Elemental Autumn Comstock Cattle Co. Tropical Tea Party Animal Stories
Our Favorite Reads! Purple Inc. staff and contributors share their most beloved books Keri Cooper, Creative Director & Photographer Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport
Lois Ann Ell, Editor and Writer The Stranger by Albert Camus
Samantha Fox, Wellness Wahine columnist How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNally
Clairin SunSook Goodman, hair and makeup stylist, Tropical Tea Party photo shoot Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Jolene Justis, GrammyTime columnist The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Jessica Krull, Scott Sims, KHS Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
Nancee McTernan, writer, K13 The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Monica Merrell, DIY columnist Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Nina Krieger, Drink specialist and Beauty columnist Any books by Jackie Collins
Jericho Rell, Sashamon Favorite Book: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Adove Roden, director and stylist, Tropical Tea Party Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee
Katherine Stack, copy editor, Chivas Regal Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Kerri Villa, writer, ‘Iniki Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now by Maya Angelou
PURPLE INC. /
AUTUMN 2012
/
ISSUE NUMBER 6
CONTENTS
22
Comstock Cattle Co.
Editor/Writer Lois Ann Ell Crea,ve Director/Photographer Keri Jo Cooper
5 Lilikoʻi Refreshers
18 GrammyTime 19 DIY
6 Blue House Booksellers 20 Animal Stories 7 Tropical Skincare: Cloud9 22 Comstock Cattle Co. 8 Wellness Wahine 24 Tea Time Elements 10 Luke Evslin 12 Glass Shack 14 Crystals 16 Iniki
26 Tropical Tea Party 32 Sashamon 34 Veterinarian Scott Sims
Copy Editor Katherine Stack Contribu,ng Writers Jolene JusAs Cudworth Jessica Krull Nancee McTernan Monica Merrell Nina Samantha Fox Olson Adove Roden Jericho Rell Kerri Villa Purple Inc. is published quarterly. Copyright 2012, all rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors to Purple Inc. are not necessarily those of the editors. ContribuAng writers assume responsibility for their published columns; and for the informaAon therein. No part of this publicaAon may be reproduced, not even electronically, or through informaAon storage or retrieval systems, without wriEen consent of Purple Inc. All items submiEed to Purple Inc. become property of publisher. All correspondence and inquiries should be directed to: purpleinc@live.com
Liliko’i Refreshers
By Nina
There’s nothing better than rejoicing in the bounty of the season by making yummy cocktails from some of the best fruits Hawaiʻi has to offer. The late summer harvest of lilikoʻi, aka passionfruit, are dropping from the roadside, along hiking trails, and maybe right in your own back yard! These potent fruits are super high in vitamin C and great way to boost your immune system. This is one of my favorite cocktails, with two variations, depending on how local you want to go.
To start, you want to make some lilikoʻi juice. You can use it all in your cocktails, or you can save some for a revitalizing smoothie.
Exquisite Hawaii Wedding and Event Planning Exquisitehawaii.com info@exquisitehawaii.com
Lilikoʻi Juice: 1 part fresh lilikoʻi pulp 3 parts filtered water Blend or stir vigorously and strain. Sweeten to taste with honey or organic sugar. Sunset Dream: 1.5 oz vanilla infused vodka ½ oz coconut rum ½ oz orange liquor 4 oz fresh lilikoʻi juice Squeeze of fresh lime Or make it really local by adding some Nani Moon Mead - Winter Sun: Kauai Dream: 1 oz vanilla infused vodka ½ oz coconut rum ½ oz orange liquor 2 oz Winter Sun Mead 3oz fresh lilikoʻi juice Squeeze of fresh lime Serve on ice at your next party.
Reading Is Sexy:
Anni Caporuscio of Blue House Booksellers By Lois Ann Ell
Anni Caporuscio is well known on Kauaʻi as the sassy mastermind behind the eclectic, artsy community hub Small Town Coffee, and now Blue House Booksellers. When Anni moved to her new location down the street from the blue building on the canal to the red building at the Kauaʻi Products Fair, there was an extra room, so she decided to make it a bookstore. “When I was going to college I worked in the university bookstore,” Caporuscio said, a job that lasted nine years. She gained experience in the ordering, shipping, and distribution, which made a smooth transition to opening a bookstore of her own, located within Small Town Coffee. “I love books. I read at bars because I can’t read at coffee shops,” she said, explaining that there are too many people she will run into at other coffee shops that she knows, but at a bar she can sit down with a pint and a novel and just read. “I used to read all summer long as a kid.” Most people have a specific relationship history with books; a timeline of sorts. Here’s Anni’s: she started with King Arthur, and then moved on to World War Two books, then anything by Stephen King, then the Classics. Her bookstore has those books and more. They are acquired through donations, local library sales, and eBay auctions. Since she has limited space—the book store also doubles as her office in a small room attached to the coffee shop—she makes sure the 2,000 books on the shelves are quality inventory. “I have sifted through the crap, so I have a really good selection.” Her selection includes: fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers, biographies, the arts, travel, children’s, and cookbooks. She specializes in Vintage—what she defines as anything written over forty years ago. “I sell tons of classics—I have everything you didn’t read in High School…and Dune,” Anni said, adding that she sells a classic a day. She also has a hefty selection of Hawaiiana and books by local authors, whom she is happy to promote and hosts book launches and signings at the coffee shop often. Her favorite Hawaiiana book of late is the anthology, Don’t Look Back: Hawaiian Myths Made New. Anni frequently fills special orders for book clubs on the island, and said she would love to have book clubs meet at her shop for their monthly gatherings. Blue House Books is open daily from 9-5.
