Stories in the Stars: Constellations Hawaiian Style
By Leilehua Yuen In January, four of Leilehua Yuen’s paintings of Hawaiian constellations were put on display in the Visitor Information Station of the Ellison Onizuka Center for International Astronomy. She began research for the illustrations more than 20 years…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Blue Dragon Restaurant
Blue Dragon is an open-air live music venue and restaurant focusing on fresh and local ingredients. Chef Noah Hester serves creative and delicious dishes. He works closely with local farmers, ranchers, cheese makers, etc. to make sure they are serving…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Action Business Services
Action Business Services is a tax preparation and bookkeeping service owned by Paula Wilson, E.A. She has been an Enrolled Agent since 1994 and has prepared taxes for most of that time. She has offered bookkeeping and payroll services for…
Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: Kona Center of Facial Surgery
When Dr. Joan Greco made the decision to move to Hawai‘i Island in 1993, she says she was met with aloha, and it has only gotten better from there. Dr. Greco is an oral and facial cosmetic surgeon—she’s known as…
The Pineapple: A Symbol of Hospitality
By Sonia R. Martinez Although the pineapple has long been associated with Hawai‘i, they are actually recent malihini (of foreign origin) residents of the islands. Pineapples (Anana comosus) are thought to have originated in Paraguay or Brazil and were used…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Yurts of Hawai‘i
People are becoming more aware of their own footprints on this planet and realizing that it’s time to simplify, time to take back control, and time to eliminate debilitating debt and the stress associated with it. Yurts are a great…
Island Treasures: High Fire Hawaii Gallery and Studio LLC – Hilo
High Fire Hawaii is a venue and resource for island artists offering instruction, materials, and representation in their gallery. It is dedicated exclusively to local art and local artists representing ceramicists, jewelers, painters, and textile artists. They offer classes for…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Lucy’s Taqueria
Lucy’s Taqueria is a casual, fun, and happy Mexican restaurant serving food, drinks, beers, and margaritas. Owners Gabriel (Tomas) Ramirez and Marlene Akana Hall met on O‘ahu in 1990 and then moved to Seattle in 1994. After their arrival in…
Island Treasures: Lavender Moon Gallery – Kainaliu
Long time Hawai‘i Island residents Patricia and Dux Missler opened Lavender Moon Gallery in December of 1999. The gallery is located in the quaint upcountry village of Kainaliu, just seven miles south of Kailua-Kona. It offers a unique collection of…
The Secrets of Generations: How Slack Key Guitar Grew Community and Culture
By Le‘a Gleason Anyone who’s grown up or even visited Hawai‘i will notice one thing: here in these islands, it is never silent. Instead, the air is filled with a rich array of sounds—from the din of wild roosters crowing…
Crafting the Rhythm of Hula: Vea’s Polynesian Gifts
By Catherine Tarleton I had to make an ‘ulī‘ulī for hula class. If you don’t know, ‘ulī‘ulī is a rhythm instrument, a gourd rattle, decorated with a circle of kapa cloth to which feathers are sewn. Finished, it looks kind…
Kūpuna Talk Story: Kumu Raylene Ha‘alelea Kawaiae‘a, Native Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner
By Keith Nealy As a filmmaker and storyteller, I have been blessed with the gift of sharing the mana‘o (knowledge) of more than 60 of Hawai‘i’s most revered kūpuna in spirited conversation exploring the cultural legacy they carry in their…
Ahu‘ena Heiau: “Malama i Ko Kākou Ho‘olina”—Preserving Our Past
By Fannie Narte “Ahu‘ena Heiau is probably the most significant historical site in the State of Hawai‘i because the things that happened there set the foundation for the Hawai‘i as we know it today.” Tom Hickcox, President and Director, Ahu‘ena…
Then and Now: Hulihe‘e Palace – From Mansion to Museum
By Fannie Narte Located in the center of Historic Kailua Village on Ali‘i Drive and surrounded by water on three sides is a museum called Hulihe‘e Palace. To its north is a small beach called “Niumalu,” where honu (turtles) often…
Ka Wehena: Lohe ‘ia ka ‘oe‘oe
Na Kumu Keala Ching ‘Ae, Lohe ‘ia ka ‘oe‘oe ‘I maila ka makani i lohe ‘ia Hā leo hāwanawana, kupaianaha ia Aheahe ka leo i lohe ‘ia Eia ko‘u leo, he ‘ūlāleo ē I uka o ka wao, he leo…
Luana Kawelu: Community Builder and Protector of the Merrie Monarch Legacy
By Paula Thomas This year, Luana Kawelu will celebrate 44 years of working with Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center (QLCC). Her area is Keaukaha, and her work supports children up to 18 years of age. Luana manages and coordinates programs that…
Kalapana Remembered: Reminiscing with Mayor Billy Kenoi About his Childhood Home Before Pele Reclaimed It
By Denise Laitinen Kalapana. Synonymous with the destructive power of Madame Pele. Little signs remain of the community that was destroyed by lava flows from Kūpa‘ianahā vent between 1986 and 1990./ Those born in the remote fishing village of Kalapana…
Lighting the Way: Honoka‘a People’s Theatre Ventures into a New Century
By John J. Boyle …Long shot from above right, wide shot closes in on the hand painted marquee… It is 1939, and downtown Mamane street is a walker’s paradise. Soft evening air, light linen shirts and skirts, some kimonos, some…
Healing Plants – Mimosa Pudica: Bothersome Weed has Redeeming Qualities
Invasiveness Designation: PIER (the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project) has assessed mimosa as invasive and recommends that it not be imported into Hawai‘i and other Pacific Island countries from its native locales. By Barbara Fahs A small, prickly weed…
Featured Cover Artist: Alaina deHavilland
Born in South Africa, Alaina deHavilland moved to Hawai‘i on Jan 3, 1983, the day Kīlauea began what is now a 31-year continuous eruption. Her first images sold the day she made them. “I took a colored pencil class for…
Managing with Aloha: ‘Ohana
‘Ohana: Those who are family, and those you choose to call your family. As a value, ‘Ohana is a human circle of complete Aloha. Eighth in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say ‘Ohana is a value of strong influence in…