Sunny's Hawaii

Sending aloha in a shoe box

2010-08-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Calden Kaeo and Kea Aiona from Kamahameha School's Keaau Campus do some back to school shopping.

Kids on the Big Island are learning something surprising about back-to-school shopping—it is not just a time to fill their book bags and closets, it is also a great opportunity to fill shoe boxes to help children in need around the world.

It may seem like an unusual addition to the annual back-to-school shopping spree, but through Operation Christmas Child families can make a real difference to a child in need by simply keeping the box from their new school shoes and filling it with small gifts. Operation Christmas Child plans to hand-deliver shoe box gifts to more than 8 million struggling children in 100 countries this year. An effort that massive means the project needs the help of Big Island families, not only during the holidays, but also right now.When Back-to-School shopping remember that just a pencil, and a notebook could mean a child in need can attend school this year. Such a small gift can make a big difference!.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of international relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, encourages volunteers to fill simple shoe boxes with toys, necessity items, school supplies, candy and hand-written notes of encouragement. The gifts are then shared with children worldwide who are suffering because of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty. For many of these children, the shoe box gift will be the first gift they have ever received, letting them know they are loved and not forgotten.Why now—months before the holiday season?Operation Christmas Child is not limited to just a few weeks a year. It is a year-round project, requiring months of organization and preparation to reach millions of kids around the world.

Here on the Big Island keiki and adults have been working with our local team to send aloha to hurting children all over the world!

How can I help? It's Simple!

PREPARE—Help enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take advantage of back-to-school sales by collecting discounted school supplies for shoe box gifts.

PACK—Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement.

Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call Nell Quay (808)987-7373 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoe boxes is Nov. 15-22; however, shoe box gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C.

You are beautiful

2010-07-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

Tropical Oasis

2010-07-30T15:19:00.001-07:00

Kohala Estates

I usually don't advertise on this blog much, but this was just too good not to share!
There are only 3 homes for sale in Kohala Estates! This is a 4 bedroom 3 full bath home with a private guest quarters,a private, 1,600 sq ft 7 hole putting green, private in ground pool, office, extra storage area, up dated kitchen, and so much more!

You get all the luxury of a resort on your own private 1.30 ACRE estate! Fee Simple! NO MONTHLY OR YEARLY ASSOCIATION DUES!! LOW TAXES! This beautiful home has sweeping ocean views! It is near white sand beaches, resorts, restaurants, shopping, world class diving, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and world class golf. Priced to sell at $939,000! Call me Sunny (Riley) Petropoullakis RS at Hawaii Land Realty Corp. (808)959-1117 for more information on this amazing estate.

Shiny happy person

2010-07-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

Photo by Sarah Ko

Shoe Box Seeds!

2010-06-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Operation Christmas Child: Shoe Box Seeds from Joe Benson on Vimeo.

Through Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse impacts kids and their families all over the world. For some of these children, the shoe box gift will be the first and only gift they will ever receive. Packed with simple items such as toothpaste, soap, toys, candy and school supplies, these gifts are a reminder that they are loved, and not forgotten.

Poison & Wine

2010-06-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

FOCUS

2010-05-23T15:37:00.001-07:00

Beautiful photos, fuzzy and otherwise, via Bliss, and sfgirlbybay.

Sometimes a blurry photo is OK, lovely even.

Sometimes my life is like a blurry picture. There is always the hope that someday it will come into focus.

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-04-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

I have been reading "Eat,Pray,Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think I need an agent.Are there any publishers out there who want me to write my memoirs? I might call it, "Eat, Pray, Aloha". First you may pay my way to Paris, Jerusalem, then back to Hawaii. My book will be truly tragic, less narcissistic, very dramatic, a tear jerker, filled with hope, good food, and enlightenment... I hear a croissant calling me...

Merrie Monarch Festival 2010

2010-04-09T15:26:00.001-07:00

We were privileged to attend the Merrie Monarch Festival last night, thanks to Dorren and his lovely wife! Thank you Noelle for setting it up! All of the dancers were beautiful.
Mahealani Mika Hirao-Solem of Hula Halau 'O Kamuela won the Miss Aloha Hula title last night.

Less than 4 hours from the ocean to the pan!

2010-03-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmmm...aholehole

What I almost missed.

2010-03-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

A charming man was "troing net" at Shipman Beach today. He is the soccer coach of one of the boy scouts. He caught almost a hundred of these lovely fish called aholehole. The kind fisherman gave us some to have for dinner tonight. I am so glad I got out of bed today.

Cherry Blossom Festival Waimea 2010

2010-02-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

Waimea Feb. 6 2010

Sonnet LXV: Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea

by William Shakespeare
Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea
But sad mortality o’er-sways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
O, how shall summer’s honey breath hold out
Against the wrackful siege of batt’ring days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays?
O fearful meditation! where, alack,
Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?
Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
O, none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

hello?is anybody home?

