Stepping Back in Time, and into Hilo’s Shipman House
By Denise Laitinen Stepping into Shipman House Bed and Breakfast on Reed’s Island in Hilo is like stepping into a piece of history. The house reflects a century of Hilo’s history, one filled with grandeur, decline, restoration, and preservation. In…
A Treasure at 107: Saramae Williams Landers
By Paula Thomas It’s pretty rare to meet people who are 107 years old. Although we are all living longer, most of us never make it to 90, let alone 100. The current average lifespan is 78. According to the…
Then & Now: Volcano House Reincarnate–Uncovering Old Beauty and Discovering Hawai‘i’s Oldest Hotel Anew
By Alan D. McNarie The grand dame of Hawai‘i hotels is back! Volcano House began checking in visitors March 22 for the first time since it closed for structural upgrades and interior renovations on December 31, 2009. On June 1…
Ka Wehena: Kumu Ali‘i Kō Kona
Na Kumu Keala Ching ‘O Kamanawa a Kālama noho iā Kūāiwa, he ali‘i kō Kona Hānau ‘ia ‘o ‘Ehu, ka makua o ‘Ehunuikaimalino he ali‘i ‘O Laeanuikaumanamana ke keiki a ‘Ehunuikaimalino Noho ‘o Līloa, he ali‘i Akua o Waipi‘o a…
Ginger
By Sonia R. Martinez If I had to guess what item is bought most often at any of our Hawai‘i Island farmer’s markets, I would say, fresh ginger. Although edible ginger (Zingiber officionale) is found today growing in many tropical…
Managing with Aloha: Ho‘ohana
Ho‘ohana: The value of worthwhile work. To work with intent and with purpose.Third in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say WORK can be a time when you are actively bringing meaning, fulfillment, and fun to the life you lead. To…
Hopper Sheldon: Eastside Artist Brings Art and Fun to Keiki of All Ages
By Barbara Fahs Keeping pace with eastside artist Cheryl “Hopper” Sheldon can keep you on your toes. Her free “Artday Saturday” enrichment program at the Hilo Farmers’ Market attracts keiki of all ages, from 10 months to 88 years young.…
Kama‘āina Land Child: Barbara Kamilipua Nobriga
By Denise Laitinen Look up the word kama‘āina in the dictionary and chances are you won’t see Barbara Nobriga’s name and photo. But you should. Literally translated, kama‘āina means land child. According to the hardcover edition of the Hawaiian Dictionary…
Grace Under Stress: Kona Orchid Society
By Catherine Tarleton Older than the volcano, with roots in dinosaur days, orchids were alive and well as far back as 80 million years ago, according to the Harvard biologist who managed to date fossilized pollen from a now-extinct bee…
From Provence to Puna: Kalani Oceanside Retreat says “Mahalo” to Founder
By Le‘a Gleason Standing in the middle of the expansive lawn at Kalani Oceanside Retreat, Richard Koob waves down two passing guests. “Come join us for volleyball,” he grins, charisma and charm infectious. He hands each a puakenikeni flower to…
Vegetable Steel! Miracle Grass!
By John J. Boyle I awake in the ‘ohana to cooing doves in an octagonal room in the low jungle of Kapoho, smiling about how warmly organic the structure is, how much like a finely worked piece of furniture and…
“He Mo‘olelo kō ka Lei”: A Story of the Lei
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco The very symbol of aloha is the lei. And the most cherished expression is that of a child, “He lei poina ‘ole ke keiki,” meaning, “A beloved child is a lei never forgotten.” A celebration and…
Ka Wehena: Kai A Ke Akua, Aia Kahi Kapu Ola
Kai A Ke Akua Na Kumu Keala Ching I ke aloha kapu o Kai a lua (I) Uka ala kahe ‘ale i Niumalu Hu‘a (ka) wai a Kāne, pili (ke) kai a Kanaloa Ola maila ke one malu ke Akua…
Heart of Palm
By Sonia R. Martinez One item often missing in most farmers’ markets is the heart of palm, so when you find it, it’s like striking gold. You can harvest heart of palm from any kind of palm tree, including the…
Giving Back, Paying Forward: Kona Brewers Festival
By Catherine Tarleton What do potato chips, compost, microscopic algae, high school seniors, runners, recyclables, bicycles, beer, and some of Hawai‘i Island’s best chefs have in common? They’re all part of the Kona Brewers Festival (KBF), a three-day celebration March…
Managing with Aloha: Aloha is Our Rootstock
Aloha is a value, one of unconditional love. Aloha is the outpouring and receiving of the spirit. Second in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say I remember my year a decade ago quite vividly, for in 2003 I began to…
