2017 August San Diego and Los Angeles
Mary and I decided to attend the Semi Annual Taiko Conference, this year located at University of San Diego campus. On my flight over to SD, I sat next to Christine Noble and we chatted almost the entire flight and became friends! We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites in La Jolla and rented a car. Since we got there a day before registration, we drove to Alpine to visit my friend Carmen Shagham. She showed us around her estate and all the work she has done in her yard. Then we went to lunch at Montana Grill Café.
Carmen and I are in her back yard.
After a lovely visit with Carmen, we drove to the UCSD campus to register for the Taiko Conference. Elsie was waiting for us, then Lorin and Lovelle came to join us for the Welcome Reception.
Elsie, Mary, Lorin, myself and Lovelle at Taiko Welcome reception.
Taiko Kanikapila-people just jump in and play!
On Friday we had opening session and breakout workshops all day and in the evening we enjoyed a Taiko Concert. We repeated the same thing on Saturday.
I was honored to meet Kristy Oshiro, awesome drummer!
Sunday morning was the closing session. After the closing, I drove down to Coronado Island to meet Mel and Karen Tanaka for lunch and to visit their lovely home on the island. Then I drove to Temecula to stay with Ali Nash. Her hubby is a firefighter in Long Beach so he was gone. We had a nice dinner downtown at Public House.
Mel grew up in Ewa Beach: his family owned Tanaka Store. He and Karin live on Coronado Island.
I stayed in Temecula with Ali Nash. Her sister Heather Bown played volleyball at UH and the US Olympic team.
The next morning, Ali had made me a bracelet with the beach glass that I gave her. Then I drove off to Anza to visit cousin Paola, her hubby Phil and daughter Beca, who was working at a campground on a lake. We hung out by the lake enjoying the sun before heading to the village for Italian dinner at Ferro.
Phil, myself, Paola and their daughter Rebecca at the lake where Beca works for the summer.
On Tuesday, I drove to Los Angeles to stay w/Tom and Margie Hernandez, Kazu’s Dad and Mom. Margie made Nopales-cactus. She cooked chicken, beef, beans, salad and Tom’s sister Rosemarie brought 2 peach pies. We had a feast! The kids all came for dinner and Tom’s brother Angel brought Grandma Hortense. Renae brought her baby, Quetzal, so it was a wonderful family reunion!
I stayed with Tom and Margie Hernandez in Los Angeles. Tom is Kazu’s dad!
Wednesday morning I had to say goodbye and drove to LAX to catch my flight home.
lariyasui 