2010-02-10T00:12:00.000-08:00

Detroit photo by kevin bauman

It was about 2 years ago when I discovered the ghettos of Detroit. From the safety of my computer, I stumbled upon the most amazing photos and videos of what was once a booming,industrious city.I am drawn to these photos again and again. The images are haunting. The strangest things will remind me of those images. Detroit now has a ghetto about the size of the city of San Francisco, with about 12,000 abandoned homes. When I first came across images of the ruins of Detroit, I felt sick to my stomach, and I am moved to tears. What happens when all the lights go out in a neighborhood, or the mail is no longer delivered? I wish I could have been there in the heyday of the city.I try to imagine the people going in and out. Where did they go? I think some of my feelings come from my love of America. Deep down, I want to hold on to the feeling I had as a child, listening to my Dad talk about Chevy and Ford. That was when America sparkled and shined like a new Mustang. It was an America that didn't have a ghetto the size of San Francisco.

Kevin Bauman is selling limited edition series called 100 abandoned houses.A portion of the proceeds will go to an organizations doing positive work in Detroit, Habitat for Humanity, and The Greening of Detroit. To purchase one of these photos, visit Kevin HERE.

Is there hope for Detroit? I am sure there is. Imagine how lovely it would be if a new industry popped up, and these neighborhoods were repaired, a small section at a time. These homes are not the ugly cookie cutter,same same,tract houses we see everywhere. They have character,and style.
Thank you sfgirlbybay for reminding me of Detroit once again.

The Masonry Oven Finished!!!

2010-02-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Isaiah with the completed oven

Finally I have an "After" to go with the before photos. We fired the oven up for the test run taking 3 hours to get to 500 degrees F. We put potatoes, and chicken in to bake, and closed the door with extra oven bricks. After one hour it was down to 175. I ended up finishing up the baking in my gas oven. Good thing we called it a "test" because we were not too discouraged. Our friend Jimmy put another layer of cement on the dome, and fixed the chimney. We are ready to test it again. This time PIZZA!!

Starfish Project

2010-02-02T00:43:00.000-08:00

Sunny and Kealani selling Starfish Jewelery Thursday night, at the Elevate Church in Hilo

The Legend of the Starfish

A vacationing businessman was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy.
Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned.
The boy walked slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean.
The businessman, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, "I have been watching what you are doing, son.
You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Surely such an industrious and kind hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time.
Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?"
The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one”.

-Author Unknown

Check out Starfish Project's Valentine Sale! Buy a gift for your Valentine, and help stop human trafficking at the same time! 100% of proceeds go to provide a better life for the women of the Starfish Project. Let me know if you would like to sell Starfish jewelry too.

Haiti

2010-01-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

Samaritan's Purse is now offering text giving for #Haiti relief! Text SP to 85944 to make a $10 gift. Spread the word!!

Haiti...how can YOU help?

2010-01-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

If you want to know how you can help through a trusted, reliable organization, click HERE

What would Jesus buy?

2009-11-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

A beautiful girl in Uganda, and a happy boy in Peru enjoy their Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts last year.

INSTEAD OF GIVING A MEANINGLESS GIFT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS EVERYTHING, GIVE A SHOE BOX TO A HURTING CHILD IN THEIR NAME! It is not too late! Bring your gift filled shoe box to: Hilo Missionary 1044 Komohana, Sun.12-5. and Mon. 3-5,or drop it off at Big Island Toyota during their business hours at both Hilo locations! MONDAY IS THE LAST DAY!! What would Jesus buy?
To find a drop off site near you click HERE.

Sea Turtles born today at Punalu'u!

2009-11-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project Photos by Isaiah Berg

Isaiah and Kealani were able to participate in the Hawksbill Sea Turtle Project at Punalu'u today. Click HERE for a video and more information.

They found her!!

2009-11-06T02:56:00.000-08:00

Meghan Olcott is found!!

Missing, Hilo girl, have you seen her?

2009-11-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

Her mother is Brenda Olcott of Hospice of Hilo.
If you would like to see the news article, click here.

The Sound of Music

2009-10-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Jeri Gertz and Kealani (and Ursula)

When I was nine I was in The Sound of Music, directed by Jeri Gertz, at the UHH Theater. Here is Kealani with her at age 10. They just finished The Music Man at the Palace Theater. Jeri was Eulalie Makecknie Shinn, and Kealani played Amaryllis.

Before the Bridge

2009-10-18T14:18:00.001-07:00

Ansel Adams Golden Gate before The Bridge

I have always loved Ansel Adams, but had never seen this photo before. Amazing.

SPICY Corn Chowder

2009-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Souper easy Spicy Corn Chowder

Ingredients:
Imagine Organic Harvest Corn Soup 1qt. carton
1/2 onion
clove garlic
1/2 stick butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn(or more)
crispy BACON
chili pepper
salt to taste

Melt butter, and saute the onion till clear and soft. Add corn, and garlic,and saute a few minutes more. Add diced pepper, and soup base. Simmer 10 min.
Sprinkle with bacon, and serve with a salad and fresh bread.

