Tom Kuali‘i: Superman Doesn’t Always Wear a Red Cape
By Denise Laitinen Veteran’s Day is November 11, and in this article we highlight a Hawai‘i Island veteran who has served both our country and our island community. We write of Tom Kuali‘i. This is Tom’s story. Sometimes supermen wear…
She’s a Survivor: Virginia Isbell of West Hawai‘i
By Karen Valentine I’ve been dead three times,” said former Hawai‘i State Legislator and Hawai‘i County Councilwoman Virginia Isbell. “I survived because I’m a rotten kid—a stubborn Italian. I learned if you don’t fight, you don’t get. After that I’m…
The Food Basket—Hawai‘i Island’s Food Bank, Working to get Food Where It’s Most Needed
By Paula Thomas On Tuesday mornings, The Food Basket Hilo headquarters is abuzz with traffic: cars, trucks and vans pulling in to deliver fresh produce and canned goods, and people and agencies arriving to purchase. As Kristin Frost Albrecht, Director…
ArtWavEs: Nourishes the Children
Imagine a world where care and understanding go hand-in-hand with dignity, respect, creativity, and longevity. Imagine a world which offers education for the body, brain and the deep soul. The founders of Feed the Children Kona imagined such things, and…
Lower Puna’s Historic Catholic Churches
By Denise Laitinen From the outside, the Star of the Sea, a modest green church sitting on the side of the road in Kaimū looks unassuming. It is simple in design, small in size, and its paint is peeling. Just…
Clifford Kopp and the Waikūpua Brick Garden
“There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.” – Deepak Chopra By Karen Valentine It seems that…
Aunty Mele Kunewa Kekai
By Catherine Tarleton At the far north end of Kona’s Old Airport, a rock and coral trail leads to the quiet cove at Makā‘eo, once a thriving and fully sustainable fishing village. To the left, a tongue of lava forms…
Buzzy Histo “Ola Kupa‘āina”
By Catherine Tarleton How can you not give them 10+? Everybody deserves a 10. They’re all winners,” says hula instructor, lei-maker, and floral artist Buzzy Histo from his Kalikokalehua Hula Studio in Waimea. A judge for the Hawaii Kupuna Hula…
The Shining Aloha Spirit of Uncle Donna Kuali‘i
By Karen Valentine It’s rare these days to find someone who is of 100 percent Hawaiian blood, and it’s a happy occasion to find one who is also full of 100 percent aloha. With a smile that’s a mile wide,…
Preserving a Community: Kona Historical Society
By Le‘a Gleason The stories that stem from the history of communities in Hawai‘i are diversified because of a blending of cultures and influence of immigration, growth of population, and the birth of industry. It was during this period of…
Ambassador of Aloha: Michelle Kaulumāhiehie Amaral
By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco Have you ever seen an angel dance?” asks Cultural Center Manager Earl Regidor as Michelle Kaulu Amaral starts to dance in the lobby of the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai. With the first step, Kaulu begins to float…
Maui Filmmakers Bring Enlightenment to the Silver Screen
Tom Vendetti and Robert Stone raise awareness of the sacred in everyday life. By Cindy Schumacher Mutual respect and high regard for each other is the foundation of the long-term working partnership between independent Maui filmmakers Dr. Tom Vendetti and…
Journey Together: The Art and Poetic Expressions of Terry Taube
By Fannie Narte “The Thinker,” by Auguste Rodin, perhaps the best-known sculpture of all time, was initially named “The Poet.” This statue has become a symbol of contemplation or thoughtful meditation for millions. “The Thinker,” “The Poet,” contemplation, thoughtful meditation—these…
Navigating From the Na‘au: Worldwide Voyage Update with Celeste Ha‘o
Navigating From the Na‘au By Le‘a Gleason In the car on the way to meet Celeste Ha‘o, navigator of the Hōkūle‘a, I wonder if I might cry during our interview. Some people just wear certain integrity on the outside, and…
Every Store has a Story: The Japanese Pioneers of the Kimura Lauhala Shop
By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco “Come, come, here is the room I was born in; there used to be a shoji door here,” says Alfreida (Kimura) Fujita, as we walk down the hall of the Kimura Lauhala Shop in Hōlualoa. Alfreida’s…
The Voice of Skylark: Radio Diva and Passionate Advocate for Hawaiian Music
