I Live. I Love. I Race. Kailua-Kona’s Own Triathlete Bree Wee
By Margaret Kearns “Nice.” Who would expect that to be the first descriptor for a fiercely competitive triathlete? That, however, is the word heard repeatedly from fellow competitors, fans, sponsors, and trainers when asked about Hawai‘i Island’s most stellar female…
Speaking the Language of Love: A Conversation with Kahuna Kalei‘iliahi
By Cynthia Sweeney Our kāhuna, or our indigenous elders are our spiritual and physical connection with where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. Kāhuna have optimism about our spiritual evolution on this planet and…
Kona’s Onion House: The Sydney Opera House Meets Stonehenge
By Barbara Fahs They said it couldn’t be built. Later, they said it couldn’t be repaired. Yet the Onion House stands proudly today in South Kona as a living work of art and innovative architecture. Thanks to the vision of…
Feather Art: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
By Barbara Fahs Na lima mili hulu no‘eau is a Hawaiian expression that means “the skilled hands that touch the feathers.” It honors the ancient art of feather lei, capes, headdresses, and other ornaments. In today’s world, it can easily…
Success! Hakalau Forest Refuge: Scientists and Volunteers Partner to Save Forest Birds
By Fern Gavelek Hawai‘i’s geographical isolation means that the plants and animals found here have evolved unlike any other species found on earth. Human interaction and interference with once untouched habitats has rendered Hawai‘i the endangered species capital of the…
Sounds of Peace: A Joyful Noise in Honoka‘a
By Catherine Tarleton What does peace sound like? In Honoka‘a, on Peace Day, September 21, it sounds like marching bands and taiko drums, ‘ukulele music, bon dance, bells, and gongs. It might sound like rock and roll with a mix…
The Journey of Hula Competition: The Experience of One Haumana
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco When you are asked to be in a hula festival, contest, or competition, the journey for oneself starts at that moment. Inevitably, it is really not about the contest at all; it is about the passage…
Kumu Hula Etua Lopes, E Ola E Ola Mau
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco When the moments in between chicken skin are filled with laughter or tears, you know you are in the presence of the great storyteller, Kumu Hula Etua Lopes. Born on August 29, 1953 in Damien Track…
Then & Now: Hilo Sugar Mill/Wainaku Center
By Denise Laitinen Situated on the sea cliffs just north of Hilo and tucked behind old concrete walls is the former Hilo Sugar Mill, which in its heyday processed 1,400 tons of sugar a day. Now, surrounded by tropical flowers…
Ka Wehena: Lanikepu
Na Kumu Keala Ching I uka, kua mana o Lanikepu Waiwai Kohakohau, i ola ai Wahi uluwehiwehi o Waiaka Ua Uakoko i Hōkū‘ula Noho ‘ia ka wahine i laila nō Pu‘u Pu‘ulaelae hānau hānauna Pali Kapu o nā li‘i o…
Ka Puana–The Refrain: Joy
Excerpt used with permission of the Friends of the Library Waikoloa Region. By Jacqueline McBride Koscil There are many wonderful ideas that I believe in, but choosing joy in all circumstances tops the list. Some people may think of joy…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Fabric Gift Shoppe
Honya Sawinski’s background is business and theatre. After college she got a job at the Hayloft Dinner Theatre in a barn with a big silo in north Virginia. Besides waiting on tables, she worked with the costumers. One day, she…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Mi’s Wine & Cheese Shoppe
Morgan Starr graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in June of 1997, just two years after graduating high school. First, he worked in New York, then, Las Vegas where he helped open the Venetian Hotel. While still in his…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: ProVision Solar Inc.
