Weekend Update: September 30 - October 2

This weekend's blog update is going to be difficult for me. Frankly, I can't seem to wrap my mind around anything past tomorrow's (Sept 30) Mealani's Taste of the Hawaiian Range. Since about April, the fact the Taste is less than six months away always puts me in a better mood.  The Taste of the Range to me is the food version of Christmas: it's a special day that happens only once a year when a jolly fat man brings me lots of presents. Only the presents are wonderful, delectable culinary treasures, and the jolly fat man is, in fact, THIRTY of Hawaii's premier chefs!  That's 30 presents, ladies. Pardon me a moment while I stop to wipe the drool.  Tonight, I'll have a hard time sleeping, eventually drifting off with visions of lamb, grass-fed beef, and Kamuela tomatoes in my mind (don't ask). For more information check out the Taste of the Hawaiian Range blog.

Alas, I must move on.

If you don't head up to the Hilton Waikoloa for the Taste of the Range, there's always the Friday Movie Under the Stars at Queens' Marketplace. This week's movie: Catch That Kid. I know, pales by comparison, right (yes, I'm still thinking about the Taste).  Here's the plot: A girl and her two friends raid a bank, looking for the money needed for financing the cure of her dying father. 4.7/10 on IMDb, but if you'd like to catch Kristen Stewart pre-Twilight, go check it out. 


Saturday, starting from the far north (if you actually read this blog weekly, you'll find I don't have an actual set way of doing things. hopefully it's not too annoying - it's a voluntary effort people,  be happy. :)...

The Kohala Country Fair will be keeping things lively in Hawi this weekend. From 9:00 to 4:30 on Saturday, there's fun for the whole family. A day filled with art & craft vendors, local entertainment throughout the day, ono food and drinks, and lots of keiki activities. Come and experience the greener, sustainable Kohala Fair.  From their website:

Already the biggest country fair on the Big Island, this yearʼs fair expands to an exciting new 10-acre location. The fair will have something for everyone in the family, including all-day live entertainment, demonstrations ranging from Ipu carving to kava preparation, an international assortment of ono foods, crafts to meet every budget, and lots of games and contests. Old favorites like Spam-carving and lua-decorating will be back along with many new offerings. Our rich history in ranching and agriculture are this yearʼs featured themes. Youʼll be able to watch Paniolo riding and roping, learn about animal husbandry, and view the historic tree saddle display. Local farmers will be sharing their ag practices and delicious produce. Make sure you visit the “Made in North Kohala Food Booth” showing value added products. Look for the “Master Gardener” advice booth and the seed exchange. The fairgrounds will be comfortable rain or shine, with a large tented pavilion for dining and a covered amphitheater for entertainment.

As we come back towards Kona, driving past the Hilton Waikoloa where everyone is sleeping off their food bender, we have the Home Depot Kids' Workshop, which runs from 9am to 12pm. This weekend, the kids will build a fire rescue helicopter.  Thank you Home Depot! Buy some stuff while your there...

Stop by the Keauhou Farmer's Market at the Keauhou Shopping Center as you drive further south. KAMA doesn't cover this weekly, but it's a great farmer's market selling real locally grown produce and products.  They also have monthly Chef-Farmer presentations.

In South Kona, we have the Kona Historical Society's Portuguese Festival from 10am to 4pm. Celebrate the Portuguese contributions to Hawaii's ranching heritage, with a day of fun activities including live music, saddlemaking demos, paniolo artisans, local food, fresh malasadas, stone oven baked sweetbread, and a petting zoo. Free tours of the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum from 2-3:30pm.

