Kona 2010 Day 4

Tuesday began with another trip to Kahalu'u Beach, for some quality ocean time. The snorkeling was great. We then headed just south of Kona to Kona Stories Bookstore. I had read quite a bit about the place, as it's frequently mentioned in the local writing scene. We were first greeted by a beautiful and friendly kitty, who followed us around as we perused the shelves filled with books by local authors. I ended up buying a book about the historical players of the Big Island, and a memoir called West of Then that is written by a former local woman and details her tumultuous relationship with her mother (and in a way, the islands). I'm about 2/3 through, and so far I am finding it well written and interesting.

After our literary needs were met, we drove mauka to the sleepy little town of Holualoa. Holualoa is known for its many art galleries (all basically situated on the main drag of town, making it an easy way to stroll from one to another). Art has always been at its center, going way back to the plantation days.

Here is the old Kona hotel, or "the other pink palace."



Here is the first gallery we visited, the Treasure Mill. They featured a plethora of wood crafts.



After stopping in at the Ipu Hale Gallery to see the decorated gourds, we stopped for an iced tea and enjoyed the beautiful day.



We then rounded our our art walk, coming very close to buying a triplicate bamboo piece. However, we wanted to wait and check out Hula Lamps of Hawai`i before making our decision. We bought one of their hula lamps in June 2008, and were struck by the oil paintings in the back. There was one in particular we remembered, of a coconut tree. Simple, but yet so complex with the light and movement.

It was there! So we bought our first piece of original art from Hawai`i! It arrived last week, and we look forward to putting it up in our living room once we finish wallpapering.

For lunch, we headed back to the hotel and grubbed on some appetizers from the bar. As you can see, we were very relaxed.



That night we purchased our second piece of original art, a carving of the entire Hawaiian archipelago in koa wood. We had been looking for something like this for above our fire place, and just could not pass it up. So, we ended up with two pieces of art in one week. Not bad.

For dinner, we forged ahead and did the unthinkable: went against the advice of the Blue Book. We ate at Pancho Lefty's, which they concisely dismiss in the 4th edition. While it wasn't the most visionary Mexican food, the drinks were tasty and the food was fine.



As night fell, I had to keep an eye on the clock. Yes, even while on vacation, I must watch LOST live! It's filmed on the islands so it's sort of thematic. Before that, we explored the King Kamehameha lobby and grounds a bit.

Kona 2010 Day 3

Monday started off with a morning run toward Magic Sands Beach. I love how at any time of day in Kona there are throngs of people walking, biking and swimming. It's such a healthy place (in large part, because of Iron Man) and it motivates us to stick with the exercise program even while on vacation!

Taking advantage of our convertible, we decided to take a late morning drive up the Kohala Coast to visit the Mauna Lani fish ponds. Set on the grounds of the Mauna Lani resort, the fish ponds were used by ancient Hawaiians long before Hawai`i became synonymous with honeymoon or sun block. They have been nicely preserved, with signage explaining each of the areas as well as descriptions of much of the plant life. It's a pleasant stroll, despite being in a wind pocket.



Along the path, we came across a lava tube.

Is that heaven up there?



No, but over here is where they used to kill people.



We stumbled across this beautiful beach toward the end of our walk. We had hoped to do some snorkeling, but it was just too windy.



Plenty hungry, we drove up north to Hawi, almost to the tip of the North Kohala coast. I had noticed a placed called Luke's Place during our last trip and noted that we needed to return (I see the sign "tiki bar" and must go for inspiration (side note: our new house has a full-fledged tiki bar and designated posts/pictures to come).



Anyway, it's awesome. And super friendly staff. We love it.



After we returned, I indulged in a massage at Lotus (the hotel's spa). From there, I spent some time at the pool until it was time for a nap. Then--guess what!!!--we went back to Huggo's! We were hoping to hop from there to Fujimama's - a very nice sushi/Japanese restaurant that was there two years ago. At the time, I had a queasy stomach and couldn't really enjoy it. Sadly, it had closed so we went with Wasabi's. We'd been there once before, but this time we took on some more adventurous rolls. Fine choice.

Another beautiful day, another breathtaking Kona Sunset.

Kona 2010 Day 2

No tsunami! This is the morning headline:



Our first full day back in Paradise started off with a refreshing 100% Kona iced coffee (for me) and later a decadent breakfast the Royal Kona restaurant. They offer a buffet or menu. We have tried both, and have come to prefer the menu options better. This time we went for the very rich eggs benedict with avocado and rock shrimp. It hit us slowly, but was definitely a pound of rocks by late morning. For more on the food romp through Kona, check out Dan's food blog.

As our food settled, we headed up to Kahalu'u Beach, a wonderful spot to snorkel. Easy access, clear water, and always relatively calm. Unfortunately, we got all the way to the park and realized we forgot our snorkel gear! So we rented some (that was actually nicer than our own) and a had a lovely time. We bought little boogie boards at WalMart and I found my snorkeling adventures much more enjoyable and relaxing this trip. People in Hawai`i love Walmart.



