Standing Into Danger

Friday, March 13, 2026

Making the Best of It!

Aloha from rainy Honolulu!

It's been raining frequently since Tuesday evening,

and we are under a flash flood warning.

Periodically we get a glimpse of sunshine, but that's a tease.

The governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, ordered all state offices,

University of Hawaii campuses, public and charter schools on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui

closed on Friday, because an incredible amount of rain and high winds are expected.

We shall see. I'm looking at patches of blue sky as I write.

A Rainy Thursday Morning

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

March 12, 2026

Meanwhile we're making the best of it.

I've been working with my friend Carolyn on hula chants and dancing,

and we continue to enjoy kanikapila at the Royal Grove

(although Wednesday's was cancelled because of rain).

Carolyn and I at Kanikapila

Royal Grove, Waikiki

February 25, 2026

Mariko, Vanessa, and Donna Lee Perform a Hula

Carolyn and I Are in the Audience

March 5, 2026

Photo by Sachiko Miyoshi

And yes, DRUM ROLL, I earned my pā'u hula, my dance skirt!

Besides showing commitment and learning hula steps and dances,

I had to memorize a traditional Hawaiian oli and perform it in front of the class.

This oli requests permission to enter the dancing space.

You have no idea how much practice I put into this oli.

The Oli "Liuliu"

I thought I would be performing it at the end of the class,

but I had to hop up unexpectedly and do it earlier.

That meant the only video I have was taken

by my iPhone standing on the floor from across the room.

To post it here I had to film a video of my video.

Whatever works! 😂

Likewise, the next photo is a still I captured from my double-iPhone video.

Admiring My pā'u hula

Kainoa and I

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

March 12, 2026

I'm linking to Gillena's Lunch Break, Nicole's Friday Face Off, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Debra's She Who Seeks.

For Gillena ~ A Great Meal ~ Happy Hour chicken nachos at the Yard House ~ generous with chicken and fresh veggies, delicious! This popular special is so big, Terry and I were challenged to finish one shared serving.

Yummy Nachos!

The Yard House

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

February 27, 2026

For Nicole ~ Little Laki, a favorite kitty at Cat Café MOFF. He's a pistol, which is why I love him. 😂 The Japanese really enjoy relaxing with cats, so there are several of these cafés in Honolulu.

Little Laki!

Cat Café Moff, International Market Place

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

March 9, 2026

For Tom ~ The Aloha Spirit ~ Terry's pickleball buds had a happy hour get-together on March 10th at the Secret Spot for Terry's 75th birthday. Terry's birthday was actually the 11th, but that's when we could all meet. The guys are the pickleball players. I knew Val and Edna through hula. Many people like to meet during happy hour because the food and drink specials are so much cheaper. At the Secret Spot you can get a personal pizza and a mai tai for $12 or a beer and personal pizza for $10. We are experts at Happy Hour! 😂

Terry's Pickleball Friends Celebrate His Birthday

Terry (front left), Me, Val, Edna, Ted, John, Kerrie, and Jim

The Secret Spot

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

March 10, 2026

For Debra ~ I spotted Hula Dog! He's an old guy now, but he accompanies his Hula Auntie as she drapes Hawaiian icons located in Waikiki with leis. Hula Dog has a younger Hula Buddy now who has joined them on their walks. Hula Dog enjoys sneaking naps whenever he can. He's one of my favorite locals.

Hula Dog at the Feet of Prince Kūhiō

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

February 6, 2026

Hula Dog and Hula Buddy

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

February 6, 2026

Hula Auntie Drapes Flowers on Prince Kūhiō's Statue #1

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

February 6, 2026

It's lovely to see Hula Auntie honoring people like Prince Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole. His birthday on March 26th is a state holiday. Prince Kūhiō was a champion for native Hawaiian rights. He served as the Territorial Delegate from Hawaii in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 consecutive terms from 1903 until he died in office in 1922. He is the only one born into royalty who has served in the U.S. Congress.

