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Maybe it’s something about living on an island that brings my mind and spirit so much closer to the lives around me. Or maybe it’s just the fact that I have grown up watching the wonders of nature. But whatever it is, I have a special place in my heart for watching the majestic whales travel along their watery paths to unknown quests.
Each year, starting in December, the Humpback whales of the region flow past my island home on their way to bringing their young into the world. They travel from Alaska so many miles away into the warm waters surrounding Hawaii, intent on creating new life. And watching their enjoyment of the water, their larger-than-life frolicking, and their congregation into family groups gives me a sense of peace, like the world is larger and more wonderful than I had ever imagined and the plans of men cannot stop the rhythms of nature.
And I know it’s not just me. Every year, hundreds of tourists come to our island to watch the whales make their journeys home. There are whale watching locations scattered all over our highest ocean cliffs and restaurants near the water that seat guests outside during the height of the whale watching season. And, as always, there are multiple rental and tour companies, offering whale watching expeditions to those who desire to see a few of these marvelous creatures up close. (Well, as up close as we can get without disturbing them.) During the months of December-April, our island becomes one of the best places on the planet to enjoy a whale migration.
So do you love watching the whales like I do? If you do, you should come and visit. The Humpbacks are starting to increase in number, and sightings are must more common now than they were last month. It’s a great time to see some of the world’s largest and most loving creatures up close and personal.
Want to be a record holder? Well, to do so would normally involve a lot of hard work and patience…
OR you could simply join us at 9am on Saturday (January 21st) for Zumba!
Never heard of Zumba? Well, it’s one of the best ways to work out. (And this is coming from a girl who typically hates to work out.) Zumba is just like dancing, though some aerobic elements are thrown into the mix as well. Invented by a dancer, this Latin dance/fitness program is so much fun, if you like to dance. Combining moves from the merengue, the mambo, the salsa, the samba, and much more, you can dance away the pounds.
I know; I’m starting to sound like an infomercial, right?
But the point is that it’s a healthy and fun way to get fit. AND we are planning to break some world records in the process, just to make it more fun.
Zumba Fitness Fest will be held at the Vidinha Soccer Stadium in Lihue and will start at 9:00. Anna Velasco will lead the first session, from 9-9:50am, and Troy and the Rockstars will lead from 10-10:50am. Then a lunch, that you would have to purchase, is available starting at 11am. So where does the record breaking come in? Let me tell you.
At 9:30 sharp, a count will be taken of the participants. While a general head count will probably be taken as well, mostly they will go off of ticket sales. (Tickets are $10 a person by the way and all proceeds will go toward supporting the Halau and getting them to the Merrie Monarch Hula Competition in April and the Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition in July.)
The current world record for a Zumba class is 1,223 people (or 1,401 unrecorded people). The goal for this event is to hit 1,500 people! So come and join us. We’ll need all the help we can get!
On January 15, 1929, a great man was born. This man was a man with a dream, a dream that included a completely color-blind world where those of every skin tone could live together in equality. This man was a preacher, a great orator, and one of the best activists for the civil rights movement that the world has ever known.
And then this man was assassinated.
It’s hard to believe sometimes that we ever lived in a world where people of all colors couldn’t work together, eat together, get married, live their lives together, and otherwise live in a state of equality together. Here on Kauai, I am a friend to many different people, people with different nationalities and different speech patterns and (among other things) different skin tones. In my mind, their racial differences do not change who they are to me or who they are to the world. And that is the world that I know.
But that was not always the case. Once there was a world completely different from my own, a world in which people got jobs, married, went to church, and even used certain bathrooms based upon their skin color. And Dr. King knew that this was wrong. Through his efforts, and those of others like him, my world was created. Sure, this world isn’t perfect. Here in America, there are still racial inequalities and barriers to break down. But the fact that I am a light-skinned woman marrying a very tall dark-skinned man has only been made possible because Dr. King gave his life for it.
So today, as you are perhaps off work or hearing people talk of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, keep in mind what is being celebrated: the life of a great man who changed the world.
I can’t remember if I’ve ever written about the Waipa Foundation before, which is reason enough to write about it now. After all, this is an important part of living on Kauai and truly understanding our island and our traditions.
