Muscle in Progress

This morning I received a text message from a friend saying that Hawaiians have now reclaimed the palace in Honolulu.  Not sure what she meant, I went to one of our newspaper’s website, and found the answer.  Members of a Native Hawaiian organization calling itself the “Hawaiian Kingdom Government” came into the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace, the only Royal Palace in an occupied area of the U.S., at 5:30 this morning deciding that it was high-time that Hawaiians take back what is rightfully theirs.

Some seventy people chain-locked all of the gates into the grounds, posted signs of “No Trespassing” around the grounds and set up guards at every entrance, granting access to only those of aboriginal blood or the media.

Hmmm….being of aboriginal blood myself, I have some mixed feelings about this one.  While on the one hand, it was probably a foolish attempt for this group to reclaim stolen Hawaiian property, I can’t help but think that maybe a move like this was necessary.  Sure there are many Hawaiians out there who feel that this one group’s action is going to make the rest of us look bad… I have to at least applaud this “Hawaiian Kingdom Government” for making a statement.

One hundred and fifteen years ago, the Hawaiian Kingdom was illegally overthrown by a small group of American and European businessmen with the aide of U.S. Marines on order of the U.S. Foreign Minister to Hawai’i.  No one of the general public or of govermental status was there to witness the quiet overthrow, as it was done on a Sunday morning while everyone in Honolulu was in Church at the time.  Upon hearing about this move of this group, Queen Lili’uokalani decided that, although it was her right to charge these men with treason and have them arrested or even shot down, the Queen knew that any move against these men and the small company of U.S. Marines surrounding them would be seen as an act of war against the United States.  And she knew, that that would be one battle that we would not have survived.

Instead, the Queen abdicated her throne to the power of the U.S. military until such time that the U.S. Congress would see fit to rectify the situation and lawfully return her to the throne.  When President Cleveland heard about what had been done, he dispatched Georgia Senator James Blount to Honolulu to investigate.  After spending many weeks here, he concluded that what had transpired was an illegal move on the part of the U.S. military and that the queen should be restored immediately.

Unfortunately for us, by that time, Cleveland was heading out of office, and the next president coming in was a pro-annexationist, William McKinley.  In a highly illegal maneuver, Hawai’i was annexed to the U.S. in 1898 through a joint-resolution, a document that has no legal power outside of U.S. borders.  It was all done quite underhandedly, and has remained the same ever since.  When Hawai’i became a “State”, it was done as an Act upon this joint resolution and as such, done illegally as well.

So, legally speaking, Hawai’i is STILL a Kingdom, under the “letter” of the law.  Here is where my feelings become mixed.  Personally, I don’t like anyone speaking for me as a Native Hawaiian without my consent, and yes, there will be some out there who will look at this group as being representative of the general native population.  And unfortunately, all the public will really see is a bunch of people getting arrested this evening, if it comes to that.  That’s not an impression I’d like to leave of my people.

However, the sovereignty movement has been pretty stagnant in general over the last few years, and I would venture to say that many have completely forgotten about it, which is probably what the government wants to happen.  In a way, I admire this group, if merely for the fact that they are bringing the sovereignty struggle back into the media and the minds of the general public.  If this group had not attempted this take-over, would the rest of us had even thought to do something about the sovereignty movement beyond  where it is stalled now?

We must never forget who we are, where we came from, and the struggles that our ancestors had to go through for our benefit… lest we disgrace their honor and their memory.  I think if more people were revolutionary and free-thinking, we may be a more educated nation and not so narrow-minded in our thinking?  Just a thought…

Aloha mai!  Gosh, another week is upon us… and since I’m now another year older, it’s always a good time to re-affirm my goals and make a re-commitment to a life of great health and fitness.  But hey, just because I made a re-commitment around my birthday, that doesn’t mean that the rest of you should wait til your birthdays to make another major push into living a healthier life.  Any day is just good as any other for that kind of commitment and drive.  Our men in this week’s issue show all of us what commitment can achieve!

Our first guy is a bit of beefy Latin love… now I love all men and find a certain level of hotness in everyone, but there’s just something ultra sexy about Latin guys.. maybe it’s the tan, or the swarthy look in their eyes, or the passion that they exude… but regardless, you can’t deny that this guy is hella hot!

Our next guy is probably a little cocky, but hey… when you’ve committed yourself to such an arduous task as keeping in shape is.. well, sometimes it’s good to gloat.  Just don’t let it forget who you once were ok?

