound better than ever. They sported a lovely hula dancer named Ohua who dazzled the diners with her smooth moves and sassy attitude. Way to go Ahumanu! Diets were on hold that day as we went back to the All You Can Eat buffet several times before hitting the dessert table. We think of this as a Hawaiian business meeting to celebrate the finishing of our new CD "Girl Talk" set to come out next month, so stay tuned! Aloha Ginger

2009-03-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

Goodness how the time does fly. I am scolded by friends that the Blog Bogs, and its true. So much happens that I become remiss in my duty to fess up to fun. Hana Hou continues to surprise us each week with new faces from all over the map. We are astonished and pleased to make new friends from far and wide. Our little melting pot of an island pulls in people from the most unlikely places. We were lucky to have Roselle dance for us one night, she brings a grace that takes us back in time to an older, smaller Maui. The first two photos were taken by our good friend Jack Grace, he kindly sent them to me. I love the calm colors that the weak light bestows. Thanks Jack. Then a shot of Robyn in the studio at Ululoa with Jake Roher on the final day of vocals for the upcoming CD entitled Girl Talk, an old jazz favorite by Neal Hefty. Then a shot of the Honeys with Eric Gilliam, a honey in his own rite, at a charming wedding up in chilly Kula. We were all putting on sweaters as the sun sank into the sea. Fun to be with good company and to watch young people who seem to really "get it" tie the knot. Another brief span of time as the planet Venus passes close by and we all spin around just trying to keep up. Thanks for checking in. Ginger

2009-02-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

Wow Is it cold! We've been freezing at Hana Hou but having fun non the less. Wonderful folks have been coming from far and near. The first shot features Lanning and his band of cohorts, they were much taken by our favorite waiter. The next shot is Leslie arriving with an ill fated birthday cake for our birthday girl Emma Veary, shown seated and surrounded by friends. Then last night another birthday party for Paul Janes Brown. With him came the wonderful vocal quartet Clock-Work from San Francisco, having completed several sold out shows, they then gifted us with song in rich tight harmony reminiscent of Manhattan Transfer. It was chicken skin and wild applause all around. It's been the coldest winter in years but our wonderful friendships warm us to the heart!

The New Year Tumbles Forward

2009-02-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

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Well I've been a naughty Honey, I haven't updated my (our) blog in a looong looong time. But that's life. We have been busy electing a new president, about which the band as a whole is most pleased. We have been feverishly working on our next cd and we are pleased that "Girl Talk" is just about ready to be mastered and released. Thanks so much for waiting and for careing at all. Here is a picture of our cake. The tanking economy is bringing out tough parts of peoples personalitys. We are all squeezed. But there is still time for fun and exaulting in our friendships. We have been having gobs of fun, enjoying the freedom of our radio show on Manao 91.5 and our local gigs. A benifit concert in downtown Wailuku drew out many kind and whimiscal fans who danced on the sidewalk even though it was uncommanly cold (65 degrees!) I borrowed Robyns jacket and the show went on. A gal showed up in a Hula Honeys tee shirt, That was a first! We get such a kick out of you guys. Thanks for being so nutty. Ginger

Holiday Hijincks

2008-12-25T20:22:00.001-08:00

As of tonight the Holidays are on the march. Xmas goes to bed with me tonight and then the laborious cleaning that leads to New Years ensues. Many years with oriental cultures means my house and shop must be clean for the up-coming year. By then there must be new strings on instruments and no dust dust bunnies beneath my bed.
Last week at Hana Hou a Rabbi brought in his Menorah and lit three candles before comencing to sing a sweet, though moarnful song before sitting down to dinner. It is moments like this that we Honeys cherish as we cross over into territory that is new to us. Not unlike performing in a tree, which we did a few nights earlier. A lovely vantage point from which to gaze and trill. One more gig before the year ends and I am poised to play "What are you doing New Years?" Hope to see you this year and next. Hope you are safe and warm. Love Ginger

Tedeschi Winery in Ulupalakua

2008-12-13T09:58:00.000-08:00

Robyn and I ( Jonathan too) had a wonderful afternoon last weekend as we performed at the winery on the mist covered slope of Haleakala. Friends came by and we enjoyed the afternoon as much as the tourists. The next night we were pleased to host a Kanikapila with Sylvia Herold and Chuck Ervin from Oakland. Robyn teaches with them at Lark camp, a musical retreat in California. Such fun......

