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Mochi Pounding!

Quote of the day: “In many Japanese American households and communities, an annual custom ismochitsuki—the pounding of mochi or rice cakes, which is essential to the “Oshogatsu” or New Year’s celebration. Mochitsuki is an all-day event which requires many hands, long hours, and physical labor, but is also a time of fellowship and socializing with friends and family.” Saturday, December 29, was the Mochi Pounding Day at Akiko’s. On December 26, Akiko’s friends and family began arriving from Honolulu to help with preparations for Mochi Pounding. Everyone has helped with Mochi Pounding before and knew exactly what to do. It Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

See My Guest Post

A quick shout out. I have a guest post on Kat Sloma’s blog, Kat Eye View of the World, today. You can see it HERE! Kat invited photographers who take part in her monthly Photo-Heart Connection to submit a post on what Photo-Heart Connection has meant to me this year. What a thrill to be chosen to be featured on her blog!

By Marilyn, ago

Laupahoehoe Point – My Favorite Place on the Big Island Hawaii

Quote of the day: ““She loves the serene brutality of the ocean, loves the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air.” ― Holly Black, Tithe There is a place not too far from where I am staying north of Hilo called Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park. Laupahoehoe Point is now a beach park, but before the 1946 tsunami it was a settlement with many residents.  When the tsunami hit it destroyed most of the settlement, with the most devastating occurrence being the destruction of the school.  Twenty-one children and three teachers were swept away by the tidal wave. This little peninsula of lava Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Just Photos (at Akiko’s B&B in Hawaii)

Quote of the day: “Learning to connect with each other, to experience empathy, to step outside our own experience, and to experience love in all its forms — these, I believe, are the experiences for which we became human.” — Martha Beck It is a busy time here at Akiko’s as we count down to Mochi Pounding festival Saturday, December 29. Yesterday Akiko’s family and friends began arriving to help get ready for Mochi Pounding. We washed the rice and began soaking it for the 3 days needed to soften it sufficiently for steaming on the day of  Mochi Pounding. Every day Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Hawaii Style Christmas

Quote of the day: “Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more….” ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas Merry Christmas everyone! I am experiencing the simplest Christmas ever—no Christmas tree to decorate, no cookies to bake, no gifts to wrap (or unwrap), no Christmas season stress. For the past 3+ weeks I’ve been staying at a small, very simple bed and breakfast in a small village north of Hilo Hawaii. There is no television where I stay, or radio, or cell phone signal, and minimal access to wireless internet. Even in the stores of Hilo the Read more…

By Marilyn, ago