Hawai‘i Island’s Community Magazine The Life | 2022September – October Kepakemapa – ÿOkakopa ARTS Petroglyph Press: 60 Years of Sharing CULTURE FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i: The Next Generation of Spearfishers SUSTAINABILITY Bo Williams: Island Teen Proves It Takes a Village
The Life Hawaiÿi Island’s Community Magazine September – October | Kepakemapa – ÿOkakopa 2022 Arts HEART: Growing Hilo’s Love for Theater 10 By Mālielani Larish An Album for the Community: 34 Martin Charlot’s Konawaena Mural By Mālielani Larish Petroglyph Press: 60 Years of Sharing 48 Local Culture, History, and Storytelling By Nancy S. Kahalewai Community Everyone Wins 28 in Honoka‘a’s Feeding Program By Catherine Tarleton Culture FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i 42 Lifesaving Training for the Next Generation of Spearfishers By Sara Stover Sustainability Bo Williams: Island Teen Proves 18 It Takes a Village By Fern Gavelek At Home in the Caldera: 24 Koa‘e Kea, the White-Tailed Tropicbird By Rachel Laderman Front cover: Mohea, a pastel by Trish Helms Kimball. Table of contents: Kai Kisses, a photograph by Susanna Anderson. Read more about the artists on page 53.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 6 Ka Wehena: The Opening ‘Auhea Wale Ana ‘Oe 9 By Kumu Keala Ching Medicinal Plants from the Garden Tulsi: The Queen of Herbs 23 By Brittany P. Anderson Business Building Business with Soul: 33 Mindfulness in Business By Arliss Dudley-Cash MA, MBA Talk Story with an Advertiser Keauhou Shopping Center 54 The Arc of Hilo 55 Local Food Keiki in the Kitchen 41 Recipe for Frozen Yogurt Banana Bites By Brittany P. Anderson Featured Artists Cover Artist 53 Trish TableKimballofContents Artist 53 Susanna Anderson Ka Puana: Closing Thoughts 684: He keiki aloha na mea kanu 58 Mary Kawena Pukui. Olelo Noeau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings The Life Hawaiÿi Island’s Community Magazine September – October | Kepakemapa – ÿOkakopa 2022
To Our Readers
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Starting with this issue we are introducing a new, ongoing series, called “Building Business with Soul,” written by Arliss Dudley-Cash. Many of you will remember our business series “Managing with Aloha,” by Rosa Say, which we published for many years. We had been wanting to create a new business series, so when Arliss contacted us about the potential for writing for Ke Ola, we asked her what she is passionate about. When she said business, we got excited—and you are about to read the first installment, called Mindfulness in Business. We are excited to be sharing this series, and hope you will learn a lot from it, whether you have a business or not. Other stories in this issue include the celebration of Petroglyph Press’ impressive 60th anniversary. Congratulations to the Reed family for their longevity, it is quite a feat! Another inspiring story, in Honoka‘a, a program called Feeding our Keiki and Kupuna was developed at the onset of Covid-19. With the help of the community, they are feeding more than 400 people everyTakeweek!alook at the photos of Koa‘e Kea, the tropicbird that lives inside Halema‘uma‘u Crater! Itʻs nearly unimaginable that anything could live in that environment, and yet this bird lives and raises offspring there. We had many amazing submissions for our keiki cover and other featured pages. When we voted, we ultimately chose two people who have never been featured in Ke Ola before. It is our pleasure to highlight the island’s artists, and up until our 10th anniversary in 2019, we had never featured an artist more than one time. At the 10 year milestone, we decided to open the submissions up to all the artists on the island again for two reasons: one, we thought it wasn’t fair to those who had been featured in the first years to be disqualifed any longer, and two, we figured with a finite number of artists on the island, we might run out of new ones at some point. That turned out to not be a problem—there are still plenty of artists we have never featured; however, we are also happy to have featured a few more than once. We are continuing our policy to accept submissions from all professional artists and photographers, with a special emphasis on featuring those who have never been featured before. Our November–December theme is tropical holidays; January–February 2023 has an ocean/sea life theme; and March–April has a hula theme, in honor of Merrie Monarch’s 60th anniversary. Future themes and deadlines can be found on our website. The criteria for submitting artwork or photos is the artist must live on Hawai‘i Island, and they sell their art in a gallery or online. Enjoy this issue! Barbara Garcia and Tanya Yamanaka painting courtesy of Pat Shopbell
We have featured keiki as our cover theme before, and we were prompted to do it again because of the many wonderful youth on the island who inspire us all, and the people who lead them. Larry Reitzer is a great example of someone who moved to the island with the attitude of giving, and together with Charles Bankhead Haines, they created HEART, Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theater. So far, they have trained more than 200 children in theater arts while producing Aladdin Jr., Gypsy, Biloxi Blues and Beauty and the Beast. Coming up in October is Lion King, Jr. at Hilo’s Palace Theater. Another adult who has inspired hundreds of children is artist Martin Charlot. In 1975, Martin moved to Kona to paint a mural at Konawaena High School. That mural has touched the Konawaena community for 47 years, and Martin, with the help of that community, restored it in 2020. Through all the ups and downs during the pandemic, teenager Bo Williams found his passion: farming. Bo has loved farming since he attended E Ola Mau I Ka Pono Waimea Summer Camp in 2017. (Read Ke Ola’s story about the camp in the November–December 2017 issue, entitled The Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hāmākua at cultural-center/.)keolamagazine.com/culture/hamakua-https://Whenhefound himself with time on his hands during the pandemic, he put them to use, and is now starting a business with his family. FreeDiveSafe! Hawai‘i is a nonprofit that teaches young spearfishers how to dive safely. Justin Lee, a Honoka‘a native, is the 2022 National Spearfishing Champion and young island spearfishers’ idol. He helps with the training and inspires keiki to learn to dive safely, preventing potential tragedies. We salute Justin for staying involved with his hometown community after experiencing so much success! We love these stories about the island’s youth, and would love to share more in future issues, whether the theme of the issue is keiki, or not. If you know someone who would inspire our readers, please submit an outline about them via our website contact page https://keolamagazine.com/suggeststory-idea/ or email it to HIEditor@KeOlaMagazine.com.
We love getting your letters to the editor of 50 words or fewer. Story ideas and submissions are also welcome. We accept email and submissions through our website. KeOlaMagazine.com HIeditor@KeOlaMagazine.com keolamagazine.com/suggest-story-idea/ keolamagazine.com/write-letter-to-the-editor/ Ke Ola Magazine recognizes the use of the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop, as one of the eight consonants of (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakō [ā] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai‘i such as Pāhoa). Ke Ola Magazine respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses. Socialize with us : Facebook.com/KeOlaMagazine Instagram.com/KeOlaMagazine Twitter.com/KeOlaMagazine
For more information on Kumu Keala and Nä Wai Iwi Ola, visit: nawaiiwiola.org ‘Auhea Wale Ana ‘Oe
Where are you my dear child, tra la la? Seek change but remember to never forget the elders’ ways. If you’re familiar with the old ways, you’re a child of your elders empowered with traditions. You are there, indeed! Change is here! Accept change when you’re ready! Don’t change traditions, enhance traditions with changes. Seek and know simplistic transformation, child knowledge!
Na Kumu Keala Ching
‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi keiki, lā ‘eā‘eā Holo aku, Holo mai, ‘eā I ke ola kūpuna, lā ‘eā I laila ho’i lā ‘oe, eia lā ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi kama‘āina, lā ‘eā‘eā ‘Ike aku, ‘Ike mai, ‘eā I ke ola kūpuna, eia lā I laila ho‘i lā ‘oe, eia lā ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi kūpuna, lā ‘eā‘eā Ho‘omana aku, Ho‘omana mai, ‘eā I ke ola kūpuna, eia lā I laila ho‘i lā ‘oe, eia lā ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi ‘ohana, lā ‘eā‘eā Aloha aku, Aloha mai, ‘eā I ke ola kūpuna, eia lā I laila ho‘i lā ‘oe, eia lā ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe E ku‘u wahi Hawai‘i, lā ‘eā‘eā ‘Auamo aku, ‘Auamo mai, ‘eā I ke ola kūpuna, eia lā I laila ho‘i lā ‘oe, eia lā Where are you? Indeed my special child, tra la la Journey here, Journey there, indeed In the elders’ footsteps, tra la la Here you are! Where are you? Indeed my child of the land, tra la la Knowledge shared, Knowledge received In the elders’ footsteps, tra la la Here you are! Where are you? Indeed my special elder, tra la la Anointed expressed, Anointed accepted In the elders’ footsteps, tra la la Here you are! Where are you? Indeed my special family, tra la la Aloha given, Aloha returned In the elders’ footsteps, tra la la Here you are! Where are you? Indeed my special Hawai‘i, tra la la Carry wisely, Carry accepting In the elders’ footstep, tra la la Here you are! ‘Auhea wale ana ‘oe e ku‘u wahi keiki, lā ‘eā‘eā? Huli maila ke ao hulihuli ā ke ao kama‘āina i poina‘ole i ke ola kūpuna. Inā kama‘āina ke ola kūpuna, kama‘āina i ke ola keiki, i ke ola kama‘āina, i ke ola kūpuna, i ke ola ‘ohana ā i ke ola Hawai‘i nei. I laila ho‘i lā ‘oe eia lā!
HEART: However, a wise friend gave him this advice: “If you really want to be part of the Big Island, don’t ask what you can take, ask what you can bring.”
By Mālielani Larish Performing arts lovers of all ages are lucky that Larry Reitzer grew disenchanted with lounging on the beach. After a 30-year career in the entertainment industry, Larry retired and moved to Hilo with the intention of penning a play and relaxing by the seashore.
Growing Hilo’s Love for Theater
After a few months of watching the dolphins and whales from his cliff-top lānai (porch) in Onomea, he arrived at the solution: to bring more theater to Hilo. Together with musical director Charles Bankhead Haines, Larry founded HEART, or EducationHiloArtsRepertoryTheater,which has driven up the quantity and quality of theatrical performances in East Hawai‘i. HEART especially focuses on creating more on-stage and behind-the-scenes opportunities for youth through education and mentorship, and the achievements of HEART performers attest to the nonprofit’s ability to cultivate young talent.
