lihue

Behind the Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Lihue, Kauai, is the dojo for the Lihui Aiki Kai. I showed up without a dogi and after a short conversation was offered a clean used one for that night’s training. The class, attended by eight mudansha at all levels of experience, was taught by the daisempai and focused… Continue reading →

ohana

For summer vacation (and a *zero birthday) we spent a week on the Big Island, followed by a week on Kauai. The former was quite interesting: staying in the tatami room at the family-owned Manago Hotel, followed by a beautiful chalet in the rainforest outside Volcano park, and culminating with a day in Hilo and… Continue reading →

buckeye ’07

East toward Bridgeport, then several miles up Buckeye road (washboard dirt), to our campsite by the big granite boulder. Hike on the second day to Big Meadow up Buckeye canyon beneath towering peaks and surrounded intermittently by bulls. The next day to Twin Lakes, and not a nibble. Finally to fishing Buckeye Creek, lowest level… Continue reading →

weldin’

…is, as I-Roy says, “a wha di young gyal wan,” but it should also come in handy elswhere too, I imagine. Practice, practice, today on the cutting torch…triple-ought nozzle and the steel’s like butter…