Happy Holidays! A Sensory 2025

Our Light & Reflection show at Hualalai Realty has me reflecting on 2025 and what a remarkable, sensory year it’s been. (Don’t worry—you have one more month to experience the show.)

This year, in addition to my love of artists, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for musicians and chefs, thanks to some incredibly talented people who shared their time, skills, and insights.

Learning that some people “hear” art from ukulele virtuoso and composer, Jake Shimabukuro, and witnessing how he hears everything, broke open a new world of understanding for me. Do you "hear" art? Do certain colors sound a certain way to you?

You may recall, visual artist, Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides, collaborated with Jake for her Hilo International Airport commission—creating art inspired by an original song he wrote after they toured the island together, and Tracey Niimi created a music video for Jake, sharing Kristie’s paintings/collaboration and installation. If you’ve been curious, or are simply missing this special place, please take a few minutes to enjoy this wonderful video, music, and art titled "Eyes of the ʻIʻiwi."

For me, an appreciation for art and food go hand in hand and there’s been a want-to-be farmer in me for years. This year, our little Calabash Farm is finally productive! We’ve been blessed by visits from some of the island’s best chefs and have been having so much fun learning about flavor, pickling, and ingredients from them. Tasting their artistry has been incredible, too!

If you’re looking for an amazing taste adventure, there’s an event happening practically in our backyard. Kuleana Rum will be hosting Outstanding in the Field, featuring Chef Rhoda Magbitang (Executive Chef of CanoeHouse), and her team, on January 11th. Tickets are on sale now and I hope to see you there! https://shop.outstandinginthefield.com/products/january-11-2026-kuleana-rum

And come February 14th, don’t miss Jake Shimabukuro in concert at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. It’s a perfect Valentine’s date and we hope to see you there! https://kahilu.org/events/jake-shimabukuro/

Come the New Year, I’ll share more of the fun, visual art experiences I’m working to create for you, but in the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to two wonderful artists I'm now representing–Margo Ray and Apo Aquino.

Wishing you a joy-filled holiday season and an exceptional 2026! Enjoy making treasured memories with your loved ones and know how deeply appreciated you are!