Hula Auntie Drapes Flowers on Prince Kūhiō's Statue #2

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

February 6, 2026

Prince Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole

Wikipedia Commons ~ License

I hate to think our time here is winding down.

And more rain is coming next week, our last week.

But that's okay. Friends, get-togethers, hula, maybe some pickleball,

and happy hours will keep us hopping despite the rain.

Terry and I at the Hideout

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

March 3, 2026

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, March 13th. 🤞

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

IWSG Day: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 ~ Soul Searching

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are

P J Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

Stop by their posts and thank them for hosting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.

This month's optional question is:

What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy March, Everyone!

I hope that you have had a happy, healthy, and fulfilling February!

If you enjoy celebrating Valentine's Day,

I hope you and your Sweetheart had a good one.

Terry took me to dinner at the Hideout at the Laylow, my favorite Waikiki spot

where we enjoyed good food, friendship, and mellow music

(but forgot to get a photo).

Terry and I at Marugame Udon

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 3, 2026

I'm skipping this month's question, although I'm looking forward to seeing your answers.

February was a month of soul searching for me.

I've been absent from social media since last IWSG Day.

I was struggling, and it doesn't matter if you are in a paradise like Hawaii,

your issues are with you wherever you are.

I fell into a dark place, and it has taken me a while to climb out.

Depression and anxiety are old foes, and they can strike me out of nowhere.

A Favorite Place of Mine to Walk

Kapiolani Beach Park

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 24, 2026

I had to make some difficult choices about how I was spending my time

and about which responsibilities and obligations I wanted to carry forward.

Even though the choice made me really sad,

I decided I needed to step down as an IWSG administrator.

So I did.

I hit "send" on an email to Alex that was really hard to write.

I'm still a member, and I will continue to post and to participate,

because I truly appreciate all the friends I've made within the IWSG.

I'm getting to a lighter, brighter place.

A Favorite IWSG Friend of Mine

Pat Hatt and I

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 27, 2024

I have an unexpected honor coming up on Sunday.

Last Sunday I learned that I have an opportunity to earn my pāʻū hula skirt.

I thought I wasn't eligible because I can only take lessons while I am in Hawaii

and I'm not a permanent member of our group.

But Pono, our kumu hula or master instructor, invited me

to say the chant required to earn it before the group when I am ready.

The chant is a traditional Hawaiian oli to request permission to enter the dancing space.

Liuliu wale ka uka o Koholālele

Ma uka, ma kai o Kapāpala

E komo, e komo aku hoʻi au ma loko

Inā ka puʻu nui o waho nei lā ē

He anu ē, he anu ē, he koʻekoʻe wale nō

ʻAe

Translation:

Ready and waiting are the uplands of Koholālele

Up to the hills and seaward of Kapāpala

Enter, I shall enter in

For here outside stands a prominent hill

So cold, so cold, oh so chilly

Yes

Part of Our Dancing Space

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 18, 2026

On my birthday last year, I invited IWSG members to write

a piece of flash fiction using the prompt "Song" on our Facebook page.

Here was my piece:

"Paddle Song"

The girl dipped her paddle into the ocean and steered toward the sun. “Liuliu,” she sang to the waves and sky, beginning her hula chant, safe in this space. She practiced this ancient song, riding the waves shoreward and sunward over and over. Tomorrow, she would perform it for her kumu and the members of her hālau. If she met her kumu’s exacting standards, she would earn her pāʻū hula, a skirt marking her progress from student to dancer. Beginning as a keiki, she had studied hard to become an ‘olapa and leave the rank of haumana behind. If she succeeded, she would respect her skirt, wrapping it after each use, never washing it, allowing it to accumulate her sweat and tears as she worked to master hula. She must succeed! She dipped her paddle and chanted, heading shoreward one last time.

Sunset

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 16, 2026

I wanted to be that girl.

Sunday I will be that woman. with my real pāʻū hula.

