Allen Auwae:  

I entered the service after high school. Spent three years in the Army, 0ne in Vietnam. Returned home after, played, worked, got married and had three kids. Wasn't satisfied with my situation so I decided to take a giant leap and RETURN TO SCHOOL. For those who knew me, they saw that I had an enormous problem with stuttering in front of a class. Well, one of the first class I took at the University of Hawaii, Hilo, was public speaking. Also received my scuba diving certification from there. Great diving the wrecks off the Kona coast. Short story, I acquired my Liberal Arts Degree from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Went on to receive two Majors with three Degrees. My Bachelors of Science Degree in History. A Bachelors of Fine and Applied Arts, a five year degree. And a Masters of Fine and Applied Arts, a seven year degree from the University of Oregon. I like working in Bronze. As a matter of fact in art all material is fair game. But I feel that bronze is the most difficult material to work with and very challenging because of the multiple processes involved to produce the finish product. Each step along the way need to be taken very seriously or you will loose time, money. And if you screw up one step in the process, you can loose in the thousands of dollars. BRONZE CASTING IS NOT CHEAP. The process has multiple steps that need to be taken very seriously. You really need to know much to produce a bronze sculpture. I don't trust anyone to build my stuff, and I know a good patina guy. THE FIGURE, THE FORM. Yep, you're right, artist don't make money. At least this one doesn't. But I sure love art. Check out my photos. I'm living in Oregon now but visit the ohana whenever I can. Let me just give my biggest shout out to all who are veterans, especially those who went to war. As we Vietnam Vets say, "Welcome back brothers and sisters." Congressman Adam Shiff recently made a profound remark that touched me to my very soul. He said, "you have not lived until you have been to WAR!" In 1972, I was sitting in a bar in Saigon airport, toasting my survival getting ready to return home. In walks George Kamehaiku, life time friend, our classmate. He was a door gunner, chief, huey chopper. When he got back we shared some war stories. He was a good person. Agent Orange killed him several years after he got back. Told me how he got cancer even before he knew he had it. Tommy Tanaka was also one of our classmates and served in the Army at the same time. He became homeless, Ice got Him. Good Braddah, one of my best friends. Yep, Shiff was right, huh? Lot's more war stories of some real local Vietnam war hero"s. Friends and family. Sorry, but I notice that many of you post likes for special songs or music videos. Please watch these music videos. 'Gregory Porter, "It's Probably Me", and Five Finger Death Punch, "Wrong side of Heaven," and "Gone Away." on utube. Mahalo for my buddies, a tribute to Tommy and George. till next time. Jodie Foster said in the movies, "Contact", "I always felt life is what you make of it." I say choose! The most precious thing we have left is slipping away, TIME! Ancestry, Polynesian and 28% Japanese. Its no wonder I'm so stubborn, Happas. I really do admire the Japanese culture. Had to study everyone in history or no degree. Japanese history rock. Don't let me get started on their art. I try to emulate their ancient idea of simple elegance. Furthermore, their ancient philosophy on perfection can become a problem for me, damn Tea ceremony. Also Japanese samurai movies and the 442 Infantry Airborne Division. All Japanese, Motto, "Go For Broke". Most decorated unit in Europe WWII. You don"t know how many times one of my children tell me, "your a real dick Dad." I say, well at least you have your Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, your sister has a bachelors of Business Management and your brother has a bachelors in Accounting. And you all still have full time jobs, knock on wood. AND no cracks along the way. Your still a dick sometimes dad. I know sweetheart, you guys is hard, smart workers. Don"t get me started on the wife, let"s just say working on it. She no listen, she got her own mind. She painted our bedroom pink. and it's still pink. When Hawaii was an Independent Nation State, All the people living in Hawaii was Hawaiian. Ethnicity, who cares, All were Hawaiian citizens. I understand that growing up in our time was difficult for many, I'm no exception. Hilo is beautiful Being born and growing up 200 yards from the ocean is awesome. The ocean was our play ground, swimming all day long made me strong. Strength I depended on for my very life in tough situations. Like wiping out on a huge wave, those damn things try to kill you. Best be careful... The ocean was a shopping center. The Biggest lobster I caught was from right in front of my house. Sharks, yep, try diving at night and