The Waipa Foundation is a non-profit organization whose goal is to restore Waipa. They have been working toward that goal for over 20 years. So what is Waipa? Well, it is a 1,600 acre watershed area that foundation members and volunteers have been restoring.
Why are they restoring it? That is a good question. (Yes, I’m answering myself, but I’m guessing you all were thinking it.) You see, many years ago in the times of Hawaiian kings, the people of each island had a tie to the land and its resources. They lived off the land and trusted it for their livelihood. They worked hard, sharing with others, developing the cultural ways we see even today, and flourishing in the balance of their lives.
Of course, with trade, ships, flights, the internet, and a world-wide economy, many of those early traditions have been left in the past and forgotten by the newer generations. The Waipa Foundation wants to bring part of Kauai’s history back into relevance, creating an area where community can be developed, traditions can be kept, and culturally relevant teaching can be received.
How are they doing this? To begin with, the Foundation built a community center and learning center, designed to bring people together and teach them about the times when we were tied directly to the land and its resources. And of course they work hard to make sure there are activities, curriculums, and programs for all age groups, maintaining their learning sites for the community around them and the island as a whole.
If you are planning a visit to Kauai or if you are a resident who has never looked into the Waipa Foundation, I encourage you to visit one of their learning centers. You will probably learn a lot, just as I have.
2012 – How I’ve looked forward to your arrival!
This year, there is a lot planned here on Kauai. For one thing, I’m getting married. So forgive me if some of my blogs are posted in advance so I can take my honeymoon. Also, there are festivals, parties, concerts, holidays, art shows, beach adventures, things to learn, things to do, and places to go! This is going to be a good year.
To start it all off, how about a concert? St. Michael’s Church in Lihue is hosting an evening of Harold Arlen’s music on Wednesday, January 4th, and 7pm. There will be several different performers taking these beloved songs and singing them for your hearing pleasure. And all proceeds go to fighting Parkinson’s Disease! Talk about a worthy cause, right?
Ah yes, 2012 is on a roll already. I can’t wait to see what else this year has in store for us!
Merry Christmas to all of you out there in blogland!
This year, let’s really focus on the reason for the season: family and friends coming together to celebrate and enjoy the holiday. So try not to stress about work, avoid drinking and driving, and learn to get along with your cousin Jamie. Why? Because this holiday is all about relaxing, family, Aloha, and presents!
Hehe… okay, maybe not about presents. But you know what I mean!
Merry Christmas to my readers and Happy Holidays to everyone.
If you are planning to be on Kauai around the 8th through the 11th or any day in between, there is an event coming up that you just have to see. Koloa Union Church will be performing a family musical for the season every night at 7pm: SCROOGE.
Now, I’m going to say right off the bat that I don’t know how good it will be. This isn’t a play that they put on every year and I’ve never been to a play in their church before. But I’m expecting great things.
First of all, this is a free event with a free will offering taken after the play (as far as I know). So, if you hate it, you don’t have to pay for it. And if you want to support their efforts, you can give what you can.
From what I’ve heard, this musical will be based on the writings of Charles Dickens and will be a family-friendly event. Church and community members will be working together to show you the spirit of Christmas, and who would want to pass up the chance to see a live play?
I’m going to see it this year, and I hope that you’ll swing by the Koloa Union Chuch on Poipu Road and see it with me.
Can you believe it? Christmas is just around the corner! It’s December here on the island of Kauai and already there are more Christmas decorations and fewer frowns. It’s a magical time of the year, especially when you live in a place where the weather stays beautiful.
Have you considered coming to Kauai this Christmas?
I’ll let you in on a little secret here: Kauai is perfect for a holiday trip. While the novelty of snow is fun once in a while, I remember visiting my brother for Christmas and freezing to death one year. The snow was pretty, but I was COLD. I ended up stuck in the house the entire visit, and I am not a “sit around and do nothing” type of person.
On Kauai, however, the weather is perfect. (This is a tropical island after all.) The sun comes out and activities commence as normal. When my brother comes to visit me for Christmas, we snorkel, play some golf, hang out on the beach, go out to dinner once or twice, and celebrate in style. Of course, we have traditions too.
In my family, it is tradition to put up a Christmas tree, open presents at midnight on Christmas morning, and to stay in pjs all day long. I usually deck out the entire lanai with twinkle lights so it’s like entering an enchanted Christmas fairy-tale at night. And with the weather a beautiful 70 degrees, sitting on the lanai and enjoying the feeling of Christmas is easy as pie.
