Japanese Teahouse and Hawaiian Music

In honor of her elder daughter’s high school graduation, my sister Debbie hosted a luncheon for her at the Natsunoya Teahouse on Makanani Drive in Honolulu, a popular venue for both tourists and locals to celebrate special occasions.

The view is outstanding, and imagine this at night, with the city lights blazing:

Friends and relatives came to congratulate Amelia and wish her well, and we all enjoyed the excellent buffet lunch, with two kinds of cake from Kaneohe Bakery for dessert.

Later in the afternoon when we were back at the house, my younger sister decided that it would be fun to check out the Hawaiian music scene at Honey’s, the bar at the Ko’olau Golf Course in Kaneohe made famous by singer Don Ho, so I changed into one of her new muumuus and we headed out.  We listened to a local trio play Hawaiian songs, and what luck! It so happened that the legendary ukulele player Eddie Kamae came onstage to perform a set.

Cinco de Mayo at Parlin Field

Cinco de Mayo, translated as the “Fifth of May,” is a regional Mexican holiday which commemorates the Mexican Army’s defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla, on 5 May 1862. It is likely that in the United States, this date is more widely recognized than Mexico’s Independence Day, which is September 16th.  At any rate, in the tradition of appropriated ethnic celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo is often observed by Americans regardless of whether they have any connections to Mexico. 

This year, I decided that since I’m a fan of the cuisine, I’d observe the day by having lunch at a Mexican restaurant. So today, I met four friends at the Lil Red Baron Restaurant in Newport, New Hampshire. Unlikely as it sounds, this establishment serves decent Mexican food, and we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch together.  I had the bean burrito, but alas, could not indulge in a Margarita.  Afterwards, Joel and Nina posed with sombreros; Laila, Glenna, and I took photos.

Lil Red Baron

Joel and Nina