Mitsuo Aoki

The Rev. Mitsuo Aoki helped countless people, particularly cancer patients and their families, with his compassionate outlook on dying.

"He was sought out a lot for his wisdom," said the Rev. Clarence Liu, chaplain of Hospice Hawaii. "He lived his dying in the very same way that he shared about it and talked about it. There was great integrity and great truthfulness in the way he lived his life."

Aoki, a theologian, minister and college professor who founded the religion department of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and served as an influential figure in the establishment of Hospice Hawaii, died Thursday at his Pohai Nani home in Kaneohe. He was 95.

Zero Nukes?

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — In this place where a fearful age was born one fiery instant 65 years ago, the Flame of Peace still flickers on, awaiting the day when the world is rid of nuclear weapons.

Many believe that day may be approaching.

"I saw a light in a dark tunnel," says Emiko Okada, 73. "President Obama said, 'Yes, I can.'"

For her and other "hibakusha," survivors of Hiroshima 1945, abolishing nuclear weapons has been a lifelong crusade. But the cause that Hiroshima never abandoned is now also the cause of a growing movement worldwide, embraced by statesmen in Washington and other capitals, endorsed by old Cold Warriors, promoted by Hollywood, financed by billionaires.

Ordinary people, too, in country after country, want "zero nukes," opinion polls show.

But is it achievable? Can doomsday arms be banished from the face of the Earth? Will man stop reaching for ever more powerful weapons? And, more immediately, will an American president, following his ambassador's unprecedented visit, finally walk this year among the cherry trees, the memorials, the unspeakable memories of Hiroshima?

Gabby and slack key

This has been a great summer for Hawaiian music, as Alan Akaka kicked things off with the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival July 4 at the Waikiki Beach Plaza, Roy Sakuma presented the 40th Annual Ukulele Festival July 18 in Kapiolani Park and Cyril Pahinui celebrated the musical legacy of his father, Gabby Pahinui, last weekend in Waimanalo.

The next big event is this weekend as Milton Lau hosts the 28th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Sunday afternoon at Kapiolani Park Bandstand.

(pics)

***

Times change. Magic moments become treasured memories. Cyril Pahinui is looking forward to bringing some of the magic back -- if only for a day -- with the Third Annual Gabby Pahinui Waimanalo Kanikapila tomorrow at Waimanalo Beach Park. The music will go on throughout the day, with more than 100 musicians playing in honor of Gabby, Cyril's father.

***

My friend from college days at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, Bob Moore, says being at a Gabby-fest in Waimanalo, when music-lovers and hangers-on would head out to watch the best of the best in Hawaiian slack-key guitar play music in a back yard close to the beach, is his best memory ever -- better than being at Woodstock.

***

'Ki Ho'alu: Slack Key the Hawaiian Way'

Various artists
(Hawaiian Legacy Foundation)

This 1993 documentary film about slack key music and musicians on DVD provides fans and students of ki ho'alu a valuable source of information on that important genre -- and the opportunity to watch several slack key masters play as well.

Film producers Eddie and Myrna Kamae introduce ki ho'alu with a look at the things that make it uniquely Hawaiian. They continue with sections on slack key tunings, playing styles, the history and evolution of slack key and the gradual shift from traditional to modern teaching techniques. One section focuses on Niihau and guitarist Malaki Kanahele; another, on Big Island legend Fred Punahoa.

Ledward Kaapana is featured in several clips -- he plays in some and shares family history in others. George Kuo demonstrates the distinct difference in the sound of guitars played with standard and slack key tunings, Manu Kahaialii speaks at length on the spiritual aspects of the genre, and Raymond Kane retells the classic tale of how he discovered slack key while living in Nanakuli. Vintage clips of Gabby Pahinui, Alice Namakelua and the Sons of Hawai'i are some of the other highlights.

Donnie Yen

[8/17/10] HONG KONG — For years, Donnie Yen worked in the shadow of Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Having fought both on-screen, the 47-year-old actor was considered a worthy opponent but not necessarily a leading man in his own right.

