AUGUST ~ Annual OPF in Kainaliu

For the eighteenth consecutive year, Aloha Performing Arts Company presented to Kona its unique season-starting event, the Original Play Festival, or "OPF," as it is referred to by
those of us that are involved. The OPF is a great opportunity for aspiring playwrights to submits plays for a live staged reading at the history Aloha Theater in Kainaliu. What's nice about these plays is that they haven't been performed on stage before and then there is an open discussion with the cast......and sometimes even the playwright is present. To end the OPF, the public is invited to a free onstage potluck wrap-up celebration of the festival and all its participants. Food, drink, and favorite anecdotes of the festival will be shared in this "talk story" fellowship event. Those who have attended every reading are eligible to vote for the "Opie," a people's choice award for best script in the festival, which will presented at the conclusion of the celebration. Remember to keep your tickets to the staged readings (only $5.00.....which is less than a movie ticket!) because a ticket stub from a previous night's reading is worth a $1.00 discount to the next OPF night. OPF is the kick-off for the season and the first play of the season is “The Diary of Anne Frank” . For more information on submitting your own script for the next OPF, call their office at 808-322-9924.

AUGUST ~ Annual APAC Gala

Every year, the Aloha Theater hosts a gala. The theme varies each year, but no matter what, you know you are in for a treat! Last year's gala was “Almost Elton John” and this year was a celebration of Roy Damron and old hollywood. It is always an evening full of great entertainment, silent auction, live auction, catered dinner and great fun! It's an event not to be missed. This year, I got to help out with the auction registration and end-of-the-nigh check out. It's always fun to volunteer......and then having a party after the party is also fun! Check out the Aloha Theater's website for a list of upcoming events....and you just might see me there as I'm already signed up to help with upcoming shows. http://apachawaii.org/

If you are staying in Kailua-Kona, getting to the Aloha Theater is very simple. Just take Queen K. Highway (Route 19) going south. As you arrive in Kainaliu, you will see the theater's historical building on your right hand side. Plan on dinner and a show for a great evening out!

AUGUST ~ Annual Cream Of The Crop

This free annual event is hosted the Hoku Amphitheater at the Hualalai Four Seasons Resort and features select Kona coffee farms and local chefs competing for top awards. We had fun walking around and sampling coffees and desserts.....and, of course, casting our votes for our favorites. Congratulations to Amy on winning 1^st place with her yummylicious cookies. She also has delicious scone mixes.....Mango Ginger is my favorite (hint hint for presents!!!). You can find her awesome goodies online at http://www.sweetlegacies.com/index.html The Cream Of The Crop is a great occasion to hang out with girlfriends, run into “old” friends, check out local art and crafts while tantilizing the taste buds! We had all sorts of coffees, cookies, brownies, popcorn with coffee sauce, etc. The trick is to pace yourself or you'll be buzzing with sugar and caffeine for the rest of the weekend!

WAIMEA ~ Picnic at the Park with the kids

Waimea town has a lot to offer but today was a day of playing and relaxing. I'm glad that I make my own schedule and can have some extra fun with the kids before school gets back into session. Driving up the old highway, my ten year old exclaimed “Wow! Look at the view!” to which his best bud replied “Halleluyah!” It sure was a beautiful view. The coastline was well defined and the air so clear that we could see Maui, the next island over. As we got closer to Waimea, we could see which side is the dry side and which is the wet side simply from the colors of the hills. What a cool sight! Arriving into Waimea, the old paniolo town, we made a stop at the grocery store for additional picnic munchies. After all, we had packed some food but with kids it is always fun to go shopping for extra snacks and drinks. And, I just had to go to my favorite coffee shop at the Parker Ranch Center and claim my free birthday drink, a venti white chocolate mocha......Yummmy!!!!!! From there, we were just a few minutes away from the park where we got to relax, eat, and play. Wether you want to spend the day (or part of it) at the park, or maybe just make it a rest stop for the kids to get out of the car and stretch their legs should you be driving to the Hilo side, the park is a nice place to hang-out.