Under the direction of Larry Reitzer, Palace Theater’s inaugural youth musical, Beauty and the Beast, debuted in the summer of 2021. photo courtesy of Palace Theater
Larry directing Gypsy photo courtesy of Mike Caputo
When Larry first moved to Hilo, acquaintances told him that the majority of kids here shy away from acting, but Larry suspected that youth here simply needed more opportunities to perform. With every production that he has directed, more kids and teens show up to audition, eventually necessitating the expansion of Hilo’s Palace Theater stage. Larry directed his inaugural production in Hawai‘i, the Disney musical Aladdin Jr., in association with Center Stage Dance Studio at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Two hundred kids performed in it, and he noted that although most of the kids were dancers, “the kids got really excited about learning the songs, the lines, and the blocking.” Blocking, also known as staging, is the process of working out the nuances of actors’ on-stage movements, body positions, and body language in order to best animate the story.Although Larry needed only eight kids for his next show, Gypsy, 29 kids showed up for the audition, and he found ways to put the majority of them into the show. This is when he learned that the Palace Theater’s stage was too small, so the Palace built the stage out to accommodate the additional cast. In 2020, Larry announced auditions for the Palace Theater’s first youth musical, Beauty and the Beast. Although the Palace Theater had staged a yearly musical since 2002, Beauty and the Beast was the first to feature a cast comprised mainly of young people and the first to focus on providing them with mentoring throughout the production process. Charles Bankhead Haines, who had been patiently awaiting the right opportunity to dive into Hilo’s theater scene, scored the role of the Beast. Although Charles grew up in the small town of Birmingham, Alabama, he benefitted tremendously from a youth theater program there (run by Red Mountain Theater Company), which brings in Broadway performers, directors, and choreographers to give kids and teens training in how to be theater professionals. “They instilled the confidence in me that theater could be a lifestyle,” he says gratefully.
If You Build It, They Will Come
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Kyra Gomes and Charles Bankhead Haines starred as Belle and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. photo courtesy of Nicholas Souza
Unfortunately, pandemic restrictions shut Beauty and the Beast down the week before it was set to debut in March 2020. To keep his cast and crew inspired, Larry started a Zoom lecture series that drew on his extensive connections in show business. Larry’s credentials are impressive: he spent 10 years as a company manager for Broadway classics like Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera in New York. After moving to the opposite coast, he spent 20 years working in television production and as a writer for such acclaimed shows as Ugly Betty, Spin City, and Just Shoot Me. His first guest for the Zoom series was Marc delaCruz, a Hilo native who made headlines by becoming the first Asian-American to play the role of founding father Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway hit Hamilton. Another guest, Dan Jinks, who won Oscars for his productions of American Beauty and Milk, talked to the kids about writing, producing, and directing. Larry also invited guests to talk about exactly how to audition for Broadway, and one of his long-time colleagues, Scott Genkinger, spoke to the students about television casting. Although growing up on our remote archipelago may feel isolating, Charles believes that young people here should keep dreaming big. “If they develop the skills and a sense of professionalism, they can totally succeed in the world of theater,” he says.
As they worked together on Beauty and the Beast, Larry realized the breadth of Charles’ musical talent and his enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring youth. While the world closed down due to the pandemic, Larry and Charles founded HEART over countless cups of coffee. With Larry as the executive director and Charles as the artistic director, HEART officially became a nonprofit in 2020. Making Connections with Professionals
In addition, youth are coached to keep refining their artistic skills and exceeding their expectations, something that 21-year-old Kea‘au resident Ku‘uhiapo Jeong truly appreciates. After discovering his love for theater as a Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i Campus student, Ku‘uhiapo had the honor of starring as Aladdin in Larry’s first Hilo production. He says that Larry’s emphasis on professionalism and producing art of the highest caliber really helped him develop as an actor. While simultaneously working on his master’s degree at Biola University, Ku‘uhiapo is receiving Larry’s mentorship as an associate director in HEART productions. The HEART community has become Ku‘uhiapo’s second family, one in which he can be “weird and quirky, and bust out in song” without worrying about being judged.
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Seventeen-year-old Sam Deitch, who has starred in five More than 20 youth performed in Palace Theater’s production of Gypsy in 2019. photo courtesy of Nicholas Souza of Larry’s productions over the past four years, echoes Ku‘uhiapo’s thoughts on HEART. “Theater has become my home,” he says. “It is a very welcoming and safe space where people can truly express themselves.” Sam, who attends Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Hawaiian language immersion charter school, says that “meeting Larry definitely sparked my interest in theater. He made me realize all the different things you can do with theater.” Sam is currently working as the musical director’s assistant for Cabaret and plans to major in musical theatre in college.
Some people ask Larry if mentoring young protégés makes the producing and directing process more difficult. “No,” says Larry. “It makes it so much more rewarding knowing that we are taking a little extra time and energy to nurture and build the future arts leaders of our community.”
Working Alongside Professionals Youth who join a HEART production benefit from the theater company’s emphasis on providing young adults and teens with mentorship. “Mentorship is a really big part of HEART. That is one of our most important responsibilities: to really train people,” Larry says. In every show, the director, musical director, stage manager, lighting designer, and set designer—all adults with professional theater experience—are each paired with a young assistant.
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Larry Reitzer (center, in black shirt) and the cast of Avenue Q photo courtesy of Nicholas Souza
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 16 Larry Reitzer directed Biloxi Blues at East Hawai‘i Cultural Center in 2020. photo courtesy of Mike Caputo
Alumni Dream Big
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Meili Aspen, who starred as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, in HEART’s Christmas shows, and as the female lead in Gypsy, scored the role of a young Katy Perry in the mega-star’s “Electric” music video. The 15-year-old Waiākea student also starred on American Idol and plans to pursue an acting career in New York. Looking Forward Lion King Jr., comprised entirely of a cast that is 21 years old and younger, opens this October at the Palace Theater. Based on the sold-out success of Beauty and the Beast, this classic Disney tale promises to be a blockbuster. Next summer, HEART plans to host a summer camp that will offer young performers lessons in singing and dancing, as well as all aspects of stage operations, including lighting, sound, and set construction. Save for a nominal registration fee, the camp will be offered free of charge to all participants who sign up. Charles says that the summer camp will be designed to “grow kids’ love of theater in every way possible way” by showing them how to develop a show from the ground up. Ironically, Larry’s original vision of idling on the beach has been replaced by a packed rehearsal schedule; three rehearsals in one day is not unusual for him. “In Hawai‘i I am just non-stop,” he muses. Now his vacation time is spent in New York, where he doesn’t have to do anything besides eat pizza and watch his friends’ theater productions. Through HEART, Larry and Charles are both excited to keep cultivating theater opportunities for youth while developing Hilo’s appreciation for theater with thrilling, courageous, and provocative performances. “We feel so blessed to be here,”
Mayor Mitch Roth and the cast of Avenue Q. photo courtesy of Nicholas Souza
For more hearthilo.orginformation:
Larry says. “Getting to do what we love and giving back to our young arts-loving community is a real gift for us and something we are grateful for every day.” facebook.com/groups/138523951459426/
Some of the talented individuals that Larry has worked with are already making it big in performing arts. Makoa Kala‘i, who played the lead role in Biloxi Blues, a drama about eight teens in basic military training that Larry directed in 2020, is studying performing arts at New York University, where he landed the lead role in the university’s production of Pippin. Kyra Gomes, who played Belle in Beauty and the Beast, is pursuing her bachelors of fine arts in theater at Oklahoma City University.
Restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic presented island youth with a variety of challenges: online school instruction, cancelled sporting events, and minimal, in-person interaction with friends. With the help of his community, a Hawai‘i Island teen overcame feelings of isolation while pushing himself to explore new interests and learn about himself.
Teenager Bo Williams of Waikoloa Village
Meet Bo Williams of Waikoloa Village, a Kealakehe High School (KHS) junior who is considering a career in farming and food manufacturing. Along with his family, the 16-year-old is starting a new business to grow and process Hawaiian chili peppers to create value-added products. The saying “it takes a village” rings true in Bo’s journey to find his passions. His parents, mom Lynn and stepdad Rob Rostau, credit multiple connections and opportunities offered by community members, associations, and educators as key for helping Bo develop a love for agriculture, ranching, and an appreciation for hard work.“This is a lifestyle that has stuck with Bo and we keep trying to feed it,” says Lynn. “It’s in his DNA somehow.”
How It All Began Bo’s journey of connecting to the land began pre-Covid, when he attended E Ola Mau I Ka Pono Waipi‘o Summer Camp as a 12-year-old in 2017. The focus of the 10day Waipi‘o Valley immersion camp was to get keiki (children) in touch with the land, themselves, and Hawaiian culture and traditions. Attendees awoke before sunrise to chant and go directly into the lo‘i to plant or harvest kalo, prepare breakfast in shifts, and then ho‘olauna (friendly introduction about themselves to others in Hawaiian). The campers also met the valley’s residents and helped them with farm chores. While the experience provided the kids with guidance, camp volunteer Kawika Ayau says each attendee had to take on the responsibility of showing up and doing what needed to be done. “After our work days, I noticed Bo was Bo Williams: Island Teen Proves “It Takes a Village”
By Fern Gavelek homesick; he was somewhat shying away from others and cried when practicing his ho‘olauna stories to share,” recalls Kawika. “He confided he missed his family. I assured him when his family comes down to hear his stories and about the week he had at camp, they would be blown away. Then you could see
Kawika credits “the magic of Waipi‘o Valley, being in nature, and not being able to call mom and dad on a whim” as helping Bo break out and find his passion for the land.
Ranching Fills a Void When Pandemic Hits
The family has registered their brand name, Hawaiian Hotties, which boasts a new logo.
When Covid-19 closed down things in 2020, Bo was a high school freshman with a lot of extra time on his hands. “I was attending classes online and didn’t know what to do with my time,” he shares. He became sad and lonely. For younger sister Brooke’s birthday, the family went horseback riding in Waimea at Dahana Ranch. “I liked it there on the range with the animals and volunteered to come help on the weekends,” details Bo. He pitched in doing ranch chores like shoveling manure and painting. At the end of the day he’d get on a horse and help bring in the cattle. “We were motivated to help Bo pursue his interests and keep busy,” notes Lynn, who helped transport him to the ranch on weekends.Next,theyouth started volunteering at an off-grid, 20-acre ranch in Hawi. Owner Patrice Strange remembers meeting Bo when he came to the ranch with his family to adopt a puppy. “Bo was dressed in cowboy attire and seemed to like the environment,” she recalls. “We invited him back to ride the horses and he came ready to work!” Bo helped string fence and clear pasture. Patrice adds Bo was very gentle and kind with the horses and they liked him. “He brings a sense of honesty and integrity to whatever he does; he doesn’t complain and is ready to help.”
him smiling and soon he was wrestling in the mud with others, getting more involved, and creating new friendships.”
