Kenneth Makuakāne

I just found out about an artist who passed and now I find that Eartha Kitt left this world. Living long enough makes me see the other side of lifeʻs pendulum swing.

I needed even read the article and found out Dan Fogelberg passed away last year. Man, where have I been. Itʻs still a bummer to find out the sad news.

I am saddened by the passing of Dan Fogelberg, an iconic soft rock singer/songwriter of the 70ʻs and 80ʻs. I loved his songs back then and still love them today.

I remember a funny story one of my friends told me, when I was still living on Maui. Our pastor was having some mainland friends for Thanksgiving and had invited my friend and his wife to join them. After a wonderful turkey dinner, they all went to the living room and my pastor asks his mainland friend if he would sing some songs for the dinner group, to which the gentleman kindly obliged. Everyone was amazed at how beautifully he sang. After he was done, my friend went to sit by him and started to tell him how impressed he was and if he ever thought of singing for a living, to which the gentleman just chuckled.
My friend was one of the last to leave, again commenting to my Pastor about how nice the guy sang and he should try singing for a living. My pastor smiles, pulls out a couple of albums and tells him that his mainland friend Dan already does that very thing.

To a wonderful singer and a songwriter I have studied and aspired to for many years, I sadly say a hui hou!

I just read a wonderful blog and thought I would send it along.

For those parents who have lost a child to death and grieve this Christmas,
For those parents who will be separated from a child this Christmas,
For those single parents who wonder if they can make Christmas happen, alone,
For those children of all ages who miss their parents,
For those who wonder how their babies grew up so fast,
For those who wonder where their children are and if they are safe,
For those facing divorce and wondering what 2009 will hold,
For those who know the only gifts in the house will be donated by angels in human form,
For those who will be alone while it feels like the whole world rejoices,
For those receiving food baskets in order to afford a Christmas dinner,
For those who wonder how they can start over after losing everything,
For those in hospitals, prisons, shelters, and halfway houses,
For those who have children in hospitals, prisons, shelters, and halfway houses,
For those who are abused and praying they can make 2009 better, alone,
For those who will eat Christmas dinner at a shelter or soup kitchen,
For those who wonder if your prayers are heard at all,
For those who grieve and cry and hurt and wonder and hope …

Remember this,
A teenaged girl, unmarried and pregnant, traveled with the man who promised to care for her and her baby.
They arrived in his home town, but no one, not even a distant cousin, would take them in.
Perhaps because they had heard? The baby wasn’t even his.
The world was small and scandalous news travels fast.
No one would take pity on a young girl, heavy with the weight of her unborn child.
To those with money, there is always an available bed, and they had little.
Without a bed to be found, they took shelter in a stable,
And there she labored.
No mother, no aunts, no midwife or doctor, not even a female friend to give her comfort,
During the most terrifying time in a young woman’s life.
She labored and gave birth to her first born son in a dirty stable surrounded by animals.
This could not possibly have been how she had imagined the birth of her child.

If this Christmas finds you alone, poor, scared, hurting, …
You’re not alone. If you can only remember one thing … you’re not alone.

No matter the circumstances of your life, may this Christmas find you with peace in your heart and joy in your soul.

God loves you, and so do I.

I will be on the ‘Olelo Channel 53 at 7PM this Thursday 12/18 and again on 12/25.
Go to the ‘Olelo website for the live streaming on those two dates.
My guests are John Cruz, Kelly Boy Delima, Walter Keale and Chris Lau. We will be talking story about our childhood Christmas memories and singing some Christmas songs.
Hope you can join in!

I will be on the ‘Olelo Channel 53 at 7PM this Thursday 12/18 and again on 12/25.
Go to the ‘Olelo website for the live streaming on those two dates.
My guests are John Cruz, Kelly Boy Delima, Walter Keale and Chris Lau. We will be talking story about our childhood Christmas memories and singing some Christmas songs.
Hope you can join in!

I am on the Board for the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii Windward Clubhouse. We are doing our annual fundraiser for operating expenses to keep the center open. In the two years since Iʻve been on the Board, student membership has increased over one hundred percent.
Our after school programs include ‘Ukulele lessons, field trips, tennis classes, art classes, computer classes, photography classes, cooking classes, and so much more. During vacations, the students can sign up for all-day activities.
We need your help to keep this vital center open for the kids in our community. I am asking for your support and send you a big mahalo in advance.