After lunch at Huggo's on the Rock's - truly one of the finest establishments on the island - we strolled around and looked in many art galleries. We had it in our minds that we'd be buying some original art for our new house (we bought it in October) on this trip. We eventually did, but we'll get to that later. We met the manager of one of the galleries along Ali`i Drive - a real character - and he gave us some local scoop on the neighboring businesses. Merchants are very friendly in Kona, and while it's their job it really feels genuine. We walked in and out of dozens of businesses throughout the week, and were never left to feel overly pressured to buy or even slightly sneered at for just looking.

We ended the day trying out a new restaurant- a thriving chain restaurant with hustle, bustle, live music and pretty tasty food. Since it's been almost two weeks since we returned, I'm having some difficulty pinpointing every exact detail. Which probably speaks to what a nicely paced vacation we had...and we had 6 more days to go!

Kona 2010 Day 1

It has been less than a year since our glorious 3 week journey through Oahu and the Big Island. But here in rainy Seattle, we really needed a short sun break in late February/early March. So, while our heart will always be in Hilo, we booked a one-week stay in Kona - back at the Royal Kona to be exact.

Kona offers consistent sunshine, superb art galleries, a diverse range of restaurants, and an array of exciting water adventures - all within walking distance. This is the kind of trip we were looking for, and it's exactly what we got (and more!).

Day 1: Saturday, 2/27

We attempted to redeem some airlines miles through Alaska to take advantage of their nonstop from Seattle to Kona, but our timing did not prevail. Thus, we stuck with our tried and true Hawaiian Airlines morning flight. As always, they were right on time and beat the expected arrival time in Honolulu. We stopped at the Kona Brewing Company in the airport for our usual round of small bites and cocktails. Only this time, the first sip of rum-juice deliciousness was offset by the images on the TV screens: an impending tsuanami was headed for the islands! Just that morning, a major earthquake rocked Chile and sent panic throughout the island chain. No town was more on high alert than Hilo, whose long history of tsunami destruction has left its citizens scarred and anxious.



Our flight to Kona was not delayed, and by the time we boarded there had been no reports of any massive waves. After our brief inter-island flight to Kona, we quickly claimed our baggage and then headed to the car rental transport van. The driver announced that it was a "good day, no tsunami." So any fears we had of a ruined vacation were already allayed, setting us up for a wonderful week in the tropics!

Anyone traveling to Hawai`i (or really, anywhere) knows that screaming deals are bouncing around like a baby in an inflatable castle. Car rental companies are at the top of the list, and I just couldn't resist the convertible for only $15 more per day. I had never drive one before, and as it turned out, Kona was in a drought. So, perfect.



Our good fortune continued when we checked into our hotel. Apparently, due to the evacuation that morning, most of the housekeeping staff took the day off. Many people were waiting for clean rooms, but ours was ready upon check-in! We love the Royal Kona for its convenience, affordable ocean front rooms, and splendid bar. You won't find a lot of glamour or extra amenities, but it's comfortable and we tend to be creatures of habit. Also, they make really really good mai tais!

So, that's where we headed first. Don the Beachcomber's Bar. To our delight, the drink menu now featured "flights" of drinks - including Mai tais.



Later, we walked up and down Ali`i drive, soaking in the atmosphere and scoping out any changes that took place within the last 10 months. We only spent one day in Kona last June, and we missed it.



That night we ventured out to the venerable Lulu's for a comfort food feast of tuna melts and mahi mahi sandwiches (and, of course, heaps of fries). We ended the night with a browse through the ABC Store (on this trip we discovered it's a weakness and purchased so many items we qualifed for gifts at the end of the week!).

Tired from the flight, energized by the velvety air, at night's end we were in that perfectly balanced state of impending unconciousness mixed with grade school excitment over what we'd do the next day.

Kalama Days

This past weekend we decided to finally make it to the Kalama Heritage Festival (commonly known as Kalama Days), a three-day celebration of both Hawaiian and Native American cultures. The festival takes place in the eponymous town of Kalama, named after John Kalama. John was a Native Hawaiian who married a Native American, and raised a large family in the area. They became sort of a "first family" of Cowlitz County; thus, the town is named after them.

Now in its 5th year, the festival is produced by Hale o'Halawai O Hawai'i, a non-profit, multicultural organization dedicated to preserving the traditional Polynesian, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans' blended bloodlines culture and heritage through educational programs, services, community performances, and outreach programs. (per web site)

The festival took place at the lovely Port of Kalama Marine Park, right up against the Columbia River. As we parked our car, we walked past a lei making demonstration. There were several food vendors, ranging from Hawaiian local (shave ice, teri chicken) to the more common fair items (elephant ears, banana splits). We opted to pay for the lu`au and conert (Makaha Sons were the headliner).

In the park, arranged in a square were various vendors selling items or propogating literature. Some were the usual Hawaiian crafts, other were a bit baffling like the US Census and Church of Latter Day Saints. I guess all in the name of aloha.