Lynn confides how Bo was like “a different person” after camp. “It was like he had gone through a rite of passage,” she says. “He matured so much in that short time and came home with a new appreciation for things.” At home, Bo kept up the morning chanting and started planting in the backyard. “I feel this was a really formative experience for him,” she adds. Bo returned to camp the next summer, too.
While volunteering, Bo also learned about forging, the melting of metals to make objects. Patrice’s son Ridge showed Bo the craft. The boys made clasps for the ranch gates and Bo created jewelry, knives, and key chains. Time to Dig in the Dirt Around the same time, Bo’s stepdad, Rob, a chiropractor, learned about the Hāmākua Agricultural Cooperative in the Pa‘auilo Agriculture Park, through a patient. An opportunity there involved volunteering with Donna Mitts, a farmer and garden educator. That’s when Bo was introduced to growing vegetables at Clear View Farm. Bo and his family have increased their capacity to grow Hawaiian chili peppers, first wholesaling them and now to create value-added products.
While volunteering at an off-grid ranch in Hawi, Bo learned about forging, the melting of metals to make objects.
While Lynn laughs, “We got creative in using radishes,” Bo adds that lesson taught him about planting in succession where veggies are seeded at intervals to maintain a consistent harvestable supply.
Ranching filled a void for Bo during the pandemic and he enjoyed working with and riding horses.
In exchange for their work, Donna gave the boys space to grow veggies. Bo’s parents joined in and the first-time gardeners planted radishes, peanuts, daikon, white onion, broccoli, and spinach.
“It was hard, difficult work weeding and separating the asparagus crowns,” notes Bo, who enlisted the help of a friend, Henry Hoffman, to help tackle the job of cleaning up the overgrown beds. “There were five beds, each 3’ wide, and 20’ long. It took a half day every week for a month.”
“We also quickly learned the value of using mulch to keep the weeds down,” continues the youth. “Donna taught us to first check the mulch for fire ants by using peanut butter as bait.” The group also experimented with fertilizers and what weeds to leave in the ground to provide the soil with nitrogen.
“We tried to grow corn with no luck,” details Bo. “The main thing I learned is that growing things isn’t that easy and we planted everything at once so we had way too many radishes.”
To keep busy during the pandemic, Bo helped string fence and clear pasture. He also tackled the job of cleaning up overgrown asparagus beds before starting a vegetable garden with his family.
In addition to wholesaling their pepper bounty, plans are in the works to start making a new spicy-sweet kettle popcorn and other value added products. The family has registered their brand name, Hawaiian Hotties. “We’re learning that Hawaiian chili peppers aren’t only good for making chili pepper water,” smiles Lynn.
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Lynn admits they were reluctant to start the garden project, figuring the high schooler would get tired and bored with the hard labor, but that wasn’t the case. The family shared veggies with family and friends, providing a social connection during Covid. Rob researched online how to pickle daikon and they tried that, too. The family also started growing small and spicy Hawaiian chili peppers (Capsicum frutescens). Lynn posted a photo of one of the plants on Facebook and was contacted by a local hot sauce company to buy some peppers. That prospect got Bo excited so they are increasing their garden space to accommodate 116 pepper plants averaging 4.5’ tall.
“The goal of the field trip was to show ag is not only about planting food,” says KHS agriculture and natural resources instructor Manuel Jadulang. The students also helped move 57 trays of ‘a‘ali‘i, 50 trays of koa, and planted 21 trays of ‘āweoweo seedlings.
“We got to see the planted sandalwood trees and info on workers’ forestry jobs, learning what they do and how they record data while caring for the trees,” adds Bo.
Summing up how so many have helped Bo find his passions, Lynn emphasizes, “It’s fascinating how people were introduced into our lives to provide all these opportunities for Bo and us as a family. We couldn’t have taught him all these things that light him up. We are so grateful.”
All photos courtesy of Lynn Rostau
Manuel also mentored Bo on growing a tomato for the 2022 Hawai‘i County 4-H Giant Fruit & Vegetable Contest.
Because of his interest in growing things, Bo enrolled as a sophomore in the agriculture class at Kealakehe High. He learned how to repurpose pallets into planter boxes, process sugarcane into juice, all about hydroponics (growing plants in water instead of soil), and aquaponics (combines growing plants and fish in water). In addition, his class visited the 9,627-acre Kealakekua Mountain Reserve where a former ranch is part of a native forest restoration project in conjunction with essential oil manufacturer dōTERRA. The trip was funded and made possible by the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation.
Describing Bo as a “hands-on person,” Manuel invited the teen last June to attend a workshop with the Hawaii Island Landscaping Association where the student learned about small engine repair, sparking a desire “to work on farm equipment.”
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Looking back on his journey to connect with the land, Bo shares, “Through my experiences with ranching and agriculture, I learned that if I put in the determination and faith, I get much better results, and by being responsibile, I can stay on top of everything and not fall behind.”
For more information: hawaiianhotties.org
Patrice Strange of Hawi says Bo was very gentle and kind with the horses and they liked him, adding, “he brings a sense of honesty and integrity to whatever he does; he doesn’t complain and is ready to help.”
Bo tends to Hawaiian chili pepper plants, which are the backbone of his family’s new company.
Of all the uses of holy basil, its broad antimicrobial powers make it a popular herb for modern times. It has been shown to fight off animal and human pathogens and effectively reduce viral fevers. Helping the body cope with stress, fighting off viral fevers, and keeping the body free from contaminants barely scratches the surface of this powerful herb. It is also incredibly easy to propagate in Hawai‘i. Tulsi can be grown from seed or cuttings. It enjoys warm tropical weather yet also does well as a house plant in cooler climates. When planting from seed, soil temperatures need to be around 70˚F for successful germination. Tulsi seeds enjoy evenly moist fertile soil to start and thrive in full to partial sun. Regularly adding compost to the garden bed will help your holy basil flourish. To start from a cutting, use sharp pruning shears and cleanly cut a stem from an established plant. Remove almost everything from the stalk, including flowers and most leaves, then place it in a glass of water in a sunny location. Change the water every other day to avoid mold and rot. You should see roots forming in a few weeks and little green leaves sprouting. Now you can transplant it into a good potting mix and then into the garden a few weeks later. Unlike other basil varieties that become bitter after blooming, holy basil continues to blossom, retaining its sweet mint-like aroma and flavor. It has tiny purple flowers near constantly that provide excellent forage for bees. Tulsi is a carefree shrub once established. It can grow to be one to two feet in height and circumference with routine trimming. In India, it is known to grow to be five feet tall in the heat of summer. Because tulsi can be grown year-round in Hawai‘i, it’s good to regularly harvest small amounts to promote continued growth. Pinching off early flower heads encourages the plant to form into a bush. There are three main varieties of tulsi, all of which possess deep medicinal qualities. Rama tulsi is the most common holy basil found on Hawai‘i Island; it has green leaves, purple flowers, and a mellow minty clove-like flavor. Krishna tulsi is a rare concentratedspicy,producesvarietygrowingaleafedpurple-plant,slower-thatamore flavor. There’s also Vana lemonyathegreenandthetheleavesdarkerwhichtulsi,hasgreenatbaseofplantlighterattopwithunique flavor quality.Themost common way to use tulsi is by making it into tea. It is also lovely as a cut flower by the bedside. Brush your hand over the bouquet to release the stress-relieving fragrance beforeMakebed.tulsi tea by steeping about a tablespoon of the herb, flowers, and leaves in one cup near-boiling water for 15 minutes. Be careful not to use boiling hot water as you will not get much flavor out of the leaves. Strain and enjoy with a bit of local honey.
Tulsi, also known as holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum, belongs to the mint family of perennial herbs and shrubs known for their aromatic scent. Notable, tulsi cousins include lavender, rosemary, sage, and sweet basil. Thought to have originated in north-central India, it now grows native throughout the eastern tropics. Tulsi is the most versatile medicinal herb for the home garden because it is a remedy for the body, mind, and spirit, from leaves to seeds. A cup of tulsi tea a day might just be the thing to keep the doctor away. As with any remedy, always consult your primary care provider before adding tulsi to your medicine cabinet. Scientific evidence is beginning to prove the mechanism of effectiveness of ancient medicinal practices, including that of holyTulsibasil.isan adaptogen that helps the body adapt and recover from stress. Evidence shows it shields organs from chemical, physical, and pollutant stresses while also keeping blood sugars, blood pressure, and lipids (fat) stable.
By Brittany P. Anderson “Ooh, what is this? Is it mint or basil or?” A farm visitor asks after brushing against the mystery herb. “That’s tulsi, holy basil,” I exclaim while rustling the leaves again, sending the perfumy aroma into the air around us.
If you have trekked to Halema‘uma‘u in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to see the lava fountaining in the caldera, you may have caught the sweeping movements of a white bird carving loops from the steaming caldera floor to high in the sky above, where gasses from the lava lake mix with clouds. This intrepid and elegant flier is the white-tailed tropicbird, koa‘e kea, Phaethon lepturus. What a place to live and raise young—in the maw of an active volcano, with steaming vents, sheer cliffs, volcanic gasses, and the occasional massive earthquake and eruption! The tropicbird’s sleek grace is almost as if in contrast to this extreme landscape, with its three-foot wingspan and slender 16-inch tail, as long as its gull-sized body. The elegant tail feathers twitch like a rudder, ever-so-slightly guiding direction. These long tail feathers were highly valued by Hawaiian artisans, who used them to make kāhili, the feather
standards that surrounded royalty. In Halema‘uma‘u, the white-tailed tropicbirds not only don’t seem to mind the warm gasses, it appears they use them to get a lift up the sheer cliff walls to their nests. Koa‘e kea incubate their eggs along the volcanically warmed cliff walls. “They are masters of the wind, able to navigate in the canyons,” says Afsheen Siddiqi, wildlife biologist with Department of Land and Natural Resources on O‘ahu. Afsheen coordinates seabird and waterbird recovery throughout Hawai‘i. She says that, of the three species of tropicbird, two breed in the Hawaiian Islands. The red-tailed is found on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu. Both species are fairly abundant throughout the Pacific. “They often breed and nest in coastal cliff areas that are hard to access, and forage away from land; both habits make them less observable,” Afsheen points out, “So there is limited information on them in Hawai‘i.”
