Standing Into Danger: Bring on the Lions and the Year of the Snake!

Friday, February 7, 2025

Bring on the Lions and the Year of the Snake!

I am delighted to be back at the Royal Kuhio again this year

and to have had the privilege of welcoming the Year of the Snake

with the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association on February 1st.

The lion dancers welcomed in the Chinese Lunar New Year

by performing a traditional lion dance for residents and visitors in the lobby.

Bring on the Lions!

Royal Kuhio

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 1, 2025

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

Everyone should see a lion dance at least once in their lives.

Yes, it's visually exciting and throbs to the beating of drums,

the clashing of cymbals, and the singing of the gong.

But a lion dance is much more than vibrant sights and sounds.

It's a traditional Asian art form that dates back 5000 years to its origin in China. Source

Dancing Lions

Royal Kuhio

February 1, 2025

The lion dance tells a story and brings fortune and good luck to the audience.

Two people mimic the movements of a lion, one in the front and one in the back.

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

and the movements of the head, ears, and mouth.

The dancer at the back must follow the steps of the head dancer

and the beat of the music while bent over.

Lion dances are most popular during the Lunar New Year celebrations,

but they are also performed at community events, business openings, weddings, school festivals and other events. Source

Lions Delighting the Audience

Royal Kuhio

February 1, 2025

Anticipation grew as Royal Kuhio employees set the stage for the dance,

carefully suspending a Chinese cabbage in the entrance to the lobby.

The purpose of this curious act was revealed at the end of the dance.

A red packet or hong bao (Mandarin) or lai-see (Cantonese)

containing a gift of money was attached to the cabbage.

Other red packets were hung by the doors in the lobby area.

These packets are traditionally presented on many occasions in China

and other countries with sizable ethnic Chinese populations.

They symbolize good fortune and wealth.

They are also given to lion dance performers for their service. Source

People quickly filled the lobby area in anticipation of the dance,

and excitement and laughter increased as the members of the

The Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association arrived.

Pono Ka'ahanui, the resident manager, has worked to increase cultural events at the Royal Kuhio.

I love to participate in his traditional hula class every Sunday.

Everyone enjoyed the dancing lions as they pranced around displaying their skills.

Accompanying the lion dancers were 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 exciting music is loud and intense to drive away ghosts and evil spirits.

One of the Lions Collects a Red Packet

And Another Red Packet

There are two different styles of Chinese dancing lions: Southern and Northern.

The more acrobatic Northern Dance features martial arts moves, kicks, leaps and climbing,

and the lions have a shaggier, more realistic appearance.

The Southern Dance mimics lion behavior

with lots of blinking, licking, scratching, and shaking.

The lions have oversized, stylized, dragon-like heads

and the lead dancers can manipulate their mouth, eyes, and ears.

The colors of the lions represent different qualities:

red for courage, green for friendship, and yellow for liveliness.

Northern Lion Dance

Flickr ~ Choo Yut Sing ~ License

Southern Lion Dance

One of the great things about the lion dance performance in the Royal Kuhio

is that everyone could be close to the lions and see their movements easily.

A Parting Shot

And that Chinese cabbage?

It's a famous lion dance routine known as choi chang or getting the greens.

A head of lettuce containing a red packet with money

is hung high in a doorway or outside a building.

The lion carefully approaches the suspended lettuce, often performing a difficult feat

such as the front dancer standing on the shoulders of the back one.

The lion grabs the lettuce, eats it, and spits it out spreading good luck and prosperity. Source

People often take a piece for good fortune and luck during the coming year. Source

You know I got a piece of lettuce!

All too soon the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association members were packing up,

moving on to another celebration of the Year of the Snake.

The departure of this magical cultural group left quiet in its wake.

Back in our condo, I wrapped my cabbage piece carefully and tucked it in my purse

next to my father-in-law's St. Christopher's Medal (the patron saint of travelers).

With luck and good fortune, I'll be back to the Royal Kuhio next year

to see the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association welcome the Year of the Horse!

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

See you next time! Aloha! ❤️🌺🍀

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

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

My next post will be

Friday, February14th. 🤞

36 comments:

roentareFebruary 7, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Everything you photographed in the series bring good fortune especially the cabbage
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TomFebruary 7, 2025 at 3:45 AM
...I remember from our visits that the Lion Dance is a festive, color experience. The drumming was a great part too. The lion liked lettuce, but it like green backs best! Be well Louise and use your sunscreen.
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JeanieFebruary 7, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Everything in this post is just unbelievably cool! What great timing you had to be here during this period. And so wild and colorful. Love it!
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My name is Erika.February 7, 2025 at 5:46 AM
I've never seen a lion dance or even one those big parade dancing dragons, and they've been on my wish list. You can tell I don't live in an area with a high Chinese population. Anyhow, I really enjoyed this post, and the hanging cabbage story too. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy that beautiful weather. hugs-Erika
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Debra She Who SeeksFebruary 7, 2025 at 6:12 AM
What marvelous photos, Louise! I love a good lion dance and when they eat the lettuce. Thanks for teaching me the difference between North and South lion dances -- did not know that before! May your piece of lettuce bring you good luck and good forune all year long!
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AdamFebruary 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Happy year of the snake 🐍

I was a dragon 🐲
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Alex J. CavanaughFebruary 7, 2025 at 6:25 AM
They're going to need a bigger place than a hotel lobby soon.
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HeidrunFebruary 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Indeed, very good vibrations. It gives me a smile.
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DVArtistFebruary 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I would have loved to see this. I bet the air was filled with excitement. Thank you so much for sharing with FFO.
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Carola BartzFebruary 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
It's wonderful that you could see the lion dance, such a colorful and exciting event. The drumming must have been amazing. I also think it's quite exhausting and hot for the guys in the lion costume, but it's probably an honor to participate in it. I like all your photos!
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Pat HattFebruary 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Do I get to touch the lucky cabbage piece in July? Lol I'm not above lucky veggies, even if luck is a figment of the human mind.

Sure looks like lots of fun to watch indeed.
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ChristineFebruary 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A wonderful celebration!
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David M. Gascoigne,February 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
It’s great to see old traditions kept alive. Long may they continue.
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Rebecca M. DouglassFebruary 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
We used to have the lion dancers at my kids' grade school every year--a couple of their classmates were junior lions so it was extra fun. I never missed that day!
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carol l mckennaFebruary 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Wow~ so colorful and fun ~ enjoy each moment ! ~ hugs,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days ~
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
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ViolettaFebruary 10, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Never seen a chinese lion dance. And I wonder if I ever will see one as there are only few chinese people here . And I don´t think that I will travel to China. But it looks very interesting. Thanks for visiting my blog.
All the best and have a good time
Violetta
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Gillena CoxFebruary 10, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Very festive, very nice
Come over
My birthday party is
HERE

Much♡love
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https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.comFebruary 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It looks exciting.
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KezzieFebruary 15, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Fascinating! I loved seeing all the 'Behind the scenes' pictures too!
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