And so all good things come to an end…the Shannon Company have successfully completed another six and a half week tour across the state of California and finishing up in the beautiful city of Honolulu on the island of O’ahu. With an early flight into Honolulu from LAX, we used the time difference (gaining 2 hours!) to our advantage and after checking into the Hilton Waikiki on Kuhio Avenue, it was all guns blazing! We strolled along the beachfront and were greeted by crashing waves, blue skies and clear sea and the softest white sand you can imagine!

Fiona on Waikiki Beach

With the abundance of sushi restaurants and fresh seafood diners, I had a sneaky suspicion my hunger would be satisfied! With a quick scout around Waikiki by foot, the evening soon threatened and several of us set about to seek our first Hawaiian dinner. We decided upon The Side Street Cafe on Hopaka Street as featured on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and Adam Richman’s “Man Vs. Food Nation” (Travel channel). Well Bourdain, that got our stamp of approval too! With several rich Asian & Hawaiian cuisine, we rolled back to our hotel. Jet lag and tiredness called so our first day drew to a close.

Patrick Mangan and Fiona McCabe enjoying the local cocktail

After a good night’s sleep, we rose early the next morning and set about renting bicycles for the day. Ten dollars later, we found ourselves cycling along the bike route to the beautiful foot of Diamond Head (Le’ahi) which is situated along Waikiki’s eastern coastline. This broad, crater was formed 300,000 years ago after a single volcanic eruption. we embarked on the steep 0.8 mile trail to the summit in the hot midday sun. The view that awaits is breath taking and please do make time to include this in your trip for my readers who are planning to include Honolulu in their next vacation!!! The old lighthouse and bunkers dating back to the early 1900′s can be seen from the top as well as Koko Heaed and Wai’anae. Don’t forget your camera!

Breathtaking views from diamond Head summit

Have you ever snorkeled? Until I hit Hanauma Bay the next day, I had not yet ticked snorkeling off my to do list. Boy, was I glad flamenco dancer Marita Martinez Jiminez-Rey dragged me along at 8 o clock in the morning. We set off towards the cove along with dancers John Grimes and Maeve Fearon. After a brief video introduction, we were all guns blazing down to the shoreline. Snorkel: Check. Goggles: Check. Flippers: Check. The four of us waded in to the chilly water and hoped we’d come out alive. What a serene underworld it was. If only I had an waterproof camera to show you how extravagant the marine life was. Every size fish, every color imaginable swam right in front of our eyes. The brightest of yellows and vibrant reds and blues. Not to mention the coral. Thirty minutes easily went by and we all met back on the beach to warm up and swap our exciting stories. Amongst the exhilarated banter we lapped up the soft morning sunshine and heated up just in time for one last swim.

Hanauma Bay

John Grimes and Marita Martinez (Riverdance snorkel team!)

Before the hectic weekend of six shows kicked in, we snapped up the chance in visiting the Vans Triple Crown Surf Championships (also known as the Billabong Pipe Master) in the North Shore. Seated comfortably in a fancy BMW four-wheel drive (on lend through a very generous friend) Matt Bashford (uileann piper), Patrick Mangan (fiddle player) and I hit the H1 West highway to the shore. It was remarkable to see such a different way of living up in the northern territory. Relaxed is not the word! I soon defined this as I found myself horizontal in the sand watching waves twenty-five foot high crashing only inches from my sandy feet. A record of twelve surf boards had been claimed by the vicious waves that particular morning at the event along with several cameras and video equipment. Not to mention the poor surfers battered, swollen ankles! The buzz about the place was so uplifting watching the professional surfers work their magic and wowing the crowds of onlooking spectators.

Spectators at the pipe masters

After a run of eight very successful shows and another notch in Riverdance’s history (first time to perform in Hawaii), I am pleased to say we couldn’t have wrapped up a more enjoyable tour in a more magical place. Hawaii truly lived up to everything it ever claimed to be. And so this brings me back to the famous quote of Geoffrey Chaucer; Everything must end, even good things! So for now I shall hang up my dance shoes and will have to satisfy myself instead with Christmas gift wrapping, gorging in homemade mince pies and catching up with old friends over the holidays.
Isn’t life tough?!

Enjoying fun times together: From left to right: Nichole Hull (Wardrobe) Brigid Brown (Wardrobe), Marita Martinez (Flamenco dancer), Fiona McCabe and Niamh O' Connor (Irish dancers)

Merry Christmas to all of you.
-Fiona

P.S. Here’s my December Style File – Enjoy!