This hot beauty below obviously knows what it takes to achieve an awesome body… and I’m guessing that although he’s walking near the Burger King sign, he doesn’t spend much time in an actual Burger King .  Not to say that a little BK now and then would kill you… in fact, there are many experts who now say that the occasional indulgence in bad food can actually be more beneficial than someone would think.  If you occasionally indulge in a bad meal, it’ll help your brain to feel that it’s not being cheated out of the foods that you used to enjoy… and it also would help you re-ignite your metabolism.  Too much diet is no good since most people tend to plateau after a while…

What I love about our next guy is the definition in his abs… as we all know, gettinga  great set of abs is probably the #1 problem area in most guys.  And if you’re wondering whether doing 100 or 200 situps a day will help you get there, don’t delude yourself.  The truth of the matter is, getting our abs to pop out and appear on their own is based 90% on the food we eat.  In order to make our abs pop out in great definition, what we need to do  is decrease our body fat percentages in whichever way you find most befitting for your situation.  So… want great abs?  Focus on your nutrition and your cardio

Anyway, that’s it for this week guys.. and remember, if ever you “fall off the horse,” just get right back up and try again!  Don’t wait for a week from now or maybe a year… do it right now!!   Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to take a dip in the water with my friend here hehe.

Happy Birthday to me…
Happy Birthday to me…
Happy Birthday dear “HB”…
Happy Birthday to me!!

Wow… it kinda feels weird to be 29 years old.  You know, when I first started coming out and going into the gay bars and clubs, I saw a bunch of “old trolls” sitting at the bar drooling over every young piece of ass to walk through that door.  Of course, at that time, these guys were probably just in their 30s.. but I guess when you’re barely legal,  30 seems a LONG time away.  In fact, I remember telling myself that I “needed” to be married by the time I turned 30.  My greatest fear was going into my 30s and turning out like those “trolls” in the bar.

But you know, now that I’m officially 29… 30 doesn’t seem bad at all!  In fact, I like to think that 30 is like the “new 21.”  Somehow, guys tend to achieve a new level of “hotness” when they come into their 30s… maybe it’s the maturity of their minds… or the maturity of their bodies.. who knows… now that I’m getting close to my 30s, guys in their 30s are downright hot heheh.

It is a bit weird to be 29 though… I’ve never met a guy who was “hot” at 29… it always seemed like a “frumpy” age for me.  All the guys I’ve ever met who were 29 looked like they got run over by a big rig heheh.  But then I look at myself, and I still see that young and vibrant 21 year old.  Sure I’ve gained a fair amount of weight (Which I am trying to get rid of, thank you!), but I don’t think I’ve changed all that much over the year…  Hmm 29 isn’t so bad at all…:)

Maybe my new “troll age” needs to be 40s or 50s hahahahah!  (No offense to those of you hotties out there in your 40s or 50s… I’m sure my opinion will change as I grow closer to that age range as well!)

Alrighty guys, summer is right around the corner, and if the hotness of Spring Break was any indication as to what the summer has in store, I need to get my ass into the gym for some serious gym time!  Heheh.. for those of you like me, probably one of the hardest things to do is to get up the motivation to get out of bed every single day and to crawl into the gym to get our muscles pumped up.  Well hopefully these weekly “visualization” postings are giving some of you an idea of the kind of body that you want to achieve.  Maybe you could even print the pic you like out and put it on your bedroom door, or somewhere where you’d see it on a daily basis.. a constant reminder of what your goal might be!

Our first guy obviously loves spending some good quality time in the sun .  And I’m sure that he has found a way to get his ass in the gym on a daily basis too!  Just look at that chest!  Firm, big, defined… simple beautiful

Our next guys like to have a good time now and then, but unlike most guys, I’m sure they know that everything must be done in moderation.  Just look at the guy on the left… his body is lean, defined and hot!  It just goes to show you though… that contrary to popular belief, having a drink once in a while isn’t necessarily bad for you…

Even our next guy shows that it is possible to still enjoy a beer now and then and maintain an incredible body.  However, remember…”Everything in MODERATION”

Our next guy has an incredibly defined bod… I know how some guys envy bulk and mass, but for me, I prefer a balance of musculature and definition .  I love how this guy’s abs just pop out whenever he flexes his arms… not to mention the fact that his biceps are hot   Think he works out at home? Or does he live his life in the gym??

Well anyway guys, it’s that time again… time to hit the hay and get some rest so that I can attempt to get up bright and early for the gym before work.  If I’m gonna be meeting guys like these around the island this summer, I want to be able to turn heads too   See ya!