Music Man

2009-10-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

We have been very busy with rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and now performances. Hilo's Palace Theater presents: The Music Man.
Kealani has the role of Amaryllis, and Isaiah is an usher, and gets to shout out a line on a megaphone in the middle of the play. Kealani is SO thrilled to be a part of this show, and is having tons of fun. The play is very entertaining, and funny, even if you are not a big fan of musicals like me. The band is amazing! If you are in Hilo, you should not miss it, or the historical Palace Theater.

Processing Center in Hawaii!!

2009-10-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Operation Christmas Child Team at work

We are now going to have our own processing center here in Hawaii for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes! This year is the first year as usually our boxes go to the mainland first and then around the world.

12,500 boxes were collected last year from the beautiful people of Hawaii for children in desperate need around the world.
Operation Christmas Child is kids- helping kids project that uses simple gift filled shoe boxes to let hurting children know that they are loved.

These shoe boxes are filled with basic necessities, like soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, paper and pencils, and also fun stuff like, candy and toys. The boxes go to children who are living on garbage heaps, living in orphanages, refuge camps, and hospitals. Most of these children have never had a gift before in their lives.

Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts are hand delivered to hurting children using whatever means necessary, sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, helicopters, canoes, camels, and even dog sleds.
Here in Hawaii our seniors, keikis, schools, businesses, Life Care Centers, Boy Scouts, and Churches have gotten involved in this wonderful project, sending Aloha around the world.
The Big Island alone gave 4,303 boxes last year, and we have relay centers in Maui, and Oahu. This year there will be a relay center on Kauai! The biggest most exciting news this year though is the Processing Center which will be in Honolulu this year!
The Collection Week is November 16- the 23, and the Hawaii Collection Center will be open for business Sat. Dec. 12- 17th from 10am-8pm week days and 9 am to 9pm on the weekend.

Infinity

2009-09-22T01:18:00.001-07:00

Infinity is written in the heavens, in the ocean, in a sea shell, a grain of sand, a single cell, in our hearts, yet we can get so trapped in the immediate gratification of the now, and miss what is true.

Angel in my front yard

2009-09-14T00:26:00.000-07:00

Ode to New York City

2009-09-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

I just read an amazing article in National Geographic with the most amazing photos and artist renderings of New York before and after.

I have not been to New York since 1991. I still have photos of myself and classmates on the top floor of the Twin Towers, and in my scrapbook I kept my ticket stubs for my trip to the top of the building. New York City is an amazing city, with a fascinating history. Click on the link above to see the online version of the article complete with the computer generated artists rendering of what Manhattan looked like 200 and 400 years ago.

There hasn't been a beaver in New York for 200 years.
We hunted these buck toothed creatures for their soft fur. I wish I could have seen the towering Chestnuts,the mushroom cloud Oaks, and Hickory trees. The sandy beaches contained feasts of oysters and clams. The 17th century Dutch village had a lovely pond. Deer sipped the fresh water, and ducks played in the far edge while Sunfish swam and leaped. Now we have the Marriot Marquis Hotel on the corner of Broadway and West 46th St.
The streams, and hills, and swamps, the eels, and pickerel are gone. The pond is gone. It was polluted by a tannery, then was buried by a slum. Foley Square now lies there with it's grey cement, asphalt, silver towers, red brick, and "golden arches".
One tree remains there in Foley Square. It once was one of millions, and now exists as a remnant, a single specimen for a museum, for posterity, a single tree with roots far beneath the cement, down where there is still dirt, dirt that was there before trappers, before soldiers, and bankers, before hot dogs, bagels, and pasta, before Sicilian pizza, dollar bills, Gucci, and Times Square.

The Sailboat = Ultimate Green Transportation

2009-09-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

Sailing 2009

I love the way sailboats look,
all happy, and free
bright, cheerful, serene
untethered, simplicity
independent, adventurous,
I stare into the ocean, and dream of sailing away where ever the wind could take me.

Tasty Vortex BACON

2009-09-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

Do you need to laugh as much as I do? Jim Gaffigan is better than Prozac. Bacon. Also highly recommended, Cake, Camping, and Hot Pockets.

Hawaiian Paradise Park

2009-09-02T00:29:00.000-07:00

Photos by Sunny and Isaiah Berg

Everlasting, neverending, fractals

2009-08-28T02:02:00.000-07:00

These are amazing, and more of these beauties can be found HERE.

Imiloa

2009-08-26T03:59:00.000-07:00

The Great Titanium Cones of Hawaii

The kids were at the Imiloa today.

This Summer

2009-08-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

Photo by Isaiah Berg

I went to the beach
got lots of sand in the truck
laughed
worked
walked
got discouraged
was encouraged
had fun with family
sat by the pool
my heart broke in half
had dinner with friends, an artist,a famous author, and a Noble Prize winner
ate cake
played drums
passed the Hunter's Ed class
walked on the beach
was amazed by my kids
got 2 tickets
cried
went to Coconut Island
took pictures
saw some shooting stars
got a sunburn in a hurricane
picked lichees
went to the farmer's market
ate pineapple that tasted like candy
smiled
shoveled manure
mowed the lawn
wrote these words

Shoe Boxes!

