In Memoriam: Ginger Sizemore
By Barbara Garcia Editor’s Note:Sue Springer submitted a request for us to publish a story on her friend, Ginger Sizemore, in June 2019. Due to Covid-19 causing us to reduce the number of stories we publish in each issue, it…
Medicinal Plants from the Garden – Calendula: An Herb for Wise Women
By Brittany P. Anderson The midwife holds a clear bag of dried herbs over a large box. The box is filled with supplies in preparation for the impending birth. She explains each item contained within the homebirth kit to the…
HEART: Growing Hilo’s Love for Theater
By Mālielani Larish Performing arts lovers of all ages are lucky that Larry Reitzer grew disenchanted with lounging on the beach. After a 30-year career in the entertainment industry, Larry retired and moved to Hilo with the intention of penning…
Medicinal Plants from the Garden: Tulsi, the Queen of Herbs
By Brittany P. Anderson “Ooh, what is this? Is it mint or basil or?” a farm visitor asks after brushing against the mystery herb. “That’s tulsi, holy basil,” I exclaim while rustling the leaves again, sending the perfumey aroma into…
At Home in the Caldera: Koa‘e Kea, the White-Tailed Tropicbird
By Rachel Laderman If you have trekked to Halema‘uma‘u in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to see the lava fountaining in the caldera, you may have caught the sweeping movements of a white bird carving loops from the steaming caldera floor…
Everyone Wins in Honoka‘a’s Feeding Program
By Catherine Tarleton Sustainable, adj. 1: capable of being sustained, 2a: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged, 2b: of or relating to a…
Building Business with Soul: Mindfulness in Business
By Arliss Dudley-Cash, MA, MBA In business culture, it is standard practice to believe that to be successful in business, you must be willing to press past your physical, mental, and emotional limits. In that model, there doesn’t appear to…
An Album for the Community: Martin Charlot’s Konawaena Mural
By Mālielani Larish As he approached the entrance to Konawaena High School’s Ellison Onizuka Gym, Martin Charlot gazed up at the mural that wraps around the gym’s façade—a mural painted by his own hands more than 40 years ago. On…
FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i: Lifesaving Training for the Next Generation of Spearfishers
By Sara Stover On a breezy Saturday morning at the beginning of the summer, 25 of Hawai‘i Island’s youth willingly gather in a classroom at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA). Dylan Currier and Sandy Hammel of Freediving Instructors International are demonstrating…
Petroglyph Press: 60 Years of Sharing Local Culture, History, and Storytelling
By Nancy S. Kahalewai For six decades, the Reed family has been busy printing and publishing in downtown Hilo. Petroglyph Press, Ltd. owners David and Christine Reed are now celebrating the 60th anniversary of the business that David’s parents, Steve…
Featured Artists: Trish Helms Kimball & Susanna Anderson
Featured Cover Artist: Trish Helms Kimball Trish Helms Kimball grew up on Hawai‘i Island and has lived here for most of her adult life. Her family’s home was in Hilo, and they often spent weekends and summers at their beach…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Keauhou Shopping Center
Keauhou Shopping Center, “Kona’s Legendary Gathering Place,” has a great selection of merchants and incredible community events that draws both vistors and residents. It is the centerpiece of Keauhou Resort, a modern getaway surrounded by rich Hawaiian history. Once the…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Event Center at Arc of Hilo
The Event Center at Arc of Hilo offers customers a spacious, modern venue for wedding receptions, graduations, birthday parties, conferences, and celebrations of life. The Arc of Hilo started in 1954, serving youth and adults with disabilities. Their event center…
Ka Puana: He keiki aloha na mea kanu.
Beloved children are the plants.
