Every Sunday - on Mana'o Radio 91.5 fm listen to our own Hamish on the Maui Celtic Show on 'Sunday Solstice', for 2 hours of great Celtic music played by Hamish of Maui Celtic from 8-10am. More details on our Celtic Events page. For those of you not living on the island of Maui, the radio show will be available live online at www.manaoradio.com ! Local time will be 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the summer will now be 11am-1pm US/Canada West coast, 12-2pm Mountain time, 1-3pm Central time, 2-4pm Eastern Standard Time, Canadian Maritimes 3-5pm, 6-8pm in Ireland and the UK, and 7-9pm in Spain.
Chat live with Hamish during the show on Facebook - be a friend at Hamish Douglas Burgess, or click 'like' to be a fan at The Maui Celtic Show - Mana'o Radio.
Our Online Store
ORDER COOL CELTIC GIFTS AT THE 'MAUI CELTIC ONLINE STORE'. Hawaii Tartan, Celtic T-shirts, torcs and tattoos, Pagan and Christian jewelry, specialty books.
Events on Maui & Oahu
Keep an eye on the Celtic Events held on MAUI, OAHU and HAWAII. From Radio shows to live concerts, you'll find all the info you need, right here at mauiceltic.com
WE ARE IN THE SEASON OF THE ANCIENT CELTIC FESTIVAL OF BELTAINE
BELTANE is a May Day eve festival, dedicated to Bel (also called Beli and Belinus), the sun god, marking the beginning of Summer. Beltane means 'the fires of Bel'. In ancient times, Druids would kindle the Beltane fire, and two seperate bonfires were made, with people and animals being driven between them, to cleanse them of diseases and bad luck form the dark part of the year, winter. Household hearths were re-lit from the Beltane fire, having been extinguished for the occasion. The festival tradition has continued to this day in Britain and Ireland, in the form of May Day celebrations.
“BELTAINE” © Hamish Burgess 2011
More details on the artwork above on our Gallery page.
THIS SITE IS UPDATED WEEKLY - Most recent update:- May 11th 2012. Please email us to be added to our mailing list. hamish@mauiceltic.com
'ST.PATRICK' © Hamish Burgess 2012. Original Celtic and folk art by Hamish Burgess, a piece for the cover of The Celtic Connection newspaper in Vancouver BC and Seattle, the March issue.
The art shows St.Patrick in later life wearing clerical robes, with his famous bell in one hand, and his treasured staff or crozier and a shamrock in the other. He is depicted with a clerical tonsure, or shaved head, possibly referred to by his opponents the druids, who prophesied his converting the pagan folk of Ireland: “Across the sea will come Adze-head, crazed in the head, his cloak with hole for the head, his stick bent in the head. He will chant impieties from a table in the front of his house; all his people will answer: "so be it, so be it.""
Behind him is the Paschal fire he lit to challenge the High King of Ireland, and the cross represents an invisible circle of divine protection, that he invoked with a chant which is now called “St.Patrick’s Breastplate”. It changed his own party into deer to escape the pagan warriors, and became known as “The Deer’s Cry”.
In the air around him are the ‘serpents’ of Ireland, in tradition likely referring to paganism, and two dragon-like creatures he is said to have cast down, the Caoránach, and the Oilliphéist.
More details on our Gallery page.
January 29th - February 5th, 2012 - Hamish and Jennifer just returned from cruising in the tropics with the Irish Music Cruise to the Caribbean - 'Songs & Stories Caribbean Cruise', presented by Debbie Casey (www.irishmusiccruises.com) 1-888-56IRISH.
They joined a host of talented singers and musicians - The Wolfe Tones, Archie Fisher, the Makem & Spain Brothers, Jez Lowe, Kevin Evans & Brian Doherty, Seamus Kennedy, Máirtín de Cógáin, Harry O'Donoghue, Ciaran Sheehan, Hanneke Cassel, Tom Sweeney, and Andy May. Ports of call: leaving Ft Lauderdale Florida, for Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, then Georgetown, Grand Cayman, on to Mahogany Bay, Honduras, and over to Costa Maya, Mexico.
A brilliant week of great company, laughs, fine food, Caribbean adventures, and world-class Irish music - the craic was indeed mighty on the High Seas ! For a look at this year's trip go to our News Archive page and scroll down to Jan/Feb. For details of next year's IRISH MUSIC CRUISES LAND CRUISE IN THE BAHAMAS check out www.irishmusiccruises.com or contact Debbie Casey at freephone 1-888-56IRISH for more info.
HAWAII TARTAN PAGE
is online ! Hamish of Maui Celtic together with the Hawaii Tartan's designer Douglas Herring, have made the history and information about this beautiful tartan, or plaid, easily available to the public on our 'Hawaii Tartan' page.