2009-08-10T17:48:00.001-07:00

We hope you you can join us as we get ready to send shoe boxes filled with love to children in need around the world!
We are thrilled to have, Matt Foster, Operation Christmas Child Regional Director of South and East Asia as our Guest Speaker.
Matt works with the National Leader Volunteers and oversees the distribution of gifts through the local churches in countries including: China, India, Pakistan, Nepal and the Philippines. He has lived in China and Thailand and speaks Mandarin Chinese.
You will hear how God uses our simple gifts to change the life of a child, a family, even an entire village.
Learn how a shoe box allows the gospel to be proclaimed in the most unreached, unrecognized segments of society in Asia.
Operation Christmas Child promtional materials that will help you to achieve and exceed your shoe box goals in 2009 will be available.
Leave inspired,challenged and equipped!
Please extend this invitation to your church, group, family and friends. We hope to see you there!
This exciting event will be Monday August 17th 6:30 pm Hilo Missionary Church.
For more information or to help, contact: Heather at 969-1953 or heybooboopeace@aol.com
OCC National Collection Week Nov. 16 - 23, 2009

Bishop St.

2009-08-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

Bishop St.,Honolulu
by Bob Riley

Best Wedding EVER!

2009-08-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

I smiled and laughed for 5 min. and 9 seconds, you can too:-)

Hilo Bay from above the Scenic Point

2009-07-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hilo Bay 2009

I took this picture from a home I showed. I took the kids with me when I went, and they were trying to talk ME into buying the home while we were there!
It is a renovated Hilo home, in a quiet neighborhood, and as you can see, it has awesome views of the bay.

Masonry Oven

2009-07-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Before picture of Masonry Oven June 2009

Here is the almost finished base of the masonry oven my wonderful son is building for me(with help).
The rocks are from our land, and the fire bricks are used and were a trade from a friend. One of the men helping my son build it was able to get really good information, and left over fire bricks from a guy who has been researching masonry ovens. When this is built, I hope to bake bread,crackers, and many pizzas here.
The beauty of this oven is I will be able to cut down my gas bill, and burn "scrub" trees that are unwanted anyway.
After photos to come, hopefully before Summer is over, and there will be a pizza party.

2009 photos

2009-07-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

Mauna Kea Beach 2009

This is my favorite picture so far, this year.

Moons and Jupiter

2009-07-14T02:32:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at this beautiful photo. otherwise the sky might just come crashing to the ground. The photo is that good.
Ok, actually it is a toss up between yesterdays Astronomy Picture Of The Day, and this one, but maybe you could just look at them both, and comment below about which is your favorite?

Thankful

2009-07-03T14:45:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for the country I live in. I don't believe America is perfect, but I believe it is amazing.
I am thankful for my family members living, and dead who gave to help keep us free. I am thankful for the brave men, and women so long ago, who knew we needed independence from the British, and fought to make that happen. Work, blood, sweat, and tears are what were sacrificed so that we would not be cruelly taxed, and unfairly monitored by a unjust governing power.

I am thankful that I live in the U.S.A.

Do you sit in your larger than average house, in your name brand T-shirt, crapping on a shiny white toilet, sipping a cold drink, while surfing the web? Do you have a car to drive to your local coffee shop so you can drink your favorite, flavored,whipped,latteed, coffee drink? Do you have the freedom to travel in expensive jet airplanes, to exotic places, then come back to your sweet smelling town, and sleep in your cozy comfortable bed again?Do you have the luxury to worship how you want to worship? Can you stand up and protest something without fear of death? Do you shop at giant super stores to buy your soft absorbent toilet paper, expensive iphones, ipods, bottles of ultra purified crystal clear water,and choose from 30 kinds of deodorant? Can you get married, and be blessed to have 4 children instead of just one with out fear that you will be forced to have an abortion? Can you read the Bible on a park bench without fear? How many Bibles do you own? Three? Or do you only own a shred of a Bible that you read over and over again because that is all you have?

If you think there is something wrong with America, then stand up(or kneel down), and do something about it, don't tear it down, and the people who serve this country with their lives. The very fact that you can complain without fear is reason to be thankful. I thank God for my country, and the millions who have been blessed because of it.

2 Chronicles 7:14
"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Isaiah

2009-06-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

Isaiah's 13th birthday 2009
Photos by dee photography

We ate fresh Waimea strawberries, thanks to Nancy, fresh salad from the Ko's farm, pizza(Isaiah's favorite)tender rotisserie chicken, from Noelle, potato salad, and two kinds of cheese cake, New York style which took 7 hours, and a lovely little cheese cake that took 10 min. to make, then 3 hours in the fridge haha!
Oh, and adult guests enjoyed two kinds of home made wine from the famous Claudia Riley.

