Story and photos by Josh Kekoa Cho

Call me a leaf-peeper, but the New England foliage just gets me every year. It's the fiery, changing landscape that Autumn brings to the Northeastern states, found just a quick day-trip from NYC.

You see, in Hawaii where I'm from, the leaves don't change color every year to remind you that time is passing and that another cycle of life is ending (and beginning).

While we do have different "seasons"--summah and "da rainy season"--it really is just one long beautiful spring, where the flowers are always blooming. (The other thing us native to Hawaii get excited about is snow--but I'll save that for another article.)



So I was very excited when I got booked to perform at a mid-October wedding ceremony at the Snowy Owl Inn in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, smack-dab in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. I had just picked up a new Sanyo Xacti Mini Dual Camera/Videocam, so I set out a little earlier than usual to capture some of the fall foliage along the way.

What you see on this page are the results of my trip up to the wedding site, with as many side-trips and stops that I could squeeze in, while still making it at least an hour early to the wedding for my sound check.


While the foliage up in the White Mountains had already peaked--whereas most trees in Central Park were still green--the ride up through Route 13 and 101 in northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire offered lots of views of the red, gold and yellow that just dazzled the eyes with all their New England splendor.

My journey took me through Manchester, one of the bigger cities in the state, where the culinary options are staggering. Rather than opt for the Italian, Wings, or Sushi that I could get on any old day in NYC, I found the spicy Caribbean Affair--jerk chicken, BBQ pork, rice-n-bean and fried Cassava--perfect for a lunch that I'm still salivating over.



About an hour North of Manchester, I was entering the White Mountains, where I proceeded to stop a few hiking trails and day-use areas for a brisk walk to stretch out my legs after the big lunch and all the driving.



The trip really reminded me how much I love this area, and not just because of the New England foliage. This entire region is teeming with hiking, cross-country skiing, snow-mobiling and sleigh rides.

The serenity of the various trails I wandered, with their neighboring streams, was the perfect prelude to calm my spirit after all the travelling.

Upon arriving in Waterville Valley, I learned that it was put on the map by freestyle skiing, a little known fact I've discovered, even amongst skiiers.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, with a young couple that had met in college and were very much devoted to each other in Love.

I performed on the ukulele, sang and played classical guitar, while just outside the indoor wedding site, a tree stood with every one of its leaves in bright yellow, a celebration for the new couple, and a reminder of the new life ahead.

To book either myself or a Duo, Trio, Quartet or bigger Live Polynesian music act, Contact me anytime at my New York City offices at 646-543-5828.

Return from New England Foliage back to the Live Performances page

Return from New England Foliage back to the NYC Ukulele Player's Home