New cool Hawaii Tartan Apparel is available !
Sashes, Mini-sashes, Shawls, Fly Plaids, Head Wraps, as well as the previously available made-to-measure Scottish wool Kilts. Give a gift of Hawaii Tartan to your friends and family - you can find these new items in our "Online Store" now !
ORIGINAL CELTIC ART BY HAMISH BURGESS, RECENT WORKS...
'IRISH ROVERS MERRY MERRY TIME OF YEAR' © Hamish Burgess 2011
Hamish's latest art - the album cover for The Irish Rovers "Merry Merry Time of Year" Christmas CD. Very pleased to be involved with that project, as it's a great album of seasonal songs, some traditional, and many new ones from the pen of George Millar. Every image on the album, artwork or photography, is by Hamish. More details on the artwork (his 3rd album cover for the Irish Rovers) on the Gallery page at http://mauiceltic.com/gallery.htm.
More on the band at http://theirishroversmusic.com/page/index, and the CD at http://theirishroversmusic.com/ecom/?category=2&product=27#contenttop
IRISH ROVERS 'HOME IN IRELAND' DVD COVER © Hamish Burgess 2011
Original Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, a commissioned piece by George Millar founder of the legendary Irish Rovers, for the cover of the latest special edition of the Irish Rovers DVD "Home In Ireland", showing June 7th 2011 on Detroit Public Television. More details on our Gallery page.
TOP MAUI CELTIC NEWS STORIES
Hamish after piping by the Jameson booth, with the lovely Jameson ladies
LOTS OF RAIN ON MAUI MAKING IT VERY GREEN FOR St.Patrick's Day on March 17th ! See all the fun events on Maui and Oahu on our News Archive page.
Hamish and Jennifer returned in May 2011 from cruising to Alaska with the Irish Music Sessions at Sea, presented by Debbie Casey (www.sessions-at-sea.com) 1-888-56IRISH. They joined a group of talented singers and musicians - The Makem & Spain Brothers, Seamus Kennedy, and Máirtín de Cógáin. The craic was indeed mighty ! Details and photos of the trip at at our Blog/News Archive page.
Jennifer and Hamish at the Margerie Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Earlier last year in February 2011 they were cruising in the tropics with the Irish Music Cruise to the Caribbean (also presented by Debbie Casey www.irishmusiccruises.com ). Legendary line-up - The Irish Rovers, Archie Fisher, the Makem & Spain Brothers, Jez Lowe, Gabriel Donohue, Ciaran Sheehan, James Keelaghan, Hanneke Cassel, Laura Cortese and Kevin Evans & Brian Doherty. What a trip ! Details and photos on our Blog/News Archive page.
AUGUST 2010 - THE MAUI CELTIC CREW WERE AT THE WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS - Hamish, Jason, Alison, Alice and Mike saw the Grade 1 Finals when the Irish took the World's in front of 55,000 people !! Hamish captured the ecstatic moment for the St. Lawrence O'Toole Pipe Band from Dublin, just after the announcement.
World Champions - St. Lawrence O'Toole Pipe Band
The runners up on the day were: 2nd place Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band from Northern Ireland, 3rd Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia from Scotland, 4th Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada, 5th House Of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead from Scotland, and 6th Scottish Power. The results have been adjusted since the day, due to a compilers' error, with SFU changed to 3rd, and Boghall & Bathgate 4th (see Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association website for final results). Around 240 bands were at Glasgow Green for the World Pipe Band Championships, with 8000 pipers and drummers from 16 nations competing for awards in their class.
Maui Celtic's own Hamish Douglas Burgess was awarded 'Scot of the Year' for 2010 by the Caledonian Society of Hawaii on Saturday April 10th at the Hawaiian Scotish Festival, for services to the Scottish/Hawaiian community. "The Caledonian Society has presented this award each year since 1987 to an individual who is of Scottish descent or has embraced an interest in Scotland and Scottish culture, has supported the Scottish community in Hawai'i, and has made a contribution to the Hawaiian community in general. The Board members of the Caledonian Society believe that you meet these criteria and are a person who exemplifies the values upon which this award is based."
Hamish would like to humbly extend his gratitude to the Hawaiian Scots for this recognition - Mahalo.
Hamish Douglas Burgess (right) recieving 'Scot of the Year' award from Caledonian Society of Hawaii Chieftain Bruce McEwan (left) at the Hawaiian Scottish Festival
IN SUMMER 2009 HAMISH MADE AN EPIC TRIP TO SCOTLAND FOR THE 'THE GATHERING' IN EDINBURGH, THEN CORNWALL AND VANCOUVER, B.C.
