A tea ceremony with roots in sixteenth century Japan lives on in Hawaii. Visitors may experience the elegance of Chao, the Way of Tea, in public demonstrations. Small group sessions are held twice a week in a tearoom and garden tucked in between towering Waikiki hotels.
The foundations for Chado were laid by Sen Rikyu (1522-1591) in Kyoto, where the historic complex of tearooms and gardens has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese Government. This estate is the home of Urasenke line of the Sen family and the heart of the Chado practice. There are also close links between the Urasenke Chado practice and Hawaii. There has been a Chado Club at the University of Hawaii for over forty years. A beautiful teahouse at the East-West Center was donated by the Urasenke Foundation, as was a tearoom in the Japanese Culture Center.
The founder created a comprehensive discipline for preparing, serving and enjoying tea based on Zen principles. Each movement, each element of the tea ceremony is significant. People who study Chado learn about the setting, the etiquette, the utensils, food and even the water to be used. Through this training, they seek to refine and cultivate themselves as human beings.
Before participating in the demonstration, we watched a video that described the various elements of the tea ceremony, so that we could appreciate their significance. Our group was composed of only the three of us traveling together. After watching the video, we went back outside to enter the door to the tearoom, first removing our shoes. When we made reservations, we had been advised to wear socks to protect the tatami mats that cover the floor of the tearoom.
One woman prepared the tea for another, who played the role of guest. A third woman was seated between them and us to provide explanations where needed, answer questions, and guide us as we attempted to follow the rituals for eating and drinking. The traditional seating is on the floor, but small stools were provided for the members of our party unable to be comfortable in that position.
Our hosts were as gracious as the tea ceremony itself, described as “a timeless formula for sharing a beautiful moment thanks to the agency of tea.”
Posted by Cindy Scheopner Follow me on Twitter @Scheopner
It’s always good to have local advice when you’re planning a Hawai‘i vacation. That might mean someone who has visited the islands, maybe more than once. Even better would be someone who now lives in Hawai‘i. Better than that? Someone who grew up here, has lived on three of the islands, and enjoys helping visitors make the most of their Hawai‘i experience. That’s Tara Barron, the most senior agent at Hawaii Aloha Travel.
Unlike most of us, Tara was dragged to Hawai‘i under protest — as a young girl leaving her friends on the mainland. (I confess to taking some comfort in knowing that parental relocations are not popular no matter how fabulous the destination.) She grew up on Maui, and has lived on the big island (Hawai‘i) as well as Oahu. When she tells you about the islands of Hawai‘i, she draws on years of experience.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Tara likes to help visitors with multi-island packages. Visiting more than one island lets travelers experience the different aspects of Hawai‘i and it allows them to vary their own activities. Hiking and visiting nature preserves are part of a Big Island trip, along with seeing the volcano. Many of the sites with names that are familiar to travelers are on Oahu, along with important historical, governmental and cultural spots.
She says about half of her customers are taking their first trip to Hawai‘i, the others are returning. Veterans are either looking for something different, or know they want to repeat a great experience. First time visitors, however, often need hand-holding all the way through. "Sometimes people will tell me they want to visit the Big Island," Tara says. "I ask them what they want to do, and they describe activities that are on Oahu. It’s not uncommon for people to think that Oahu is the ‘Big Island’." That could be because it has the most population or is the center of government, but when describing islands in Hawai‘i, "big" means geography. Tara gently guides visitors to the experience they really have in mind.
Tara lends a wealth of experience and a helping hand to Hawaii visitors, whether it’s the first visit or fifth. Each time, the trip is enhanced with her local touch.
Hawaii celebrates heritage each September with a festival that brings together people from all the islands.
The theme of this year’s Aloha Festival is "Mele ‘Ailana: Celebrate Island Music". It kicks off Thursday (September 2) with the investiture of the 2010 Royal Court, followed by an opening ceremony that includes traditional hula and chant. This beautiful ceremony on the grounds of the Hilton Hawaiian Village is filled with history and tradition. As with all the events this month, it is a treat for the senses, with bright colors from the flowers and clothing and the enchanting combination of music and movement that is hula.
The event that most people associate with the Aloha Festival is the floral parade, which will be on Saturday September 25. It begins at 9 am and runs from Ala Moana Park along Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park. It is truly amazing - floats with beautiful flowers and entertainment and more marching bands than I would have bet could exist on such small islands. Even tiny Ni‘ihAu sends its Island Princess Pa‘u rider and her court.
I happened upon the parade by accident weeks after moving here. I was amazed by the many high school and military marching bands, the civic organizations who created floats along with local businesses, the vintage and custom cars, and so much more. I was especially impressed that the hula groups ranged from small children to silver-haired men and women, all beautiful in movement. This was my first glimpse of Hawaii as a collection of communities - each distinct with local pride, and yet united in spirit.
This year’s theme celebrates more than traditional chant, it extends to contemporary island music that builds on tradition. To quote festival organizers, "European-introduced ukulele and guitar combine with ancient instruments and state-of-the-art technology." When combined with the voices of talented island artists, "you get a kind of musical magic that soothes the spirit." This invokes the Hawaiian word Nahenahe, meaning "sweet and melodious."
The Aloha Festival is a great way to experience Hawaii. Many events are free or of nominal cost and do draw locals as well as visitors. As with the theme, the Festival itself weaves tradition with modern trends and influences to celebrate Hawaii’s unique way of life.
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