JULY ~ Mango Festival

This was our first time getting to go to the Mango Festival. It's like a farmers market that also has ono grinds (good food), arts, crafts, keiki activities, education and lots of entertainment. We could buy shirts for all sizes......from newborn to adult size XXXXXXL ! Nicely located on the lawn of the Keauhou Beach Resort, it has both sun and shade. Being on the ocean side, you can also take a break and catch sight of the honus feeding on the algeas (just remember not to touch them.....it's against the rules!) We also enjoyed quite a variety of samples, many of them being chocolate. I even tasted a sun-dried cacao bean. I was expecting something bitter, and it sure was! Stopped for a moment to learn about grafting techniques, but you know how boring that can be to kids so moved on fairly quickly from that spot. To my surprise, the mango theme wasn't as prevalent as I was expecting but we still had a great time.....who wouldn't after eating so much chocolate and checking out the live entertainment! If you are here visiting in July, find out the date of the next Mango Festival and schedule for the day at www.mangofest.org

JULY ~ Billfish Tournament Parade

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament takes place ever summer here. It's a pretty huge event that has been going on for over half a century and big money prizes to be won. One of the traditional activities tied to the tournament is the parade where the community is invited to join in the celebration. Here's the website where updates get posted http://hibtfishing.com/ . Fishing teams come from all over the world to compete and also participate in the parade. Warning......watch out for flying candy! We scored some pretty tasty ones and also some snacks we have no idea what they are as I can't read Japanese! Recommendations anytime you go to watch a parade in Kona: bring a beach chair, find a shady spot, a cold drink (or an ice cream cone) and chill-lax!

Art Studio & Gallery......a must check out!

Going to the opening of Barbara Hanson's new gallery was a phenomenal experience. Ran into friends I hadn't seen in about 14 years. Enjoyed some champagne, strawberries, mango slices, brie cheese, etc. The food was onoliscious and the art is simply amazing! Got a chance to meet Barbara and when you go, you will see why she is so successful. Wall art, decorative pieces, jewelry, sculptures, barettes, keychains, wine corks, bottle openers, kitchen ware and so much more. She is a self taught Polymer Clay artist. I liked the whimsical turtles and dolphins, but I would say the piece that caught my eye is the budha head. Once you go in and find out the extensive process for a single piece that is only 1 cm in diameter, you will appreciate the talent, work, and patience for a piece that size. The tsunami destroyed her place at the Kona Village so it is great to see Barbara opening her new polymer clay studio gallery in the King Kamehameha Mall on Kuakini Highway (808-315-5757.) This is the place to go to meet the artist and see the process and find out the schedule of her workshops.....something fun to learn both if you live here or are here on vacation! http://www.barbarahansonjewelry.com

JULY - Will Play For Food Annual Benefit

That was fun! Thank you Nina for making the ReMixx such a great part of the Kona community! Can't wait for next year and bring the whole family. All we needed was 2 cans of food to get in (or $5 if we forgot cans). Live music......Maggie got nicknamed “The Rockin' Grandma”. Fun for the kids included face and hair painting! There was also ballons animals, etc. fishing for prizes and temporary tatoos. Yep, I'm a big kid and just had to get my face painted. Tons of prizes to be won by raffle and also a silent auction.......many of them from http://www.barbarahansonjewelry.com . Hot dog and chips (a huge bag) for only $1. Grandma said that was the best hot dog she has had in a while! A well worth event where everyone can have fun, spend a little for a good cause and also relax to some good tunes. This was the second annual “Will Play For Food” benefit so stay tuned to the ReMixx website at http://www.remixxkona.com/html/events.html for all the events, concerts, open mic nights, tango nights, and much more fun events.

