Koloa Plantation Days

If you’re headed to Kauai, you’re in luck, especially if you’re into rodeo activities.  Koloa Plantation Days is a mix of culture, plantation history, sports, recreation, live entertainment, food and fun for the entire family.

Kick off is Friday, July 22nd, with the Plantation Days Rodeo – preliminary roping & American west barrel racing at CIM stables,  from noon till 5:30 pm.   Following the rodeo events, stick around for a Paniolo Cookout and Slack Key music, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.  (Call 808-742-6096.)

If tennis is more your game, Saturday starts off at 8:00 am with the Charity Tennis Tournament for United Way at Poipu Kai.   You’ll have to be a spectator, since the deadline for registering was July 15th.  Call 808-634-6050.   There is also a historic Hapa Trail Walk & Lunch leaving from St. Raphael’s Church at 9:00 am.  (808)652-2063

And, back at CIM Stables, the roping event kicks off at noon and runs till 5:00 pm.

Sunday, the 24th, the Charity Tennis Tournament for United Way continues at 8:00 am till 4:30 pm.  There is also a Miniature Golf Tournament for kids 13 and younger at the Lawai Beach Resort, starting at 10:00 am, call (808)240-5179.   And, from 11:30 am – 3:30 pm, the 12th Annual Plantation Days Rodeo, pre-rodeo entertainment helps to raise funds for the YMCA.  ($2/adults, children free with $1/adult going to the YMCA.)  Yes, its back at the CIM Stables, (808)742-6096

Monday morning, you can join in the Makawehi Sand Dune Walk, leaving from the Grand Hyatt Kauai, Seaview Terrace at 9:00 am (808)742-1234.  The Kukuiula Village is the site for a Historic Film Night Exhibit from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.  (808)742-9545

Koloa Plantation Days Craft Fair at The Point at Poipu, runs from 9:00 am till 1:00 pm, Tuesday, July 26th.  (808)742-1888   A Mixed plate-Live Music event is scheduled from 3:00 pm till 7:00 pm at the Old Koloa Town Courtyard. (808)742-7238   Eat early and make a quick run to the Poipu Shopping Village and you can catch the Polynesian Review & Fire Dance, 7:30-8:30 pm. (808)742-2831

Wednesday, July 27th, the Mahaulepu Coastal Hike by Malama Mahaulepu, 9:00 – 11:30 am.  (808)742-2024   Traditional Hawaiian Games at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation, 10 am – noon.  (808)742-6411  Plantation Treats at Kauai Culinary Market, Kukuiula Village, 4 – 6 pm.  (808)742-9545

Look back through the Sugar Era on Thursday at the Old Koloa Mill by Grove Farm, 9 – 11 am. (808)245-3678 ext. 222   Plantation Days Putting Contest at the Poipu Bay Resort Golf Club, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.  (808)742-8711   And, the Grand Hyatt Kauai is the location of the Luau Buffet Dinner & Show, 6:00 pm.  (Book via the Hyatt for a discount: 808-240-6456)

Friday, July 29th, Mahaulepu Watercolor Class by Malama Mahaulepu.  There is a fee for supplies or you can bring your own.  (808)742-2024   Talk Story – Sweet Memories of Old Koloa at the Koloa Union Church, 4:30 pm (808)332-0303.  Old Koloa Historical Walk leaves the Koloa School at 5:30 pm. (808)332-5201

Saturday, July 30th – Annual Parade & Park Celebration

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Historic Parade – 10:00 am, Koloa Town   Floats, marching units, riders, classic cars, and the Pacific Fleet Band.

Park Celebration – 11 am – 5:00 pm, Anne Knudsen (Koloa) Park   Food, crafts, live entertainment featuring Henry Kapona & Band, Frank DeLima, Augie T, and more!  $2 admission  (808)652-3217

Things wrap up on Sunday with the Paddle Fest at Poipu Beach Park, by Kukuiula Canoe Club.  10 am – 2 pm.  (808)635-0165

Well, as you can see, its a busy week in Koloa, Kauai!  Love the way they’ve scheduled activities so that you can attend the majority of them without missing out on something else that might be going on.  So, if your plans put you on Kauai between the 22nd and 31st of July, you should have a great time in store with all the activities surround the Koloa Plantation Days!

For more details and videos, visit www.koloaplantationdays.com.

Honolulu:  The current fine for using a handheld mobile device while driving is $97.  Effective July 1st, that fine increases to $147.

The two-year old law has seen almost 17,000 drivers cited and over $1.5 Million in fines collected.  (All fines go towards the General Fund, so I guess you can say its helping to balance the budget.)

The easiest way to avoid this fine is to simply stop using your mobile device while driving.  Short of that, you can get a corded headset/ear-piece or wireless bluetooth so you can use your phone hands-free.