At Home in By Rachel Laderman Koa‘e Kea, the White-Tailed Tropicbird
A white-tailed tropicbird cruises among the active caldera’s volcanic gasses, viewed from the Halema‘uma‘u Overlook on Devastation Trail, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Crater Rim Drive provides several vantage points. photo courtesy of Zhihao Deng
Many tropicbird nesting sites were destroyed in the massive crater collapse of Kīlauea in 2018. Halema‘uma‘u crater grew to a depth of 1,600 feet. Park rangers including Ranger Dean Gallagher observed tropicbirds circling the giant ash clouds that accompanied the collapse events.
the Caldera:
“We were heartbroken at the thought of all their nesting sites being destroyed, but what followed was even more amazing,” says Dean. “Using a spotting scope, I was able to observe the birds werenʻt frantically searching for their old nesting sites but rather choosing new sites in the now greatly enlarged crater. Given the ancient nature of these birds, I think both they, and their ancestors, have seen their fair share of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.”
Dean calls tropicbirds “living fossils.” They belong to an orderWhite-tailed tropicbirds are an ancient species with successful strategies for surviving on volcanic islands. photo courtesy Eric Vanderwerf, Pacific Rim Conservation
Undeterred By Earthquakes and Eruptions
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 26 Adult white-tailed tropic bird incubating an egg in cranny along a sheer cliff. photo courtesy Andre Raine, Archipelago Research and Conservation LLC
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 27 of birds called Phaethontidae that is one of the most ancient lineages on the planet. “There is a perfectly preserved fossil of a white-tailed tropicbird found in New England that is over 50 million years old,” says Dean, “predating humans by a long shot!”
Tropicbird Lifestyle Koa‘e kea pairs remain together for years. They can breed any time of year, engaging in complex, acrobatic aerial displays. They lay just one egg, usually between March and October, basically in a bare cranny on the sheerest of cliffs. Both males and females feed the chicks, whose loud screams echo against the canyon walls. When the adult regurgitates to feed its young, the adult fits its bill inside of the chick’s, opposite of how most birds feed. The chicks are on their own once out of the nest. Adults forage alone when it’s not chick-rearing season, going long distances from land. They feed on fish and squid throughout the day, plunge-diving from 50–65 feet above the water.Their cliff-dwelling habit largely protects tropicbirds from myna birds, rats, cats, and mongoose, the typical bird predators. In the low-elevation Northwest Hawaiian Islands, koa‘e kea may nest in ironwood tree cavities. Lying within the embrace of the National Park system adds another critical layer of protection to the breeding and nesting sites of these majesticWhite-tailedbirds.
White-tailed tropicbirds lay just one egg per breeding season; the chick is fed by both parents. photo courtesy Andre Raine, Archipelago Research and Conservation LLC
tropicbirds nest and may be seen on most of the other Hawaiian Islands and oceanic islands throughout the world, although their distribution is not well known. The mysteries of the tropicbird are serving it well: it has outlived many other species, and found a way to survive in an active volcano, with elegance. Rachel Laderman, Sustainable Pacific Program, Lynker LLC/ NOAA Affiliate, Hawai‘i Island
Stuffed by the bagging crew, rows of grocery bags containing fresh and shelf-stable food stand ready for distribution. photo courtesy of the Peace Committee
The cooking crew prepares a giant wok of pork and pumpkin curry, to be plated with a tossed salad for Friday’s fresh meal. photo by Sarah Anderson
These college students are from World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), a volunteer organization that places students with host farms as a kind of cultural and educational exchange. Their goal is to help build the global community and support the sustainability movement. “Why don’t we do this with local kids?” Ravi says. “We have what many believe to be one of the most beautiful places to live in the world. We have the sun; we have the rain. Some look at this place and see a paradise. In 1999 I started coming here, and I myself was oblivious to the level of food insecurity here. The level of poverty breaks my heart.
of Honoka‘a Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, home of Feeding Our Keiki and Kupuna, a food-share program created by the temple’s Peace Committee. The program hands out hot meals and bags of groceries to hundreds of people every Friday, in What started out as an effort to feed kids and elders in need during the onset of Covid-19 quickly grew from 70 to 400 meals per week. In the last three years, the program has served over 35,000 meals, and literally tons of food. They continue to serve about 300 people peoplesays,founderRavifundsoncountingweek—everyincomingandfoodSingh,co-oftheprogram,“Foodsecurityleadstohavebiggerdreams— to truly live to their full potential. I know there’s enough money out there [to help them], we just need to raise it.”
Honoka‘a’s Feeding Program
Feeding Our Keiki and Kupuna is based on the concept of “langar,” an ancient practice in the Sikh tradition of India, where temples serve six million meals per day worldwide. “Langar” (rhymes with hunger) means anchor, and the shared meal, open to all, helps anchor and build community.Miles,Ravi, and a dedicated squadron of 40–50 volunteers work throughout the week to make it happen, with Friday being the main event. When folks start showing up at 7am, the volunteers divide into various crews for different tasks. Ravi is in the food prep crew, along with wife Annie Kroeger. They work downstairs in the kitchen, secreted below the 118-year-old temple, where the team chops vegetables for salad and preps ingredients for the cooking crew. Today’s entree is pork and pumpkin curry, from a recipe provided by Sandy Barr-Rivera, formerly with Merriman’s in Waimea. Lenley Lewis, Seny Bynum, and Harriet Burkholder stir a huge wok with a wooden paddle. “In India, they put out social safety nets so nobody goes hungry,” says Ravi. “That safety net is not from the government, it’s from the temples. At the langar, rich or poor, it makes no difference. All are welcome. Anyone may have a meal and take extra if they need it. We follow that practice here.”Onthe weeks when it’s his turn, Ravi cooks Indian food, lentils and cauliflower. Vegetarian, fragrant, and flavorful, his food has earned a bit of a fan base on the island, as people hear about it on the coconut wireless. And—to the astonishment of his Indian family who doesn’t think he can cook—Ravi’s food recently brought in some WWOOFers from a mainland university, when they heard about his cooking and came to Honoka‘a to check it out.
“In India, the Sikh temples have connected with 1,200 organic farmers; we are like the anchor client for them. We tell them, ‘If you grow organic food, we will buy this much at this price and if you have overage—we’re feeding 100,000 people every day—we’ll buy that too.’ My home temple where I grew up served 9.3 million meals in one month during Covid. It’s a central belief…Let’s get food out there. Let’s put out the safety net.”Work continues. Upstairs, Miles checks on the grocerybagging crew in the Social Hall. All week long, the temple has been receiving food from local farmers and ranchers, home gardeners, and others. The Food Basket drops off nonperishables by the pallet load. The crew collates bags of fresh food and shelf-stable items for folks to take home, chatting as they work. “We get two to three thousand pounds of food from a USDA subsidy to the Food Basket, distributed weekly,” says Miles. “This week we got 150 five-pound boxes of frozen chicken, so we can give people a box of chicken, plus some Portuguese sausage, and a gallon of milk this week. Mostly, it’s the cooked meals that are expensive,” says Miles. “Believe it or not, those compostable food trays are our biggest line item: $150 per week. But it’s all sustainable, reliant on donations and volunteers.”Hawai‘iimports 90% of its food supply, at a cost of about three billion dollars annually, according to The Food Basket, part of the statewide Food Bank organization. Statewide, the Food Bank presently distributes about 65,000 pounds of food each day, working with soup kitchens, food pantries, food gleaning or “rescue” programs, and Community Supported Agriculture programs.
“Food insecurity is really quite high, we are still serving 50% more people than before the pandemic,” says Amy Marvin, CEO of Hawai‘i Food Bank, in a recent interview with KITV. “People still need help. Inflation on top of that has really taken a toll, so we are starting to see more and more people. Last month we saw a 15% increase in the number of people we are Feeding our Keiki and Kupuna volunteers of all ages are key to the program’s ongoing success. photo by Sarah Anderson Co-founder Ravi Singh and wife Annie Kroeger serve up Indian food on their day to cook. photo by Sarah Anderson serving through our network.”
At the temple, the clock is ticking. Restaurateur Erik Burkhardt and his team finish plating the meal trays, and at 3:30pm, runners carry them upstairs to tables in front of the Social Hall, joining the distribution crew with their platoon of brown paper bags. Miles and the other delivery crew drivers take off. He’ll return at 5:30pm to join the clean-up squad.
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At 4pm, it’s go-time. Miles’ wife, Lynn Higashi, and her crew greet the line of cars that trails through the parking lot. One of the younger volunteers, Jason Rodrigues, helps load the food into cars, and young-at-heart Susie Tamashiro (82) has a warm smile for everyone, as windows roll down and she asks how many trays they need. She and Jason help Andi Kaida load grocery bags for the Senior Center. One of the regulars, Al, beams a bright smile and double shaka. Another, Kevin Gall and his dog Gatorrr, pull up in a pickup bedecked with banana leaves. A few “kitchenless” people talk story in the walk-up line. No one leaves empty handed. Reaching Farther
Lynn Higashi helps the distribution crew with a smile. It’s a special treat when grocery bags contain fresh food in addition to non-perishables. photo by Sarah Anderson Mahealani Maikui, Eagle Scout Tayson Hirayama, and Paul Zivalic help load food for delivery to kūpuna and shut-ins. photo courtesy of the Peace Committee
On May 1 this year, the feeding program team helped five Ukrainian refugee families, identified through the community’s various connections. They were able to raise $3,000 for these
The Hunger Games, Katniss and her opponents battle for scraps in an impoverished world based on scarcity, need, and competition. Feeding Our Keiki and Kupuna is based on the idea of abundance, plenty, “loaves and fishes,” and having more than enough to share with others, especially in America, and here on Hawai‘i Island. With the help of the the island community, a Hunger Games scenario is easily preventable. For more honokaahongwanjibuddhisttemple.orginformation:
Octogenarian volunteer Susie Tamashiro taking orders for two meals, from the drivethrough line. photo by Sarah Anderson
“The program is a good example and practice of this important Buddhist value. But participation is much larger than temple membership. People from the community, and beyond, are creating a new sangha, a community of like-minded friends doing the right thing by sharing food.”