your light go off. The friends I made along front street Keaukaha was priceless. I remember playing tag with the braddahs. Trix swims straight out and treads water and waits.. We all chase each other down and sit along the shoreline looking at each other. YOU READY, YOU READY. We all dive in chasing him. He swims just ahead of us. Next thing you know the pine trees along the shore line look like grass. We all yell and cuss at him, call him nasty names and swim back in. Couple days later, what we doing, playing tag. Lolo's. Also competed in the sport of Hawaiian Canoe Racing. Against several of our classmates as a matter of fact. Don't believe them, I did okay. I won some of the big boy races. Came in second place in the Anaehoomalu Long distance race, Waikaloa, 25 miles. I believe it is called the Queen LiliokaLani Canoe Race now. You should go on utube and just look at the starting line. Should have won that race if Jimmy Rocha never dislocate his shoulder whinny about the big wave, wake that swamped our canoe, dang it. We had to bail that canoe out and catch up and pass seven boats just to get back to second place. Braddah Jimmy got big heart for steering the whole way broke arm and all, That guy's a Tiger and his twin braddah Leo. Raced against him too. Competed in the Molokai Channel Canoe Race. 55 miles, Molokais long course. That was exciting jumping off of the boat in the middle of the Molokai channel. Really gets those juices flowing, right? Ahhh, the ocean, you in? Can't wait till I get back. Wanna play tag? Trix is not invited, even though he is one of our classmate. more? You do know that it's music break time right. Music is Art and I love Art. Even Named some of my artwork while listening to music. Try watching the video by Alabama Shakes, "This Feeling". From a very young age, I like everyone else, was curious, thus History. The history of how was that made, people, places, times, events. intellectual thoughts, sciences, religions, all knowledge is fair game. But trouble with trying to acquire a Science degree in History, you need to do your due diligence and research, research, research. Hours and hours in the library. And the most important thing to remember is that CONQUERORS write the History or try to. College was difficult. Professors have no time for nonsense. Your efforts will be reflected in yours grades. I have seen and have had students beg for grades. My wife, my kids and I. OH MY! Like Dorothy in the wizard of Oz. New meaning to get your ass to work. 24-7 crisis management. Highlights; my studies opened up the world for me. History and the Arts, what a combination. Sitting, sketching, between classes Auguste Rodin sculptures at the University of Oregon Art Museum. Which house the largest collection of Rodin sculptures in the world. Hearing a loud commotion coming from the next building while throwing vases and platters in ceramics. I opened the door and the sculpture department was conducting a bronze pour. OH MY, like hot imu fire. I can do that! Which opened up the world of sculpture for me. I choose! Couple of years later the Dean of the school asked me to teach the bronze casting class, as well as other Art classes. And if I could please run the wood shop. Yep, took wood shop in school too. They would pay for my graduate school and of course a generous stipend. Ah, I got nothing better to do right now. I entered a sculpture of one of our nude models from class to the Sculpture Magazines yearly Sculpture College Competition. I told the model to put her clothes back on and sculpted her in class and entered it. (Dee Dee). No first place, just honorable mention for the elites. Dang it, I wanted to win that thing. At least I got her picture in there. Discovering BERNINI. Being addressed as Professor Auwae. Hey, I know right, what the heck happen? Who in the world would have ever thought. My English teacher from Hilo High School, Bob, asked everyone at the start of the school year to write a few paragraphs about summer. When he read mine to the class I was not happy. Remember, STUTTERING, huge embarrassing problem. Not only for me but also for those who knew me and felt my pain. Afraid that he would call on me to say something. But he left a spark in my soul. TEACHERS. Last I saw he was running around Hilo. Hey Bob! If you came to school on May 1st there's a good chance you saw me. I was your Mayday King and Janis was our Queen. If you ask nicely I'll tell you the story of how I got elected. Dang it, lost the only photo of the event proving it and I also lost my high school yearbook. Which I believe had a picture in it. Oh well. Pau school, time to pony up, pay the Bills. Took me 10 years to pay it off. Like everyone else we helped the kids but for the most part they had to do it on their own. Or they get the sqweeshy face and the stink eye. No cracks! MORE? Wait music time, remember the arts. "Adventu...Expand for more