There are many states that have various levels of laws against using cellphones and/or texting while driving.  A few states even go as far as to ban any use of cellphones, even hands-free use.

Those who are planning on visiting and renting a car while in Hawaii should take note of this law and consider yourself warned.

Are you a lover of  Japanese-style foods?  If so, you will love what Shirokiya has done with their 2nd floor.  Gone are the rice cookers, the crackers, and decorative furnishings that once filled the space.  The entire 2nd floor has been transformed into purely Japanese fare with ample seating in the center.

Shirokiya New Food Court

You may have picked up from the narration of this short video, that this is the last remaining Shirokiya in the world!  Personally, I was very surprised to hear that, but that just makes it all the more special.

When you think of double-decker buses, you usually have images of London and New York City.  Gray Line has just finished adding a fleet of colorful, open-top, double-decker buses to their Honolulu offerings.  The AlohaBus currently run two of three-lines on an unlimited, on-off basis.

You get unlimited use of the Waikiki – Honolulu Day loop, Pearl Harbor Express, and their night loop for dining and entertainment. (Pearl Harbor Express is operated on a Coach Bus and not the AlohaBus).

You purchase a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour pass and set your own schedule as you get on and off any of their stops at your leisure.  Tickets cost $39, $49, and $59 respectively for adults and $14, $19, and $24 for children.

They currently offer a web special of $10 off adult tickets plus you can get one free child ticket for each adult ticket purchased! That brings prices down where the double-decker AlohaBus becomes a very reasonable alternative to renting a car, fighting traffic, looking for parking, and paying parking fees.

To get these special prices, simply log into their website and purchase your tickets, print out your confirmation email, and redeem them on any AlohaBus.  Or, if you don’t have a printer, simply make note of your reservation number and along with a proper id, you can pick up your tickets at their service center in Waikiki.

There are no seats on the lower-level of the AlohaBus, but fortunately, it doesn’t rain that often in Honolulu.  But, in the event of rain, they do offer ponchos.

One of the features of the new double-decker AlohaBus is that each seat is fitted with GPS-activated narration provided in English, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean and Spanish, featuring fun and unique stories and facts

If nothing else, children will love the added fun of taking in the sights of Waikiki and Honolulu from the unique vantage point of an open-air, roof-level seat of a colorful, double-decker AlohaBus!

As announced months ago, United/Continental Airlines begin direct service between Hilo and Los Angeles this month.  Flights are now available to fly direct between the two cities!

So, there is now one more option available for outer-island visitors looking to avoid the crowds at Honolulu-International (HNL).   And especially for those visitors who are primarily interested in visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to catch the latest action there.  Prices are not exactly bargains at a round-trip fare of $796.90 (again, I just did a quick check and it may be possible to find lower fares).

At the time they announced their intentions to connect LA and Hilo, United/Continental Airlines also indicated that they would offer direct flights between Hilo and San Francisco.  However, that has not yet happened and is apparently not available yet…I checked as far out as the end of this month.

Saturday, June 4, 2011, is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day!   In recognition, a recent post in The National Parks of the Pacific blog highlighted the only National Trail in Hawaii, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii.  This 175-mile trail runs from near the northern tip of the island, along the coast of Kona, around Ka Lae (South Point) and then back up along the coast till it reaches the border of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Along the way, it passes thru three of the four National Park sites on the island; Puukohola National Historic Site (near Kawaihae Harbor), often overlooked Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (not far from the Kailua-Kona Airport),  and the much more well-known and visited Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge) at Honauna.

Some special events have been scheduled for the day, including a one-hour guided tour at Puuhonua o Honaunau, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.  Call (808) 328-2326 Ext.1241 for information.

There will be two 45-minutes-to-an-hour guided walks in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, at the summit of Kilauea Volcano.  This is a short 1/2 mile, wheel-chair accessible, paved path.  No, you won’t be seeing any lava activity on this short walk.  Call for information (808) 985-6000.

From 9:30 am till 11:00 am, at the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, hike with a park ranger from the park headquarters through lava fields along the coastline to see ancient fishponds, native birds, sea turtles and other sights.  You will also get to see one of the better preserved examples of petroglyphs.

For the more physically fit and those looking for more of a work out, the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are sponsoring a 5-mile hike leaving from Punaluu State Park, a black sand beach, along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.  The turn-around point is Kamehame, another black sand beach that is a primary nesting site for honu ‘ea (hawksbill turtles).  There is a fee for this hike, $50 for Friends members and $65 for non-members.  Students (K-12 and college with valid student ID) are half-price.  Call (808) 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org to register.