Teach your children well and drive to Honaunau for the One Island Sustainable Center's Green Living Celebration & Solar Tour from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. One Island's Sustainable Living Center and the American Solar Energy Society invite you to come explore and celebrate solar technologies and great green living tools and practices. There will be solar tours and demonstrations, aquaponics and local foods, green building materials & designs, body care and well-being, innovative technologies, music and art, keiki fun tent, plant and green product sale. Registration, exhibits, presentations, music and art will be featured at One Island's organic farm and demonstration center in Honaunau. Festival is FREE! Self-guided, ala carte tours to local nearby Honaunau showcase sites from 10am-4pm include solar powered electric - grid-ties and off-grid, solar hot water - roof and ground mount, solar refrigeration, solar water pumping, aquaponics, bamboo building, bio-fuels, solar land and marine transportation. Tours are a $10 donation per person for as many sites as you want to visit. Learn more and register here or by calling 808-212-3547. To RSVP, email hawaii@one-island.org

On Sunday, head down to Hale Halewai for the 26th Annual PATH 5K/10K Fun Run - Free Keiki Dash.  The $25 entry fee  ($20 +$5 late fee after 9/30) for your child (under 14) goes towards benefitting PATH’s traffic safety educational programs. Register here.

Love you all KAMA Mamas! Have a great weekend, and don't worry if you don't here from me right away. I'll just be recovering from my food coma.

Weekend Update: September 23-25

Ugh, I hate maggots. I know that's a weird way to start out this weekly weekend update, but it's been a weird morning. The monkeys on my back that are my household chores keep beating my head, but I keep shooing them away in lieu of potentially more lucrative adventures.  Now, also, the real monkeys that live in my house finally have come a-pounding. Thinking I might possibly delay cleaning the kids' bathroom until just tomorrow was cut short when my 3 year old couldn't quite get her pajama bottoms off in time.  Now personally, I think this alone is a logical reason to wear a nightgown, but say this to the girl who is over the moon about receiving a Spiderman costume to wear for Halloween.  Now she is somehow under the impression that "Halloween" is a decision and not an event on the calendar, so she wants to wear the costume "for Halloween" and go out trick-or-treating to "get candy". It's all quite comical, until we go round and round in circles for 20 minutes...but I digress. Back to the maggots.

So I've spent all morning in the kitchen, as usual, making breakfasts, preparing lunch, and brewing mommy's morning crutch and not until the very last minute, actually past the last minute, because we were already late for school, I still hadn't gotten dressed yet, my daughter was still in the bath from her shi-shi accident, and I see a maggot in our nearly full trash can. Ew. And then the real, true horror sets in as I scan the ground and they have indeed escaped.  Like a bad zombie flick, they are spotted over the floor and moving in all directions. I am trying to control my freaking out as my disgust and full ew-iness factor as I go about collecting.  My son, on the other hand, thinks this is absolutely fabulous, what an adventure, he's going to be my spotter! Alrighty then.

Guess I'll have to mop the kitchen floor now as well. Ugh.

Hope your all having a better morning than I!  Here's what's up for this weekend:

No special events for Friday evening (of which KAMA is aware), merely the enjoyable weekly "Movie Under the Stars" at Queens' Marketplace. This week's movie is "What Happens in Vegas". That's the one with Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, where "A man and a woman are compelled, for legal reasons, to live life as a couple for a limited period of time. At stake is a large amount of money." Not sure this one is for the kiddies.

Saturday is National Seat Check Day.  The National Highways Traffic Safety Administration has a great website offering information on the latest seat recommendations for children, links to check the laws in each state, as well as a tool to find the closest seat inspection station (for 96740 it's the Kailua Kona Chevron at 75-5644 Palani Road, call for an appointment at 808-329-1437). Check it all out - be safe! The NHTSA also offers information on the latest vehicle recalls, a handy-dandy tool. Here's another great place to research the laws in each state - great information for when your traveling - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Along with National Seat Check Day, Saturday is International Clean Up Day (right in line with my plans for the weekend, starting today apparently). From West Hawaii Today, "the public is invited to join Jack's Diving Locker at Kailua Pier for a shoreline and underwater cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. Divers and snorkelers should show up to the event with all gear. Free tank rental for certified diver participants will be provided by Jack's Diving Locker. Divers should make dive buddy arrangements and transportation to the pier for the cleanup on their own. This is not a guided club activity for adults. Junior divers who are not diving with parents should call for reservations to dive with a professional guide. The cost is $35 plus gear rental and tax. Waivers must be signed by parents in advance."  Lend a hand.  Or a fin, in this case.

