The 11th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament Rocks at Punalu‘u
By Karen Valentine Not long after sunrise at Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach, light sparkles on the waves, tipping the bright blue sea as it splashes on the black rocks lining each tide pool. The parking lot is already filled with…
Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: WaterWorks
WaterWorks, which was established in 1988 as Puna Water Services Inc., was initially a trucking company engaged in the business of hauling water to homes that relied on water catchment systems. Since that time, WaterWorks has evolved into becoming the…
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…
Ka Puana: Proverb 2437–“O ka pono ke hana ‘ia a iho mai na lani.”
Grammy Dust: Charles Michael Brotman is Sparkling with it!
By Catherine Tarleton It’s difficult to describe Charles Michael Brotman in words. He’s a lifelong musician, songwriter, producer, mentor, and Grammy Award winner. Yet, sitting barefoot in his studio, picking the bass line for a new track—sharing it, listening, tweaking…
Island Treasures: Nicoco Hawaiian Gelato
Perhaps you’ve seen it around, the adorable smiling face of the big-eyed white wolf pup, paired with the soft baby blues and cotton candy pinks reminiscent of those perfect sunset skies. It makes you lick your lips just thinking about…
Ka Wehena: He Aloha E Ku‘u Kahili Nani Lua‘ole
Na Kumu Keala Ching He aloha ē E ku‘u kāhili nani lua‘ole I luna a‘ela I luna a‘ela ke ‘ike aku Eō mai ē e ku‘u kāhili ē He aloha ē E ku‘u kāhili aloha laha ‘ole Hō‘ike akula, Hō‘ike…
Louis and Leifi Ha‘o: A life well lived. A life of purpose. Legacies of aloha.
By Marcia Timboy Renowned Hilo couple and revered kūpuna, Louis and Leifi Ha‘o have contributed much to our Hilo and Hawai‘i Island communities. After decades of community service, they continue an active lifestyle filled with projects, ceremonial blessings, and tending…
The Waiaka Lindsey House: Time Capsule of Waimea History
By Jan Wizinowich Nestled at the foot of Kohala Mountain, the Lindsey house is the heart of what was once a historic Waiaka homestead and is a tribute to the memories of many who grew up in Waimea. The abundant…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Pahoa Used Books & Movies
Pahoa Used Books & Movies is a fun store, which includes used books, a large collection of movies for rent and purchase, as well as Hawaiian music CDs and other items. Also available is an eclectic collection of jewelry, in…
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…
The ‘Alalā: Save the Crows, Save the Forest
By Stefan Verbano Long ago — before the chirp of coqui frogs, before the buzz of mosquitoes, before the scuttle of mongooses—Hawai‘i Islandʻs mountain forests rang out with a different sound. Shrill and piercing, these shrieks rose above the understory…
Where are the Whales? Humpback Whale Sightings are on the Decline
By Karen Rose The Senegalese environmentalist Baba Dioum said that in the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught. Researchers at the National…
Managing with Aloha: Mahalo, “Way of Living”
“Thank you, as a way of living. Live in thankfulness for the richness that makes life so precious.” Seventeenth in Series Two on Managing with Aloha By Rosa Say Mahalo has become as universally understood as Aloha. Or so we…
Fifty Shades of Blue: Artist Helen Nahoopii
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu When Helen Nahoopii was a young girl, she was known as the “creative one” in the family. Her mother, a chemist and tax consultant, recognized that Helen saw the world in a unique way; she didn’t think…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: The Exclusive Hawaii
Located on a secluded 50-acre ocean view estate in Hakalau, The Exclusive Addiction Treatment Center is an internationally accredited holistic treatment center specializing in all types of addiction and co-occurring disorders. Co-founders Jean-Francois Benoist (J.F.) and Joyce Marvel-Benoist started out…
Halema‘uma‘u Rediscovered
By Gail Armand At the edge of the newly revealed Halema‘uma‘u, the only sounds are the breaths as visitors encounter the crater with its changes for the first time since Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park closed May 11, 2018. Along the…
Diving into the World at Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center
By Brittany P. Anderson The constant low hum of bubbling water provides a soothing soundtrack to the work taking place at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center in Hiloʻs harbor area, Keaukaha, on the east side of Hawai‘i Island.…
For the Love of Cacao: Highlighting East Hawai‘i Cacao Farmers
By Brittany P. Anderson A Hawai‘i Island farmer once told me, “Plant some; if it grows, plant some more,” and that’s just what East Hawai‘i cacao farmers are doing. From the lava scalded shores of Puna to the rolling hills…
Featured Artists: Shay Niimi Wahl & Joalene Young
Featured Cover Artist: Shay Niimi Wahl After her first four years in Honolulu, Shay Niimi Wahl grew up in the once-thriving sugar plantation town of Pa‘auilo on Hawai‘i Island. Her rural upbringing made Shay aware of the beauty and diversity…
Ka Wehena – Hualalai, Ku‘u Mauna e
Na Kumu Keala Ching Hualālai, ku‘u Mauna i ‘uka la He wahine kupaianaha iā Hawai‘i loa Noho uka ‘o Hualālai i ka ‘Ōpua ‘Ōpua malu, ku‘u ‘āina kō KonaEō, eō e Hualālai Ke aloha palena‘ole ke ‘ike akuHe mauna kū…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
An iconic structure on Hawai‘i Island with an award-winning native plant landscape showcasing over 70 native species, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i is a world-class informal science center that showcases the power of Hawai‘i’s cultural traditions, its legacy of exploration…
It’s Tiki Time! Three Island Artists Turning Idols into Art
By Karen Rose Romanticized images of Hawai‘i and Polynesia abound in Hollywood films and dramatizations of island life. One of the most iconic images of Hawai‘i adopted by popular culture is the tiki. Tikis are wooden carvings created to represent…
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,…
Aha Pule ‘Āina Holo, A Prayer Moving Throughout the Land
By Mālielani Larish Embraced by bright sunshine and crisp breezes, a group of runners bearing a wooden Lono staff exit the busy Highway 19 and enter a verdant field near Anna’s Ranch in Waimea. A crowd of supporters welcome them…
Local Foods: Naughty and Nice–The Chocolate Ghost Pepper
By Brittany P. Anderson “I just don’t know what to do with these hot peppers,” my friend Barbara said to me, “They’re beautiful, but they are just so hot.” Barbara has a thriving chocolate ghost pepper plant in her bountiful…
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…
Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: Parker Ranch Store
Established in 1988, Parker Ranch Store is celebrating 30 years of being part of the Hawai‘i Island community. The store was originally established by Parker Ranch; however, in 2009 it was put up for sale as the ranch refocused on…
Ka Puana – Proverb 1821
Kūkahi and the Love Machine
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu Kūkahi Allan Nu‘uanu Lee was only seven years old when he wrote his first song. Very interested in music at a young age, he was drawn to the piano and taught himself to play by ear at…