That’s a lot of philosophy, served up along with dinner on a Friday afternoon. “It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Miles says with a smile. “You can just chop veggies, hand out bags, and sometimes promote universal awareness of global interdependence.”In
families during the temple’s Buddha’s Birthday Party event. On May 20, they hosted an Aloha Reception for Marharyta (can be pronounced “Margarita”) Obodovska who recently moved from Ukraine to Hawai‘i Island with her two daughters, while their father is fighting at home. She and her girls came to the Hongwanji for a warm island welcome, lei greeting, and shopping spree at the temple’s thrift store. And, volunteers were able to raise another $2,000.
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“The Ukraine events were really good, and we want to come to know personally. It’s gratifying. We’ve become a center for doing good things.” Good things, in addition to warm meals and groceries, also means food for the soul, blessings for both givers and receivers. What Christians call “what would Jesus do,” the Sikhs refer to as seva, selfless service, very similar to the Buddhist idea of dana. “What the temple has done with the feeding program, is to energize dana, to engage the community as givers,” says Miles.
8 0 8 7 7 5 1 8 2 1 / A H U A L O A F A R M S @ A H U A L O A F A R M S W W W A H U A L O A F A R M S . C O M G O U R M E T H A W A I I A N M A C A D A M I A N U T S 1 0 0 % H A M A K U A C O F F E E D R E S S I N G S , B U T T E R S , G R A N O L A & M O R E w e b e l i e v e i t ’ s t h e s i m p l e t h i n g s i n l i f e t h a t a r e m o s t i m p o r t a n t : 4 5 - 3 2 7 9 M A M A N E S T R E E T H O N O K A ' A , H I 9 6 7 2 7 C H E C K U S O U T
Here are some other ways to practice mindfulness:
In business culture, it is standard practice to believe that to be successful in business, you must be willing to press past your physical, mental, and emotional limits. In that model, there doesn’t appear to be any space for wellbeing or humanness. I learned this the hard way by putting my health on the line to be an over-achiever. Not only do most business owners expect this of themselves, they also expect it of those they work with. It’s time for a change to a more sustainable model, for the success of the business, and for the wellbeing of all those Mindfulnessinvolved.isthe act of being in the present moment through awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance. According to research done by Shian-Ling Keng and colleagues, mindfulness increased subjective wellbeing, reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity, and improved behavioral regulation. Ask yourself, “How important is it that I am able to make calm, rational decisions in my business?” If you said, “Highly important,” then mindfulness is forMindfulnessyou. is not a new practice. In fact, it has been practiced for millennia. In the western world, Dr. Jon KabatZinn spearheaded the idea of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in his research done in the 1970s. According to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.” Note the focus on purposely, open mindedly, being present. Dr. Kabat-Zinn also devised the Seven Pillars of Mindfulness:
3. Beginner’s Mind—As individuals become more established in business it can be easy to feel they know everything, and they can lose the desire to be a lifelong learner. Businesses evolve and so learning will always be a part of business. Open your mind to seeing your business anew.
• Accept Yourself
• encourages greater positivity.
• Be a Single-Tasker
2. Patience—There is pressure to rush, rush, rush in business. Although moving quickly can be advantageous, it can also cause business owners to not see all options or to act without information. Being present is a way to begin the practice of patience.
5. Non-Striving—Who you are in your business is enough. Striving to be “different” or “better” can get you off track from achieving your goals. Embrace who you are. This will remove the distractions and set you back on the path to focus on what really matters.
• keeps us in reality and not wishing things were different.
7. Letting Go—Allow the mind to relax. This will make it easier to focus on the steps to success. “Worry” is about looking at the past or the future. “Mindfulness” is about being in the present. How does practicing mindfulness positively impact us in our business? It • diffuses the feeling of pressure.
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• Use Mindful Reminders
• Practice Lifelong Learning
• Practice Gratitude
Acceptance is not about being content with things you do not like or want. It is being willing to see the reality that makes change possible.
6. Acceptance—When business owners see the reality of the situation, instead of wishing things were different, they are better served to make more informed positive decisions.
1. Non-judging—The world of business is not only good or bad. When automatic judging happens, this can impact the business choices negatively. Practicing awareness of judgments is a great way to start practicing non-judging.
• helps us to make sound, clear-minded decisions.
• allows us to navigate difficult emotions and circumstances.
4. Trust—Trust within yourself. Have you established a trusting relationship with yourself? What is the mission and vision of your business? What are your core values? Do you practice business according to those core values? Answering these questions can set you on the path of deepening the trust within yourself.
• gives permission for us to be gentle with ourselves and others. To create a lasting shift, start small. Meditating for only a couple of moments daily decreases the action of the sympathetic nervous system (which activates our fight-or-flight response) and offers a scope of medical advantages including: lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, slower breathing, less nervousness, lower blood cortisol (stress hormone), increased sensations of prosperity, and deeper relaxation (Zinn, et al.).
• Set an Intention
• Focus on Mindful Breathing Mindfulness in business supports business success and those in business to stay healthy in mind, body, and soul. For more information: soullutions.com
FOR THE COMMUNITY:
A wave of gratitude swept over Martin as he steadied himself on his walker. These were truly the perfect words for him to hear, especially since he had arrived at the Keahole Airport just two hours earlier to dedicate the next year and a half to the mural’s complete renovation. Martin had cared enough to form a real relationship with the Konawaena community when he created the mural originally, and now the community represented in those original 38 panels joined together to restore it for future generations. “A mural is for a community, and you want it to be meaningful for that community,” Martin says, his blue eyes twinkling. That same ethos guided Martin in 1975, when he moved to Kona as a 31-year-old with flowing auburn hair to paint the original mural, which was commissioned by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA). He lived in a teacher’s cottage on the school’s grounds and visited nearby classrooms to make sketches and take photos of the students. Thus, every person in the mural is based on a real person from the Konawaena campus. With vibrant realism, the mural depicts flora, fauna, and human subjects amidst white sands, azure waters, and multi-
As he approached the entrance to Konawaena High School’s Ellison Onizuka Gym, Martin Charlot gazed up at the mural that wraps around the gym’s façade—a mural painted by his own hands more than 40 years ago. On this weekday afternoon in December 2018, the gym was abuzz with sports activity. From out of the crowded bleachers, a woman strode up to him and introduced herself over the din of squealing sneakers and coach’s whistles. “My entire family flies into Kona, coming back every year to see your mural,” she told him, “Because you painted my papa into the mural.”
AN ALBUM Martin Charlot’s Konawaena Mural By Mālielani Larish hued lava rock. Scenes from Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau (Place of Refuge) figure prominently into the mural because Martin was particularly inspired by his visits to this sacred ceremonial site, where fugitives and refugees sought sanctuary in ancient Hawai‘i. He even spent a day with Konawaena students at Hōnaunau, photographing the students bodysurfing and playing in the water, and incorporated these images into the makai (ocean side) of the painting. At 152’ long and 5’3” high, the mural evokes the same consciousness that animates Hawaiian place chants: the land is dynamically alive and resplendent with mana (power). From the bristle-thighed curlew walking beneath a heiau (Hawaiian temple) to the hawk soaring above an active lava flow, nature’s majesty runs through every panel. The people, such as the Hawaiian warriors who are bursting out of the lava rock, are of Martin Charlot is pictured here during the 2018 restoration.
The restoretogethercommunityKonawaenajoinedtohelpthemural that he originally painted at 31 years of age in 1975.
The makai side of the mural features students from the Konawaena community bodysurfing at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau.
Martin Charlot at the original mural dedication in 1976.
Martin’s Saint Louis High School buddies attended the dedication of the newly-restored mural. From left to right: John Karasaki, George Sheridan, Martin Charlot, Pat Silva, and Ed Texeira.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 37 the land and engaged with the land in the past, present, and future. As a young man, when Martin walked over the pahoehoe rocks along the Kona coast, he saw what looked like faces and people emerging from the volcanic tapestry. The mural captures that feeling; not only does every rocky surface convey a sense of active movement, the imagination readily translates different rocks into people and faces. Even the shadows on the white sand seem to glow with vitality. After two years of labor, Martin completed the mural in 1976.
Homecoming Prior to that afternoon of Martin’s Kona homecoming, he had spent the preceding year and a half coordinating the mural restoration with Shawn Suzuki, who served as Konawaena’s principal at that time. They had already triumphed over several obstacles. First, an unexpected health challenge that came close to claiming Martin’s life had robbed him of his right eye and limited his mobility. Second, the original mural was too degraded by termites and the elements to be touched-up; it needed to be entirely re-created. In fact, the SFCA had called Shawn a decade earlier, requesting that he arrange for the mural’s removal and demolition. Destroying the mural was out of the question for Shawn, who first learned about the significance of the mural when he
Many of the scenes in the Konawaena mural, such as this ancient heiau (temple), were inspired by Martin’s visits to Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau.
Martin’s roots in the islands run deep.
The two years that Martin spent painting the Konawaena mural helped him initiate two new artistic projects. To stay in touch with his four beloved children while he was away, he sent them engaging letters sprinkled with vignettes representing proverbs. Eventually, he collected these proverbs, transformed them into a portrait of a village, and pitched the idea of a proverb mural to his high school buddy Pat Kahler, the CEO of McDonald’s Corporation in Hawai‘i. Pat welcomed the idea, and Martin painted the Hawaiian Folkways proverb mural at the McDonald’s restaurant in Kāne‘ohe in 1985, followed by two more Hawaiian warriors burst forth from the lava rock in the Konawaena mural.
Thanks to his father’s love for Hawaiian culture, he grew up meeting cultural icons like Duke Kahanamoku. He graduated from Saint Louis High School and spent 20 years raising his children, as a farmer and freelance artist in the fertile Waiāhole Valley.
38 started his teaching career at Konawaena in the late 1980s. With the help of a surprise call from a woman who was concerned about the mural’s future, Shawn finally obtained Martin’s contact information and connected with the artist in 2017.Martin’s gentle voice greeted Shawn over the phone. “Oh my goodness, how wonderful that you called me,” Martin said. “That mural has been on my mind and in my heart for so many years. If you can get that mural down and put a brush in my hand, I will restore it.”
