A simple tradition for a Lanikai household name - the Buzz's Lunar Calendar is an annual collectible.
Since 1962, Buzz's iconic steakhouse right off the beach has been a household name. If you are looking for the best salad bar in town - Buzz's will never disappoint. Tourists and locals alike will drop in for a drink or wait their turn for a table at the establishment for their chance to experience one of the best surf and turf meals in town.
The cuisine at Buzz's is without a doubt memorable but the little tradition that carries from year to year is the Annual Buzz's Lunar Calendar.
Each fall, Buzz's releases a poster sized collectible lunar calendar for the upcoming year. The tabular layout presents the moon phases for each day of the month for the year. The moon has always played an important part in the lives of Hawaiians. The calendar comes in very handy even today to identify good times for fishing, bad times for swimming due to jellyfish and prosperous times for planting.
I have collected and framed my favorite Buzz's Lunar calendars over their 57 years of production. They hang in our laundry room, bathrooms, basement and garage. It is a simple memento but a traditional one too.
Buzz's does a wonderful job of supporting the local community by not only spotlighting local artists but donating the proceeds from sales to the Hawaii Food Bank.
I can tell you with full confidence, that never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my own art being the center piece of one of these calendars -- but it happened! I am so thankful for the opportunity to have my art on the 2020 calendar and I can't wait for you all to get your poster as well.
Buzz's will be celebrating their 57th Anniversary in Lanikai with a calendar signing today (November 1, 2019) from 3-6PM. Each household will receive one free calendar and I will also be there to sign and take pictures. If you happen to be in the Kailua area, I would love for you to stop by and say Aloha!
If you are unable to make it, calendars can be purchased online on Buzz's website.
Mahalo for all of the support the past few years - this would have never happened had it not been for all of my followers!
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Let's jump in a time machine and head back to Kailua in the 1950s.
Picture this: On the North end of town near Duck Road (Kainui Drive) there is a horse racing track. On the South end of town stretching all the way along Kailua Road (by current day Target) is a 1,000 acre dairy farm with over 1,200 cattle roaming free. Everywhere in between are residential houses scattered among empty plots of land.
In the 1940s, horse racing brought spectators over to the windward side of the island to the sleepy, rural town of Kailua with its 1,600 residents. By the 1950s, the population had increased to an astonishing 7,700 and the numbers continued to sky rocket to over 25,000 by 1960.
There was an empty lot next to my family house on North Kainalu Drive. A neighbor had purchased an old, retired race horse for recreational riding and kept him tethered up in the yard. Every so often, the horse would go missing but the owner would never panic. The owner knew his old horse had a favorite hangout spot down the street at the track with his old racing buddies.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, it was not uncommon to use horses as a mode of transportation. Locals would often take the scenic route to visit your house by commuting with their horse down the beach to Lanikai or Kailua.
Horses on the beach, however, were less common than your run of the mill beach dog. At the time, no one had fences and there was no such thing as 'leash laws'. For the most part, animals just roamed free. The dogs knew where to come home for dinner and had the freedom to explore as they wished. Often when heading on a beach stroll, you would be accompanied by a random beach dog who would trot along beside you until it had reached its destination and then bid you adieu.
Campos Dairy emerged in 1925 and was in operation until the late 1960s. I very clearly remember seeing my first cow born there - that image is burned in my brain forever. The Campos family did very well for themselves with the milk and daily endeavor - some say they used to herd cattle with Cadillacs just because they could.
So many memories of old Kailua Town - I could go on for days. Make sure to share some of your favorites as well!
The full moon over Kailua this week has me reflecting on stories and memories from the past.
Witnessing the moon rise in Kailua has a special feel to it that would be hard to replicate anywhere else in the world. The lunar event incentives groups to gather at the beach to say goodbye to the sun and welcome the bright moon in all its glory.
Personally, the full moon over the water reminds me of my mother and how her influence instilled a powerful love of art in my life and my career. An art teacher by trade, my mother taught the subject at historic Hawaiian establishments such as Punahou School and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. With a lifelong passion for the world of art, she made sure I was also educated on different styles and movements, most notably impressionism. At a young age, I was well versed in the works of major Impressionists such as Monet, Cézanne and Renoir. My mother helped me to develop an eye for art all around us, predominantly in nature.
