Kea‘au, A Point in Time
Compiled by Peter T. Young and Barbara Garcia ‘Ōla‘a or Kea‘au? What happened to ‘Ōla‘a? That seems to be the question for some, because in the district of Puna, what once was called ‘Ōla‘a is now called Kea‘au. Forests once…
Honoka‘a High & Intermediate School Celebrates 130 Years
By Catherine Tarleton Honoka‘a High & Intermediate School sits on seven ocean-view acres of Hāmākua hillside, its 19 buildings and covered sidewalks painted Dragon (their mascot) green and gold. 611 students, grades 7–12, work and play here. In its 130-year…
Empowering Women and Girls to Reach Their Highest Potential: American Association of University Women
By Karen Rose In 1776, future first lady Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John, then a member of the Continental Congress, “If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we will be determined to foment a…
“Miloli‘i aku nei au lā…At Miloli‘i there was I…”
By Marcia Timboy The opening line of this famous mele (song) about one’s huaka‘i (journey) from Miloli‘i to seek experiences in bigger cities, was composed by John Makuakane in the 1930s. Over the years many kama‘āina (residents) of Miloli‘i leave…
4-H Clubs Inspire Kids “To Do”
By Fern Gavelek “It teaches kids life skills…It led me in the right direction and helped me while going through teenage moments…It offers projects for positive youth development…It enables kids to master a skill and chart their own direction…” What…
Hawai‘i Island’s Most Prolific Church Builder: Rev. John D. Paris
By Denise Laitinen Dotting the landscape along main highways and backcountry roads, historic churches in West Hawai‘i range from small wooden chapels to impressive stone structures. It may surprise people to learn the same man, the Reverend John D. Paris,…
The Right Thing to Do, in Real Time
By Judy Edwards Ken Boyer is a big guy with a big heart and a kind voice, who carries a camera as one of his passions. He grew up in Volcano and lives there still with his wife, Deb, and…
Ke Ola Magazine: 10 Years of Sharing ‘The Life’ of Hawai‘i Island
By Fern Gavelek You’ve read about well-known people such as pacemaker inventor Earl Bakken and landowner/steward Ed Olson. Musicians such as Cyril Pahinui and Kahulani. Artists such as Kathy Long and craft maker Ika Vea have been featured. There have…
Community Leader Howard Pe‘a: Talented Family Man, Haku Ho‘oponopono
Na Puanani Woo and Pualani Louis ‘Ohana Howard Kahale Pe‘a, or “Uncle Howard” as he is known, is a talented family man. Genuine. He was born, raised and still resides in Hawaiian Homelands in Keaukaha-Pana‘ewa, Hilo. In his late 60s…
Beloved & Humble Puna Stronghold—o Pohoiki
By Marcia Timboy “On her way to Kīlauea, Pele initially carved out a crater called Malama, inland of her landing place at Keahialaka. Pele was dissatisfied with this crater, and proceeded to excavate another nearby crater called Pu‘ulena, which she…
Puna Lights: A Beloved Holiday Tradition
By Denise Laitinen Stanward Oshiro is hard at work making the holidays a little brighter for Hawai‘i Island residents. His annual synchronized Christmas light and music display in lower Puna has become a community favorite for more than a decade,…
Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi: Live Longer and Feel Better Together
By Paula Thomas Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi has been providing health and education services to the residents of Hawai‘i Island since 1991, following the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act that was passed in Congress in 1988. The Act…
The Gannenmono: A 150-Year Celebration of Faith & Fortitude
By Lara Hughes The Arrival In 1860, King Kamehameha IV met with the first delegation of Japanese people to visit the Hawaiian Islands. During this visit the king proposed a friendship treaty with Japan. This action, along with the rise…
Then & Now: Kaimū Beach, Kalapana, Kapoho–The Only Constant is Change
By Stefan Verbano Through a break in the shrubbery beside Highway 130, the lava field reveals itself for the first time. After a long, gradual bend in the road heading downhill from the turn to ‘Opihikao, strawberry guava-laden jungle falls…
Pāhoa Town: Then and Now