ProVision Solar is Hawai‘i Island’s first solar electric construction company. When solar was a relatively new concept, it was challenging to convince people that the technology was safe, reliable, and would actually save them money in the long term. Now,…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Big Island BookBuyers
With books stacked from ceiling to floor, Big Island BookBuyers is a refreshing sight for anyone who still loves the physically printed word. Whether you’re looking for a guide to the island or a literary adventure to another world, there…
The Avocado
By Sonia R. Martinez As you visit the different farmers markets around the island, you will find avocadoes being sold in all of them during season. This is because although Kona’s terrain is known to be suited best for growing…
Island Treasures: Garden Inspirations, Inc.—Kailua-Kona
Garden Inspirations creates cast stone outdoor décor—decorative and functional concrete pieces that include fountains, planters, furniture, and statues. Each piece is stained and finished so it performs well in our tropical environment as well as reflecting the design styles prevalent…
Island Treasures: Aloha Adirondack—Hilo
By Sara Hayashi James Sutherland likes to make “old fashioned things that are comfortable and make people smile,” and his simple, beautiful chairs do just that. Aloha Adirondack chairs are New England style chairs with a Hawaiian feel. James was…
Craftsmanship that Sings: Big Island Ukulele Guild
By Le‘a Gleason I am no stranger to the tangy smell of sawdust and the intense groan of power tools, as my father is an ‘ukulele and guitar builder who has successfully made a name for himself over the last…
Managing with Aloha: Ho‘omau
Ho‘omau: The value of perseverance. To persist, to continue, to perpetuate. Never give up. Fifth in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say Several managers have told me Managing with Aloha’s chapter on Ho‘omau is their favorite, and I can easily…
Ka Puana: The Problem With Thinking
Excerpts used with permission of the publisher: GreatRiverBooks.com I have a knack for generating stress in that time right before dawn when it’s too cold to get out of bed and my wide-awake brain seems to run out of control.…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Bamboo Too
Bamboo Two owner, Kacey Parker, hails from northern California. He came to Hawai‘i Island 30 years ago. “I originally started my business selling mats to local restaurants and hotels, as Aloha State Matting. About 14 years ago, my customers started…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: East Hawaii Veterinary Center, LLC
By Sara Hayashi For most of us, our furry companions are more than just pets; they are treasured members of the family. At East Hawaii Veterinary Center, Dr. Alfred Mina and his dedicated team are here to help. East Hawaii…
Mangoes
By Sonia R. Martinez The mango (Mangifera indica), a native of Southeast Asia and India is a member of the Anacardiaceae family, which includes cashews, pistachios, poison ivy, and poison oak. The tree was transported to the Philippines and other Pacific…
Island Treasures: Kailua Village Artists Gallery—Kailua-Kona
The Kailua Village Artists Gallery, Inc. (KVA) is a cooperative organization that offers original art made by local artists from Hawai‘i Island. The gallery features an eclectic display of reasonably priced original artwork including paintings in acrylic, gouache, mixed media,…
Island Treasures: Fahrenheit 2400—Volcano
“There is something both dramatic and dynamic about the manipulation of a molten mass of glass, such that the process has almost as much appeal for me as does the product. Hot glass is a medium in constant motion, where…
Ali‘i Keana‘aina Shares Music From His Heart
By Shirley Stoffer He is an imposing figure, being of large build, with a full head of long, wavy hair. Carved bone earrings spiral through his earlobes. He smiles, and any feeling of intimidation one might have first felt in…
Managing with Aloha: ‘Imi Ola
‘Imi ola: To seek best life. Our purpose in life is to seek its highest form. The value of mission and vision. Fourth in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say To ‘Imi ola is to seek life. When we practice…
Uncle Billy Paris Talks Story
By Fern Gavelek He makes the best guava jelly and can sing a mean rendition of “Kona Kai ‘Opua.” Uncle Billy Paris has done many things during his 90 years of life and easily recalls all of them with pinpoint…
The Man Behind the Flowers: Peter Honeyman Transforms Botany Into Art
By Le‘a Gleason Peter Honeyman stands inside a booth at the Hilo Farmers Market addressing passersby. “That’s not silk, it’s not a fabric, not a synthetic. They’re all the real thing,” he says, pointing. It’s hot. Everyone who passes by…