The dynamic changed after Yen took on the role of Bruce Lee's kung fu master in 2008. "Ip Man" was a hit and two years later, the sequel was also successful. "Ip Man 2" is the top-grossing local film in China in the first half of the year with a box office take of $34 million, second only to "Avatar" and beating other Hollywood blockbusters like "Iron Man 2" and "Clash of the Titans."

[11/1/14]  Donnie Yen movies currently on Netflix

Special ID (2013)
Dragon (2011)

Legend of the Fist (2010)

Ip Man 2 (2010)

14 Blades (2010)

Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)
Ip Man (2008)

Flash Point (2007)

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

Blade of Kings [aka Twins Effect II] (2004)

Highlander Endgame (2000)

Iron Monkey 2 (1996)
Wing Chun (1994)
Iron Monkey (1993)

quitting Christianity

"Today, I quit being a Christian."

With those words last week on Facebook, Anne Rice delivered a wake-up call for organized religion. The question is whether it will be recognized as such.

"I remain committed to Christ as always," she wrote, "but not to being `Christian' or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to `belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious and deservedly infamous group. For 10 years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."

You will recall that the author, famed for her vampire novels, made a much-publicized return to the Catholicism of her youth after years of calling herself an atheist. Now, years later, she says she hasn't lost her faith, but she's had it up to here with organized religion.

"In the name of Christ," she wrote, "I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life."

***

I object to the media using the name "Christian" to refer only to right-wing ideologues. They ignore the great majority of Christians who are not part of this loud minority.

With all the media coverage given to religious conservatives, it's not surprising that Anne Rice wants to divorce herself from any church ("More followers of Christ refusing to be Christians," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 5).

She and the media should be aware, however, that there are many progressive Christian churches across this country that support civil rights for all and work constantly to care for those who are homeless, poor or in need of help.

Please stop representing all members of the Christian faith as conservatives by your use of language.

Marita Nelson
Hawaii Kai

Quiz on Quotations

Isaac Asimov's Super Quiz

King Features Syndicate

Published Wednesday, August 4, 2010


Subject: QUOTATIONS

Provide the final word of the quotation. (e.g., Napoleon: "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is ___." Answer: Forever.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Napoleon: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a ___."

Answer________

2. Dwight D. Eisenhower: "A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses ___."

Answer________

3. Jimi Hendrix: "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom ___."

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL

4. Winston Churchill: "If you are going through hell, keep ___."

Answer________

5. Vince Lombardi: "We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of ___

Answer________

6. Thomas Edison: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't ___."

Answer________

PH.D. LEVEL

7. Aldous Huxley: "Maybe this world is another planet's ___."

Answer________

8. Xenocrates: "I have often regretted my speech, never my ___."

Answer________

9. John F. Kennedy: "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their ___."

Answer________

dogmatism

This article recalls the one thing I can't stand, but I kept forgetting what the word was.

I think the word is dogmatism.

The definition is "positiveness in assertion of opinion especially when unwarranted or arrogant".

I had been starting to think of the word was idealogue which is defined as an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology.


Of course, since I'm not dogmatic, I could be wrong...

the key to a happy life

RT @D_G27: RT @johncmayer: I have found the key to a happy life is to surround myself with like-minded people who agree with me constantly.

via hansstolfus

small ways to make a difference

You never know how an act of kindness can change a life.

When we reached out to high school student Michael Oher and gave him a home, we didn't realize it would matter to anyone except the three of us. Lord knows, we never thought we'd be attending the Academy Awards with Sandra Bullock, who would win an Oscar for playing Leigh Anne in a movie!

There are so many Michael Ohers in this country, walking on the streets, close to falling through the cracks. We just need to be more cognizant of those around us.

Society pretty much had deemed Michael valueless. Through a random act of kindness, we offered him a simple ride. That turned into changing a life. Today, six years later, Michael is an immensely successful, happy young man. Now he's giving back, helping troubled kids in his community as a member of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

If good things can continue to happen from our little story, we can certainly keep doing our part. We'd like to help you do yours. Here are eight easy, small ways you, too, can help out and make a big difference in someone's life.