ローカルガールの華麗な生活2001-03-17　Honolulu Festival

March 12, 2001　Honolulu Festival

Last year’s yabusame demonstration at the Honolulu Festival was totally awesome, and for weeks Kyle and I looked forward to it. However, this year’s festival could have come and gone without a clue if I hadn’t received a certain letter in the mail on Friday.

Actually, I received a notice to pick up an Express Mail letter on Tuesday or Wednesday, but because I had to work and go to school, I didn’t have time to pick it up. So not until Friday, when I decided I had to go to work late in order to get my mail, did I get this special letter. It was from my friend in Japan, and she and her daughter were coming to Hawaii for the Honolulu Festival.

By the time I got the letter, they had already arrived. And I had plans for the weekend. But we worked it out, and Kyle and I made a surprise visit to Ala Moana Centerstage to see them perform.

I spotted Azumi-chan quickly. She was the only child in the taiko group, and still as cute as I remembered. And then I saw Miya, her mom, who I taught with at the preschool in Japan. Since we had arrived just before the performance was to start, we peeked over the rows of people already lined up to watch the show. Just before it began, Miya spotted me, and waved frantically. I was pleased that we could meet in Hawaii.

The funny thing was that after the performance, when I finally could talk to them and give them leis, everyone wanted to know about Azumi, “the cute little girl.” She was totally a hit with the audience. I was sorta proud that I actually knew this kid, but on the other hand, Miya and Azumi were kinda stoked that they knew someone from Hawaii. We were all pretty excited.

Anyway, we spent time together doing some tourist-y things, like shopping and going to Tantalus to see the view. We also enjoyed my favorite Waiola shave ice, and a nice, casual dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was a unexpected visit, but a wonderful weekend.

And, I ended up going to the Honolulu Festival this year!

Susan Sensei’s English Lesson #69（スーザン先生の英語講座）

For two years I taught English in Japan, and was “スーザン先生” to my students in Ikaho town, Gunma Prefecture. I will try and introduce new words and phrases for the Japanese visitor to Hawaii. Here is this week’s situation:

【今週のレッスン】
雑誌で見つけたあの商品が欲し〜いっ！　お店でこう訊いてみましょう。
(You are in Hawaii, looking for something in particular that you saw in a magazine. To find that special something, go to the salesperson and say, )

“I’m looking for —. Can you help me find it?

「—を探してるんですけど探してもらえますか？」

もしそのお店になかったら….
(Or, if the store doesn’t carry the item, you may ask, )

“Where do you think I could find it?”

「どこに売っていると思いますか？」

Enjoy shopping!

Loco Girl’s Profile（ロコ・ガールのプロフィール） Born in Hilo, I grew up going fishing with Dad, shopping with Mom, and trying to be a good “big sister” to a younger sister and brother. A Waiakea High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa alumni, I taught English in Japan for two years on the JET Program. I love doing a lot of things-shopping, reading, lettering, making jewelry & crafts, watching Friends-and that’s just the start of my list! I like being busy, and am active with the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) and the Honolulu Junior Japanese Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC.) My family and friends are, of course, very important to me, and are why I live a very typical, happy, local-style life in Hawaii and will never leave!