In the early 1960s, one of our favorite mother/son activities was to wander down to Kailua Beach at nightfall and watch the coast transform into a world unknown. The sunset on the west side of the island often projects reflections of color over the Nu'unau Valley down to the windward community below. At times, contrary to science, the sky dances with colorful clouds as if the sun was setting in the east.
Once the colors fade and the moon rises over the horizon, the aura of the beach experiences a type of metamorphosis. Walking the beach side by side with my mother, the familiar natural landmarks transformed and awakened the feeling of traversing a wild, remote land. The moon casted shadows of our form onto the beach and reflecting light off the white foam of the incoming tide painted pictures in the waves.
As my mother got older, one of her most predominant requests was for moonlit strolls down the beach whenever I came to visit the house. Over the years, the walks steadily became shorter and more leisurely, but I knew it was important and always prioritized my schedule for this quality time with family.
If you need a reference to believe how magical a night walk on Kailua Beach can be, ask former President Obama. A friend close to the Obama family relayed a story to me of a spontaneous, presidential jaunt down the beach. One night, while vacationing in Kailua at the Kailuana Place - Paradise Point, Obama inquired with Secret Service about the possibility of making a moonlit stroll a reality. Figuring the night sky would provide an increased level of anonymity, Obama was granted his request. For five miles, down and back on Kailua Beach, Obama was able to stroll in the sand under the guidance of the moon, without any interruption.
The rising of the moon is the marker of a change in our day. The moon is magic for the soul and light for the senses. Hopefully whatever you are going through in life, the moon can provide some guidance on your path.
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There are moments in time we will always remember.
We hold on to memories as if depicted in a mental photo album. Some memories are happy like marriage and the birth of children, other memories are tragic like the loss of loved ones or friends.
We may not have much control over the things our brain decides to remember, but that is the beauty of the mind.
An example of this takes me back to when I was around 10 years old. Growing up on Oahu, my parents separated at a young age. I lived with my mom during the week but the weekends were reserved for time with my dad.
I was always excited for what the weekend would bring because it promised adventures on the island and stories to take back to school on Monday.
One weekend, dad and I went out cruising from house to house visiting friends and talking story well into the night. By the time the sun set, Dad decided it was too late to drive home from our last stop of the evening in Waimanalo.
At this point it was dark, so we made up camp in the back of the VW van and settled in for the night. Unaware of my surroundings, I quickly fell into a slumber after a long day of entertainment.
In the morning, I woke up to another Hawaii morning - not expecting what was to come.
I opened the door of the VW van and was taken breathless. As if I was in a 360 degree panoramic photo, the grandeur of the Ko'olau mountains surrounded me on all sides. The vast majesty of their color, shape and size imprinted on my mind for the first time in a way I had never before experienced. The morning light cast shadows in the creases of the mountain range creating exaggerated texture and balance unlike anything I had ever seen before. I was in awe.
To this day, the Ko'olaus still remind me of that morning and the special weekends I used to spend with my dad. Each time I go out looking for a place to shoot photos, I can always count on the majestic mountain range to provide me with art you have to see to believe.
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Lets try something....
Go make yourself a cup of coffee, come back, sit down and relax for a minute.
You may not be able to feel the breeze blowing through the palms or hear the ocean waves, but you can imagine what it would be like if you could. So relax, breathe and take in the views from wherever you may be.
My favorite part about sharing my work online is the stories and connections I make with my viewers. So often I am approached or messaged and told by my friends on Facebook that they look forward to seeing what scene I have captured that morning as they sip on their daily cup of coffee.
To me, no matter where my audience may be in the world, the ability to bring joy and connectivity to people while they take a break from the real world is what ‘Ohana is all about. You all are my neighbors, my friends, my family and the reason why I wake up each morning searching for the magnificent greatness and beauty this island provides us.
I started my journey as a photographer with the hopes of building a community where others can come and enjoy the views. My intent with this blog is to weekly share photos along with connected stories and memories of my life on the island. Things have changed a lot over the years - if you grew up in Hawaii, you can also attest to this.
If a certain photo touchingly resonates with you and you want to enjoy it each and every day, the option to purchase a photo is just a click away. Not seeing the product or photo you have in mind? Let’s talk.
My career has revolved around creativity and the sky is the limit on what we can do in the world or digital prints - if you can imagine it, we can figure it out. No idea is too crazy.
Until then, enjoy your Hawaii Drake Coffee Break.
Aloha!
Richard Drake
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