The Hawaii Homegrown Food Network, the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden are presenting a Breadfruit Festival from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. The Garden will also be holding a dedication for its new visitor center at 12:00 noon on the Festival day. Both events are free and open to the public. The Breadfruit Festival celebrates the rich culture of breadfruit ('ulu) in Hawai'i and the Pacific, raises awareness about the importance of breadfruit for food security, and teaches about the many delicious ways to prepare breadfruit. A highlight of the day will be cooking demonstrations by local celebrity chefs, food booths featuring breadfruit and other local favorites prepared by Hawai'i Island's finest chefs, and the "I Love Breadfruit" Cook-Off Contest where anyone may enter their favorite breadfruit dish to compete for prizes. The Festival will also feature Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultural activities including 'Ulumaika (breadfruit bowling), talks on the culture and history of breadfruit, woodworking, quilting demonstrations, tapa making, 'ulu poi making, and more. Workshops on breadfruit propagation, tree care and maintenance, economic opportunities, the Hunger Initiative and other topics will be given by experts Dr. Diane Ragone and Ian Cole of the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. An art exhibit will feature the finalists in a fine art contest which will focus on the beauty of breadfruit, and a youth poster contest. Breadfruit trees will be available for sale on festival day, but supplies are limited, and advance purchase for pick up at the festival is encouraged by contacting hooulu@hawaiihomegrown.net. For more information, call 808-960-3727 or email andrea@andreadean.com or visit www.breadfruit.info.

If your headed Waimea way, there's still activities to check out. Waimea is hosting the 2011 HOEA Market behind Parker Ranch this weekend from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Hawaiian Ohana for Education in the Arts (HOEA) sponsors the HOEA Market, which provides an opportunity for Kanaka Maoli artists to showcase and sell their art. The organization’s goal is to build a Community Art Center in the target community of Waimea, South Kohala, Hawai’i Island and establish a post-secondary School of Hawaiian Fine Arts.

Further on, introduce your children (and maybe even yourself) to some alpacas! National Alpaca Farm Days will be observed during an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25 at Ahualoa Alpacas, 46-3859 Kahana Drive, Honokaa. Members of Hawaii Handweavers Hui will demonstrate spinning and weaving of alpaca fibers on Saturday. The event is a free opportunity for the public to meet alpacas and learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals, the luxury fiber they produce and why the alpaca business is perfect for environmentally conscious individuals.

Another fun event this Saturday, if you make it all the way to Hilo: Panaewa Rainforest Zoo will celebrate Namaste's 14th birthday with his traditional "ice cake", featuring 14 bone candles this year. The cake will be presented at 9:00am. At 10:30am, he will receive a birthday present of a huge pillow mouse, stuffed with "Meowie Wowie" catnip. Free cake and ice cream to be served at noon as long as supplies last. A special turkey dinner will be given to Namaste at 3:30pm, winding up the day's festivities. There will be live music all day; keiki games, crafts, a petting zoo (check for time), face painting and more offered during the day. Funds raised will be used by Friends of the Zoo for the acquisition and care of zoo animals and for zoo improvements. The Panaewa Zoo's hours are 9am-4pm daily. Free. For more info and to confirm times, call 959-9233.

Just a little more FYI, this 12 acre zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. It is home to more than 80 animal species including the endangered Nene (Hawaii State Bird) and Namaste', a white Bengal Tiger. You are invited to picnic in the shade of over 100 varieties of Palm or stroll with Peacocks in the extensive collection of Orchids, Clumping Bamboos and Tropical Rhododendrons. The planting effort by volunteers is continuous and the Zoo grounds are considered a botanical garden.  We also noted during our last visit in August, they installed new playground equipment just outside the Petting Zoo. It wasn't open then, but it looked ready to go...


Sunday looks to be a relaxing day all around - the National Alpaca Farm Days continues if you can't make it Saturday.  There will be a Pre-Ironman Challenge at Kailua Pier starting at 7am, which will be a 1.2 mile swim , a hilly 15 mile bike, and a hilly 6 mile run.  C'mon, mingle with some Ironmen.  

Incidentally, I headed to the pool this morning, and as I walked thru the gate and saw the "Welcome Ironman" sign, then all the lanes full up, I nearly turned around and left. But I had the pleasure to swim next to a very nice retired English man, who's been doing the Ironman for 10 years!  After he jokingly chided me when I said was at the pool for "LEE-zure", not "LEH-zure", we had a very nice conversation. I love meeting new people.  Good luck English Guy! The Ford Ironman World Championship will be held on October 8, 2011.