For more food fundraisers / benefits, check out the calendar of events for the Food Basket http://www.foodbaskethi.org/index.php/calendar/

When in Hawaii......gotta make a stop at Hilo Hattie

Did some background history research and found out that Hilo Hattie was actually the stage name for a very popular entertainer in Hawaii during the 1950’s and 1960’s. She was born Clarissa Haili on October 28, 1901, but everyone called her Clara. She began her career as a schoolteacher however it was her singing and dancing that gave her a place in modern Hawaii history. She popularized the comic hula style with such tunes as "Princess Pupule Has Plenty Papayas" and "When Hilo Hattie Does the Hula Hop".

Hilo Hattie is a fun place to shop or simply browse. When you arrive, you will be greeted with a shell lei and complimentary refreshments such as Passion/Orange juice or 100% Kona Coffee. On the day we went, we also got to sample chocolates.....pineapple chocolate, caramel chocolate, macademia nut covered chocolate......it was a day for enjoying chocolate. Pineapple and chocolate was not at all what I was expecting, but better than I thought it would be.

At the pearl and jewelry counter, you can pick out an oyster to see what kind of pearl treasure you will find inside. While we were there, a kid picked one that had 2 pink pearls inside. Besides striking up conversations with tourists about what some of the shopping selection might be used for......you've got to see for yourself! You too will wonder what some of the items are. Something that looked like a oval slippa' turned out to be a slippa' for your glass, hence a coaster! You'll find all the traditional touristy items, but I enjoyed checking the locally made pottery and gifts. Definitely a neat place to check out whether you live here or are just visiting.

If you are here on vacation, you can also call them to see if you are within their free shuttle pick up area.

July's Family Fun Day!

Of what fun! Today was the Family Fun Day. This is an event hosted by Living Stones Church down on Alii drive and it's open to everyone in the community. This seems to have turned into a yearly event. Water slip-n-slide, climbing tower (my baby......even at 10 he's still my baby......made it to the top), jumping bouncer, shave ice, popcorn, spray on tatoos, “cake walk”, kick the can, some sort of “pick the giant nose” digging in slime to get a prize game, and more. This was definitely a fun event to attend, and yes, I enjoyed some hawaiian snow (shave ice).....picked pineapple orange flavor as you can see here in the photo. And, also got a spray on tatoo. This is something fun for kids and kids at heart!

If you are here in July, you can call 326-7720 Living Stones Church to get the exact date of their next Family Fun Day.

An afternoon at Harold Higashihara Park

Spent the afternoon at the park. The kids got to play until they were smelly and completelly covered in dirt and wet from the rain as that wouldn't keep them from playing. (Thank goodness for windows that open for the car ride home!) With a family reunion, birthday parties and being the 4th of July weekend, the park was jammin' with kids. Harold Higashihara Park is known as one of the best play spaces on the Big Island in Hawaii. It was created by community efforts and continues to be a beloved place for families and visitors alike. It's built on the hillside with a spectacular view and has plenty of shade provided by monkeypod and palm trees. It has both historical and creative design. Kids get to play on a life-size whale, a Kona Sugar Company 1897 model train, a replica of a Polynesian double-hulled canoe, wooden turrets for climbing, a twirl machine, a baseball diamond, basketball and tennis courts, a drawbridge, ring toss games and covered picnic tables. There is even a separate play area sized for those with little little kids. And for those who like brain play, check out the chess tables with boards built into the rock......simply pick up the nuts that have fallen all around and you have game pieces! It's a fun place to go for the young and young at heart! Even Grandma Maggie went climbing on the equipment and had fun.

