Aloha friends. My name is Sage. Like the herb. I’m blogging live and direct via my all-access VIP pass to Kuha’o Zane’s Moku O Keawe blogatron. Today was day three of this year’s international hula festival and here’s the recap of my eventful Friday, one that makes Ice Cube’s Friday seem like a Sunday.

7:15 AM - E Ala E. . .Eh! I gotta wake up already! Bocha. Cannot find the toothpaste.
7:45 AM - Found the toothpaste. Mahalo ke akua. Let’s roll out.
8:00 AM - Arrive at Waikoloa Beach Marriott. Jasmine green tea and a banana. Get lost looking for bathroom.
8:45 AM - I tie my pareu to dance under the direction of Aunty Nalani for the first time in almost a DECADE! wtf?! It’s been too long.
9:30 AM - Warm up dance down. Gotta love that Kuahiwi action.
11:00 AM - finalizing Aia La Ola’a, one of the most beautifullest hula auwana I ever did see/dance in my life.
11:50 AM - Sifting through my suitcase to find the most Uncle-George-ish gear I got on me.
12:15 PM - Climb into Jack’s tours van with red stilettos. Oh yes. We’re off to Hilo.
2:00 PM - Arrive at the Civic Auditorium for George Naope’s memorial service. Ti-leaf Kahili. Beautiful. Naughty hula. Just the way he likes.
3:00 PM - On our way back through the clouds of Waimea, those clouds that sit so low they could win an aiha’a award.
Almost 5:00 PM - Buying Island Gourmet Market out of rations to secure the appetite for the the rest of the evening.
8:00-ish PM - Finally make it to the lawn at Waikoloa Bowl. Reinforced with: blanket, one cake-size rice crispy treat, sweet potato, chips and juice.
9:00 PM - Buss laughing, having good fun. Pre-moonlight night renders five hula girls blanketed in body heat.
9:Something PM - The moon rises from three coconut trees, we greet, and she warms us.
10:Something PM - Makali’i is over head. Winning halau do a happy dance. Hawai’i Aloha.
11:00 PM - Back to the condos. Blog time. Cannot recall who exactly won what because it’s been a 19-hour day. But my favorite was the Lei A’ali’i song/dance by Halau Hula Kealaaumoe. Check the kaona on that bad boy. Bugga is mean.
12:00 AM - ‘Ohu’ohu ka sake bombs o Sansei hale sushi. Menehune takes original Moku O Keawe day three blog to a mysterious cyber black hole.
1:00 AM - Hana Hou!
1:Something AM - Here you go.
Almost 2:00 AM - Gotta go moe already! Huaka’i to Mahai’ula in the morning. All other workshops and huaka’i scheduled to start seven hours. . . .Keep you guys posted.

XO, Sage