Aloha nui loa!

Weekend Update: September 17-18

It's raining as I type this, a welcome and soothing rain, quieting yet another crazy week. Hopefully it's not typical for most, but I know several people going thru trying times these past few weeks, and I'm wishing for a brighter weeks ahead for all of us.  This weekend is a fairly quiet weekend, and one for which I'm particularly grateful.

Saturday promises a full day in Waimea, with the 36th Annual Waimea Paniolo Parade & Ho'olaulea, starting at 10:00 am.  Enjoy Pa’u units, marching bands and many other exciting community participants Then, following the parade, come and enjoy a wonderful day with the ‘ohana at The Hawaii Island Festival!- Ho'olaule'a in Waimea Park! Great entertainment, food booths and craft vendors and fun for the entire ‘ohana! This event is part of this month's Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha. Please support our kupuna and buy a ribbon!

In Kona, you and your family can honor West Hawaii's growing community by celebrating Mexican Independence Day!  Many individuals of Mexican ancestry will celebrate with festive costumes, traditional music & dances, as well as the delicious foods of Mexico, by presenting a "Mexican Independence Day Fiesta" at the KMART parking lot from 2:00pm to 8pm. Free to the public. Door prizes. Bring your families and celebrate! Please bring your own chairs for comfort.

Keauhou Shopping Center has been hosting some really great events recently, and this weekend is no different. The 1st annual Playing For Change Day – on September 17, 2011 – is a global day of action where musicians of all varieties perform on stages, cafés, city squares, and street corners worldwide and raise money to bring music into the lives of young people. Enjoy music, dance ART and local food AND Help to put music and ART into the schools worldwide by attending or donating to this global event that will benefit the interest of the entire planet through the JOY of musical and artistic expression. This is a FREE event AND if you donate you get a special Thank You from the participating merchants of Keauhou Shopping Center and Malma Card Merchants State wide. Artists performing: Tatiana and Mark of Obsidian, Irminsul Harp, Dance Hawaii Group, Local Bands and Hawaiian Artists...Ginger Santell, Alaia Leighland, Joie Jacomb, Wayne Burger, Bonita...Join us for Artists Reception AND Vegetarian Potluck Recipe Exchange.

Sunday marks the monthly Kokua Kailua Concert & Village Stroll. If you haven't gone down to check it out yet, make a point to do so! It's quite nice to walk in the middle of Ali'i Drive running into friends and neighbors, even your local retailer or family physician! Chat with the vendors - they have some great stories - and get to know your community!  

Hawaiian songstress and Na Hoku Hanohano award winner Paula Fuga will launch Kau Kau Kailua Restaurant Week with a free concert from 5-6pm on Alii Drive as part of Kokua Kailua Village Stroll.  In the Hawaiian language, kau kau means food and this week-long event is all about visitors and residents experiencing delicious food at a variety of restaurants in Historic Kailua Village. Waterfront dining, superb three-course dinner menus for $20, $30 or $40 per person and special values at quick service eateries. Head to your favorite participating restaurants and ask for the special Kau Kau Kailua three-course prix fixe dinner menus September 18-24, 2011. Try some new places as well – either way, you’ll get a great meal and support local business!  Heads up, you may want to make advance reservations by calling your selected restaurant directly.  

Aloha All, Happy Dining!

Weekend Update: September 9-11, 2011

Frankly, I can't believe it's almost the weekend already, as I'm still recovering from last weekend and our trip to Oahu. But I do have to say I am looking forward to this coming weekend, as it's the FARM FAIR!! I don't know exactly why I love the Farm Fair so much, it's always too hot and too crowded, the prices are outrageous, the food will give me heartburn and the games are nearly impossible to win, costing a near fortune for a toy you know cost 50¢ (at best) to manufacture  and probably by a child in Asia or Mexico.  Still, I do enjoy it, perhaps as a return to my youth and how much I exalted in winning a prize and riding the ferris wheel. Oh, the thrill of that 60-sec ride. I will make that financial sacrifice, even take out a small loan if I have to, to ensure my children can have their turn at experiencing the same joy I felt.