Isaiah got to show off the potato cannon he built himself. The cannon works well, especially if you like your potatoes to be flaming, and loud. He also let off a few fireworks. The young guests swam till late at night, and then had a sleepover.

Ke Ola Farm

2009-06-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

The Ko Family at the Farmer's Market June 2009 taken with my BlackBerry

I love the Kos. I admire the way they work together, and though life is not perfect,and there are hardships, they continue on, and persevere courageously. They are pioneers in aquaponic farming.

The Ko family farm is now up,running, and open for business!
They are Ke Ola Farm.
They grow exotic lettuce, herbs, green beans, squash, and the best cucumbers I ever ate in my life! They are still expanding, so there will be much more to come.

Onomea Bay

2009-06-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Onomea Bay 2009 taken with my BlackBerry

I took my cousins who were visiting from Kentucky on a tour of the island, and stopped here briefly.
My Sony cyber-shot is acting up(like sometimes it will take pictures, and sometimes it decides to go on vacation) so I have more fun just using my BlackBerry. I have had the BlackBerry for about three months now. It is so useful for real estate, and also has all the fun stuff. I don't play games on it, but it has the entire Bible in, I think, 14 English versions, plus the daily reading, plus 22 other languages, AND a concordance!(You Version)
I know the iphone is so popular right now, but I tried typing on it, and it was just too weird. I kept pushing the wrong keys. The BlackBerry key pad is way better in my humble opinion.

Honolii Beach

2009-06-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

First waves for Isaiah 2009

forgive
seventy times seven
more than the pebbles at Honolii
more than I can on my own
I could,maybe once
then I give up
My Higher Power must take over
it is a miracle to wake up
to open my eyes
it is a miracle just to be alive
to get up
to breathe

Dumbing us Down

2009-05-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Very good book. Inspiring if you home school, or are a teacher.

Green Sands Beach

2009-05-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

Green Sands Beach,South Point,Kau,Hawaii

The hike to the beach is other worldly, stark, hot, with black rocks, and golden dirt, wild Nasturtiums, sea grass, ranch land, and finally green sand, with blue green ocean.

Hawaii Bed and Breakfast Inn

2009-05-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

The Kalaekilohana Bed and Breakfast Inn

We were so blessed to stay at the Kalaekilohana a few weeks ago. It was quiet, clean, the hosts were gracious, the rooms were luxurious, and (most important)the beds were comfortable.
In the morning there was breakfast of tropical fruit,fresh tangerine juice,Kau coffee,brown rice,sausage,and eggs served on the lanai.
Perfect place to stay if you want quiet,relaxation,good food,spa treatment, and it is close to Green Sands Beach. The owner also teaches lei making,and weaving in the traditional Hawaiian way.

Kealani's Birthday

2009-05-17T17:42:00.001-07:00

Kealani's Birthday 2009

She is now 10.
she sparkles
her eyes shine
she is beautiful
effervescent
laughter
excitement
lovely smile
jumping
writer
lip gloss
she cares
helpful
deep thoughts
tree hugger
she is strong
musical
sings for Him

my Birthday

2009-04-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

I say yes to sitting by the pool.

Hapuna Beach

2009-04-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

In my humble opinion, if you live in Hawaii, you should occasionally go to the beach.
I said yes to sand.

Easter

2009-04-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

If you love horses you will understand

2009-04-12T01:57:00.000-07:00

Showed this house today,with a lovely old masonry oven.Kealani came with me. She wants me to buy the property now because it has a horse in the back yard. I told her it does not come with the horse, but she was not listening. I explained that it only has 2 bedrooms, and so she would not even have her own bedroom. She said she would sleep out in the horse shed.

What I am hearing with my ears

2009-04-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

i hear hysterical laughter
humming humming hum hum
Sufjan Stevens
singing singing singing
strum
i hear dancing feet,skipping,and running run
falling falling down
being too loud
wrestling, and jumping
making a sound
what was that sound?
redemption
violin
piano
the ground
hummmmming
tears,hysterical crying,sighing
i hear a joke
i hear smoke
i hear a frown
now a smile
i hear coldplay and a contradiction
a giggle
a trip
slam
7 pieces of beethoven
ingrid michaelson and a contraposition
i hear brother bob dylan
a son
a daughter
hummming
drumming
snapping
water

Robbing the Bees

2009-04-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

This is what I am reading. It is very good so far.

Numbers 14:8 "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey."

lists

2009-04-03T23:42:00.000-07:00

photo by Sarah Ko

3 large pots
latch for gate
Blender
grain mill
pasta attachment
buckets
drum sticks
fencing
Island Rock Chickens
black paint
off white interior paint
bees wax
Fruit trees for every month of the year
avocado
black blouse
black jeans
black pants
black sandals
black shoes
red purse
sewing machine
masonry oven
aquaponic garden
honey house
goat shed
bees
goats
butterfly garden
camera

I like lists.
I have many lists.
So does she.

Flashback

2009-04-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

1975 on the North Shore of Oahu.

That is me and my mom!