Part of 'HOMECOMING SCOTLAND 2009', 'THE GATHERING' was a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Scotland's culture, a 2 day festival and Highland Games in Holyrood Park, bringing together around 40,000 people from all over the world, with music, athletics, and the biggest clan gathering in memory. As Scottish Ambassador for The Princess Ka’iulani Project, Hamish also took the story of Hawaii’s most beloved Hawaii/Scot back to her father’s homeland, where he was a featured guest on Liz Clark’s show “Travels with My Auntie Liz” on Celtic Music Radio Scotland, and broadcasting icon Archie Fisher’s “Travelling Folk” show on BBC Radio Scotland, both in Glasgow.
Hamish also attended the first ever Clan Convention, at the Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) building, where over 100 Scottish Clan Chiefs and clan dignitaries from around the world discussed the role of the Clans in the modern world.
While representing Scots of Hawaii, he reported on events and interviewed traditional musicians for his Celtic music radio show on Mana’o Radio 91.5fm, 8-10am Sundays (online at www.manaoradio.com).
For the full story with photographs, please visit our Blog/News Archive page.
For ongoing adventures of Hamish and Jennifer see the "Maui Celtic Blog" and for older happenings, please visit our News Archive page
A RED CELTIC DRAGON HAS BEEN SEEN LURKING AROUND MAUI.... PLEASE CONTACT MAUI CELTIC WITH SIGHTINGS OF THIS RARE AND ELUSIVE BEAST.
Ongoing - Maui's best kept secret - for the best real chips (French fries that is) this side of the Altantic head on down to Wow-Wee Maui's Kava Bar & Grill at 333 Dairy Rd # 101 Kahului. They have some great food and a killer Sushi Bar with reasonable prices, but of Celtic note - the chips are like my granny used to make ! Not to mention their Maui made chocolate bars. Tell them Hamish at Maui Celtic sent you......(808) 871-1414 www.wowweemaui.com
ONLINE SHOPPING
YOU CAN NOW ORDER COOL CELTIC GIFTS ON THE 'MAUI CELTIC ONLINE STORE'. We invite you to check it out by clicking the 'Storefront' button.
Orders should be placed now at the 'MAUI CELTIC ONLINE STORE' to ensure arrival to you before St.Patrick's Day !
MAUI CELTIC IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE NOW HAVE A NEW RANGE OF TEMPORARY CELTIC TATTOOS AVAILABLE IN OUR 'MAUI CELTIC ONLINE STORE'. TATTOO AND PACKACKING DESIGNED AND DRAWN BY HAMISH RIGHT HERE ON MAUI. So far we have two triscele designs and an armband. More to follow soon. Shipping is only a dollar each. Easy to put on with water - last up to a week. Fun and safe. Great for kids. Full instructions on the tattoo.
'OLD, WISE, WARRIOR' by Hamish Burgess - full image on our GALLERY page
ANCIENT CULTURES
The ancient culture of the Celts , although geographically far from these Islands, did in fact have many similarities to the ancient Hawaiian culture.
Both cultures had their own mythology, legends of 'little people' and famous heros, and a belief that animate and inanimate things could posess spiritual power. They both revered the natural forces of their world, with gods and goddesses relevant to that. They both understood their place in their land, the natural way of things inherently entwined with their daily life, and so lived in harmony with nature.
Both cultures ended a seasonal war period every year when the Pleiades stars rose in the night sky, around the end of October. The Hawaiian war god Ku ended his reign, and a season of festivities called Makahiki, began under the god Lono. In the Celtic world, the war goddess The Morrigan ended her reign, and mated with The Good God Dagda, heralding the festival of Samhain.
Both cultures lived in tribes or clans, often in conflict to expand their territories, with an area of land traditionally associated with the clan. Each clan had their own chief or king, who ruled the land for the communual use of his people.
Neither culture had a system of writing, therefore had an oral tradition, stretching back many hundreds of years. The wise men, Druids in the Celtic world, and Kahunas in Hawaii, were keepers of knowledge, genaeology, history, and were healers and experts in certain fields. Both cultures were practised in the art of tattooing, and had a reputation as fierce warriors.
Both cultures at some time were taken over by outsiders, and a new religion, and were stopped from using their language, music, and traditional way of dress. Both later overcame that adversity with a revival of culture.
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'GUARDIAN OF THE GODDESS' by Hamish Douglas Burgess 2009
MORE ORIGINAL CELTIC ART BY HAMISH ON OUR GALLERY PAGE.
MAUI CELTIC IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR WEBSITE RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE 'NEW WORLD CELTS' ORGANIZATION, a charitable organization dedicated to promoting Celtic History and supporting Celtic Culture in the New World. Their new chapter is a Hawai'i Branch based over on Oahu.