Standing Into Danger: Enter the Lions!

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Enter the Lions!

On February 11th, I was one of the residents and visitors

at the Royal Kuhio who enjoyed a special treat.

We celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Dragon

with the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association.

The lion dancers welcomed in the Chinese New Year

by performing a traditional lion dance for us in the lobby.

Enter the Lions!

at the Royal Kuhio

Honolulu, Oʻahu⁩, ⁨ ⁨Hawaiʻi⁩, ⁨United States⁩

February 11, 2024

The Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association

is a non-profit organization

formed in Honolulu in 2005.

All members are volunteers made up of

students and working professionals.

Website

I absolutely love lion dances: the colorful prance of the lions,

the continuous beat of the drum, the loud clash of the cymbals,

and the high-pitched voice of the gong.

I was not disappointed with this up close performance!

Drum and Cymbals

at the Royal Kuhio

February 11, 2024

The anticipation and excitement in the lobby built as the dancers arrived,

donned their costumes, and formed up to enter the Royal Kuhio lobby.

The Dancers and Musicians Arrive

Just when the lion dance originated is not certain,

but it dates back hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

The performers of the lion dance mimic the movements of a lion.

The dancer at the front leads the lion, setting the direction, pace, and footwork.

He also controls the head, ears, and mouth movements

as well as the blinking of the lion's eyes.

The dancer in the tail must follow the steps of the head dancer

and the beat of the music while bent over.

Members of the Wah Gnai Lion Dance Association

Forming Up to Enter

Accompany the lion dances are musicians playing the drum, cymbals, and the gong.

The drum represents the heartbeat of the lion,

and the cymbals and gong represent its thoughts.

The music is loud and intense to drive away ghosts and evil spirits.

Musicians

Dancers

The lion dance is an important tradition in the Chinese community.

It brings happiness, good luck, and drives evil spirits away

on special occasions like the new year.

Chinese kung fu schools and organizations demonstrate

their strength and character through the lion dance.

Greeting the Audience

There are two different kinds of lions in the lion dance: southern and northern.

This dance featured southern lions. The color of the lion is significant too.

Red lions symbolize courage, golden lions liveliness, and green lions friendship.

Wah Gnai Lion Dance Association Members

Selfie

Bringing Happiness

At lion dances you may see people "feeding" the lions

with red envelopes or folded money.

These donations are supposed to bring good luck

and thank the performers doing the dance.

I couldn't resist feeding both lions.

Good luck and Thank You!

Next year I'll have the traditional red and gold envelopes which are a symbol of good luck.

I don't have any Chinese ancestors in my background,

but red has always been my favorite color.

In Chinese culture it represents with energy, happiness and good luck, so me!

Energy, Happiness and Good Luck!

The Two Lions

The energy, stamina, and athleticism of the dancers is amazing,

and I don't envy the tail dancer who is bent over and nearly blind most of the time!

Lion and Front Dancer

At first in all the excitement, movement and music,

I couldn't see the differences between the two lions, but different they were.

Mouth One

Mouth Two

Thank You for the Donation!

As the dance wound down, the lions and others gathered for a group shot.

A Parting Shot

As the lions were exiting, I suddenly saw one lion biting the top of the lobby door.

What on earth?

Biting at the Top of the Door

(and a shoe in the middle ???)

People familiar with the traditions of the dance knew what was happening,

but I was perplexed.

Then I realized that the head dancer was sitting on the shoulders of the tail dancer

and that the lion was trying to bite off a cabbage suspended above the door.

A Big Stretch

Biting the Cabbage

Got it!

A few moments later, after "eating" the cabbage,

the lion started spitting it out on the floor!

Eating and Spitting

Spitting

I learned that spitting out the cabbage represents

spreading wealth, prosperity, and good luck.

Eating and Spitting Done

A member of the audience picked up a green piece of cabbage.

She told me, if I collected a piece of the green cabbage and saved it,

I would have good luck throughout the year.

