May 22 - We Are Na Ali'i... Seriously

Here are some of the students and faculty Ricki Lee works with at Calvary High School of Hawaii in Honolulu, where she teaches English and Japanese as well as coach the three-member cheer team. From left to right are school mascot Ono Grindz the Ali'i Sheep, Ricki's mentor Mrs. Yamashita (aka Tutu Huhu), Ricki, cheer captain Tita Silva and her class-clown boyfriend Jared McMooney. The L in "School" perpetually falls to an angle because the pegs behind the L won't stay put in the concrete, but as an inside joke the administration just leaves it that way to remind themselves and the student body that despite our best efforts to keep up outward appearances, all of us are still imperfect and sinful before a perfect God--but thanks to the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we stand before the Father as if we never sinned.

November 2 - Late Night HDTV

This should have been posted before Halloween, but I've been busy with work this week and haven't been able to until now. This animated video was made during the summer and is the sequel to a 2009 Ricki Lee & Tony cartoon, Late Night TV. As the name implies, this new one is high-definition and widescreen. Here, cousins Issac and Keisha are watching test patterns while Cousin Lee (Keisha's adopted mom) is sleeping. The keiki (kids) make jokes about Popsicle flavors and donuts while the noise wakes poor Lisa up to a bizarre TV nightmare.

October 17 - Oktoberfest in Hawaii Nei

The traditional German festival known as Oktoberfest is celebrated in Hawaii, too--often at hotels, tourist traps and Lutheran churches. (At churches, though, it may be with root beer instead of the regular kine.) The Ricki Lee & Tony ohana, Lutherans all, are all in the Deutschlander aloha spirit in lederhosen, peasant Hausfrau dresses, feathers in their hats, and haku lei on their heads. Even Lani Girl the mongoose is in the act, holding up a stein full of root beer with her tail. Alas, little Isaac hasn't been properly brainwashed in the Oktoberfest spirit. They'll get him yet. :)