Akaka Falls & Kahuna Falls

What a great day for a drive to Hilo and checking out Akaka Falls & Kahuna Falls. Before going on the trail, we spoke for a bit with the parking lot attendant. After all, we are in no hurry and it's always fun to “talk story” with folks everywhere we go. Anyways, he didn't know much about the water falls but what he had been told is that Akaka Falls is the only water fall on the island that is fed by an artesian well which is why it never runs dry. But, living here, I know there is always a story to be told so I did a little digging and found a couple stories. So, without further a due, here they are:

“A long time ago a chief named 'Akaka lived there with his wife and dog. Chief 'Akaka had a lover and one day his wife caught him. The wife and dog chased Chief 'Akaka and his lover to the cliff, where the chief slipped and fell. His lover jumped after him right before the wife and dog caught up. They were so horrified Chief 'Akaka fell that they turned into two boulders at the top of the falls. At the bottom of the falls is a large, brownish stone they say is the chief and somewhere in Kahuna Falls is another stone that is the lover."


There there is a song from back in the 1930s by Helen Parker "'Akaka Falls." In the lyrics "Legend says 'Akaka fell to his death from the 442-foot falls now called 'Akaka Falls. His two lovers, Lehua and Maile, could not stop crying and they can be seen in a ravine close by, disguised as two smaller waterfalls."

Another story tells that 'Akaka had earlier made a cousin who had offended him jump into the pool, and that man became the rock upon which 'Akaka later fell. It's said that if one strikes a stone here called Pōhaku-a-Pele (stone of Pele) with a lehua-'apane branch, "the sky darkens and rain falls,"

But, no matter which story you read, it doesn't change just how majestic and magical that area feels. As you walk around on the path, with the birds singing while flying though the bamboo, you can also hear the babbling of the brooks and the roar of the falls simultaneously. Being a warm afternoon, we could feel the refreshing coolness of the water simply by being nearby. As we walked around on the trail, I watched as a leaf detached from a branch and slowly danced to reach the forest floor. It surprised me to see that it made a trail of dust creating a sparkling effect in the air......just like we see in fairy tales. That was just one of the many spectacular sights we got to witness. Whether you live here, or come for a visit, this is one of the many sights you will wants to be mesmerized by.

I am blessed to have my own business which allows me the time to enjoy such beauty and blessed to be able to help others enjoy such freedom and relaxation too. I get to live where I've always dreamed about and I have more adventures to share with you....... so stay tuned!

"Grease" Party!

Went to the opening performance of “Grease” at the Aloha Theater and had a blast. The cast, crew and all the volunteers, did a fantastic job in bringing to life the classic 50's rock and roll musical. It was so much fun singing along to all the familiar song "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'," "Beauty School Dropout," "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee," and ""We Go Together." When it comes to live theater, you can expect each performance to be slightly different from the previous one. “Roger” and “Teen Angel” were light on their feet and brought forth big cheers from the audience. Then, after the show, it was the big Opening Night party.....and I loaded up on desserts! Blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream. All I can say about that is...... finger lickin' yummmmmy!


Being a big theater buff, it was great seeing so many familiar faces both on stage and in the audience. And, for those of you who have seeing other APAC plays over the years, you won't want to miss the final appearance on the Aloha stage of Jaque as Rydell High's Sandy who is spreading her wings and going off to study musical theater this coming fall. Aloha Performing Arts Company productions are actually a great way for youngsters to learn from seasoned veterans. It's great to see them grow, working together, in an environment that encourages creativity and comradery. And, eventually, they grow up and spread their wings. If you didn't get a chance to see last night's fantastic performance, it's being performed fridays, saturdays, and sundays through July 16th so get your tickets now as I think it's going to be another sell out show. Www.AlohaTheater.com

Kona Coffee tasting & art exhibit......a great combo!

Going for coffee tasting is fun (and Kona coffee is yummy!), but what a treat to run into Bobbi Caputo at her art exhibit. She took the time to share the story behind her paintings which made for a fun coffee experience. Bobbi is a self-taught folk artist who grew up in Hawaii picking coffee with her family in the Kona coffeelands. It was always a pleasure to visit with her when she would stop in and browse around in my shop (back in the days of working like a nut and getting nowhere). She has now become a well-know artist around these parts. Bobbi's paintings are of her childhood memories and has painted quite a nostalgic collections. Each painting rekindles her child's eye recollections of moments in time, reflecting the hard work, youthful antics and the many, many baskets and bags of picked coffee beans that made up each and every dawn to dusk workday of the coffee picking seasons.