We did not have time for any of the workshops or lectures. We caught the tail end of the `imu ceremony and then we walked around the park until it was time for lu`au seating. The weather perked up just in time for lu`au seating at 5:00. Perhaps we are getting jaded with all the Hawaiian food we eat, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the spread. No poi? No lomi lomi salmon? Green salad, watermelon and bread? But the kalua pig was tasty, and the haupia scored several points. I had never had it with toasted coconut on top. Nice touch.

Then came the entertainment. The opening acts were Alika Nako`oka and Naki`i. We enjoyed some hapa haole tunes with our meal, and then came the headliners. First, Keahi Conjugacion performed, a relative of Brother Noland. She concentrated most of her set on smooth Island jazz. And talked quite a bit. The show ran very late, and it was close to 8:30 when Makaha Sons finally took the stage. But they were worth the wait. When the three men harmonize, it sounds like something from another world (as Dan commented). They sing beautifully, play beautifully and electrify the stage with their presence, ease and confidence. I cannot wait to see them again, but not after sitting in one place for 4 hours!

All in all, it was a relaxing escape from the city. We got to stay at a Red Lion in Kelso, Washington - that doesn't happen very often.

Next we look forwad to the Live Aloha Festival coming up on September 13th!

Mele and friends at Kaua`i Family Restaurant

Our friend Gary Medeiros is a local kine hero, with his male falsetto mastery and command of the `ukulele. He plays all over town, often with Auntie Manu. In fact, he was recently in Idaho performing. We first met him at last year's Live Aloha Festival in Seattle Center, and then saw him again playing at the luau after the Pineapple Classic. We are lucky to have such a talented kanaka in our midst.


One of Gary's regular gigs is the brunch hour at Kaua`i Family Restaurant. We made it once before, but that was too long ago. So this morning we decided to head down to Georgetown for some `ono food, friendly service and mele nani (beautiful music).



Gary and friends did not disappoint. Dressed in black to (not celebrate) Hawai`i 50th anniversary as a State, the trio played the duration with many impromptu hula intermixed from the lively audience.

There was a special on the menu to commemorate the anniversary -- poke and kalua pig steak with cabbage. Dan couldn't resist that, and at 5.99 the price could not be beat. I went with the traditional rice, eggs and bacon breakfast. Of course any trip to Kaua`i Family Restaurant necessitates grabbing a hold of a big brown bag of goodness - malasadas. The Portuguese donuts are a blissful way to heart disease, fried in coconut oil and not as sweet as your typical bakery donut.



We were blessed with a visit from our old friend Jerry, who we just don't get to see enough of these days. We introduced him to the malasada, to which he concurred was heavenly.

If you are looking for an authentic Hawaiian local experience with refreshingly low prices, Kaua`i Family Restaurant is hard to beat. The bakery/gift shop next door is worth a look, too. The guava and passion fruit cakes come in individual servings, and are very seductive. (They are closed Sunday and Monday).

Google adds `olelo Hawai`i!

Hawaiian language added to Google

By Rob Shikina

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 07, 2009



Next time you do a search on the Web, you could be selecting "Huli ia Google," the Hawaiian words for "search Google."


COURTESY KEOLA DONAGHY
Hawaiian words and sentences have been added to the Google search engine. Shown
here, a screen shot of Google's search page in Hawaiian.



The Hawaiian language version of Google's search engine is now available on Apple's Safari browser through a project by a University of Hawaii-Hilo assistant professor, who also translated the Netscape Web browser in 1997.

Keola Donaghy of the Ke Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikolani College of Hawaiian Language estimates he spent 100 hours creating the translation. The Hawaiian version provides instructions in Hawaiian on Google's search engine, but results are still in English.

To complete the translation, Keola provided Hawaiian versions of 2,500 "strings" -- words, sentences or paragraphs used by Google's search engine.

For three years, Keola had been trying to persuade Google to add Hawaiian to the dozens of other languages available.

Last year, Te Taka Keegan, a lecturer at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, opened the door for Donaghy while working at Google.

Keegan had created a Maori language version for Google that took about eight years, he said by e-mail.

A Hawaiian version "will give native Hawaiians a sense of pride, a sense of identity and a confirmation that their language has real purpose in today's modern society," he wrote.

Donaghy said the translation will positively affect the Hawaiian community.

"It tells our children that the Hawaiian language is on par with the other languages of the world," he said. "It increases the status of the language in their eyes and also around the world."

Google's Hawaiian version can be accessed after selecting olelo Hawaii, or Hawaiian language, inside the system preferences on Apple.

The Hawaiian version for all Web browsers will be available as soon as the end of this week, Donaghy said.

Keola wants Hawaiian language to be available in as many contexts as possible and is trying to persuade Facebook to add a Hawaiian interface.

"We live in a society where telecommunications is a huge part of our life," he said. "For us to ignore that world, we are saying the Hawaiian language doesn't belong here."







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