A Historic Family Business and Building: How the Koehnen’s Family Roots Correspond with a Historic Hilo Building
By Megan Moseley On the bustling street of downtown Hilo’s bayfront, visitors and residents alike often stroll by a bright green building that hugs the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Waiānuenue Street. To residents, it’s called the “old Koehnen…
Ke Ola Pono: Makahiki Resolutions
By Leilehua Yuen Makahiki, Christmas, and the New Year all are times of fresh beginnings. Many people make resolutions at this time to do better or be better in the coming year. While making resolutions is common around the world—according…
Makahiki: The Hawaiian Winter Holiday
By Leilehua Yuen Long before Christmas was celebrated in Hawai‘i, we had our own winter holiday—the Makahiki. Makahiki can be a confusing word. It means “year,” “new year,” and also refers to the months-long season that heralds the new year…
Managing with Aloha: ‘Imi Ola: We are meant to be Seekers
I admit it: I jump to an either/or conclusion when I learn that a manager has worked in the same position and same company for a long time, and they are not that company’s owner or founder. I conclude they…
Featured Cover Artist: Patricia Leo
The holiday theme of artist Patricia Leo’s painting showcased on this issue’s cover is a dreamlike scene from a magical, enchanted forest in Hawai‘i, illustrated in vibrant, glowing colors. Part of her ongoing series, 16 years of Christmas in Hawai‘i,…
Spirits of Ocean and Land: Wayne Levin and Jozuf Hadley Team Up for Multi-Media Exhibit at Kahilu Theater
By Karen Rose What do a pidgin poet and an underwater photographer have in common? In the case of Wayne Levin and Jozuf Hadley, it’s a love of the spiritual aspects of artistic expression. This fall, the Kahilu Theatre in…
Parker, The Little School that Could
By Catherine Tarleton The red ranch building with the wide white porch rail is 101 years old, and has lived three different lives: as a social hall, USO, and now Parker School. This small school, originally created to serve “indigent…
Ke Ola Pono: Lā‘au Lapa‘au—What is it?
By Leilehua Yuen What is lā‘au lapa‘au? Is it herbal medicine? “Witch doctor” stuff? Homeopathy? Bush medicine? Is it real? Bogus? Compatible with biomedicine? I have seen practices of lā‘au lapa‘au that would fit any of the above. Lā‘au lapa‘au…
Managing with Aloha: Aloha—For Real
Metaphorical acronyms for Aloha. You’ve seen them. You may even have one of your own. The one above, is composed of values from Managing with Aloha. Therefore, I should be pleased, a fan, right? Usually, no. I’m not. I’d rather…
Pāpa‘aloa Rejoices in its New Old Store
By Alan D. McNarie At the back of the Pāpa‘aloa Country Store and Café, near the new monkeypod counter where customers pick up orders from the renovated kitchen, are the faded inked outlines of shoe soles, each one slightly smaller…
Managing with Aloha: Ka lā hiki ola
“Ka lā hiki ola; The dawning of a new day.” Ka lā hiki ola is a phrase I initially learned of right here on Hawai‘i Island, for it is deeply ingrained into our local community. Its presence and influence is…
Ke Ola Pono: Ka Wai Ola
By Leilehua Yuen Back in the 90s, when I was a cultural demonstrator at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, we sometimes used to enjoy mildly teasing visitors who asked us if there was a place they could find traditional…
Managing with Aloha: Pono
Are you content? You may feel there is much to be done, however the feeling of contentment is possible when you feel the path ahead is one that is right for you, one where you will enjoy the journey. It…
Ke Ola Pono: Ka Hula
By Leilehua Yuen Most of us could use a bit more movement in our lives. Being physically active has many health benefits. Studies have shown that the average American walks fewer than 6,000 steps each day. Yet by walking 10,000…
Healing Plants: Kamani
By Barbara Fahs The Internet is full of sites that tout the healing benefits of “tamanu” oil. This nut tree, which is native to the South Pacific islands around Tahiti, is also present in Hawai‘i where it is known as…
Healing Plants: ‘Ākulikuli Kula, Way More than a Lowly Weed
By Barbara Fahs ‘Ākulikuli kula is a fun word to say, and the plant bearing this name has as much to offer in the kitchen as it does in the medicine cabinet. Also known as purslane and often considered a…
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…
Composting At Home: Treasure in the Trash
By Barbara Fahs One autumn day in 1971, a young woman was busily building a compost pile alongside her new home. Two little girls, eight and nine, wandered by and asked what she was doing. “Well, I’m making a place…
Healing Plants: ‘A‘ali‘i
Attractive native for landscapes and healing By Barbara Fahs Many of us probably know the Hawaiian word ali‘i: it refers to a reigning noble of any kind. When an “a” is added to this word, it means “of” the royalty.…
Plainly Vanilla
By Sonia R. Martinez The term ‘vanilla’ is used commonly as a synonym meaning plain or basic. Nothing is further from the truth! Vanilla is a rich and complex ‘spice’ used in almost all parts of the world. Vanilla originated…
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…
Living, Breathing, Eating Music: Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s Music Education Program
By Catherine Tarleton These kids have to spread their wings,” says Genette Freeman, Executive Director of Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF), an annual summer music immersion program that pairs professional teachers with potential stars. HPAF creates opportunities for Hawai‘i’s young…
Managing with Aloha: Alaka‘i
Alaka‘i The value of leadership. Lead with initiative and with your good example. You shall be the guide for others when you have gained their trust and respect. Fifteenth in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say Alaka‘i is the Hawaiian…
Healthy Boundaries
By Ku‘ulei Keakealani I forgot I booked one meeting after obligating myself to another. Then I confirmed one excursion while planning to have lunch with some friends at the exact same time—can’t be two places at once. Nope, not possible…
Keau‘ohana Forest Restoration
By Mālielani Larish A strawberry guava tree quivers as Jaya C. Dupuis tugs at its roots, freeing them from beneath a mossy log. One stubborn root remains anchored to the earth, so she follows it to a cluster of young native kōpiko seedlings. Kneeling down,…
Pono Practices at Honoka‘a’s Green Market and Café
By Barbara Fahs Imagine a restaurant that generates virtually no waste. Also imagine, a menu chock-full of fresher-than-fresh, organic, in season, locally produced ingredients. Wait, there’s more! Under the same roof is a small natural foods store, the only one…
Strong in Spirit and Build: Puna’s Historic Congregational Churches
By Denise Laitinen Puna residents are a hearty lot, known for their resiliency and ability to survive. So it should come as no surprise that their places of worship are equally strong, having withstood a myriad of natural disasters. In…
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;…
Lovely Hula Hands of Sammi Fo
Buddy Fo had an impeccable ear for music…and a sharp eye for a beautiful woman. The popular musician and Lifetime Achievement Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner from the 1960s was recognized for his tune, rhythm, and complicated harmonies. It was…