Puakõ’s Historical Hokuloa Church
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu Driving through the tropical coastal community of Puakō, one will notice that huge mansions have replaced many of the humble beach shacks that once populated the little village of 163 homes. There is one building that is…
A Garden of Trees: Ulu La‘au, the Waimea Nature Park
By Brittany P. Anderson The sky overhead is pure cobalt blue with low-lying clouds steamrolling across the landscape, their shadows dancing on the bright green grass below. Here, in the heart of downtown Waimea (Kamuela), is Ulu La‘au, the Waimea…
Kumu Paul Neves: Peaceful Warrior and Ambassador of Aloha
By Marcia Timboy Kumu Hula Paul Neves is a familiar and esteemed presence to many on Hawai‘i Island: a cultural practitioner, community organizer, vocal proponent of Native Hawaiian rights and sovereignty, and a high chief in the Royal Order of…
To Walk with the Ancestors: Lapakahi and the North Kohala Coast
By Jan Wizinowich Lapakahi State Historical Park (LSHP), a significant cultural complex along the leeward coast of North Kohala on Hawai‘i Island, is a time portal through which we can glimpse the thriving life of Hawai‘i’s early settlers and a…
Island Treasures: Tai Lake Fine Woodworking
Tai Lake and his family design and build fine furniture from Hawai‘i Island-grown woods. Their wood comes from trees slated for removal or storm fallen. 2020 marks 40 years since Tai moved to Hawai‘i Island. The workshop on his property…
Managing with Aloha: Align—Put Your Values to Work
Series 3 on Managing with Aloha, Bringing Hawai‘i’s Universal Values to the Art of Business. Fourth in Series Three on Managing with Aloha By Rosa Say To align is to work with integrity by working true to your values, for…
Kepā and Onaona Maly: Saving History
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu Sharing stories is what Kepā Maly and his wife Onaona have been doing for almost 40 years now, working as record keepers and cultural historians for the people of Hawai‘i. This dynamic husband and wife team have…
Mālama Mokupuni—Caring for Our Island Environment: Know Your Place
By Rachel Laderman As we celebrate the 50th Earth Day, we are faced with environmental problems that are larger than ever—sea level rise, coral bleaching, extinctions, extreme weather. What can we possibly do in the face of these super-sized challenges? One…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Kokoiki Brands LLC at Hawi.Center
Kokoiki Brands LLC. is now the umbrella for Hawaii Cigar & Ukulele, Mother’s Cigar & Hemp Lounge, Hawi Nice Day Hemp Co., and CBD.CENTER, all located in the historic Kohala Trade Center in the center of Hawi, next to one…
Rat Lungworm Disease: Optimism Comes with Education
By Stefan Verbano Inside garden hoses, along the walls of rain catchment tanks, between the folds of lettuce leaves, the slugs and snails slither. Although they look just like their harmless mainland cousins, these Hawaiian gastropods harbor a strange and…
The Art of Stopping the World: Gary Ackerman
By Sara Stover Most people would label their day as a bad one after being stung by a jellyfish. Gary Ackerman classified it as inspiration. Stung during one of his routine morning swims, the Hawai‘i resident and artist behind a…
Keiki Hālau Honors Ancient Hula Legacy
By Karen Valentine Kapono Like one of the glistening orbs in a string of pearls, Pelehonuamea Puku‘i Suganuma Harman joins other daughters and granddaughters of hula dancers in a string of generational legacy that is rare in today’s world. In…
The Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island
By Mālielani Larish Embraced by trade winds and an expansive view of the bay, 100 members of the Hilo Boys & Girls Club sing “Ho‘o Nani” to bless the afternoon meal. With a “Pa‘i ka lima!” from their leader, the…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Shops at Mauna Lani
Shops at Mauna Lani is a boutique shopping center that features everything from local to international items. As they say in their ads, “Enjoy the Experience,” and the experiences they offer are delightful! Where else on the island can your…
Drew Daniels: Fertility from Fire
By Mālielani Larish Everything is perfect; everything is aligning, Drew Daniels thought to himself. Gazing at soft morning clouds framing a gold-dazzled ocean, he gently rocked his baby girl to the rhythm of cane grass dancing in the wind. Two…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Jeanna Rimmer
Jeanna Rimmer moved to Puna with her husband, David, and son, Schaefer, in June 2014, after visiting the previous two years. The Rimmer family felt at home in the Puna area right from the beginning. After moving here just a…
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden: Restoring and Protecting Hawai‘i Island’s Biodiversity
By Brittany P. Anderson The isolation of Hawai‘i Island, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and born of volcanic lava flows from the ocean’s floor, shaped the biodiversity of the island. Our unique position makes the Island of Hawai‘i one of…
Managing with Aloha: Ho‘ohana Isn’t Job. It’s Joy. Live a Good Life with Great Work.