Practicing a Drill

(Photo from a Video)

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

March 1, 2026

Wish me luck!

I hope my tongue doesn't get tangled in all those Hawaiian vowels,

especially with

e komo aku hoʻi au ma loko Inā ka puʻu nui o waho nei lā ē

which has to be chanted in tune on one breath.

If you are also a member of our Facebook Group,

I invite you to visit and to provide a link to your IWSG post.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWSG13

Facebook members are invited to answer our March question too.

Hibiscus

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 24, 2026

Makua and Kila

Kuhio Beach Park

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 16, 2026

Take care!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be Friday, March. 13th. 🤞

Just so you know, I monitor my comments before publishing them. This means your comment won't appear immediately. I will not publish mean spirited or commercial comments.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

IWSG: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 ~ The Experience of Rereading My Earlier Works

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are

J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Maria Lees, Jean Davis, and Sandra Cox!

Stop by their posts and thank them for hosting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.

This month's optional question is:

Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy February, Everyone!

I know my Canadian and American friends would like winter to go away already!

May you stay safe and warm!

This month's question asked if I have reread any of my early works

and what that experience was like for me.

Yes, I have, and the experience was humbling and oddly a source of pride.

I've been writing since I was eight, and I haven't stopped.

What made me proud is all the different kinds of writing I have tackled over my life.

What is humbling is I have some early goals that I haven't achieved.

I've noticed that my style has changed.

I'm a lot less wordy ~ I remember my 6th grade teacher Mr. Keast

chewing me out for writing a sentence with 67 words in it.

He called my mother saying I was mocking him and his lesson on using adjectives.

Ouch! (And I was the babysitter for his children!)

Over the years I've used more and more dialogue, something I rarely used early on.

I've almost eliminated adverbs which I once loved as much as adjectives.

My writing has become less formal,

and I've developed a passion for precise words, especially for nouns and verbs.

It was simpler when I was a young Canadian living in Canada and writing.

Now I'm caught forever between Canadian and American grammar and conventions.

But I'll take it, and I'll keep writing wherever it leads me.

I Love This Woman's Vibrant Style!

I could write a 67-word sentence about her!

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 31, 2026

We're in Honolulu escaping winter.

Wherever you are, I hope you're warm and safe!

Happy creating in February.

Enjoying an udon-noodle lunch with our nephew Conor.

Marugame Udon

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 30, 2026

If you are also a member of our Facebook Group,

I invite you to visit and provide a link to your IWSG post.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWSG13

Facebook members are invited to answer our February question too.

Take care!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be Friday, February 13th. 🤞

Just so you know, I monitor my comments before publishing them. This means your comment won't appear immediately. I will not publish mean spirited or commercial comments.

Friday, January 30, 2026

Out and About In Waikiki

I remembered at the last minute I had to do a portrait for my friend Nicole's challenge.

There went any chance for a written post, because I'm meeting a good friend

at an informal jam session of music and hula at the Royal Grove.

I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and friends!

Kanikapila Night at the Royal Grove Hotel

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

March 26, 2018

So I'm sharing some photos from this past week in Waikiki:

A Woman Sculling in a Single-Person Racing Shell

Ala Wai Canal

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 24, 2026

Pink Ginger at Hale Koa

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 28, 2026

A Fun Event at Our Favorite Hideout

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 24, 2026

Three Golden Retrievers Enjoying Happy Hour

The Hideout at the Laylow

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 24, 2026

Aloha Ambassadors Clean Up an Abandoned Homeless Shopping Cart

The Ala Wai Canal

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 24, 2026

An Egret Near Hale Koa

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 28, 2026

A Kitty Enjoys the Morning

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 24, 2026

A Delicious Pineapple Margarita

Margaritas

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 27, 2026

Beautiful Lines

Hale Koa Grounds

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 28, 2026

A Calm Pacific Ocean

Outrigger Breakwater

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 28, 2026

John and Kerry Celebrate Their Birthdays while Ted Looks On

Margaritas

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 27, 2026

Enjoying the Morning

Fort DeRussy Beach

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 28, 2026

I'm linking to Gillena's Lunch Break, Nicole's Friday Face Off, and Tom's Aloha Friday.

