On February 11th, I was one of the residents and visitors
at the Royal Kuhio who enjoyed a special treat.
We celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Dragon
with the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association.
The lion dancers welcomed in the Chinese New Year
by performing a traditional lion dance for us in the lobby.
Enter the Lions!
at the Royal Kuhio
Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, United States
February 11, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
The Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association
is a non-profit organization
formed in Honolulu in 2005.
All members are volunteers made up of
students and working professionals.
I absolutely love lion dances: the colorful prance of the lions,
the continuous beat of the drum, the loud clash of the cymbals,
and the high-pitched voice of the gong.
I was not disappointed with this up close performance!
Drum and Cymbals
at the Royal Kuhio
February 11, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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The anticipation and excitement in the lobby built as the dancers arrived,
donned their costumes, and formed up to enter the Royal Kuhio lobby.
The Dancers and Musicians Arrive
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Just when the lion dance originated is not certain,
but it dates back hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
The performers of the lion dance mimic the movements of a lion.
The dancer at the front leads the lion, setting the direction, pace, and footwork.
He also controls the head, ears, and mouth movements
as well as the blinking of the lion's eyes.
The dancer in the tail must follow the steps of the head dancer
and the beat of the music while bent over.
Members of the Wah Gnai Lion Dance Association
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Forming Up to Enter
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Accompany the lion dances are musicians playing the drum, cymbals, and the gong.
The drum represents the heartbeat of the lion,
and the cymbals and gong represent its thoughts.
The music is loud and intense to drive away ghosts and evil spirits.
Musicians
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Dancers
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Dancers
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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The lion dance is an important tradition in the Chinese community.
It brings happiness, good luck, and drives evil spirits away
on special occasions like the new year.
Chinese kung fu schools and organizations demonstrate
their strength and character through the lion dance.
Greeting the Audience
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Greeting the Audience
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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There are two different kinds of lions in the lion dance: southern and northern.
This dance featured southern lions. The color of the lion is significant too.
Red lions symbolize courage, golden lions liveliness, and green lions friendship.
Wah Gnai Lion Dance Association Members
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Selfie
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Bringing Happiness
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Bringing Happiness
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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At lion dances you may see people "feeding" the lions
with red envelopes or folded money.
These donations are supposed to bring good luck
and thank the performers doing the dance.
I couldn't resist feeding both lions.
Good luck and Thank You!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Next year I'll have the traditional red and gold envelopes which are a symbol of good luck.
I don't have any Chinese ancestors in my background,
but red has always been my favorite color.
In Chinese culture it represents with energy, happiness and good luck, so me!
Energy, Happiness and Good Luck!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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The Two Lions
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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The energy, stamina, and athleticism of the dancers is amazing,
and I don't envy the tail dancer who is bent over and nearly blind most of the time!
Lion and Front Dancer
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Lion and Front Dancer
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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At first in all the excitement, movement and music,
I couldn't see the differences between the two lions, but different they were.
Mouth One
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Mouth Two
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Thank You for the Donation!
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As the dance wound down, the lions and others gathered for a group shot.
A Parting Shot© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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As the lions were exiting, I suddenly saw one lion biting the top of the lobby door.
What on earth?
Biting at the Top of the Door
(and a shoe in the middle ???)
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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People familiar with the traditions of the dance knew what was happening,
but I was perplexed.
Then I realized that the head dancer was sitting on the shoulders of the tail dancer
and that the lion was trying to bite off a cabbage suspended above the door.
A Big Stretch
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Biting the Cabbage
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Got it!
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A few moments later, after "eating" the cabbage,
the lion started spitting it out on the floor!
Eating and Spitting
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Spitting
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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I learned that spitting out the cabbage represents
spreading wealth, prosperity, and good luck.
Eating and Spitting Done© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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A member of the audience picked up a green piece of cabbage.
She told me, if I collected a piece of the green cabbage and saved it,
I would have good luck throughout the year.
I need all the luck I can get, so I picked up a nice green piece.
Then the lions were shedding their skins
and the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association departing.
A truly magic experience was over.
Exit the Lions!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Back in our condo, I carefully wrapped the good luck cabbage piece in Saran wrap.
Then I tucked it into my purse next to my father-in-law's St. Christopher's Medal,
which I always carry because St. Christopher is the Patron Saint of Travelers.
With all this good luck surrounding me,
I'll make it back to the Royal Kuhio next year.
It is a great place to stay!
I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date,
For Rain's TADD: Theme ~ Lips: The Lips of the Lions.
For Nicoles's Friday Face Off: The Faces of the Lions
For Tom's Aloha Friday:
This afternoon I met a junior high school friend Kathy for lunch,
and then we visited the beautiful Lyon Arboretum at the back of the Mānoa Valley.
Kathy and Me
Lyon Arboretum
Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawai'i, USA
February 15, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Lyon Arboretum
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Lyon Arboretum
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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Lyon Arboretum is part of the University of Hawaiʻi and is a public botanical garden.
Have a great weekend! 🌺 Aloha!!! 🌺
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
My next post will be soon! 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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