Eva Mendes

2009-04-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

This dress is very simple, yet probably cost her thousands? It is lovely. I have to put a sewing machine on my list. I like her shoes too. I love red shoes that are impossible to wear.

the world sings

2009-03-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wonder why the world sings?

Yesterday, I changed my home page from Yahoo to CBC Canada. Next month my home page will be Australian News. Obama is cute, but I don't want to see his face EVERY day.

life

2009-03-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Life is strange, and weird, and sometimes like this print, I don't understand it.

I like dwell magazine. The architecture in the mag is modern, and often the homes use funky materials,alternative energy, and sheep power. They need more chickens, and it would be the PERFECT magazine.

Free DVD and GOAT CHEESE!

2009-03-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

If you like givaways,you should check this blog out. Island Life is chock full of giveaways!
I entered to win the new Gulliver’s Travels DVD. I wish I had time to check out her giveaway filled blog more often.

Right now I am baking 4 loaves of honey whole wheat bread, and trying to make goat cheese. I tried to make goat yogurt, but it did not turn out. I was using my oven to keep the milk warm, and I guess it got too hot?It tastes like yogurt, but is not firm. So, now it will be goat cheese instead, I hope. I have a wonderful neighbor who has goats with the best milk in the world, and I am trading him milk for bread! Fresh, organic, raw goat milk makes me happy. I am weird, I know.

For the birds

2009-02-26T17:32:00.000-08:00

Pictured here are the two Bantum chickens. They lay small white eggs that are actually pretty big when you consider the size of the chicken. I took this photo with my phone, and I can see it is not that great.

My son has been updating his blog more often than I have. I think he is doing an outstanding job, and his writing is getting better and better.

Where have I been? I have been going crazy, among other things. Working about 78 hours a week, homeschooling, taking kids to classes, baking bread, taking care of chickens,hiking to Shipman Beach,composting,recycling,sitting at this desk typing on this computer till my carpal tunnel acts up, and being on film for Operation Christmas Child.(We are going to be on the show Living In Paradise!)

My house is a mess. Something has to give right?

Eco Dome!

2009-01-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

There is an Eco Dome here in Hawaii,to find out more go to http://myhawaiirealestate.blogspot.com

January Sun

2009-01-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

More chickens!

2009-01-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

Now we have Silkies! Basil and Rose. Kealani is with Rose, and Isaiah is holding Basil.
My hope is that one of them really is a hen, and she will sit on eggs for us. Silkies are known for being eggcellent mothers.

buckets and tap shoes

2009-01-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

For a field trip today we drove to the Kahilu Theatre, in Waimea, and got there just in time to see Buckets and Tap shoes. Their music was a combination of excellent live jazz, and street music. They incorporated tap dancing with magic,rap, and odd ball percussion instruments like 5 gallon buckets,chimes,cymbals, and a cowbell. The kids said it was the best show at the Kahilu Theatre so far.
It was a beautiful day for the drive, and the kids (my kids and the Ko kids)played in the warm sun at the park after the show too.

E Claire's Bakery

2009-01-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

Here is the lovely Claire of E-Claire's Bakery on Waianuenue Ave. I stepped into this new bakery just out of curiosity, and ended up buying some éclairs, and cream puffs. Claire was very friendly and helpful. I asked her how business was, and she said, "Very good!" It is so good to hear good news, especially while you are eating a cream puff.

The Bread Builders

2009-01-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

While I have been sick with the flu for the last 6 days, I have read and re-read the book The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens. Was very inspiring to read, and I even tried one of the old French bread recipes for the farmer's market.(before the flu) My bread turned out well if I do say so myself. It was a sourdough rye. Now that I read that book, I want a masonry oven even more now than ever. The bread was nice, but with a lovely masonry oven, the crust could have been crustier, and the crumb could have had better texture.Are any of Alan Scott's apprentices out there in need of a Hawaiian vacation, and just wanting to test out your skills so you can help feed the people of Hawaii?? Oh, and yes, it is Thursday, that means if I want my sourdough to be just right, I need to start tonight. I don't do well on 1 hour of sleep. Lack of sleep might have had something to do with my coming down with the flu last Saturday afternoon. These are the sacrifices one makes for the art of fine bread making!

What I got for Christmas

2009-01-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

Three lovely Americana chickens, and two I am not sure of,they came with the free hen house!!On Christmas eve I got a rooster. I will post pictures of him soon.
Goompy and Speckle, (may they rest in peace), were attacked and killed by a loose dog in the neighborhood. I miss them. I especially miss their eggs. I hope my new chickens lay eggs soon.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

This single Gardenia bloomed out of season, so I had to take it's picture.Usually my Gardenia's bloom in Aug. and Sept.

Snow in Hawaii

2008-12-28T20:45:00.000-08:00

My dad took my cousin Jessie and the kids to Mauna Loa yesterday. We have snow in Hawaii too. The nice thing is you can come down from the mountain and leave the snow behind.

Keeping it simple...