Ka Wehena: ‘Auhea Wale Ana ‘Oe
Na Kumu Keala Ching ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi keiki, lā ‘eā‘eā Holo aku, Holo mai, ‘eā I ke ola kūpuna, lā ‘eā I laila ho’i lā ‘oe, eia lā ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi kama‘āina,…
Local Food: Keiki in the Kitchen, and a Recipe for Frozen Yogurt Banana Bites
By Brittany P. Anderson The high-pitched squeals of three enthusiastic little voices filled the kitchen. Three little boys had just come in from the garden, their pockets full of random ripe vegetables they picked—a few golden cherry tomatoes, a red…
Ka Wehena: Pua Kalaunu
Na Kumu Keala Ching lāua ‘o Kumu Pa‘akea Akiu ‘Ae, Pua Kalaunu Kaulana nā pua, pua kalaunu Kui ‘ia ia lei puni ke aloha Aloha palena‘ole e Lili‘uokalani He ali‘i nō ia, ‘Onipa‘a ē ‘Onipa‘a ē, ʻOnipa‘a la, ‘Onipa‘a e…
HAKA: The Hawai‘i Animal Kuleana Alliance
By Mālielani Larish Moving hastily, Syndi Texeira lifted her neighbor’s dog, an 80-pound pit bull mix named Bear, into a vehicle for transport out of Leilani Estates. It was May 3, 2018, and the police and civil defense had informed…
Journey from the Land of Hibiscus to Hawai‘i Island
By Jan Wizinowich Although not native to Korea, the hibiscus has long been its national symbol. Probably originating in India, the hibiscus is easily transplanted, and endowed with adaptability. It most likely made its way north through China into Korea,…
Local Food: The Ono Hua Moa (The Delicious Chicken Egg) and a Recipe for Dutch Baby
By Brittany P. Anderson A clamor of loud cackles and squawking erupts from the pasture. The flock of egg-laying hens continue their vocal display for the next 15 minutes letting everyone know that an egg has been laid. Just as…
Sharing the Art of Palm Craft with Sylph Nightbloom
By Mālielani Larish With a luxurious green palm frond perched on her lap, Sylph Nightbloom gives the opening instructions to the workshop participants gathered around her. “Lift the first two palm leaflets up,” she says as she demonstrates, “so they…
Casa de Las Palmas: Hilo’s Sanctuary for Rare and Endangered Palms
By Sara Stover On an unassuming country road outside of Hilo, perched above the ancient waters of Waiākea Stream, grows a menagerie of rare and endangered palms. Before you even step foot onto the grounds of Casa de Las Palmas…
The Many Hands, Feet, Wings, Paws, and Hoofs of Lili House Farm
By Nancy S. Kahalewai What do Arthur the mini-donkey, Wilma and Fred the African desert tortoises, and Tommy the American heritage turkey have in common? They all get to roam and graze on a carpet of sweet grass on the…
Medicinal Plants from the Garden: Unlock the Healing and Cleansing Power of Lemon
By Brittany P. Anderson A young boy reaches his hand into a branch of shiny green foliage, palming a bright yellow, slightly oblong fruit. The tree sways as he tugs to release the object of his desire. Bringing his hand…
Ipu Stories—From Seed to Stage
By Nancy S. Kahalewai There are few things as unique as the feel, shape, sound, texture, decoration, source, and even lineage of a Hawaiian ipu drum. Pahu (drums) are part of the bedrock of traditional Hawaiian hula traditions, dancing, and…
For the Love of Hawai‘i Island Beekeepers
By Stefan Verbano Since the dawn of agriculture, honeybee keepers have braved the swarm in search of that coveted golden nectar. The sound of an open hive is intimidating—a buzzing roar which connects with some ancient, instinctual human sense that…
Featured Artist: Alexander Rokoff
The paintings featured on this issue’s cover and table of contents were both created by the same artist, Alexander Rokoff. The cover’s Blind Shepherd is about ‘aumakua (personal gods). Alexander explains, “To me, it feels similar to the Native American…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Jade Painting, LLC
Jade Painting recently opened their Hawai‘i Island office, although they’ve had full-time workers here for more than five years. Started on O‘ahu in 1974, the founder, John Wyman, Sr. loved the Hawaiian Islands so much, that he started his own…
Island Treasures: Ginger Sandell
How many people have you known who could create fine art as well as they “crunch numbers?” Ginger Sandell can do both, and do them well! Fully retired from her CPA career in 2020, Ginger is finally able to focus…
Ka Puana: A Satisfaction with the Land