It looks like so much fun! What do you think? Can’t wait to see it…

“Whew Lord!  It is hotter than a jalapeno’s cootchie out there!”  – Hollering Helen, “Beauty Shop”

This heat is unbearable!  You know the kinda heat that just sits there with no wind around, while the sky hangs in dark clouds?  I am PRAYING for a rainstorm or something to take the heat away!   This is what I get for living in a house that’s over 40 years old.  Hmm someday if I can afford it, I am building brand new and putting in central air!

Hmmm maybe I need to sacrifice a live chicken or dance some kind of rain dance or something… all I know is, we’re in desperate need of some wind and rain around here!  And coming home to this kind of weather after being in the office all day is no fun either.  I swear, I must work in the only building in the whole complex that doesn’t have air-conditioning… I know, crazy right??  Grrrr!!

Ahh well.. “c’est la vie” as they say I suppose… it’s so hot I can’t even think!

Hey there guys! I’m sorry about the absence of last week’s visualization posting, but as you can tell, it was a busy week! Anyway, I hope that everyone’s been having a great week in the gym so far and really pushing themselves to our limits? Our sampling of hot muscle this week comes from my collection of net pics over the years and they all involve guys who have that “jock” or “frat” look. For me, I think it’s a happy medium between the classic swimmer’s build and the bodybuilder look.. hope some of you can find some inspiration in all of it!

Our first guy has some great arms. What I love about his body is that everything is well-proportioned.. Nothing is too out of control or too lean. As one of my good friends remarked once, there are some people who have great muscular bods but it looks odd because they have big bodies and tiny heads… this guy doesn’t have this problem heheh I think he looks incredible!

Our next guy just loves looking at himself in the mirror heheh. But hey, when you look that good, an occasional glance in the mirror can’t hurt! He probably spends a lot of time in the local university gym… I don’t know if he grew up playing sports, but he probably just keeps himself in great shape so that he can get the girl hehehe… Anyway, he’s got some beautiful abs and check out that “V” line going right down to his crotch! That line is something that’s always so difficult to get… but hey, if he got it, then it can’t be impossible right?

Beyond having devastatingly beautiful eyes, our next man of inspiration has a beautiful chest, don’t you think? It’s big and solid complimented by a great set of powerful shoulders arms and abs… The beauty of doing pictures in sepia tones is that sepia really brings out the musculature in someone’s body. Incredible effort on his part in the gym I’m sure… that’s something we can all aspire to.

Beyond having incredible tans, there’s just something special about Latino guys… it’s like they just exude sexual energy and passion. Take our next man of inspiration for example, he’s got this swarthy look that just sets my heart aflame The other thing I notice is that Latino guys who are consistent in the gym always seem to have great musculature. This guy’s abs are incredible! You could literally wash your clothes on those things! And I love how he has such great definition and size on his arms… yum!!!

Well anyway, the moral of the story is that anything is possible if you put your mind and commitment to it. Just remember, if you want it bad enough, it will happen. Just keep your mind focused and your goals in mind, and like this guy seems to be saying, “you can do it!”

Now I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t handle watching 5 hours of hula ‘auana. “Hula ‘auana” is the term generally applied to “modern” hula that’s accompanied by modern instruments like the ‘ukulele, the guitar, piano, and upright bass. It’s not that I don’t like watching hula ‘auana, it’s just that most of the groups like to dance to really slow songs. And while they’re beautiful, watching 5 hours of slow hula can be a very daunting task, if not downright boring.

Anyway, to be honest, the first half of the competition tonight was a bore… I’ve been involved with hula and competition for many years and I am always hoping that just once the competition will be exciting and unpredictable. Unfortunately, the night didn’t get a little interesting until the 2nd half! Thankfully, there were some really beautiful moments compliments of some hālau like the lovely ladies of Nā Lei Kaumaka o Uka with their rendition of “Ku‘u Li‘a Pua Ka Hīnano.” It was a bit of incredible choreography and the execution was brilliant. Congrats!

The men of Kawaili‘ulā treated us to a rather spirited hula about the different joys of life. And believe me, to really understand the hidden meaning of the mele, you just had to be there .

The lovely ladies of Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā warmed the hearts of the crowd tonight with a wonderful tribute to Helen Desha Beamer, who composed their choice mele, “Moani Ke ‘Ala”. Mrs. Beamer wrote the soothing melody back in the early 1900s for the splendid home of Kimo and Leimakani Henderson, commemorating the wonderful visit that she experienced there. Today it is one of Hawaiian music’s most beautiful songs. Mahalo nui loa ladies, for that wonderful trip down memory lane!