If you want to meet her in person and enjoy some Kona coffee with some great talk story time, she will be at the artist reception this coming saturday (June 25th) from 3 to 8pm at the Kona Coffee & Tea Co. behind Tesoro on Queen K. Hwy.

If you can't make it to this exhibit, you can see some of her collection at www.konacoffeeart.com .

Heel Thuds

A Hiatal Hernia or a jammed gastroesopageal junction can easily be pulled back down below the diaphragm by following this simple HEEL THUD procedure:

First thing in the morning, drink about 1 quart of water. The purpose is to fill the empty stomach with water and make it very heavy.



Then, standing in a doorway support yourself by holding on to the each side and go up on your toes, and drop as hard as you can on your heels (heel thuds). Do about 15 heel thuds each morning. Since the stomach is so heavy, this will help to start to gently bring it back down where it belongs.



You may have to do heel thuds every morning for many days...anywhere from one to four weeks to get the stomach pulled back down to where it belongs. You will know when its down because you will not experience the acid reflux.



The esophagus will take some time to heal from all of the burning. Many have also been helped through the healing process by supplementing with Vitalizer, Citriboost and Optiflora.

NOTE:

Shaklee's Stomach Soothing Complex, Chewable Calcium Complex (for heartburn) and EZ-Gest (digestive enzymes) have brought many people relief from digestive disorders as well. The information on this procedure is usually available from your local chiropractor or naturopath. And, it is always a good idea to check with your health practitioner on proper diagnosis and procedure technique.


Per FDA guidelines: This information is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any “disease”. It is simply a resource to help you make an informed choice to rebuild your health.

Is it insanity?

While browsing through a magazine Grandma brought with her, I expected to see advertisements, but not this many. Out of 218 pages, almost half of them were paid advertisements. I counted 134 advertisements..........and the advertisements for medications were usually 2 pages and sometimes 3 pages long! With the sad understanding that many medical professionals are in the business of treating symptoms instead of promoting good health through prevention, I wasn't entirely surprised. I decided to read the details of one of the advertisements for a medications.

Eventhough not surprising, I still find it shocking what some people are willing to risk and put up with just for the sake of a quick fix. Maybe they just don't have a full understanding of the ramifications or they don't understand them. So, what are people willing to put up with? This particular medication can cause serious effects including low calcium levels in your blood, severe kidney problems, severe jaw bone problems, bone, joint or muscle pain, and unusual thigh bone fractures. This medication can cause allergic reactions, such as hives or, in rare cases, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. And, the most common side-effects include flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle or joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

After reading the long list of side effects for just that one medication, I decided to read more about some of the others. Many side effects listed were the same and then the list just kept on growing as side effects others listed included kidney failure, liver damage, chest pains, digestive problems, heartburn, groin pain, numbness or tingling in fingers, toes or around the mouth, cancer, lump or swelling in neck and the list goes on and on. Is that insane, or what?

Too many times, I have also seen the rows of medication in people's medicine cabinets. Many of which are to “take care” of the side effects of other medications they are taking. It can become quite an insanity. So not only are people taking medication that have effects, some of which can even be deadly, but they then are taking more medications because of what the first medications are doing to them. What a viscious cycle!

There are lifestyle choices one can make to have and maintain good health. There is a time and place for medications, but prevention is the best medication.


About the writter:
Marie-anne is a Home Business Consultant and Wellness Advisor. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Holistic Nutrition and is currently attending the American Health Science University. Visit her websites http://www.LaunchYourDestiny.com and at http://getrevitalizednow.com/rouse