Holiday Hash

2008-12-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

Much as I try to deny it, the holidays are upon us. Last week at Hana Hou, Santa's elves were out in force and the Honeys were regaled by friends from far and near. Sylvia and Chuck from Oakland, Keven Brown from Paia and a wonderful couple from Chicago all made the season bright. We even had a guest bass player who stole the show. Mele Kalikimaka!

Kneubuhls in numbers

2008-12-02T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Kneubuhls were in force this holiday season. Three generations, and more in the wings, assailed the crowd at the Hans Hou and people loved it. Daughter Allissa danced, sister Kathy sang, mother of us all Emma, stole the show as ever, while mother/sister/daughter/partner /wife/Robyn kept track of all the changes, the tempos, the keys...basically keeping all the balls in the air. How does she do it? We don't know but that's OK as long as it keeps happening. So tune in at the Hana Hou each Monday or each Thursday on Manao Radio, 91.5 FM from 2pm to 5 Somethings happening! Caught the stars tonight as Venus and Neptune cuddled up to the crescent moon, Ah the clear Haiku nights are not to be underestimated. Love to all and Thanks to Jack Grace for the Photos as I cannot be trusted to remember a camera. Love Ginger

2008-11-19T16:50:00.000-08:00

Last week the Honeys were found at the Dunes in beautiful Kahului. We played for a merry bunch of bankers and gobbled up their food. Its a great room and we enjoyed ourselves. But then we wandered home to the Hana Hou where winter seemed to begin in earnest, and none too soon if you ask me. After an eventful evening two tired Honeys struck a thoughtful pose over a pau hana cocktail, contemplating the state of the world, or just dazed by life...who can say? Thanks to our fine friends who make the magic happen simply by showing up! Aloha Ginger

The Night before the Election

2008-11-04T00:08:00.001-08:00

Well it was a good night at the Hana Hou but I forgot my camera. Which is a darn shame because a very good looking gal and I got into a tense political discussion about Sarah Palin. Turns out this foxy gal was Miss Alaska 1954, which is pretty impressive. Then we found out that Emily, our favorite tattooed waitress is leaving and the girl that was training to fill her shoes was Miss Alaska 1989! If I had brought my camera you could see this, (I am not bright enough to make this up) It made for some great visuals and I will leave it up to you to imagine, because the 45 years between these two looked good to me. So I decided to post a picture of my son pruning a tree in my yard along with a cool photo of Jonathan Drechsler taken by Bob Hale the other night. Who says Blogs have to make sense? Hope we have a new president soon. Love Ginger

October is almost over...

2008-10-28T01:25:00.000-07:00

After several weeks without Robyn, she returned from the mainland and times were old at the Hana Hou. Fine friends came by, we were delighted to see our buddies from Latitudes, and the momentarily "evil" Paul Janes Brown, taking a night off from his production of Urine Town. I have yet to see it though it has rave reviews. Jonathan and I got bickery over the volume of solos though it will most likely all work out. There are a lot of cute but feral cats and kittens racing the floors and the power went out twice tonight. Once while Robyn was dancing, so she drifted toward the tiki torches and the show went on. Those darn Honeys, even pulling the plug wont stop em. Another nice time at the Hana Hou. The rain will be arriving soon so these dry fall nights are fun, more so because of the wild assortment of characters that materialize out of the Haiku nights. Mahalo Maui! Ginger

The Harvest Queen Visits Hana Hou

2008-10-21T01:49:00.000-07:00

With Robyn on the mainland I waited to see who would show up at the Hana Hou tonight. Imagine my surprise when Leslie Granat showed up dressed as the harvest queen to honor the fall weather. It's hard to sit with her and be snapped because no one can hold a candle to our own Keihi Queen. But play on we did, I was" Graced" by a bevy of friends who not only endured, but nurtured our one night offering of Sal Godinez, Jonathan and me. I whipped out more weird charts including Surrey with the Fringe on the Top and other obscure favorites. Louise Lambert sang Twisted for Bob Hale who was jonesing to hear it while I sat out a few and sampled patrons desserts. All in all a delicious evening! Thanks to all my good friends who fell by this evening. Love Ginger

2008-10-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, A lot has been going on! First of all Robyn came home for a minute. Then we Played Picnic with Poki Under the Monkey Pod tree in down town Wailuku. They bus in elderly folks and special needs people and I find it a great way to spend the morning playing for these kind folks who listen and sway to the music. That's Brother Poki in the yellow shirt, Looking good Poki! Then we got a little rain rain which had me taking pictures of my coconut tree, I'm getting artistic with my three pixel camera. This morning my star ukulele student, Marilynn Colvin came for a lesson, She is learning the whole Hula Honey songbook, one song at a time. Add to the list a set at Manao Radio on Thursday and a gig for the Children's Justice center, and its easy to see why so little gets done. I'll see you Monday at Hana Hou with Sal Godinez (just in from Chicago), Best wishes to Robyn and Buzzy, off on an important trip. Come back soon!
Love to all, Ginger