By Karen Valentine A voice that could melt butter—velvety smooth and honed over a few decades of broadcasting and emcee gigs—is that of Skylark, professional name of the radio diva born as Jacqueline Leilani Rossetti. It’s not put-on or pretentious;…
The Man Behind The Makery: Dr. Neil Scott
By Le‘a Gleason There’s a saying that if you can dream it, you can build it. At Hilo’s The Makery, if you can build it, you can learn to make it. That’s way this new workshop-meets-art-gallery is one of inspiration,…
Kona’s “Grama Lee”
By Kate Kealani H. Winter The first thing you might notice about Grama Lee is the fire in her eyes. It matches the colorful language that she uses freely in conversation. Grama Lee, now 97 years old, was born Irene…
Featured Cover Artist: Sarah Week
Sarah was born and raised in Kailua-Kona and lived in San Francisco for about five years while attending the Academy of Art University, where she graduated with a BFA in animation. She recently moved back to Kailua-Kona. Although she has…
Michael Kramer Redefines the Green Movement
By Karen Valentine If you noticed Michael Kramer marching in the 2009 Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade as the Green FlashTM along with other Green Power HeroesTM, you’d never guess he makes his living as an investment advisor. The truth is, he’s…
“Mama” Lily Kong: Keauhou Kupuna
By Kate Kealani H. Winter Mama Lily’s two pairs of boots sit near the door of the family house in Keauhou mauka. Up before dawn as usual, daughter Lily can’t find “Mama” in the house and sees that one pair…
Helping Local Charities During the Holidays
By Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith Holiday giving is an American tradition. Sharing the harvest at makahiki time is also a Hawaiian tradition. For this reason, many Maui nonprofits plan their annual appeals and fund raising events in the days leading up…
Breaking Ground in 2015: West Maui Hospital Medical Center is almost here!
By Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith Just north of Kā‘anapali, on land that is part of the Kā‘anapali 2020 community plan, sits 14.994 acres of land between the Honoapi‘ilani Highway and Kā‘anapali Coffee Farms. This site will soon become the first hospital…
Kūpuna Talk Story: Warren Vignato
By Keith Nealy I first met Warren Vignato about 15 years ago. He was dangling from a thin rope attached to a huge ironwood tree 30 feet above the ground, trimming back the overgrown branches, shaping and pruning one of…
Mark Yamanaka: “Just a regular dude that loves music”
By Catherine Tarleton Only in Hawai‘i. Only in Hilo, actually, can you buy a car, turn on the radio, and drive away listening to a hit song by the guy who sold it to you. Nine-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winner…
Featured Cover Artist: Kira Kamamalu
“Have you ever had the feeling that you were doing exactly what you were meant to do?” Hilo-born 31-year-old Kira Kamamalu is going into her eighth year as a professional artist. She says that painting is the thing she feels…
Boone Morrison: Hawai‘i Island’s Leading Restoration Architect
By Alan D. McNarie When I was about 11, my folks were touring the gold rush country,” reminisces Boone Morrison, sitting in the architect’s studio behind his house in Volcano. “We showed up in Sacramento and they were restoring Sutter’s…
The Mana Anointed: Steve Grossman
By Peter Michael McCormick Mana, a supernatural or divine power, Mana, miraculous power; a powerful nation, authority; to give Mana to, to make powerful; to have Mana, power, authority; authorization, privilege; miraculous, divinely powerful, spiritual; possession of Mana, power. From…
Fire and Ice: Kumu Dane Kaohelani Silva’s Life of Spirit and Service to Health
By David Bruce Leonard, L.Ac. As the late afternoon sun warmed his back and shoulders, the chiropractor, acupuncturist, and teacher of Long Life Lomilomi walked briskly across his garden, following a well-worn path between tall ‘ōhi‘a trees bedecked with scarlet…
What Withstands the Test of Time? The Lyman Mission House
By Le‘a Gleason Imagine sailing for six months, leaving the cool Atlantic Ocean, and passing into the breezy Pacific Ocean to land in a foreign place. The rain soaks the thatched roof of your new home creating an ever-present dampness…
