Tim Thomas with a huge abalone shell that we found in a diver's family collection in Japan, February 2006. The Japanese divers brought the most spectacular abalone shells home as gifts when they returned from their diving assignments in Monterey.

Adventures

Abalone Fest!
The Fifth Anniversary of the First Abalone Festival in April, 2006

Sandy Lydon and Tim Thomas

Saturday, April 16
9:30 AM – 8:00 PM

Abalone history, song and story concluding with an old-fashioned abalone feed!

A rare opportunity to learn all about the history of historic abalone harvesting and preparation as well as a visit to a contemporary abalone farming operation and, finally, a feast where you may participate in the preparation of an abalone feed.

Fee: $100 per person.
(Includes a donation to the April 23rd Help Japan! Extravaganza at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz: 7-9 PM. For more details click here

REGISTER HERE

The Day Will Include:
• Detailed visit and explanation of Japanese abalone diving operation
• A copy of the limited-edition: Bridging Across the Pacific: Abalone Connection Between Monterey Bay and Minamiboso
• The complete story of Pop Ernest, the Abalone King with visit to site of his restaurant
• Visit to Monterey Abalone Farm with guided tour
• Special presentation by Mr. Roy Hattori, Nisei abalone diver – he will show some of his remarkable abalone shell collection
• Abalone song contest! You will learn the fine art of the abalone song and be encouraged to compose one.
• Abalone race! You'll have to see it to believe it!
• A special abalone dinner.



Each registrant will receive a copy of this rare, bi-lingual (English-Japanese) book on the TransPacific history of the abalone with rare photograpTentative Itinerary

9:30 AM - Assembly at the Monterey Japanese-American Citizens League Hall
10:00 AM – Carpool to Point Lobos State Reserve
10:30 AM – Hike into the Reserve and visit many of the sites involving the Japanese abalone divers and their families.
Note: The Point Lobos hiking will involve approximately 3 miles of hiking on excellent trails.
12:30 AM – No Host picnic lunch at Point Lobos
1:30 PM – Depart Point Lobos, return to Monterey
2:00 PM – Depart on walk to Fisherman's Wharf #1 – site of Pop Ernest's Restaurant
c. 3:00 PM – Visit Fisherman's Wharf #2 and contemporary abalone farming operation
c. 4:30 PM – Return to Monterey JACL Hall for presentations, preparations, and abalone feed

Sandy Lydon and Tim Thomas were the co-chairs of the First Annual Monterey Abalone Festival held in April, 2006. They both have researched and written extensively on the history of the Monterey Bay abalone industry, and the abalone industry in Japan. Tim Thomas was the Education Director of the Monterey Maritime Museum, and Sandy Lydon is Historian Emeritus at Cabrillo College.

A Rare Opportunity – This will be a rare opportunity to learn, first-hand, the role that the abalone played in the history of the Monterey Bay Region. From the Rumsien-Ohlone uses of the abalone to present-day abalone farming, you will see and hear the most current research and thinking about the abalone.

What you should bring to the event:
• Dress in layers
• Comfortable shoes
• A picnic lunch
• Liquid and snacks
• Sunscreen/hat (by then the sun will have returned)


The world's first abalone races, April 2006, Monterey. We will demonstrate how to race abalone. Don't be fooled. They can MOVE!

Degree of difficulty:
You should be prepared to walk approximately 3 miles on relatively level trails as well as about a mile from wharf to wharf to JACL Hall.

Abalone Song: According to tradition, one of the first "abalone songs" was composed by poet, George Sterling, August 28, 1913:

Oh! some folks boast of quail on toast
Because they think it's tony;
But I'm content to owe my rent
And live on abalone

Obviously, the trick is to have the last word in the second line to rhyme with the last word in the fourth line – abalone. Also note the internal rhyming in lines 1 (folks and toast), and 3 (content and rent). A panel of distinguished attendees (including Roy Hattori) will determine the grand prize winner.

Register Here