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance ends 2011 in Hawaii

Here are some photos from the week…

Caterina Coyne did radio interview with arts and culture reporter Noe Tanigawa at Hawaii Public Radio

Caterina Coyne at Ohana Broadcasting

Caterina Coyne being interviewed on Ohana Broadcasting

Caterina Coyne being interviewed on the popular morning radio program Perry & Price (Michael Perry & Larry Price) broadcast live on KSSK Radio from Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber (located at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort). There is a live audience there for breakfast

Caterina teaches an Irish dance step to a member of the breakfast audience!

Caterina Coyne with oldies 107.9 DJ Ed Kanoi

Read this on the Riverdance website: Press Calls in Hawaii

In the 17 years since a televised Irish step-dancing performance set to original music captivated Europe and started it all, Riverdance has become an international sensation, spawning hit soundtracks, a Broadway show, touring companies and rival Irish touring shows, as well as a new, global appreciation for the beauty of Irish dance and music.
There have been many firsts, including performances for the Queen of England and in Beijing, where “Riverdance” was the largest Western musical production to be presented in China.

In the U.S., Riverdance made its debut in 1996 with the first of six runs at Radio City Music Hall, and held down the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway for 18 months in 2000-2001. Over the course of the current tour, Riverdance has stopped at some cities two, three and even four times, traveling the equivalent of “to the moon and back,” producers note.
In a few months, there will be a “last” — a last show, as the North American tour of Riverdance comes to an end.

But not before Riverdance chalks up one more first. On Wednesday, the company lands for the first time in Hawaii.

The touring company includes six principal dancers, 18 troupe dancers, a live five-piece band, flamenco dancer and two American tap dancers, one of whom is also a baritone soloist.

Most of the dancing is drawn closely from traditional Irish step dancing, in which the arms and body move little and heels, toes and legs create the sound and action. Troupe members are expected to be “champion-level” Irish dancers. However, acrobatics, tap and, yes, flamenco also have a part in the production, along with en pointe pirouetting and graceful arm movement drawn from ballet.

Sound, backdrops and lighting add to the sense of drama, as does the show itself, which portrays Ireland and Irish culture in a mythic fashion, from ancient existence through Celtic actualization, famine and the great American emigration, before bringing it all back home again.

PADRAIC MOYLES (pronounced “Poor-ick Moy-ells), the dark-haired, deeply dimpled lead dancer for the company, was in a California hotel room in between performances when I called. He was happy to acknowledge some extraordinary experiences connected with Riverdance, like making a music video with Shania Twain, performing at a private event in Egypt with Mariah Carey, and returning to Ireland for summer performances. But Moyles was most animated when he spoke of the inner fire that motivates him to perform.

“I want to exceed people’s expectations,” he said, his Irish accent muted by the lengthy time he’s spent on tour in the states. “We come from a competitive background. You go out there every night and give it everything you have. You must always prove yourself. Going to Hawaii? That’s a massive motivating factor for me. I hope that everyone in Hawaii realizes that it is our first time and also our last,” he said, sounding more stoic than wistful, but adding, “One of the reasons I’ve always stayed in America is I didn’t think the audience could be any better anywhere else.”

After this North American tour ends, however, Moyles will move on with Riverdance, to Australia, New Zealand and back to Ireland. The production will continue in Ireland and on other stages, but not in America.

JULIAN ERSKINE, Senior Executive Producer who called in from Dublin, said a deep love for the show’s artistry abides within the team, even after all these years.

“The level of enthusiasm and pride in what they do is what comes off the stage,” he said. Erskine advises audiences to “watch the feet,” though there are other temptations.

“Remember that 95 percent of this happens from the waist down,” he said cheerfully. “The dancers actually play music with their feet. You hear extraordinary rhythms beating out. You’re hearing a left and right, a treble and a bass being broken out with the dancers’ feet. Look at the musicians. There is not a sheet of music anywhere. We’ve always insisted that is be treated like a ceili — a party. Its not a performance. It’s not a sort of masque. It’s live. It’s organic. It’s an event powered by pride.”

Where:                Blaisdell Concert Hall Honolulu, Hawaii.
When:                  December 7 – 11, 2011
Cost:                    $25, $45, $55, $75; opening-night military discounts at box office

Book Online:     www.ticketmaster.com

Box Office:         800-745-3000

Honolulu Star Advertiser 2nd December 2011 by Elizabeth Kieszkowski

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance makes Hawaii debut