2008-12-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

I love this artist. His work reminds me that the most simple things can be completely beautiful. We are keeping it simple this holiday season, and simple can be better.

Ponys with a ocean view

2008-12-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

We got to see two lovely animals on Sunday. One is a just a pasture mate because he is lame. You can see our friend inspecting his legs. He is a Hawaiian pony. The other is a beautiful Welsh mare,7 years old, and trained to let children ride her. She is also trained, and loves to pull a cart. They live in a beautiful pasture overlooking the ocean. My camera did not pick up the ocean in the distance. You will have to use your imagination.

Free music

2008-12-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks Jen for telling me about this, I like the samples, he sounds really good.

Me and the tiny baby boy

2008-12-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Flash back 12 years ago.

As I type this my 12 year old son is in the pool swimming with a friend.What a contrast. When I look at my giant child it is hard to imaging him wearing a fuzzy teddy bear bunting.

Christmas Music

2008-12-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

Here is Kealani, performing Sunday at the East Hawaii Cultural Center for her Christmas Concert. Was a busy weekend.

Doing a little morning reading

2008-12-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

This is how I found her early one morning.....reading the dictionary.

Fancy new wallpaper, and I am not referring to computer screens.

2008-12-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

I adore this wallpaper.

This would look great in my kitchen, instead of the lavender paint I painted there last year.

How can you make banana bread better?

2008-12-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Add chocolate chips.

Flax cracker Friday

2008-11-28T17:04:00.001-08:00

These are the Organic Wheat Free Sourdough Flax Crackers I make for the my family and the farmer's market.

I make them with rye sourdough,oat flour,rye flour,flax seeds,extra virgin olive oil, and a touch of sea salt.

Thanksgiving in Hawaii

2008-11-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

Laupahoehoe Point

I am so thankful for the 4,303 shoe boxes we collected for Operation Christmas Child!
Mahalo Big Island!!

I am thankful for my family,friends, and health. I am thankful for my bed and pillow,hot showers,and sunflowers.
a Bible
a comforter
mangos
pie
free range turkey
sweet potatoes
gravy
cranberries
Kealani's smile, exuberance, and excitement
Isaiah's laughter,thoughtfulness, and humor
music
tomatoes
the sight and sound of the ocean
the stars at night
fresh air
drums
photos
art
a garden
vanilla
cardamon rose soap(filthy farm girl)
coffee
toast with butter
hikes
good shoes
singing
trees
grass
zinnias
books
magazines
chickens
avocados
What are you thankful for?

Guitar String Jewlery

2008-11-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Jen Woodruff

Jen is the leader of the worship team at Grassroots Church. It is a really sweet time when we practice, and when we play on Sunday mornings.We are there every Sunday, 10am at the Akebono Theater in Pahoa.
Jen is a talented singer,musician, song writer, and jewelry maker.
She is seen here, selling her unique guitar string earrings, at the farmer's market in Seaview.

So did the chicken win?

2008-11-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

Yes.

Goompy always wins.

Hand made beeswax tea candles

2008-11-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some candles I made last year for Christmas presents.

I am thinking of making more this year.Trying to get inspired. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I was actually dreaming this morning about putting pretty candles in my Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. I have never heard of anyone putting candles in their shoe box before. I am making 3 teenage girl boxes so maybe a teenage girl would like or need a candle?I probably won't include matches, although they would probably be useful to a child in desperate need.

This is national collection week for Operation Christmas Child, so if you forgot, this is your friendly reminder to get your shoebox ready and take it down to the collection site in your area.

Here in Hilo, if you don't have your shipping fee, Big Island Toyota will pay it for you if you drop your box off there!Thank you Toyota!

Waipio Valley

2008-11-13T16:52:00.000-08:00

The hike down the valley road on Tuesday was very hard on my legs, but the beautiful scenery made up for it. The kids had fun playing in the river,in the waves, and digging in the sand. The beach is a black sand beach. Because of the volcanic rock on our island we have quite a few of these. I sat in the sand next to one of the many streams that flow through the valley. The sand has green sparkling olivine in it that you might not notice unless you were as tired as I was. I sat staring at the green glittering sand, the silver stream, and a dark cherry colored wild horse eating water hyacinths on the edge of the water.His mane and tail were dark black, and he had a white star on his forehead. He slowly sauntered down the river until he was about 20 feet from me, and then he slipped into the water, and gracefully swam across to the other side. I guess the hyacinths were greener there? The boys carefully crossed the river, and ran down the deserted side of the beach to swim in the waves there. The hike back up was so easy for the kids. It was a little more difficult for me hmmm, and felt like I was hiking straight up a wall at times. I was glad we had a good breeze, and the clouds shading us overhead while we hiked. We had Kealani and Arah pushing us up the hills too:-)Thank you Sarah and Y.B. for the photos!

Wrapping party

2008-11-10T06:53:00.000-08:00

You can have a wrapping party too. Here are some friends and family happily wrapping shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Apparently Andreas is a excellent shoe box wrapper. I think he should do all the Christmas presents this year.