I need all the luck I can get, so I picked up a nice green piece.

Then the lions were shedding their skins

and the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association departing.

A truly magic experience was over.

Exit the Lions!

All Rights Reserve

Back in our condo, I carefully wrapped the good luck cabbage piece in Saran wrap.

Then I tucked it into my purse next to my father-in-law's St. Christopher's Medal,

which I always carry because St. Christopher is the Patron Saint of Travelers.

With all this good luck surrounding me,

I'll make it back to the Royal Kuhio next year.

It is a great place to stay!

A Taste of the Magic

Lion Dance | Happy Chinese New Year 2023

Edinburgh St James Quarter

You Tube

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date,

Nicole's Friday Face Off, and Tom's Aloha Friday.

For Rain's TADD: Theme ~ Lips: The Lips of the Lions.

For Nicoles's Friday Face Off: The Faces of the Lions

For Tom's Aloha Friday:

This afternoon I met a junior high school friend Kathy for lunch,

and then we visited the beautiful Lyon Arboretum at the back of the Mānoa Valley.

Kathy and Me

Lyon Arboretum

Honolulu, Oʻahu⁩, Hawai'i, USA

February 15, 2024

Lyon Arboretum

Lyon Arboretum is part of the University of Hawaiʻi and is a public botanical garden.

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lyon/

https://www.hawaiiactivities.com/travelguide/lyon-arboretum/

Have a great weekend! 🌺 Aloha!!! 🌺

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

My next post will be soon! 🤞

44 comments:

roentareFebruary 16, 2024 at 2:01 AM
In my younger days, my family used to dread the dragon dance coming into our home restaurants. The team crews were often existing gang members asking for bribes. Or they would not leave the restaurant that no one can do business
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TomFebruary 16, 2024 at 3:16 AM
...over the years I've enjoyed many Lion Dances and have fed the lions lots of green. The drumming and excitement was contagious. I've been to several arboretums on Maui, but never Oahu's Lyon Arboretum. Your post warms me up on this cold, dark, snowy morning. Louise enjoy your Hawaii stay.
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Alex J. CavanaughFebruary 16, 2024 at 5:14 AM
What an event to witness! Entertainment and you learned something. And clever - I wondered who cleaned up the mess of cabbage.
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My name is Erika.February 16, 2024 at 5:23 AM
What a great post Louise. I one day want to see this dance, and your photos/video make me want to see it even more. That was a great spot to see it because it's not like you had to deal with a huge crowd and taller people standing in front of you. Hawaii is high on my bucket list-hopefully sooner rather than later. I am adding that botanical garden to my list also. It looks amazing, and I am a big fan of public gardens. Thanks for this post. It looks like you had a great day, and hope the cabbage brings you really good luck too. hugs-Erika
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Debra She Who SeeksFebruary 16, 2024 at 7:27 AM
Oh, I love a good Lion Dance! I first saw one when I moved to Edmonton in the late 90s and have seen many since then. Yes, I've watched them "eat" the cabbage hanging at the front door of a business to bring prosperity to that business and spread it to the onlookers. The first time I saw that, I didn't know what the hell was going on either, lol. I've never seen onlookers feeding them red envelopes though -- but people do make an attempt to get close to the Lion if possible and touch it, because that brings good luck. I've only ever managed to touch a Lion once. The crowds are usually too big, or the Lion Dance is on a stage, so can't get near them. Your photos are fabulous! Thanks for this fun post!
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DVArtistFebruary 16, 2024 at 7:41 AM
Ohhhhh what an absolutely spectacular post. How fortunate that you were abel to attend this magnificent show/ceremony and get a piece of the cabbage. I feel so honored that you share it with FFO. Thank you so much.
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Natalie AguirreFebruary 16, 2024 at 1:43 PM
That's awesome that you got to go to a Chinese New Year celebration. My daughter is adopted from China and our adoption support group always had a CNY celebration with a lion dance for the kids. We still celebrate but not as elaborately now that she's an adult.
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Pat HattFebruary 16, 2024 at 2:18 PM
Haha well the cat side of me thinks the luck thing was just to get people to clean up the cabbage, as you know that luck and he don't coexist lol

That would sure be neat to see. I see the difference between the two. That must take some skill, stamina and dedication though. Especially the tail. Hunched over and practically blind like you said must not be too fun.