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Donations from alumni and the Konawaena Foundation, contributions from local businesses, a GoFundMe page, food sales, and a Zumba marathon raised funds to cover supplies and airfare for the project. Kona coffee grower John Fox made an especially generous donation, bringing the total raised to nearlyMartin$60,000.andhis son Kamalu, also a painter, spent over a year repainting the mural. Using photos of each panel, Martin projected them onto the new panels, which are fiberglass-core marine-grade foam sheets guaranteed to outlast wood. Brushstroke by careful brushstroke, Martin spent 10 hours of each weekday carefully re-creating the panels. To commemorate the gym’s namesake, he also added a large portrait of Kona native Ellison Onizuka, who died on the Challenger space shuttle after becoming the first AsianAmerican in space. Ellison’s astronaut suit looks surprisingly at home in the mural, which already contains flying geometric shapes that symbolize the promise of future innovations. With the difficult preparations behind him, Martin was able to relax and enjoy the painting process. “I was happy to come back and see the people that had been so nice to me the first time,” he says. Shawn enjoyed getting to know Martin, who he calls a “state treasure” because of the depth of his knowledge and the enduring connections that he has to Hawai‘i’s past. Martin was graciously hosted by Shawn’s wife’s family, and friends and family flew into Kona to visit him. Students and faculty were fortunate enough to assist with some of the painting, and Governor David Ige even dropped by to lend a hand. “He had never painted before, but he picked up the brush and did well,” Martin says. “I really enjoyed having him there.”
Island Grown Martin Charlot’s life story is as rich, varied, and fascinating as the Konawaena mural. His artistic training began under the expert guidance of his art teacher father, Jean Charlot, an internationally acclaimed painter who was a key figure in the Mexican Mural Renaissance. As a little boy, Martin helped grind and mix colors for his dad. When Martin was just five years old, the family left Colorado for O‘ahu for what Jean thought would be a brief stint creating a mural for University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Enamored with the islands, and offered a teaching position at the university, Jean and his family decided to stay.
The illustrated proverbs from the Kāne‘ohe mural are published into a keepsake book entitled Local Traffic Only: Proverbs Hawaiian-Style The ‘io, or Hawaiian hawk, soars above an active lava flow in the Konawaena mural. Martin Charlot pictured beneath the mural in 1975. Over the years, Martin has also worked as a filmmaker, educator, and childrenʻs book illustrator. Among Martin’s most well-known works is a 200’ long mural depicting pre-contact and modern-day Hawai‘i in Disney’s Aulani Resort lobby, and a
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 39 unique murals for the company’s Nimitz and Waikīkī locations.
Governor David Ige dropped by to lend a hand with the painting of the new mural.
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Shawn, who spent 19 years as the Konawaena principal, still speaks in awe when he recalls witnessing the new mural blossom before his eyes. “The patience that he had to get through, it was amazing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, for sure.”
mural for the Kahala Theater lobby chronicling movie stars that have made films in the islands. The Smithsonian Institute’s International Gallery exhibited some of Martin’s work as part of a group show called “Revealing Culture” in 2010. A love for the land is evident in Martin’s artwork, and Martin is particularly proud that the Waiāhole Valley community where he lived from the 1960s to 1990s came together to prevent developers from overtaking the valley. Regarding private land ownership, Martin says “We changed the thinking of the whole country.”
A Community Celebration On March 6, 2020, which happened to coincide with Martin’s birthday, the community came together to celebrate the mural’s completion. “It felt very special,” Shawn recalls, to hear many of the attendees point to the mural and say things like “I’m that boy over there,” or, “That is my father bursting from the rock.”
Prominent New York newspapers covered the community’s fight, and Barbara Walters even spent a week documenting the grassroots movement to preserve the valley.
All photos courtesy of Martin Charlot
The high-pitched squeals of three enthusiastic little voices filled the kitchen. Three little boys had just come in from the garden, their pockets full of random ripe vegetables they picked—a few golden cherry tomatoes, a red noodle bean, a half-eaten green bean, and an ugly cucumber. The prize possession was the purple daikon they took turns cradling like a baby.Inabsolute exuberance, the three tasted a little of each vegetable. The daikon was not a hit, but they tried it, nonetheless. More green beans and tomatoes had to be fetched from the fridge to satiate their appetites for fresh vegetables.Let’sface it: sometimes, convincing children to try new foods is challenging. A child becomes a picky eater for many reasons, like previous negative experiences with new foods, or it’s just a personality trait. There is hope for helping the picky eater! Studies show that a positive social experience around food helps children be more accepting of new foods. Who hasn’t had a phrase escape their mouth or been on the receiving end of the threat, “Eat your asparagus, or you won’t get dessert!” It’s all too common. Bribery, pleading, and punishment may get you short-term gains, but the battle over expanding their palate isn’t won through force or coercion. This author went on an asparagus strike for 14 years after being forced to eat it, only recently reintroducing the vegetable and enjoying it! Explore new foods with your child without an emphasis on eating. Trying a new food takes courage and trust, while exploring takes just a bit of curiosity. Engaging the child in growing, picking, or making the new food builds trust, and trying the food afterward is secondary to the process. On Hawai‘i Island there are numerous farms that offer weekly bags of fresh vegetables that are a great way of exploring new foods while supporting local agriculture and building trust. When kids learn about new foods, they assess everything for the first time. Children brought into the garden and kitchen for age-appropriate sensory education learn about appearance, smell, sound, temperature, texture, and taste. After all, we do eat with our eyes and nose first. As with the three boys exploring the garden, they saw the vegetables on the plant, felt the food when picking, and were confident to try the bounty they brought into the kitchen. In the process, the kids build up their database of food facts, so new foods become familiar. Throughout the exploration into new foods, children connect to where their food comes from and have the confidence to maybe, just maybe, try more new foods. As the three boys bite into cucumber rounds, they make animated “CRUNCH” sounds, bite open a tomato to see the seeds, and reach their little hands for more vegetables, confidently munching away. The boys’ mother watched as the “non-tomato eater” ate his weight in cherry tomatoes and relished in the trio’s adventurous spirit around trying new foods—especially vegetables. This Frozen Yogurt Banana Bites recipe is the ultimate kidfriendly adult crossover snack. It is a basic recipe that can be adjusted depending on personal taste. For a postpartum snack add healthy fats like coconut oil to the yogurt and top with oatmeal and macadamia nuts. Protein powder can be added to the yogurt for a workout recovery snack. Plus, add color with powdered beet, matcha, or spirulina. Kids love personalizing the recipe and getting their hands a little messy while making the banana bites—just lick clean at the end!
LocaL
By Brittany P. Anderson Keiki in the Kitchen Recipe for Frozen Yogurt Banana Bites Food
Frozen Yogurt Banana Bites 1 bunch of ripe apple bananas peeled and sliced into chunks 2 cups yogurt, any flavor, in a bowl Toppings of your choice Method Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Dip the banana chunks in the yogurt, and use a fork or spoon (hands work too!) to roll it around. Then lift the banana chunks out of the yogurt and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with toppings and place in freezer for at least one hour or overnight. Remove from the freezer and enjoy! Can be stored in a freezer bag for easy snacking.
By Sara Stover spearfishing-related deaths. For many of these divers, the highlight of the spearfishing safety training event is meeting their hero, Justin Lee, the 2022 USA Spearfishing National Champion. Born and raised on Hawai‘i Island, Justin grew up in Honoka‘a and graduated from HPA.
“Justin is a local boy who has traveled the globe and become the spearfishing world record holder. His success story is an inspiration to Hawai‘i’s young divers,” says Niki Stepanek, founder of FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i, of how Justin volunteers as an instructor, ensuring that these divers come to the training events. “We live on an island, surrounded by a deep, beautiful
FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i
On a breezy Saturday morning at the beginning of the summer, 25 of Hawai‘i Island’s youth willingly gather in a classroom at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA). Dylan Currier and Sandy Hammel of Freediving Instructors International are demonstrating how to address loss of motor control when freediving.AsSandy puts her hand under Dylan’s arm and leaves her other hand free, forming a T, she jokes, “Please tell me you wore deodorant today!” which sets off bursts of laughter across the room. Ranging in age from 12 to 25 years old, the young free divers are smiling, learning, and eager to get in the water and apply what the instructors are teaching them about safety, and ultimately, prevention of freediving and
FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i training teaches young spearfishermen about the precautions to take and how to address any sign of danger when diving.
“My daughter, Kirah, and I had just started freediving when
Lifesaving Training for the NextGeneration of Spearfishers
I heard about a diver who went missing,” says Angie, whose 13-year-old is learning about the buddy mentality and ‘one up, one down’ through FreediveSafe! “When I heard about this program, I signed her up right away!”
Combating the Headlines and Reversing the Statistics “From May to July 2020, we lost five members of the freediving and spearfishing community in Hawai‘i. Two of the divers were freediving on the Big Island,” says FreediveSafe!
ocean filled with yummy creatures that we like to bring home to our ‘ohana. But it can also be dangerous. How many times have we read ‘Spearfisherman Goes Missing’ or ‘Search Continues for Missing Diver’ in the headlines? Too many!” says Justin, who goes on to explain that such tragedies can be prevented by freediving and spearfishing with a partner who has safety training. As many local families rely on the ocean for subsistence, parents and community members alike find it reassuring to know that FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i is working hard to improve the safety of spearfishing and freediving communities through training across the islands of Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i’s Niki, a Hawai‘i resident originally from New Zealand, where she remains the National Freediving Record holder. “The blow to our community was insufferable and something had to be done!”
Determined to put a halt to these tragedies, Niki teamed up with freediving and spearfishing professionals, subsistence spearfishermen, and national champion Justin to found
FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i in August 2020, and create sustainable, long-term change. By dramatically increasing the availability of lifesaving training, the Kona-based nonprofit is committed to combating the “missing diver” headlines and reversing the current, alarming statistics: according to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health, 50% of all fatal ocean incidents involving Hawai‘i residents are spearfishing and freedivingrelated.Asthe sport’s popularity continues to grow, so does the need to make safety training more accessible and sport-specific.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 44
Prior to 2020, freediving and spearfishing training was only available to those who could afford to spend $300 or more on a class. Currently operating under a local grant, FreediveSafe! Hawai’i is removing any obstacles preventing young free divers from accessing this training by offering free programs across theJustinstate.shares, “Our hope is that these kids who participate in the program will tell their buddy, ‘My life is in your hands if we’re diving together. Before we go, you’ve got to take a class, man!’ and in turn, that kid will tell his other buddies the same thing. Then the next generation of spearfishermen will know the precautions to take, and how to identify and address any sign of danger.”