Series 3 on Managing with Aloha, Bringing Hawaii’s Universal Values to the Art of Business. Third in Series Three on Managing with Aloha. By Rosa Say As its intrinsic nature and defining characteristic, Managing with Aloha is our philosophy for…
The Road to Recovery Began with a Road
By Stefan Verbano A side of the perched lava channel fed by Fissure Eight collapses, sending a river of pāhoehoe barreling northeast through Leilani Estates toward Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV). By the evening of May 29, 2018, the breakout flow…
Sailing into the Future: Nā Pe‘a Participants Apply Canoe’s Lessons to Life
By Sara Stover “Stay off the rocks,” Kalani Nakoa instructs his young crew. The wind is light out of the west as they launch one of the three 26-foot single-hull canoes from Kīholo Bay. Within minutes, the wind shifts to…
Ka Puana: Make no ke kalo a ola i ka palili
Mālamalama and Kona Pacific Celebrate 100 Years of Waldorf Education
By Karen Rose On September 19, 2019, Waldorf education proudly marked its 100-year anniversary worldwide. The first Waldorf school was founded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919 and is based on the educational philosophy of Austrian social reformer, Rudolf Steiner. Today…
Mālama Mokupuni—Caring for Our Island Environment: Mauna Loa Observatory’s Keeling Curve Reveals Carbon Dioxide Rise to the World
By Rachel Laderman For more than 60 years, at a station perched at 11,000 feet on Mauna Loa, researchers have been meticulously collecting data that has changed our relationship to the earth. Based on their work, we have learned that…
Ka Wehena: Kalaniana‘ole
Na Kumu Keala Ching Kaulana mai nei a‘o Kona Kona i ka malu o HualālaiLā ē, Lā ē, Lā ē La‘i‘ōpua ēHe ‘Āina Ho‘opulapula kō Kona Ma ka ‘āpana o Keala o ka hēLā ē, Lā ē, Lā ē La‘i‘ōpua…
Tong Wo Society’s Historic Kapa‘au Building Opens Once a Year
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu Situated high on a hill in Kapa‘au is a colorful historical building constructed by early Chinese immigrants in 1884. Called the Tong Wo Society building, it served several purposes: a spiritual Taoist gathering place, a meeting house…
Featured Artists: Diane Tunnell & David Gallegos
Cover Artist: Diane Tunnell Diane Tunnell was born in Billings, Montana. She grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Littleton, Colorado. Her dream at age five was to become an artist. She studied art at Colorado State University, received a BA…
Mission. Quest. Obligation. Love affair. Award-Winning Photographers on Hawai‘i Island
By Catherine Tarleton Daredevils, geologists, surf and ski bums, travelers, divers, authors, artists, and poets with pictures, Hawai‘i Island’s award-winning photographers are known around the world. These intrepid souls will go—sometimes literally—to any heights and depths to capture their spectacular…
Island Treasures: Hawaii’s Gift Baskets
Hawaii’s Gift Baskets offers local arts, crafts, and food items made by people who live on Hawai‘i Island, contained in fun, reusable packaging. The inspiration for Hawaii’s Gift Baskets (HGB) came in 2008 when owner Tamarra Sullivan was working at…
The Meditative Nature of Carving Stone
By Karen Valentine Kapono For sculptor Fred Soriano, it’s a working partnership with the stone sculpture he is crafting that is both difficult and peaceful. Contemplating his creations, you get that impression yourself. Where did that stone come from and…
Keiki Garden and Grindz: Fruit Leather Recipe
By Brittany P. Anderson Some kids just don’t like vegetables. As the stepmother to a child who consistently picked tomatoes out of tomato sauce, I had to get creative. Hiding nutrient-rich veggies in smoothies, breads, and sweets was a weekly…
