Month: January 2016

Weekly Small Pleasures (#2)

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Mokuola Honua I attended a symposium for the establishment of Mokuola Honua, the Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence. It was powerful to learn about what’s happening in Scotland, New Zealand, and various indigenous communities around the world and I’m grateful to have been able to stand shoulder to shoulder with colleagues who are committed, not just to the revitalization of their languages, but also the cultural and overall well-being of their respective communities. Costco Finds  I love finding new products to try at home. Some are a hit, while others are miss. This time around, I lucked out. Aidell’s Teriyaki and Pineapple Chicken Meatballs. I’m not big on processed foods these days, but on my trip to Costco last Sunday, I found this item in the refrigerator section and thought to give it a try. In typical Costco fashion, these delicious, no-nitrate meatballs come in a monster two-pack that can be refrigerated or frozen for later use. Fully cooked, they’re great for a quick bite, after a thorough re-heat. LOOKA Frozen Macarons. Hilo is blessed with lovely bakeries that make delicious macarons, but sometimes, I’d like to …

Green Optimism

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In response to Optimistic: I love the concept of bike-sharing. As a tourist, it’s an affordable and “green” way to sightsee, while also getting in a little physical activity. In Taipei last August, I saw these bike rentals outside the hotel, and immediately thought to rent one and ride down to the Daan Forest Park. In the end, I decided against it since I had 1 hour before having to check out of the Chaiin Hotel in Dongmen. Also, the instructions were in Chinese and it was a stifling 90 degrees. Excuses, excuses, I know, but I really was pressed for time. One of the things I’d like to do when I go back to Seoul is to rent a bike and ride along the Han River. Other bloggers have mentioned how beautiful the views are so it’s definitely on my list of Seoul To-Do’s. Our local university here in Hilo recently implemented a bike share program for students. Abandoned bikes on campus were given makeovers, with new seats, tires, and fresh coats of paint. Now students can borrow these bikes for free to run errands …

Weekly Small Pleasures (#1)

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I stumbled upon the Weekly Small Pleasures blog event on fellow blogger Mani’s A New Life Wandering. Although I’m late to the party, it’s exciting to have the opportunity to reflect upon and post about things that make every week special. Mauna Kea – I took a trip to Kona yesterday to pick up replacement contact lenses from Costco, after 2 months of being forced to use glasses. On the way home, I popped in a new pair and the first thing I saw was Mauna Kea. Beautiful. ʻŌlena Tea – My friend Miles gave me a box of ʻōlena (turmeric) he harvested from his garden and I’m so excited. Nothing wrong with the processed powder, but using fresh roots are way better, so after sharing my stash, I cleaned, grated, and froze the rest. Now, I have a cup of tea every night before bed. In addition to its long standing ayurvedic benefits, the root is also used in Hawaiʻi as a tea/tonic for maintaining overall health. Kainoa’s recipe: Add boiling water to a teaspoon of grated ʻōlena in a mug. After a minute, add a slice …

Mele Mural

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The student residents of UH Hilo have the pleasure of seeing a large mural surrounding the perimeter of the Hale ʻIkena lounge made by a group of students under the direction of the talented Estria Miyashiro.  It’s a pleasant sight with vibrant colors and a story to share with all who stop by to admirer it.  There are several Mele Murals that can be found around town and on the other Hawaiian islands.   WPC: Alphabets

Makuʻu Farmers Market

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Believe it or not, I had never been to the Makuʻu Farmers Market before this morning. Maybe it’s because it only opens on Sunday or because it’s all the way out in Pāhoa, but I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting this lovely little market and I’m glad I finally did. The market is open every Sunday, from 8:00a-2:00p and gets hopping during the mid-morning, so if you want to avoid the crowds, get there by 9:00. Be sure to have $1 ready to pay for parking in the little gravel parking spaces on the premises. People are always coming and going, so you won’t have to wait very long for a space. The first thing that’s different from the Hilo Farmers’ Market is that Makuʻu is much bigger, with space to roam without bumping into people. The next is that there are a lot more food vendors at Makuʻu, so many that it can get overwhelming. Indian, Thai, Filipino, Hawaiian, Mexican, and Samoan food vendors, as well as wood fired pizza, French crepes, and smoothies. I opted for takoyaki and …

Happy birthday, everyday, in 2016!

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On my trip to Taiwan last summer, we visited Sio House, a salt museum in Anping, Tainan. I’ve always fostered an appreciation for salt. As a native of Kauaʻi, where one of our prized cultural items is the precious paʻakai made in Hanapēpē, I was excited about this stop. After going through the salt purification station outside, I stepped over the threshold and was greeted by a display of little circular bowls containing colored salts. The bowls represented the 366 days of the year, and I was taken by their vibrant colors. I sincerely wish you wonderful birthdays ahead, everyday, in 2016. … in response to this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge, Circle