Punaluu State Park is located about 2-hours from the hotel area of Kailua-Kona.  You take Highway 11, Mamalahoa Highway, south till you past Ka Lae (South Point) and the southernmost town in the U.S.A., Naalehu.  You may want to stop at the Punaluu Bake Shop, which contrary to its name is located in Naalehu, to grab a bite to eat.  There are no places to eat between Naalehu and Punaluu.

I will end with my usual cautions; remember the sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a cooler of drinks, snacks and sturdy, toe-covering shoes!  This is not flip-flop friendly ground you will be trekking.  You will thank me later.

2011 Merrie Monarch Festival

The week long 2011 Merrie Monarch Festival came to a conclusion on Saturday evening, March 30th.  And, after three nights of competition, the winner this year is…well, if you don’t already know, watch the video…

Merrie Monarch Festival Winner

This link will take you to Big Island Video News and an 18 minute excerpt from the  Halau O Kekuhi opening of the Merrie Monarch Festival Ho’ike.

So, what else did you miss?  You can also follow this link to Channel KFVE, Hawaii’s website to see day by day coverage of the festival.

Media release | Fern Gavelek Communications

Leaders of the specialty coffee industry are traveling to the stateʻs largest agricultural district this weekend to learn about award-winning Ka‘ū coffee.

Representing three areas of the US Mainland, they include specialty coffee guru George Howell of Terroir Coffee in Acton, Mass.; Skip Fay of Dunn Bros Coffee in Minneapolis, Minn. and James Freeman of Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland, Calif.

The notable coffee experts are participating in Ka‘ū coffeeʻs inaugural reverse trade mission as part of the third Ka‘ū Coffee Festival May 14-15 at the Pahala Community Center. They will learn first-hand about Ka‘ū coffee during Saturday festival activities, including guided tastings and farm tours. On Sunday, the men will give guest lectures to local coffee farmers at the free Ka‘ū Coffee College.

“We’re pleased and proud that these notable industry leaders are traveling to Ka‘ū to share in our community”, said Chris Manfredi who serves as lead festival organizer. “This strategic initiative to create collaborative relationships will benefit Ka‘ū growers and moves us another step forward on the path toward establishing Ka‘ū as a premium coffee growing origin.”

A pioneer of the specialty coffee movement in the early 1970s, George Howell founded The Coffee Connection, a high-end coffee retailer that was acquired by Starbucks in 1994. He is an expert on single-origin coffee and is a living legend in the industry.

Marshall “Skip” Fay is executive vice president of Dunn Bros Coffee Franchising, Inc. He opened Dunnʻs first franchised coffee house and roastery in 1994. Today there are 90 locations.

Named one of the New York Times’ “Nifty 50,” James Freeman is on coffee’s radar for his Blue Bottle coffee company in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Freeman’s network of coffee carts and cafes offer carefully made coffee drinks and he is committed to selling beans “less than 48 hours out of the roaster.”

The Ka‘ū Coffee Festival comes on the heels of recent coffee industry awards garnered by brews that hail from the rural southern end of the Big Island. Kailiawa Farm earned a Coffee of the Year award in the 2011 Specialty Coffee Association of Americaʻs (SCAA) annual international cupping competition. More than 120 specialty coffee submissions, representing 17 countries, competed in Houston. This marks the fifth consecutive year Ka‘ū coffees have placed at or near the top of international competition. Manfredi first introduced Ka‘ū to intentional competition in 2007 and his company, Ka‘ū Farm and Ranch, LLC, has sponsored the entries every year since.

On May 3, Hawai‘iʻs Pete Licata used Ka‘ū and Kona coffees to be the first from the 50th State to win the U.S. Barista Championship. The event is the culmination of 10 regional competitions organized by SCAA in which competitors produce espresso, cappuccinos and original signature drinks to exacting standards. Licata, of Honolulu Coffee Co., travels to Bogota, Columbia, June 2-5 to vie in the prestigious World Barista Championship.

All coffee-industry related activities at the Ka‘ū Coffee Festival are open to the general public; some require a fee.

Guided coffee tastings are $5 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will be led by Licata and a host of coffee experts: Miguel Meza, coffee-quality consultant and co-owner of Isla Coffee Company; Dr. Shawn Steinman, coffee scientist and owner of Coffea Consulting; Andrew Hetzel, founder/director Cafemakers LLC; and Lorie Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee, 2010 Grand Champion Hawaii Coffee Assoc. Cupping Competition.

Coffee farm tours are $10 throughout Saturday and Sunday and the Ka‘ū Coffee College is free. With the exception of the 1 p.m. recipe contest sampling for $5, all other festival activities are free, including a full day of entertainment headlined by Cyril Pahinui.

The Ka‘ū Coffee Festival is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. For a complete lineup of activities for the entire family, visit www.kaucoffeefestival.com; and follow the Ka‘ū Coffee Festival on Facebook and Twitter at kaucoffeefest.