And as for the irrepressibly talented (not to mention gorgeous) men of Ke Kai o Kahiki? They chose to honor a very special valley on the island of O‘ahu with their interpretation of the song “Hālawa”. The mele speaks of Hālawa Valley, a place littered with sacred temples and full of lush forests. It was often said that Hālawa was a home of the gods. The mele also honors the shark goddess Ka‘ahupāhau who resided at Pu‘uloa, now the site of the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. The mele speaks of our love of the goddess and the place, regardless of what modern development has done to it. Again, mahalo palena ‘ole e Ke Kai o Kahiki.

Now, not to ruin the surprise, if anyone wants to know how the competition ended and find out who won what… you can find all the results here. I can’t wait to see what happens next year!! And for those of you who may have missed it, the dvd set should be available later this year sometime!

Now Friday night has always been my favorite night of the competition, the hula kahiko night.  Tonight, many hālau hula brought their skills in group hula to the floor.  Being a serious student of hula, chanting, and drumming, the hula kahiko night has always been my favorite.  When modern-day hula competitions began some decades ago, the powers that be separated hula into two major categories:  Hula kahiko, and hula ‘auana.  Tonight was the “hula kahiko” night.  Basically it means “ancient hula.”

“Hula Kahiko” generally applies to hula that were created prior to the 20th century, but more specifically it includes those hula which follow the traditional framework of hula that existed here in Hawai‘i before the arrival of Western society in the 1700s.  The hula kahiko are accompanied with chants and traditional instruments like the ipu heke, the pahu, ‘ulī‘ulī , and ‘ili‘ili among just a few.

One hālau, Hula Hālau o Kamuela, decided to present their rendition of the classic hula pahu (dance accompanied with the sharkskin drum) “Aia i Ni‘ihau Ku‘u Pāwehe.”  This dance honors the people of the island of Ni‘ihau and their skilled ability to create mats made of makaloa fibers.  Hula Hālau o Kamuela is known for their precision and tight formations, and of course tonight was no exception.  If I had to guess, I’d say they’re about to add another championship to their collection.  Hell, sometimes I wonder if anyone is ever going to de-throne this group.  I think that Aunty Leina’ala Heine needs to come back with her hālau “Nā Pualei o Liko Lehua” and hold court on that stage .

Another great performance was given tonight by Hālau Hula Olana who chose to honor Princess Ka‘iulani, the last heir to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom at the end of the 19th century.  Their hula honored the various attributes of the princess in a manner befitting her high royal rank.  The women of Hālau Hula Olana were graceful and beautiful as they performed their hula ‘ulī‘ulī (dance accompanied with a feather gourd) with great precision and style.  Their costuming was equally beautiful as well with their dresses made of a powder blue which complimented their ‘ulī‘ulī made with white feathers and a peacock feather center.  I am quite positive that they will place somewhere in the top 5 performances.

On the male side of the hula world, there were a few memorable performances tonight.  Among them were the men of Hālau Nā Mamo o Pu‘uanahulu.  This group consistently places every year and is definitely in the running for the title this year.  Their telling of the story of Kamohoali‘i the shark god was clean well-done.  It’s a shame that I couldn’t find a full picture of them in their costume because they wore beautiful blue puffed malo that really illustrated the beauty of the ocean.

Another group, the men of Kawaili‘ulā, chose to honor the goddess Hi‘īakaikapoliopele, the youngest sister of Pelehonumea, the volcano goddess.  Their dance, Lele Ana ‘o Ka‘ena documents one part of Hi‘īaka’s journey to fetch Pele’s lover, the handsome chief Lohi’auipo.  Just before leaving the island of O‘ahu to fetch the chief on the island of Kaua‘i, the goddess pays tribute to all of her ancestors who lived on the western end of O‘ahu.  The dancers performed this ancient chant as a hula ‘āla‘apapa, a dance accompanied by the ipu heke.  Living up to their reputation, the group’s performance was quick and filled with creative choreography that went right to the limits of hula kahiko.  Thank God for that, because before them, the competition was a bit boring if you ask me!  Now how will they place?  Hmmm I would guess somewhere in the top 3.

However, my favorite performance of the night, and probably the most highly anticipated performance was that of the men from Ke Kai o Kahiki.  Their style of hula is VERY energetic and bombastic.  And of course, just add to that that all of the guys are just F**KING HOT!!  Heheh sorry.. I just had to say that… Anyway, they brought to the floor another part of the Pelehonumea story.  Their hula, “E Kūkū‘ena Ē”, speaks of Kūkū‘ena, an elder sister of Pelehonuamea, who was known for serving ‘awa and making beautiful leis.  The group’s performance of this mele was, as usual, incredible.  Although if I’m being honest, it wasn’t as electrifying as they usually are…but hey, it was still better than anything else on that stage tonight!  If they don’t place in the top 2, I would be highly surprised.