W. M. Keck Observatory: Seeking Answers to the Greatest Questions About Our Universe
By Jon Lomberg Ask any astronomer to short-list the world’s best telescopes and W. M. Keck Observatory’s twin instruments on Mauna Kea will be at the top of everyone’s list. The combination of a perfect site, generous funding, and cutting-edge…
We Are All in the Same Canoe: One Island Sustainable Living Center Promotes Sustainability on Hawai‘i Island
By Barbara Fahs With a modest budget and big vision, the One Island Sustainable Living Center in Hōnaunau is accomplishing some amazing feats toward farming education and sustainability. The terms ‘sustainable’ and ‘sustainability’ are bandied about a lot today. To…
Every Store Has a Story: Kīlauea General Store
By Alan McNarie Nestled in a grove of feral bamboo in old Volcano Village is a love affair that looks like a general store. There are some outward signs that this is more than just a store: the big mural…
Kūpuna Talk Story: Herb Kawainui Kāne, Father of the Hawaiian Renaissance
By Keith Nealy As a filmmaker and storyteller, I have been blessed with the gift of sharing the mana‘o (knowledge) of more than 60 of Hawai‘i’s most revered kūpuna in spirited conversations exploring the cultural legacy they carry in their…
Ko Bo Kahui Ho‘oilina Ola: Bo Kahui’s Living Legacy
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco One person can make a difference, and everyone should try,” said John F. Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural address. Craig ‘Bo’ Kahui was seven years old at the time and living in Kalihi on O‘ahu. One…
Hula Instruments: The Rhythm of the Dance
By Denise Laitinen “I le‘a ka hula i ka ho‘opa‘a”—the hula is pleasing because of the drummer. The well-known quote from Mary Pukui’s seminal book, ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, means that although the attention is given to the dancer, the drummer and…
Then & Now: 50 Years of Merrie Monarch Festival–Nānā I Ke Kumu…Look to the Source
By Karen Valentine Something extraordinary happened in Hilo, Hawai‘i, in 1963—something no one would have guessed would blossom into the pinnacle of celebration and recognition of excellence in the Hawaiian cultural practice of hula. This year, the Merrie Monarch Festival…
Ka Wehena: Kīpaipai
Na Kumu Keala Ching Pi‘i mai ka lā i Ha‘eha‘e Hālau ola kū i ka lewa Waiwai ka ‘i‘ini e holomua Ua kau ka ‘ike i ka nu‘u ala E ala mai, E naue mai, E noke mai e Pi‘o…
Adorning the Dancers: Understanding the Plants of Hula
By Denise Laitinen Standing next to the kahua hula (dance platform) that overlooks Halema‘uma‘u Crater at the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, you can see a plume of steam and gasses rising from the crater, home of the volcano goddess Pele.…
Waiho‘olu‘u: The Ancient Practice of Natural Dye Making with the Kukui Tree
By Renée Robinson In Hawai‘i the kukui tree, distinctive in its pale green, silvery foliage, is a symbol of enlightenment, protection, and peace. Kukui (also known as candlenut) was a canoe plant. Its seeds were brought to Hawai‘i by the…
Anela Strings: Angel Music by Timeless Troubadours
By Marya Mann A Live Concert It’s just after sunset and Kristin Aria Shaw’s graceful fingers are dancing on her Celtic harp. Irminsul’s long hair billows in a soft breeze coming off the sea as his body vibrates with arpeggio…
Getting Back to Hawaiian Roots: Perpetuate Native Culture With Your Landscaping
By Denise Laitinen When you think about landscaping your yard, your thoughts are probably along the lines of what plants will look pretty, what will grow, and how easy it will be to maintain. You’re probably not thinking about perpetuating…
Natural Plant Medicine is Everywhere You Look
By Barbara Fahs You already know about them. Those dandelions you struggle to keep out of your lawn? Medicinal. The persistent weeds in your vegetable garden? Many of them have uses as medicine. Even some “weeds” that grow on bare…
“Beetle Juice” Inoculates Kona Coffee Against Coffee Beetle Borer
By Margaret Kearns Greenwell is a name synonymous with Kona coffee in Hawai‘i with patriarch Henry Nicholas Greenwell lauded as the marketing genius who put the region’s highly-sought brew on connoisseurs’ radar worldwide more than 150 years ago. Greenwell, a…