Hana Hou with Phill Benoit

2008-10-14T00:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight was an unexpected treat for me, with Robyn gone off to Napa Valley (to share her wiles and ukulele magic,) I was left to craft a night at the Hana Hou without her. We decided to be Jazz Rats with the cat away, and so I invited Phil Benoit of Benoit Jazz Works and Gypsy Pacific to spell us with inventive solos and great harmonies. It all worked out great. Emily. the wonderful tattooed waitress was in full form (and that's saying a lot) and the naughty jazz boys took many a solo. I tried out new charts and had more fun than the guests, though I didn't eat as much. You all are so kind to frequent our tropic corner of the planet. The nearly full moon shown through the coconut tree out front and the night was bright and lovely here on the island of Maui, floating in the warm and tropic sea. We missed you Robyn, Check out the new charts! Love to all, Ginger

October happens at Hana Hou

2008-10-07T01:26:00.000-07:00

Yup another Monday night came and went at the Hana Hou. Lots of wonderful characters and just a few nut cases came by and we were glad to see each one. The weather has begun to cool just a bit, though it is still dry in the Haiku Jungle. June, our fabulous chef came up with a chicken curry with coconut milk, but we were too happy eating his garlic shrimp to taste it. Forgive us June!

The County Fair

2008-10-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

On Friday it was the Honey's turn to work at the fair. We worked along side some of our Manao Radio Dejay Ohana. According to Robyn anything consumed at the fair has zero calories! And that's sure lucky because that is what we did a lot of, besides handing out a lot of barbecue pork and macaroni salad. As ever, we found every bit of fun that was available and consumed that as well. If you are planning to enjoy the fair this year be sure to stop by the Manao food booth and say hi to all the volunteers.

Our own Beautiful Doll, and more...

2008-09-30T01:31:00.000-07:00

Leslie Granat, our own beautiful doll, was there tonight, as she is most Mondays. Her table sits ready for her each week. Visting from afar was Fish and a Dish. Some things cannot be explained. This would also work for the enigmatic Eric, about whom I will say nothing, and only hope that he will return. As you can see, the Honeys get away with murder and we invite you to join us on Monday nights at the Hana Hou in Haiku Maui Hawaii....

Hana Hou says so long to September

2008-09-30T01:19:00.001-07:00

The Lads of the Xmas club were well received at the Hana Hou tonight. A whole table of handsome men were just the tonic for a cool fall evening. Robyn was under the weather but no one could tell as she, and others took to the floor to dance the night away.

2008-09-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Sheesh I'm pooped, but fun was had by all who participated in the fund raiser for Lucienne, held at Ulu Loa Studio in Haiku today. Ahumanu closed the show preceded by a bevy of local talent. Jake and Laurie were quintessential hosts and the food was diverse and delicious. The Benoit Jazz works, featuring the lovely Angie Benoit on vocals was a treat, heck the whole thing was a treat. When Ahumanu played ( Liz and Joanie) Robyn was lured to the lawn to hula to Liz's new song about love on the sands of Hawaii,( Stay tuned for that one on their up coming cd.) Masako took pictures so the whole thing will be saved for posterity. Meanwhile, promise me you will vote. See you tomorrow at Hana Hou! Aloha Ginger

The Hula Honeys Try out the Coconut Wireless

2008-09-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, last night was a gas. Henry Allen wowed us with his jazzy guitar playing and his warm rich vocals. Green Dolphin Street was my favorite. Bassist Johnathan Drechsler kept the night moving as only he can. Good friends came out of the jungle and the warm tropical night was full of song and good food as the Hana Hou kept pace with the crowd. We are the lucky ones and we know it, to live here in the middle of the sea, surrounded by the Pacific ocean, rubbing elbows with the nicest folks we could hope to meet. Aloha, Ginger

2008-09-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

If you were at Hana Hou last night there was lots of fun to be had. The fabulous Henry Allan stopped by and played a set, and our mom, Emma Veary also sang for the crowd. Sal Godinez dropped by and our favorite Leslie Granat, with a luscious chocolate cake she so generously shared with the patrons. Nancy and David, from Topaz, our favorite dancers. All in all a honey of a night and we Honeys sure do appreciate when people drop by.