Spearfishing National Champion and FreediveSafe! volunteer Justin Lee is passionate about ensuring every diver comes home safe.
FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i’s sole goal is to ensure that critical, modern training is available to everyone who needs it. “Safety training is not about being a strong swimmer. It is very specific to low oxygen events,” Niki points out. “Training divers in protocols proven to mitigate this sport’s risks can be the difference between life and death.”
For Justin Lee, water is life. When he was around 10 years old, he followed his father into the ocean. While he has been spearfishing for the past 28 years, it wasn’t until 2014 that Justin began spearfishing competitively. Just eight short years later, he has won the USA National Spearfishing Championship on Lake Powell with an astounding count of 82 invasive fish. As one of the top spearfishermen in the world, Justin has formed a special connection with the ocean and shares his experiences beneath the waves on social media, inspiring a massive following. He’s also acutely aware of the risks associated with spearfishing.
The students follow Justin back inside, where instructor Dylan teaches them about more precautions and symptoms to be aware of when diving. They learn how to protect their eyes and ears, and that they should never dive when they have a cold. Since freediving is taxing on the nervous system, they “No fish is worth your life!” The FreediveSafe! program teaches young free divers that having a trained partner is vital to diving safely. “Bubbles mean trouble.” At FreediveSafe! training, students learn to protect their diving buddy’s airway if they see bubbles.
Taking Precautions and Recognizing Symptoms
“FreediveSafe! is a safety initiative that’s been a long time coming. Spearfishing is a way of life for us in Hawai‘i. I want parents to feel confident knowing their kids are doing it safely,” says the father of two, who is just as passionate about ensuring every diver comes home safe as he is about catching his favorite fish, the mū (bigeye emperor). “There was this one mū with a scar on his cheek. It took me three months to spear that fish!” Justin exclaims as the young divers crowd around him, soaking up every fishing tale and tip he offers during a FreediveSafe! class break. “You need to be part of the rhythm of the ocean and learn to read the fish. And stay calm. It gets you fish and keeps you safe!”
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By the end of the day, the class has amassed a wealth of knowledge and they understand the importance of spearfishing with a partner who has their back. “Take the time to discuss your diving plans with your buddy before each dive. Don’t let anyone make you feel rushed,” Justin reminds them. “Don’t dive with a person who disappears. And bring them to this class!”
All photos courtesy of Alyssa Rodrigues
The most important lesson the national champion hopes to instill in young divers is to get home safe. “No fish is worth your life!” Justin insists. “Take the preventative measures so we can all get home for dinner tonight, enjoy the fish that we caught together, share it with our ‘ohana, and support our community through fishing.”
The pool session is the perfect opportunity for students to practice what they learned in class, including equalizing air pressure.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 47
Christensen, that means sharing the experience with family and friends. “Dominic got me into this!” says Ka‘ohinani, nodding toward her brother, Dominic. “Now the ocean is my second home. I even caught a tako [octopus]!”
For more information: freedivesafe.org
“The best part about diving is being out there with my friends,” Dominic adds. “It’s really good to know the things that could save my friends in the water!”
From kids who have been freediving since they were old enough to walk to those who just picked up a three-prong last week, the students who participate in FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i are certain to leave with the confidence to stay calm in the water, knowing that they are part of a new generation of spearfishers who can prevent freediving deaths, and make the ocean safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
60 Years of Sharing Local
Hilo Sugar Company. They arrived in time to endure two Big Island volcanic eruptions (Kīlauea Iki and Kapoho) and the 1960 Hilo tsunami, all within two years’ time. A Deep Fascination with Hawaiian Culture Frances Reed became the children’s librarian at Hilo Library in 1958. A natural storyteller, she and her eldest son, Stephen, a skilled photographer, became interested in Hawaiian petroglyphs and their possible meanings. At that time, the entire leeward coastline between Kawaihae and the Kona airport was a remote lava field, consisting of many untouched acres abundant with Hawaiian petroglyphs, springs, fishponds, cultural artifacts, and stories of the past. The family often camped out, spending countless hours exploring what is now the Mauna Lani resort area, reflecting on the fact that this was
Petroglyph Press Culture,
Early Days in Hilo Eventually, Steve and Frances became the managers of the Goo Building. They moved the presses to the sub-basement in 1968, which had bay doors that let in fresh air and sunlight.
For six decades, the Reed family has been busy printing and publishing in downtown Hilo. Petroglyph Press, Ltd. owners David and Christine Reed are now celebrating the 60th anniversary of the business that David’s parents, Steve and Reed,Francesopened in September 1962. It was
History, and Storytelling
the only form of graphic communication left by the ancient Hawaiians. As a young teenager, David helped document and map the Puako petroglyphs with Dr. Bonk, a University of Hawai‘i professor, and his college students. It didn’t take too long for
Reed family upon arrival to Hawai‘i in 1958—Judy, Frances, Steve, David, and Stephen.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 48
SchoolIntermediatestudentDavidbusiness.launchpositionhishimspiritentrepreneurialSteve’stoinspiretoleaveplantationandafamilywasaatHilowhen his father flew to Honolulu one day, bought a printing press, and took localtheAttocourseone-weekacrashonhowoperateit.thattime,onlyotherprinting operations in Hilo were the Tribune Herald and Hilo Printers.
Steve opened shop in the Goo Building on the corner of Haili and Kino‘ole streets, and began offering business and personal printing services to the Hilo community. Inspired by Hawai‘i Island’s ancient rock carvings, the family chose to name the business Petroglyph Press. In addition to the offset press that produced most of the printing jobs, Steve acquired an old castiron letterpress for specialty jobs that represented an earlier method of printing, more like the presses that produced the early Hawaiian language materials 200 years ago.
aswasFromPittsburghpositionanReedwheninfarmingbehindTheystayaftermovedtheHawaii”—whenthewereHawaiian1958—whileearlytheIslandsknownas“TerritoryofReedfamilytoHiloathree-yearinCalifornia.hadlefttheirbusinessPennsylvaniaSteveacceptedengineeringwithSteel.thereherecruitedanengineerfor
By Nancy S. Kahalewai
They later expanded the business to a street-level storefront, and included publishing some culturally important out-of-print books such as Hilo Legends, Ghosts of the Hilo Hills, and Kona Legends, as well as retailing books by other publishers. Christine Reed recalls the history of some of Petroglyph Press’s early titles. “One of the first books created by Petroglyph Press in 1969 was Maui, Mischievous Hero by Barbara Baldwin Lyons, from a collection of stories previously printed in island newspapers. After a decade of passionate and popular storytelling, Frances retired as the children’s librarian in 1968. Following four years of prep school in Pennsylvania and a year at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, David returned to Hilo in 1970, where he helped in the family business.”
While the printing operation remained in the basement, a new retail arm was created in 1985 named Basically Books. It showcased Hawai‘i-themed books, maps, music, and gifts, and remains part of the parent company of Petroglyph Press, Ltd. By 1997, both Basically Books and Petroglyph Press relocated to a large shared space on Kamehameha Avenue facing scenic Hilo Bay. At this point in time, digital printing and technology had evolved. Both of their businesses endured, sharing culturally rich stories to a local and global market.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 49
Persevering in Downtown Hilo By then, both David and Christine were deeply involved with promoting Hilo as a worthy destination. David volunteered as the promotion chairman for several years and served a term as president of the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association (DIA). He has also been a board member of Destination Hilo, while Christine was active in organizing and supporting downtown events. “Basically Books became a popular downtown gathering place during Merrie Monarch Festivals, Black & White Nights, First Fridays, and other holidays,” Christine explains. “We also hosted many talented authors, artists, crafters, and musicians, and provided the community a place to interact and exchange ideas.”
A dedication to perpetuating literacy and Hawaiian culture, combined with successfully navigating decades of changes, has required a lot of work, David Reed admits. “As a family-run small business, sometimes life meant ‘all hands on deck.’ Our children, Alex and Stacey, grew up involved in the business, Stacey, David, and Christine Reed among the children’s books at their previous location near Keaukahua in 2019.
About her own arrival in Hawai‘i, Christine continues, “It was September of 1972 when I arrived in Hilo from San Francisco looking adventure,for experiencewhoPressofmanagementretired,elderBythecuriosityandandphotographybackgroundbroughtChristinegoingthatlifepartnershipandfelleachboythelovingyear,andGooupstairsDavidsheandexperiences,newanewlife,”remembers.waslivingintheBuilding,withina“thebook-girlandbook-makingfoundother,inlove,createdainandbusinessisstillstrong.”herindesign,heravidtobusiness.1974theReedspassingPetroglyphtoDavid,broughtaswell as meticulous craftsmanship to the business. David and Christine were married in 1976 at the home they had built in the ‘ōhia forest of Fern Acres.
An outstanding highlight occurred during their 40th year when Petroglyph Press and Basically Books received the Hawaii Retail thehonored“WeYearRetailerasHo‘okelaAssociation’sMerchantAwardtheBigIslandofthein2002.werealsoamong
Pacific Business News ‘Fastest 50’ in 2004 and 2005. Thanks to votedBooks2011beginningcustomers,ourinBasicallyhasbeenthe
Hawai‘i Tribune Herald’s Best Bookstore of East Hawai‘i every year since,” Christine shared. When reflecting on their relationship with the late Dietrich Varez, she was grateful. illustrationsartist,Hawai‘iVarez,collaboration20-year-long“OurwithabelovedIslandresultedinfor
three original books: Hina, The Goddess; Pele and Hiiaka; and an award-winning children’s book about Iwa, The Hawaiian Legend, as well as illustrations for three other titles: Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes, Legends of Maui, and Pele, Volcano Goddess of Hawaii.” She has dozens of other memories with many very-missed late artists and authors they have known and worked with over the years.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 50 Custom mural painted by Kathleen Kam in 2018, at their former location near Keaukaha. The mural has become an iconic landmark for the business.
In 2017, on the cusp of the 55th anniversary of Petroglyph Press, State Senator Lorraine Inouye presented them with a Senate Proclamation honoring their years in business.
Stephen, Christine, Alex, David, and Frances Reed in 1990 at Kilauea Lodge.
2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 51 and helped in supporting the family legacy while caring for their aging grandparents. In 2015, we invested in modern digital equipment that gave us the ability to do all the printing in-house, including color illustrations inside the books as well as the covers.”
With assistance from the Small Business Administration and County loans and grants, Petroglyph Press purchased new bindery equipment and relocated to a more manageable space.