By Tiffany Edwards Hunt Pāhoa’s old-timers will tell you that living on the East Rift Zone, they have dealt with flowing lava before. The volcanic soil attracted the Puna Sugar Company to the area, making Pāhoa rich in the history…
Hawai‘i Island’s Hospice Services: Providing More Than You May Think
By Paula Thomas Contrary to what people may think when they hear the word ‘hospice’, hospice is not a place. It is a philosophy of care that is patient-focused, holistic, comprehensive, and designed to support and improve patientsʻ quality of…
Flying through the Air with the Greatest of Ease: Aerial Arts on Hawai’i Island
By Ma’ata Tukuafu If you’ve ever been to a circus, the trapeze performersʻ seemingly effortless performances might have intrigued and inspired you. In the past five years, several people on Hawai‘i Island have begun teaching different forms of aerial arts…
2018 Lava Flow Tribute
On April 30, 2018 the lava lake inside Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater drained into the lower east rift zone followed by the lava lake at Halema‘um‘u Crater of Kīlauea Volcano and started its flow toward the sea. As we go to…
Brother Noland: Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter Shares his ‘Less Talk, More Do’ Philosophy
By Karen Rose Ancient wisdom declares it is best for one to pass their days through song, therefore letting their whole life be a song. Hawaiian recording artist Brother Noland, also known as the “Father of Jawaiian Music,” follows this…
Kuha‘o Makana Kawaauhau Case: Downloading from Heaven
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu When Kuha‘o Makana Kawaauhau Case plays music on the piano or organ, he can feel how his melodies affect the people listening. Kuha‘o is a self-taught musician who found his talent at the age of nine when…
Anna Ranch: A Chapter of Waimea History
By Catherine Tarleton Behind the white rail fence and trellis gate, across the lawn and gardens at the foot of Waimea’s rolling hills, inside the gracious white house with blue-striped awnings on its sunny bay windows, lives a story. Opening…
Hawai‘i Island’s Champion: Ed Olson at 87 Years Young
By Leilehua Yuen Ed Olson first traveled to O‘ahu in 1959. He had come to teach a swimming pool builder how to use some new equipment. “It was about three weeks after statehood, and I fell in love with the…
Ka Puana – Proverb 2392
Then & Now: Obon Season–A Favorite Summer Tradition on Hawai‘i Island
By Denise Laitinen Summertime is obon season in Hawai‘i. Every year from June through August, the annual Japanese Buddhist tradition of obon festivals, or bon for short, takes place on Hawai‘i Island. These fun cultural events tend to draw large…
The Compost King of Hilo UrbFarm
By Brittany P. Anderson As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and this couldn’t be more true for Michael Pierron, founder of Hilo UrbFarm, as he spins organic waste into garden gold. The Hilo UrbFarm, founded…
Hilo Kūpuna Share Hula with Aloha
By Karen Valentine Long before the program is set to begin, Clem and Leilani Malani, both in their 90s, are sitting in their car, waiting in anticipation. They are dressed in their finest Hawaiian aloha wear with color-coordinated red and…
Hale o Ho‘oponopono: Perpetuating the Cultural Legacy of Hōnaunau
By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco Driving down the single lane road towards the Hōnaunau boat ramp, there is a quietness that envelops you, a glimpse of the ocean, and a curiosity of what happened on this land in the early days…
LEED-Certified: Pālamanui Offers 21st-Century Learning
By Fern Gavelek Imagine going to college in a learning laboratory where sustainable building and design has earned the highest award in the green building industry. Residents of West Hawai‘i can do just that at Hawai‘i Community College, Pālamanui and…
100 Years of Worship: Ka Mauloa Church
By Denise Laitinen If you stop and listen on any given Sunday as you travel along Highway 11 in Kurtistown, you may hear the sounds of church parishioners singing in Hawaiian. Small in size and humble in nature with roots…
A Special Moment with Irene Midel
“He Lei Ho’oheno O Hilo”: A Cherished Adornment of Hilo By Ku‘ehu Mauga Irene Midel is the epitome of aloha. If her striking floral hairpieces don’t leave a lasting impression on you, her effervescent personality will. At the age of…
