Passionately Yours: Liliko‘i
By Sonia R. Martinez There are many varieties of Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis), or as we know it in the islands, liliko‘i. The most commonly used in Hawai‘i is the yellow fruit (flavicarpa). A less common variety also seen in…
Island Treasures: South Kona Macadamia Nut Company—South Kona
By Aja Hannah Meris Farwell, a soft-spoken and petite woman, hand scoops a bag of Tamari-flavored macadamia nuts. Flavored with shoyu (soy sauce), the reddened nuts drop into 4oz and 8oz packages. Each package of South Kona Macadamia Nuts is…
Island Treasures: High Fire Hawaii Gallery & Studio—Hilo
By Le‘a Gleason Shannon Hickey was born and raised in Chicago and has lived in Hawaii 25 years. She holds a degree in Art from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and was deeply involved in ceramics and printmaking during…
Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: Kelly Shaw, Realtor®
Kelly Shaw, an independent Realtor® with Koa Realty in Hōlualoa, believes in having goals and meeting them today instead of tomorrow. In Long Island, New York at only 25, Kelly was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Like taking a page out…
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…
Ancient Hawaiian Agricultural Practices at Sacred Sites in North Kohala
By Jan Becket Archaeological surveys in Hawai‘i yield valuable knowledge about the traditional life of a place, and yet it is often knowledge that is inaccessible to the community where the surveys are conducted. Many contracts call for reports to…
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…
Managing with Aloha: Kuleana
By Rosa Say Kuleana: The value of personal responsibility; “I accept my responsibilities, and I will be held accountable.” Eleventh in an ongoing series. One of my goals for our Hawai‘i is fully woven into the mission and healthy work…
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…
Aloha ‘Āina: Waimea I Uka
By Ku‘ulei Keakealani On April 20, 2008 a group assembled on a misty Waimea morning. The destination was somewhat clear and somewhat vague, i uka, to the uplands, was our chosen destination. Were we on a journey for answers? Perhaps.…
Healing Plants: Māmaki, The “Stingless” Stinging Nettle
By Barbara Fahs You might have seen dried māmaki leaves for sale at your local drug store or farmers market. Tea made from this endemic Hawaiian plant is tasty and popular. Known as Pipturis albidus, māmaki is a perennial shrub…
World Wide Voyage–Threads That Tie: The Hōkūle‘a Crew Connecting Hawaiian Culture to the World
By Le‘a Gleason Hawai‘i is a place where we navigate community and culture, finding a delicate balance between reverence for the past and enthusiasm for the future. It’s with this same careful attention to culture that we watch from afar…
Toward a Firewise Community: Follow the Lead of Kohala by the Sea
By Denise Laitinen Kohala by the Sea is the little community that could. This group of Hawai‘i Island residents has achieved a status reached by few communities in the entire country: they’re part of the nationally recognized Firewise Communities program.…
Dressing for a Holokū Ball
By Leilehua Yuen The first three rules my Nana, my paternal grandmother, drummed into my head about looking good in a holokū were: Posture Posture Posture They are still valuable rules today. Perfect posture and a sense of panache enable…
The Holokū
By Leilehua Yuen I remember as a girl longing for the day I would be deemed “a young lady,” mature enough to be allowed the privilege of wearing high heels, makeup, and that most elegant dress, the holokū. In our…
Ka Wehena: Ahi a Pele
Na Kumu Keala Ching ‘Ae, Mai Kahiki mai ke ahi a Pele Mai Kahiki mai ke ahi a Pele I pae Nihoa i ka poli o Hawai‘i Mai Kahiki mai ke ahi a Pele Kaha ‘Iwa i Kawaihoa e Pele…
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…
Wa‘a Hoena: Outrigger Canoe Paddling–Bonding through Lōkahi (Unity) and Mo‘olelo (Tradition)
By Alan D. McNarie Septuagenarian (in his seventies) Rafael Ramirez still vividly remembers the first time he set a paddle in the water. “I paddled out and saw the reef and saw the fish, and I paddled back and said,…
Royal Order of Kamehameha I: Moku O Keawe
By Russell Paio and Peter T. Young Editor’s Note: In respect for Moku O Kona, this story will not include the diacritics of the modern Hawaiian language, with the exception of the name of the Hawaii Island–East side, Hilo area…
Ka Wehena: Keauhou
By Na Kumu Keala Ching Nani wale ku‘u ‘ike i Keauhou Nani wale ku‘u ‘ike I ka mana hunehune Noho la‘i ‘o Kanikani ka ‘ula I kai o Kaukulaelae Aia i ke ‘ala o ke ola Kapu malu ē Ho‘i…
Wahine Holo Lio (Women Riding Horses)
By Denise Laitinen They are easily one of the most popular parts of any floral parade in Hawai‘i. Sitting regally atop their horses adorned in lei, shimmering colored fabrics draping them from head to toe, the graceful women wave to…
Ka Puana–Lighting the Path
Following are excerpts from Kailua-Kona resident Kumu Keala Ching’s book, Lighting the Path. Used with permission. The Vision In 2008, Barbara Garcia and I had the vision of helping the Hawai‘i Island community increase their understanding of the Hawaiian culture.…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Island Spirit Healing Center & Day Spa
If you’re ready to feel truly relaxed and let go of stress, Island Spirit Healing Center & Day Spa can help! Ken Bevis, LMT, NCBTMB, Hypnotherapist, is a licensed massage therapist trained in Medical Massage, Swedish, Lomilomi, Sports Therapy and…
Bok Choy
By Sonia R. Martinez Bok choy (Chinese cabbage or pak choi as it is sometimes called) is one of those veggies we are able to find year-round in most of our island farmers markets. Brassica chinensis, the scientific name of…
Island Treasures: Luana Naturals—South Kona
Karen Kriebl received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University. She was a professor at OSU and Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and taught at the Out of Door Academy in Sarasota, Florida where she was known as “Doctor K.” In…
A Brief History of Queen Lili‘uokalani
By Peter T. Young She was born Lydia Lili‘u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka‘eha to High Chiefess Anale‘a Keohokālole and High Chief Caesar Kaluaiku Kapa‘akea on September 2, 1838. At that time, children often were named in commemoration of an event.…
Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: Trans-Pacific Design
Sue is one of those lucky people who knew what she wanted to do in grade school. Her parents worked with interior designers and she loved watching them work. Sue received a four-year degree from Iowa State University in interior…
The Voice of an Angel: Kanani Enos
Kanani Enos grew up in a world of music, Hawaiian rhythm and melody reverberating through generations to create the living song she is today. “I grew up listening to my dad playing slack key guitar all the time,” she says.…