So if you want a change this Christmas season, visit Kauai for Christmas. We have lots of fun Christmas things to do here on the island, plus you can vacation in style on our warm sunny beaches. Believe me – this is the only way to relax.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I mean, who wouldn’t love it? It’s a time to get together with close family or friends, to celebrate the things that we are thankful for in our everyday lives, and to eat LOTS of food. If there were gifts involved, it would be the best holiday of all time!
Gifts aside, though, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. While my family has gotten a bit spread out over time, we all make an effort to come back together again and enjoy the day (and often times the entire weekend) with one another. Sure, there are a few hardships involved. For instance, the flight to New York this year cost some money and, since my fiancée came with me, it was double the normal cost. And not everyone in my family always gets along. We aren’t a Hallmark family who never fights and manages to always make up around the holidays. But for the most part, the joys far outweigh the hardships.
So this year as you sit around a large table eating turkey and stuffing with your family, your friends, or a bunch of complete strangers who invited you to their table, remember to be thankful for the things that you have and not worry about the things that you don’t have. After all, there are 364 other days in the year for you to worry. Just for this one day, be thankful and have joy.
Okay, this post is going to be a bit of a plug for a friend. But don’t worry – this event will still be fun, especially if you have children.
The Koloa Pop Warner Junior Midgets Ohana Day Fundraiser is coming up. Never heard of it? Well, that’s okay. You see, it’s a fundraiser to get this talented group of kids some traveling money to go to the Nationals Competition in Orlando Florida.
The fundraiser will take place at Koloa Ball Park on November 20th (a Sunday) from 11am to 3pm. Activities will include hula, live entertainment, live music, food booths, and even a water slide for the kids! Fun, right? And it only costs $20/person at the gate or $15 if you buy tickets early. (Tickets are available at Kujo’s Mini Mart and Mokihana Travel.)
Sure, this might not be the most adventurous of activities, and you could probably use that time to go windsurfing or take a helicopter tour. But if you come to this event, you will be supporting a bunch of great kids. So please consider it. They need to raise quite a bit of money, and they will really benefit from your support.
Today is the day that we choose to honor our veterans who have risked (and at times lost) their lives for our country’s existence. So, if you would, please take a moment as you read this to reflect on what it has cost to keep our country free.
Whether you agree with every political decision made over the past 50 years or not, well, that’s not the issue here. This day is about the brave men and women who have stepped up to do their part for their friends, their families, and for complete strangers everywhere. They are true heroes, regardless of race, color, religion, or creed.
Today I will be honoring the veterans who have come before me in our family line, those who gave their lives for this country and for Kauai. I hope that, wherever you are, you will do the same.
Do you enjoy looking at beautiful things? Is art your passion? Well, if you answered yes to either of these things, I have an event for you. This month, from the 3rd to the 8th, Kauai’s Kukui Grove Shopping Center will be hosting an abstract art exhibit.
This exhibit will feature works by a wonderful painter, Kirsten Jackson, and will be open each day from 11am until the evening. Kirsten Jackson puts his emotions, his thoughts, and his internal contemplations onto the canvas as he presents all that he has in oil paint. And his works are simply inspired. I truly believe that any artist will enjoy this exhibit.
If you want to attend, the showing will be in Lihue at the Kauai Society of Artists, located in the Kukui Grove Shopping Center. Closing times vary from day to day, but come before 5pm and you won’t have a problem.
When wonderful things happen, I like to write about them. Actually I prefer to shout about them on rooftops… but I’m rather afraid of heights, so writing becomes a safe and efficient alternative.
I’M ENGAGED!!!
It’s true. Remember that guy I mentioned who was always taking me out to new restaurants and new island attractions so I could put them in my blog? Well, he asked and I said yes. AND because he knows me so well, he did it in a very unique way.
He offered to take me to a talk-story demonstration, an event that tells the history of our island in story form. These talk-stories used to be the only form of our history many many years ago before the written language was used on our island. Today, some of the locals learn these ancient stories to tell them to our generation and the next so they won’t be forgotten. They are such an important part of our culture and, as a history lover, I simply can’t get enough of them! This demonstration was supposed to be for tourists, but he had something else in mind.