Here's the 411:  E. K. Fernandez presents the Big Island Farm Fair from Thursday, Sept 8 -11.  Thursday night special is a $1 admission fee and a 10-ride wristband for $20. Opening at 6pm and running until midnight (9pm on Sunday), you can find all the information you need here.

The Maltese Family Circus Troupe

There will also be local entertainment as well as the Maltese Family Circus troupe! Performing at 7:30pm and 10:00pm Thursday and Friday. Saturday performances are 5:00, 7:30 & 10:00pm.  Last chance to see them on Sunday at 2:00, 4:30 and 7:00pm.

Wondering if your child is tall enough for the ferris wheel? Be prepared and check the website's height requirement listing!

My son Xavier at the 2007 Farm Fair

With all the excitement, don't forget that this is a FARM fair. Check out the animal and growy things that will be showcased at the Agricultural Expo in the pavilion! If your child is too small to go on the rides at the carnival, there are still plenty of activities for your little one. The expo features a keiki corral to interact with various farm animals, farm animal colorings as well at murals and wall coloring, and a great opportunity for mess making in the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Saturday & Sunday at 12, 2, 4 and 6pm - you don't want to miss that!

While the Farm Fair somewhat eclipses the weekend, there are some other events worth mentioning! Please be aware that Friday, September 9th is International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day.  The  Children's Research Triangle is holding a special event in conjunction with the Mayor's office at the West Hawaii Civic Center from 9am -12pm on Friday. Mayor Billy Kenoi will provide the introduction for the morning, followed by speakers and informational tables by local support agencies. Refreshments will also be served.

Friday evening is the ongoing "Movie Under the Stars" showing at Queens' Marketplace. This week's movie is "The Thief Lord". My family doesn't actually attend this event very often, but I do think it's a fabulous event. It's relaxing, you get to watch a movie, visit with friends (we inevitably run into people we know) and the kids can even run around if they want to. See the trailer for this week's showing.

Saturday, we have two regular Kailua Kona events that I look forward to. The first is the Kailua Kona Library monthly book sale, sponsored by F.O.L.K. The book sale starts as usual at 9am and runs until 1pm. If you have the time, consider being a volunteer for the sale - remember, all volunteers receive a 20% discount. Please support the library and take advantage of the ridiculously cheap prices. Read to your children, read for yourself.

The second regular event is the Lowe's Build 'n' Grow workshop.  Lowe's workshops are a great confidence builder for your children. My son loves these. And my daughter would as well if I let her participate.  No restrictions on the age, however there are real tools involved with the real potential of a real thumb getting hammered, so  use your best judgement. If your child is too young, you'll end up doing the work yourself (which is not necessarily bad in and of itself, but may be if you have 2 or 3 children to contend with).

Is Cinco de Mayo the 4th of July for Mexico? Wrong! Mexican Independence Day is right around the corner (September 16, thought the FOLK website says September 17).   Expose your children to the world and celebrate early with Mariachi Music! Performances by Olga Salvatore and Greg Shirley on guitar. Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Kona.   And while you're at the library, check out some books on Mexico and learn the facts (and then tell me!).

Lastly, but by no means the least, Sunday is Patriot Day. It was designated in memory of the 2,977 killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. From Wikipedia, "On this day, the President directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff at individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, home and abroad. The President also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 A.M. (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001." 


As the majority of Americans will, I remember the circumstances under which I heard the news. Unaware at the time, I was actually just headed to bed when the attacks were occurring (about 3 am Hawaii time - working on a deadline, was I), and when I awoke later that morning, I heard the information on the news. I thought it was one of those radio pranks you often hear, but they kept on and on about it, that I had to turn on the television. I commuted to work in a daze, instantly plugging into CNN when I arrived at the office.  I couldn't believe our meeting actually took place, I mean, how could anyone focus on anything else other than what was changing our country at that moment?


Please take a moment to discuss with your children this weekend what it means to you to be an American, and how lucky we are.  Let's not take advantages of the opportunities afforded to us. However, let's also not be ignorant and disrespectful of other worlds and cultures. Thank you all.


Live strong, love fiercely!