For Gillena ~ A Great Meal ~ Tuesday Taco Special at Margaritas ~ chicken, steak, and pork belly ~ so delicious!

Yummy Tacos!

Margaritas

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 27, 2026

For Nicole ~ Birthday Celebration Faces

Terry's Pickleball Friends Celebrate John and Kerrie's Birthdays

Ted (front left), John, Kerrie, Me, Val, Jim, Terry, and Emily

Margaritas

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 27, 2026

My portrait of G. W. F. Hegel based on a photo in Philosophy Now: The Ultimate Guide Issue 7, Ancient Greek Philosophy. For some reason Hegel's portrait spoke to me. No mapping grid this time. I only had 40 minutes of which 20 I spent erasing. 😂

My Portrait of GFW Hegel

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

January 28, 2026

For Tom ~ A Beautiful Mural ~ It is painted in the parking lot of Margaritas where we celebrated our friends' birthdays at 808 Sheridan Street. I could not find any reliable information about the mural or who the artist was. The neighborhood around Sheridan Street and nearby Kaka‘ako has become known for vibrant street art and murals. Business owners will sometimes commission artists to paint murals on their properties. The meaning of the information in the lower left is unknown, except the mural may be called "Blume."

A Street Mural in Margaritas' Parking Lot

Honolulu, ⁨Hawaii⁩, ⁨United States⁩

January 27, 2026

My evening at the Royal Grove with my friends was wonderful.

The songs and dances are not professional, only spontaneous presentations.

One week a few musicians and dancers may come, or, like last night, many.

Each person in turn chooses a song, and everyone plays, sings, or dances.

They all participate for the love of Hawaiian language, music, and dance.

Here is one video I took. The link will take you to the video on YouTube,

if the play button doesn't work.

Royal Grove 1/28/26 Jam Session

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBlmOOHKu3k

Note: My computer still needs some serious repair work, and I may be without it this week.

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Wednesday, February 4, IWSG Day. 🤞

Books Read in 2025

'A City on Mars" by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
"6:40 to Montreal" by Eva Jurczyk
"A Fall in Denver" by Sarah Andrews
"A Gambling Man" by David Baldacci
"American Wolf" by Nate Blakeslee
"Cane River" by Lalita Tademy
"Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College" by Victoria Marie Lees
"Football for Dummies" by Howie Long with John Czarnecki
"Imagine Hatt Season 1" by Patrick Hatt
"Just One Look" by Harlan Coben
"Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
"Meditations for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman
"Mother Nature" by Sarah Andrews
"Never Too Late" by Danielle Steel
"Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully" by Julie McFadden, RN
"Philosophy Now: Digital Philosophy" Issue 168
"Philosophy Now: The Politics of Freedom" Issue 163
"Philosophy Now: The Thoughts on Thought Issue" Issue 164
"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir
"Shadow of the the Wind" by Carlo Ruiz Zafón
"Tensleep" by Sarah Andrews
"The Cove" by Patrick Hatt
"The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist's Warning" by Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
"The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments" by Hadley Vlahos, RN
"The Light Eaters" by Zoë Schlanger
"The Power of Touch: A Story of Redeeming Love" by Pat Garcia
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
"The Warlord" by Gena Showalter
"Think Twice" by Harlan Coben
"Unless" by Carol Shields
"We Who Wrestle with God" by Jordan B. Peterson
"What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living" by Diane Button
Imagine Hatt: Season One" by Patrick Hatt

Standing Into Danger

Pages

Friday, March 13, 2026

Making the Best of It!

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

IWSG Day: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 ~ Soul Searching

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

IWSG: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 ~ The Experience of Rereading My Earlier Works

Friday, January 30, 2026

Out and About In Waikiki

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