Post-Pandemic Changes
Senator Lorraine Inouye presents a Senate Proclamation to the Reeds at the 55th anniversary of Petroglyph Press.
“Then the year 2020 brought many changes,” Christine reflects. “The pandemic forced the shutting of Hilo businesses. But the guiding hand of the third generation, our daughter Stacey Reed, facilitated the leap into new computerized avenues of commerce and online marketing.”
All photos courtesy of the Reed family collection For more basicallybooks.competroglyphpress.cominformation: Steve’s original century-old cast iron letterpress was common in the early days of printing.
What also saved the business was a Survive to Thrive grant from the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC). A new high-speed printer, paperback bookbinder, and hydraulic paper cutter have now streamlined production of their own titles and kept them afloat. What a technical contrast to the early days of printing!InOctober 2021, Basically Books returned to downtown Hilo, less than five blocks from where it all began. Newly located across from Ben Franklin Crafts on Kilauea, the bookstore continues to serve local readers and visitors with an eclectic mix of books, maps, music, toys, and gifts. Christine shares, “In response to a growing availability and demand, our selection of books in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i [the Hawaiian language] continues to expand as interest in the language reaches new heights.”It’sagreat time to celebrate a well-earned anniversary! Today they continue perpetuating literacy and storytelling in their new location that still delivers a curated array of unique specialty items. Basically Books is now 37 years old. Over the past 60 years, Petroglyph Press has published 50 titles, with 20 currently in print. Online ordering and several new projects are in the works, including a book of Hawaiian proverbs and riddles, more folktales, a classic book of ancient prayers, and a coloring book. Petroglyph Press creates, prints, binds, and distributes its books to bookstores, gift shops, and distributors throughout Hawai‘i and beyond—every aspect of production still accomplished right here in downtown Hilo!
Trish Helms Kimball grew up on Hawai‘i Island and has lived here for most of her adult life. Her family’s home was in Hilo, and they often spent weekends and summers at their beach house in Kona. Asked about this issue’s cover image, Trish says, “I was captivated by this little girl’s face. Her expression was one of quiet but intense curiosity.” Trish rendered the model who is from French Polynesia in celebratory dress and adds, “I titled the piece Mohea which means beautiful princess in Trish’sTahitian.”passion for the visual arts began early in her youth.
When Trish retired in 2013, she was finally able to return to her original fine art pursuits. Up to this time, she’d had experience in all painting mediums except pastel. Trish explains, “It was in 2014 that an artist friend shared her pastels with me and I realized I had found my perfect medium, which complements my strengths in drawing and shading. Of all the painting mediums, pastel has the least amount of binder and therefore yields the most saturated and intense colors. Since making a commitment to work solely in pastel, I have been able to study with several master pastel artists. I owe all of what I know about pastel portraiture to local master pastel artist Kathy Long. She took me under her tutelage for about two years. My art currently encompasses representational landscapes, florals, and portraits. I hope to continue to paint, that my art attracts a bigger audience and is regarded as an expression of a world we need to preserve and care for.”
For several years, Trish and her siblings studied art with artist Kay K. Yamamoto after school in Hilo. She learned the basic skills of pencil drawing, charcoal, and later, oil painting. Summer art lessons in watercolor and other mediums were taken with Carol and Bob Rogers at the Kona Art Center. College studies began at Coe in Iowa, then New York City for independent study, University of California at Santa Cruz, and back to Hawai‘i where she graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in drawing and painting from University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Trish shares, “My career path meandered into advertising, kitchen design, architecture, architectural renewal, consulting, and eventually into teaching.”
For
Table of Photographer:Contents Susanna Anderson
Trish finds inspiration all around, saying, “It’s in the seeing and the capturing of the details.” She currently resides with her husband and family in Waimea. Her work can be viewed at the Big Island Art Fair venues currently held in Waimea and by appointment at her studio. more information: trishhelmskimballart.com
Susanna Anderson’s love for photography began in high school, then was rekindled 10 years later, after giving birth to her daughter at home and having a birth photographer present. The pictures encouraged her to believe in herself, just as she had during her home birth, and she pursued her long-lost dreams of making photography her career. Every year since her daughter’s birth has marked a different stage in her photography, growing from an interest in birth, motherhood, and family photography, to jungle boudoir portraiture, and most recently couples and elopements.
Featured Artist: Trish Helms Kimball
For more information: susannaanderson.com
Susanna has lived on Hawai‘i Island eight years, and says, “As any photographer on this island knows, there are endless sources of inspiration to be had here, but the lava rock tide pools and green lush jungle vibes of the east side have my heart. Also, going out with my girlfriends for a fun photoshoot together always fills my creative cup. My favorite type of people to photograph are those who want to make something special together. That doesn’t mean you have to be confident, or photogenic, or know how to model, it just means you are willing to show up and trust the process, let go of control, and see yourself for the masterpiece you are.”
Keauhou Shopping Center, “Kona’s Legendary Gathering Place,” has a great selection of merchants and incredible community events that draws both vistors and residents. It is the centerpiece of Keauhou Resort, a modern getaway surrounded by rich Hawaiian history. Once the birthplace and playground of kings, the convenient location along Ali‘i Drive offers an incredible shopping experience, and the chance to learn about the heritage of the Kona coast through special entertainment and educational programs. The Keauhou Kahalu‘u Heritage Center is part of the shopping center. Plan a visit (admission is complimentary) and learn why Keauhou has a significant place in Hawaiian history. Keauhou Shopping Center offers a great mix of shops, restaurants, professional services, and a state-of-the-art multi-plex theatre., General Manager Colene DeMello says, “We are able to ensure events are truly ‘legendary’ by treating each event as an opportunity to provide an authentic and credible learning opportunity about how special this place is.”
Talk Story with an Advertiser Keauhou Shopping Center
Owned by Kamehameha Schools, and managed by Washington Prime Group, the center provides services, shopping, and fun for everyone in one location. And there’s plenty of free parking! The shopping center is also a stop for the Kona Trolley, making it convenient for those without transportation.Colenejoined the property one year ago, and has initiated many exciting activities for the center, such as a monthly KidX event for keiki. KidX Club supports the growing hearts and minds of children ages 4–11 by offering programs that foster their development through thoughtful, relevant, and fun activities and events. Other activities include a hula show every Friday from 6pm–7pm, and signature events such as May Day and Kamehameha Day. The center also collaborates with the Keauhou Farmers’ Market farmers every Saturday from 8am–12pm. All these events are free. Colene’s vision for Keauhou Shopping Center is that it continues to be the one stop for everyone’s needs in the Kona community. “Ever since I started in property management, I have loved watching a thriving gathering place, such as our center, with retail, eateries, and many services. It truly is about providing a sense of place and community.”
Keauhou Shopping Center 78-6831 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona 808.322.3000 Keauhoushoppingcenter.com
Keauhou Shopping Center is a big participant and sponsor of the Get Ready Hawai‘i Back-To-School supply drive. Colene says, “Come and visit us! Stop in and say aloha! We have many wonderful merchants offering great things!”
Event Center at Arc of Hilo 1099 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo 808.464.6111
Robert’s goal is to fill the event center during the week with conferences and meetings, which is why they have a range of high-end technology support. He says, “The biggest obstacle is staffing back-to-back weekend and evening events, which is why we want more people to know it’s available for weekday use. The staff appreciates the generous support of the community toward the Arc of Hilo and its mission!
Event Center at Arc of Hilo
Talk Story with an Advertiser
The Event Center at the Arc of Hilo strives to be the premier destination venue in East Hawai‘i. Offering a full range of onsite services, including event live-streaming and recording, lighting, and event coordination services provides diverse job opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities, and helps train them in all aspects of venue services. Robert shares, “Ultimately, Arc of Hilo would like to partner with Hawai‘i Community College to offer a joint certificate program in hospitality, where their transitioning students will be able to gain work experience that is also credit-worthy, and will lead to long term careers, not just here at the Arc of Hilo, but in hotels and other outside venues across the state and mainland.”
arcofhilo.org/reservation-center
The Event Center at Arc of Hilo offers customers a spacious, modern venue for wedding receptions, graduations, birthday parties, conferences, and celebrations of life.
After more than two years of pandemic restrictions being lifted, the staff has quickly learned how to create memorable events, including partnering with a catering company, Pacific Mix Catering. They also offer all-day access, and use of their commercial kitchen to every customer. Their add-on packages include a new high-end sound system, as well as a dinnerware package that includes a fancy-folded linen napkin.
The Arc of Hilo started in 1954, serving youth and adults with disabilities. Their event center was built in 2015 with state and foundation funding, intended to be a job creation center for people with disabilities. It’s fulfilling its purpose as a premier event center, with over 4,000 guests served so far in 2022, and eight individuals with disabilitiesdevelopmentalworking in various support roles, including event set-up, parking support, and security.
Robert Efford, Chief Executive Officer shares, “We believe the Event Center at Arc of Hilo is the only nonprofit event venue supported by youth and adults with developmental disabilities in Hawai‘i. We are inspired by organizations like Pride Industries in California, creating thousands of jobs for people with disabilities by creatively running diverse social enterprises, and finding new ways for people with disabilities to find meaningful work outside of traditional options, such as janitorial work.”
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2022September-October|KeOlaMagazine.com 60 Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Award Winning Realtor® Celebrating 18+ Years in West Hawaii! KONA | HOLUALOA | KEAUHOU | SOUTH KONA Kelly 808.960.4636Shaw Realtor Broker, R(B )-21516 ABR, e-Pro, CRS, GRI, buyahomeinkona.comkelly.shaw@compass.comCLHMS “Kelly gets all the credit for finding our perfect Kona home. Her calm, measured approach immediately set us at ease. She took the time to really listen to what we wanted. Her professionalism and follow-up were exceptional. I highly recommend Kelly to anyone looking to purchase a home in the Kona area. She knows the area and understands the island lifestyle in a way that was truly helpful.”Zillow Review - Another Satisfied Buyer Casually elegant four bedroom/three bath home with fully permitted 800 sq. foot one bedroom/ one bath guest quarters. Exquisitely landscaped grounds featuring a large saltwater pool w/ spa & babbling water features, plus adjoining 1,000 sq. foot covered pavilion for outdoor enjoyment. PU ` ULOA ROAD, SOUTH KONA 4 Bed | 3 Bath home + 800 sq. foot guest house $2,999,000 | MLS # 663448 Shown by appointment only