Apparently, my boyfriend (now fiancée) had a chat with the storyteller a day or so beforehand and they struck up a bargain. So, at the end of the story, after the applause was over, the storyteller announced that he had one more short story to tell. And he began to tell an epic story of love involving a princess and a very undeserving servant boy. It was an enchanting tale, but I’d never heard it before. As I sat enraptured with this lovely story, my husband-to-be pulls out a ring. And the story’s climax went something like this:
Storyteller: “The servant boy was willing to give up everything for his princess, showing her his deep love and affection by presenting her with a ring…”
(And we ended up under a spotlight and my boyfriend had the ring out and was on one knee.)
Storyteller and my boyfriend: “’Do you love me princess?’ asked the servant boy. And the princess answered…”
(Then everyone looked at me. I looked at my boyfriend. I nodded.)
My boyfriend (the storyteller let him take it from there): “Then will you marry me, my princess? I might not have much, but I will love you more than any other man ever could.”
Of course, you can imagine the rest. There was affirmation, kissing, clapping from the audience, and a laughter-filled ending from the storyteller when he informed the crowd that the servant boy’s story was not an actual historical event… in case they couldn’t figure it out already.
So, I write this as a happy woman who apparently is too much of a chicken to shout from high places. And I encourage you to attend a talk-story session the next time you visit Kauai. You never know what might happen!
A wonderful event is taking place at Kukui Grove Center on October 8th – “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s.” If you have never had a friend or family member with this disease, I can tell you that it isn’t pleasant. While the affected individual isn’t in pain physically due to the disease, their mental status is severely affected, resulting in memory loss and other serious lapses in intellectual ability.
So what can we do about it? How about raising money for research designed to find the source of Alzheimer’s in the brain? With knowledge of the disease’s origins, how it develops, and how to fight it, we can successfully rid our world of this hated problem. So why not join us here on Kauai for The Walk to End Alzheimer’s and support the cause?
The walk will start at 8am at the Kukui Grove Center, which is located on the South-East side of the island in the town of Lihue. (For those who are planning to fly here, Lihue is also home to our main airport, so you should be acquainted with it already.) To get to the Kukui Grove Center, simply take HWY 50 to Nawiliwili Road and you will see the shopping center on your right.
Registration will open at 7am for all those interested in signing up, or you can visit their website to sign up, buy a t-shirt, join a team, or simply donate to the cause. So how about it? Do you feel like taking a stroll through our beautiful tropical island, supporting a good cause in the process? If you do, I hope to see you bright and early on October 8th.
For those of you who want to visit Kauai and are coming from a big city on the mainland, our night sky is going to come as a bit of a shock. You see, our island is a wonderful tropical paradise, an island floating on the water in a crystal clear ocean underneath billions of stars. And, unlike in the big cities, you can actually see all of the stars you want.
I often find myself going outside at night when the breeze starts to blow across the warm landscape, sitting in my lounge chair on my lanai and watching the sky. The stars are brilliant points of distant light, clustered into shapes and sparkling in the night sky. I’ve often wondered if I should get a telescope and really be able to see them, but I never have. Somehow, I think it would take away the wonder of it all.
Of course, there are many stargazers on our island. In fact, there is a starwatch that happens on the Saturday closest to the New Moon every month. The Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy conducts this starwatch on the softball field in Kaumakani. For those who want to join them, all you have to do is take the highway west past mile marker 18 and look for signs on the right that say “KEASA.” The signs will direct you to the meeting.
As for me, I watch from the comfort of my lanai, coffee in hand and blanket covering my legs, waiting for the heavens to amazing me. They usually do.
I’ve talked about farmer’s markets before, but this one is a bit different. The Kauai Culinary Market is a gourmet farmer’s market that meets every Wednesday in Koloa. Not only do you get the fresh fruits and vegetables you’ve come to expect from a Kauai farmer’s market, but you also get a culinary education.
Each Wednesday, live chef demonstrations are given by some of the island’s most talented chefs. So you get to learn to cook wonderful foods with the freshest ingredients possible. And, to go along with the cooking fun, there is a beer garden, food booths, workshops, and live music for shoppers. It’s like everything I love about Kauai in one place!