Another sunflower in my garden

2008-11-09T18:42:00.001-08:00

This sunflower is bigger than my house.The bees are having fun today.Can you see them?

slack key guitar and cows in the mist

2008-11-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

We went to Waimea today to see the legendary Cyril Pahinui (son of Gabby Pahinui) and Peter Moon Jr. and friends. The slack key guitar institute is this weekend at the Kahilu Theatre. The guitar and ukulele playing was stellar, the bass player had a seven string bass! He played like he was Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Farmer's Market in Seaview,Hawaii

2008-11-07T06:53:00.000-08:00

I am still selling organic bread,fruit,vegetables,crackers,pies, and other assorted preserves and desserts in season. I wonder if it would be ok to call myself the "Farm Girl Realtor"? Hmmm....Green Girl Realtor?Proverbs 31 Realtor? Any suggestions?

Our farmer's market in Seaview has live,tribal, Aboriginal,Hawaiian,rap/folk music?, as you see here, and fresh wheat grass shots. Silky(seen here with her wheat grass) also serves fresh lemonade,passion fruit juice,miracle berries,and homemade sauerkraut.

You can come to the market and listen to lovely tribal music,while you get your hair cut,or a massage, and pedicure.Leisurely eat coconut lime truffles, while sipping some passion fruit juice, or carrot ginger juice. Maybe you just want to have a nice bowl of curry and pick up some fresh bread and your weekly fruits and veggies?
Stop and pick some noni fruit on your way home, and maybe hike to the volcano? Snorkel with rainbow colored fish. Forrage for guavas.Stare at the azure sky.Sleep on the beach.

The beautiful girl has a violin now

2008-11-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

She can play the ukulele, the piano, and now she is the proud owner of a 1/2 size violin. She is learning with Cathy Young who is a Suzuki style music teacher.

Did you?

2008-11-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

I just sit around doing nothing all day

2008-11-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

I think I have a catering business now. This is a Alice Waters chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream frosting. It was for a woman I met at the farmer's market. I made another one for my family because we had to test it to make sure it would be good enough.

Pumpkin

2008-11-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

So, I did not take pictures of the carved pumpkins, but they did carve them. My frugal farmer idea was to steam the pumpkin, store it in the refrigerator to make pumpkin soup,and pumpkin muffins. Well, I was still steaming and storing pumpkin till 10:30 last night. I will have enough pumpkin to make pumpkin soup, pumpkin muffins,pumpkin fondue,more pumpkin muffins, and Goompy, and Speckle had pumpkin for breakfast this morning.Oh, and the skins went to the compost, and the seeds I roasted slightly and salted lightly.

Bananas and chocolate

2008-11-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

Tis another before and after photo blog. Before is a box of apple bananas that are on the verge of being too ripe, and no good for anything except chicken food and compost.
I saved the day by peeling and trimming them all, dipping them in fresh lemon juice,and dehydrating them. Then I did what seemed the most reasonable thing to do, I dipped them in chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate. I like them, but I think next time I will dip them in dark chocolate.

Oregano

2008-10-31T06:52:00.000-07:00

Now I have two kinds of oregano. I have the small leaf variety, and got some clippings of the large variety, and rooted them in a glass of water. It rooted very easily, and I just transplanted it to pots as you can see. This fresh oregano was so very good on the homemade pizza I made last week.

before and after photos

2008-10-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

So, I never got around to weeding,tilling,adding compost, and manure to my garden until August. (That is the before photo.) The after photos are the sunflowers,papayas,tomatoes, and tomatillos 3 months later. Thank you Ko family for the papayas!
Maybe I will make papaya salsa.

Free shipping pallets and shoe boxes

2008-10-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here are the pallets, they are still in pallet form, and not in chicken coop form.Things are pretty crazy busy around my house.

We are quickly approaching Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, Nov.17-24 2008.
The drop off site for Hilo, here on the Big Island is Hilo Missionary Church,1044 Komohana St.,Hilo. Mon.-Fri.3-5,Sat.10-1,Sun.12-5.
We will be at Wal-Mart in Hilo on Nov.8, 2008 if you want to pick up a box, or brochures, or if you would like to drop off your box at our booth that day you can do that too!
Here on the Big Island Operation Christmas Child brochures can be found at all KTA stores island wide.
Call 1-800-664-7563 for local info or to leave us a message and someone will return your call.

Will I have a chicken coop before Nov. 24?Not sure...I am sure the awesome people of the Big Island will bring record breaking numbers of shoe boxes.Yes!

Chickens and old pallets

2008-10-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

Goompy

We will be making hen houses using old wooden pallets and hopefully getting 12 or more chickens, hopefully more. We have about 9 pallets collected now, and we know where to get plenty more. Wooden pallets are an excellent recycled building material.

They would be chopped up at the dump and made into mulch, but I don't think this kind of wood mulch is very healthy for gardens. I would rather have beautiful chicken coops.I will post pictures of them soon.I hope.