Hope you keep enjoying the warmth.
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JeanieFebruary 17, 2024 at 6:55 AM
Wow! Timing is everything and you certainly had perfect timing for this. That really is amazing -- glorious color, the huge costumes. That really requires a lot of skill, both in the preparation and execution. I've never seen or done anything like that and it really is quite spectacular!
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Andrea @ From The SolFebruary 17, 2024 at 8:58 AM
I think the tail is an underling that has to learn the ropes before being allowed to be the head. But, I agree that both positions need a great deal of strength and agility to pull off the dance .. and what a dance it is :) Not to mention the fact that the head on both lions are handsome young men ... worth watching for that alone, but I wouldn't want to miss the dance. My son and Dil are still in Thailand and they are celebrating Chinese New Year there as well. I will ask them to send pictures to see how they compare.
And, a Hawaiian Arboretum ... how lovely and very different from our local Arboretum. That in itself is a treat. Lovely post, as always, Louise :) Enjoy, enjoy and I look forward to more pictures ...

Andrea @ From the Sol
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DVArtistFebruary 17, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Thank you for sharing with FFO.
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bailiFebruary 18, 2024 at 2:34 AM
that was amazing dear Louise ,full of enthusiasm and delightful moments you spent there :)))
i so enjoyed the video ,and i am happy you shared the video because it shows the moments of lions more briefly :)
i remember when i first saw tapping dance on our small black and white tv what most enjoyable for me was harmony between dancers and i always look keenly for the harmony .
in such lion dance i appreciate that dancers could do wonderful job even it might have been hard for them to harmonize perfectly .
thanks for sharing about tradition ,i used to see clips of such dances in some Olympic game events as little but hardly new anything more about it .
how lovely to meet school friend and visiting beautiful valley :)
i look forward for such refreshing times .
keep enjoying your stay at warm and beautiful country my friend!
hugs and blessings
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Theresa MahoneyFebruary 18, 2024 at 11:39 AM
What a treat to see that in person! I have always found the dance mesmerizing. The colorful costumes are so fun! It's cold and a little snow is on the ground in Indiana today, so I got a little thrill with your Hawaiian landscape photos.
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ChristineFebruary 18, 2024 at 12:58 PM
Very fun colourful post!
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carol l mckennaFebruary 18, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Wow ! ~ Fascinating photos of Lion Dance event ~ and great history ~ what a fun time for you ~ and us through yoiur photos ~ thanks,

Wishing good health, laughter and love in your days ~
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
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Rain February 18, 2024 at 4:59 PM
That was really cool to read Louise. So happy you got a piece of that cabbage! Great luck ahead!
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sirkkisFebruary 19, 2024 at 3:01 AM
Oooh, Louise... the ancient Chinese culture is full of amazing wonders... thanks for sharing this years' show :)
Have a happy new week ahead xx
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Jeff February 19, 2024 at 6:48 AM
What fun. Those lions make good dragons! May you find blessings in 2024.
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Gene BlackFebruary 19, 2024 at 2:02 PM
What a glorious exhibition. I am glad that you got to enjoy it and share it with us.
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AdamFebruary 20, 2024 at 2:50 PM
I was born in 1988 so it's my year 🐉🐲
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https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.comFebruary 21, 2024 at 12:33 PM
How exciting, what a lovely thing to see and so colourful.
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ViolettaFebruary 21, 2024 at 3:12 PM
Oh chinese lions- celebrating the chinese New Year I think. Thanks for sharing and have a good time....and thanks for visiting my blog
Violetta
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