But don’t just take my word for it. If you love to cook, then visiting the Kauai Culinary Market would be a fantastic experience for you. Remember, the market is every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm in Kukuiula Village in Koloa.
I’ve mentioned before that I love live music, and I used to go and see concerts all the time. Recently, though, I’ve had less time to visit the local haunts and see the local musicians. That changed yesterday.
I realized that it had been some time since I had gone out with the goal of listening to great music, so last night I did. Of course, I drug a few people with me as well. What’s the fun of listening to live music without a few friends, right?
Anyway, we went to the Hanalei Community Center (mostly because it was free) and listened to the guitarists. Slack Key guitar was invented in Hawaii and is a musical staple here. I love the sound of the open tunings and the fingerstyling of the players. It’s like a piece of aloha offered up to anyone listening. Wonderful. And every Friday and Saturday afternoon, the community center gives concerts for anyone who wants to visit.
After the community center, we went out to eat at Tahiti Nui and listened to even more live music. It was an evening of musical enjoyment, one that I very much needed.
Marathon lovers – this Sunday is your day to be in Poipu. The Kauai Marathon 2011 is starting at 6am and I am actually planning on being there. I have participated in a few other races before now, and I am terrible! But the idea is to work out and support a good cause, right?
This year, I will run/walk alongside the real athletes as we make our way around the island, visiting beaches and rainforest trails. And proceeds will go toward local charities who work hard to preserve the natural beauty of the island. It should be a great time.
For those who don’t like to run but who want to watch the event, you can come too. The Beer Garden will be set up and live music will be playing all day. There will also be hulas and other games.
So come to our island and run with us (or watch us with a beer in your hand). You can register now on the Kauai Marathon website and enjoy the tropical air of Kauai as it brushes your face on your way to victory.
Happy Birthday to me! Today is my birthday and I’m one more year older. For some, this might be a cause of depression. But for me, I am so excited about this new year of adventure.
This last year, I’ve done more than ever before. In writing this blog, I’ve visited places I hadn’t seen in years, tried foods that I wouldn’t normally try, gone on tours with the tourists (some of which have become good friends), and have done just about anything I could to give good information. I’ve loved it.
This year, I plan to do the same. In addition to personal goals and work goals I have for myself, I want to continue to try new things, attempt the impossible, and write about it all. I will continue answering questions asked of my on this site and through my email, will continue to give as much information as possible to those visiting the island, and will probably continue to throw in some personal information about myself. After all, it’s my blog, right?
So yea for birthdays and new opportunities. I’m so excited to see what this year is going to bring!
If you are on Kauai for a family vacation, chances are that you worry about your kids and their proximity to the water. While I don’t have children myself, I know from growing up on the island that the ocean is a beautiful and dangerous thing. While we enjoy its refreshing waters, the beautiful view, and the golden sand, we must also keep watch for undertow, large waves, and wandering out further than we can swim.
I’ve talked with several parents who know the dangers of the ocean and let those dangers overpower them while visiting the beach, especially when they have children under 5 years old. They fear their child getting lost in the crowd of tourists, of undertow snatching them away, of accidental drowning and other terrible things. Their minds conjure up scary ideas and their common sense tells them that small children should be kept away from the water.
Well, I’m not here to argue that. I know that parents have a responsibility to protect their children and keep them safe. And I applaud parents who think these things through. However, I also know that the beach can be perfectly safe with a few precautions. I also know that there are beaches where parents can feel completely comfortable letting their children play in the water.
If you have never been to Baby Beach, this is a site I would recommend for any family with small children. It isn’t a large beach, only a few hundred yards across at best, but it has great features. For instance, there is a natural breakwater stretching from one end of the beach to the other. This means that, no matter the time of year, the waves don’t get large. In fact, the ocean stays calm and peaceful here, giving your children the perfect opportunity to play in the water safely.
Since the beach is small, larger families, typical tourists, and those who want to experience the adventure of water sports avoid it. On a typical day, only a few families can be found here in this remote spot. So you are guaranteed not to lose your child in a crowd. You are also more likely to experience privacy and a quiet place to enjoy your family. You can bring a picnic lunch to eat up on the sand, teach your children about the ocean and let them play in the water, and then head back to your vacation rental feeling good about the day.
When I have children, this is going to be the first beaches we enjoy together. I hope that this beach serves as a good experience for your family as well.
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