Anni’s All Time Favorite Reads Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen For the Time Being by Annie Dillard Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell And anything by J.D. Salinger, because “secretly I believe I am also a genius.”
Kauai Power Yoga with Jessica Krull RYT 500
Heated Power Yoga & Oceanside Vinyasa Flow Yoga in Kapaa
Private Instruction Available Islandwide
808-635-5868 www.kauaipoweryoga.com
tropical skincare product:
fragrant island infusions, Cloud9 Plumeria Aloe Moisturizer ($18) will leave you blissed out and ready for your nightly dose of beauty sleep.
Kauaʻi’s own Cloud 9
What’s better than a skin care line you adore made with natural ingredients right next door? I met Shawna Patterson from Cloud9 a few years back at a Kauaʻi Made trade show. I fell in love with her products then, and happily rediscovered them recently.
Cloud9 is a botanical-based skin care line from Kauaʻi that specializes in bath and body. Made from organic ingredients with the purest essential oils and infused with intoxicating botanicals that will leave you in a state of bliss. She delivers the complete package; a selection of body washes, lotions, massage oils, and exotic potions. The body wash line is perfect for all skin types as a shower gel and an exotic bubble bath. Infused with calendula and goldenseal, it provides skin with soothing qualities as it cleans. Shawna also makes an exfoliating body wash which is effective enough to smooth your skin yet delicate enough to use on your face and body daily. The Hawaiian Lemon Exfoliating Body Wash ($18) contains infusions of chamomile, lemon peel, walnut shells, cocoa butter, Hawaiian honey, and essential oils. I personally like to treat myself to their moisturizer at bedtime, re-hydrating my skin from daily stressors like UV rays and salt air. With the nurturing effects of organic aloe vera combined with
by nina
What girl doesn’t need a little massage in her life? Enter Liliko’i Massage Oil ($18), blended from a silky smooth combination of organic kukui nut, almond and vitamin E oils. There are a few select botanicals which are considered aphrodisiacs, and the Hawaiian Pikake is one of them. A few drops of Cloud9 Pikake Essential Oil perfume ($20-$38).
The Cloud9 body & bath collection is unique in that all the products can be Private Label custom blended with essential oils, making them a perfect choice for a special occasion. So turn on your inner goddess and enlighten your senses to Cloud9! Cloud 9 can be found at National Tropical Botanical Garden - Poipu, Divine Planet - Hanalei, Aunty Lilikoi - Waimea, and online at www.cloudninehi.com.
Massage by
Jericho Rell
(mat8288) (808) 652-9932
Hot Stone, Swedish, Lomi-Lomi, Shiatsu and Reflex
WELLNESS wahine
S A M A N T H A F OX O L S O N, YO G A I N S T RU C TO R & F I T N E S S G U RU
Restorative Yoga: BEing the Change T h e ch an g ing o f t h e s e a so ns i s a n i nvi t a t i o n t o a l i g n w i t h na tur e. T he r hy th m o f fa l l r e v e a l s ho w w e w i t n e s s M o t h e r Na tur e mo vi n g int o a c a l m , s w e e t s t i l l n e s s : l e a v e s f a l l i n g f r o m t h e tree s , t he d a ys c o o l e r , ni ght s l o n ge r . S h e i s s l o w i n g d o w n . By d e lib e ra t el y sl ow i n g d ow n ou rs e l ve s, w e t o o c a n e a s e f u l l y an d re ju v e na te , re p l e ni s h a nd r e st or e o u r e v e r y c e l l i n t o a h ar moni z e d p l a ce o f b a l a nc e a n d w e l l - b e i ng.
What is restora+ve yoga? Restora(ve yoga is a passive means to opening the body and relaxing the mind. Any yoga pose that can be se9led into, and effortlessly held for 10 minutes or more, can be considered a restora(ve pose. These types of postures are supported with props such as belts, straps, blankets, bolsters, towels, yoga blocks, and eye pillows.
The be nef its o f resto rativ e y o g a: - ca l min g the m ind -st re tc hing the b o d y - a gr e a te r ca p a cit y t o br ea the d eepl y and co nscio u sl y - fe e lin g bliss ed o u t, g ro u nd ed and expansiv e - n ou r ish ing you r p ar a sym pathetic nerv o u s sy stem - boosting yo u r im m u ne sy stem - in tim ate co nnectio n w ith y o u - ca n a ssist y o u in d eep, restf u l sl eep
Below are a few of my favorite restorative yoga postures. Try each one for a minute or two, and work your way up to being in each pose for 10 minutes or more. Instead of DOing the pose, I encourage you to simply BE the pose. Be with the rhythm of your breath; be with the support of the earth beneath you. Just
BE and enjoy the feelings of spaciousness and contentment as you effortlessly replenish your body, mind and spirit.
Z
Supta Baddha Konasana • SiPng on the floor in front of your folded and sturdy blanket, lay back so that your spine and head are both supported. Your forehead should be slightly higher than you chin. • Place the soles of your feet together and open your knees into a 'bu9erfly' stretch. If you have any resistance in your inner thighs or groins, place blocks under your thighs for addi(onal support. • Open your arms to the sides and rotate your palms up. • Close your eyes and breathe. Bonus: This pose opens the hips. Excess vata (wind element) is stored in the hips and Fall is an op(mal (me to release excess vata from your system. Supported Setu Bandhasana • Lay on your back with knees bent and feet on floor. • Align your ankles directly under your knees and feel that your feet are parallel. • Press your feet down and liF your hips up, placing a block or 2 under your sacrum. • Gently snuggle your shoulder blades towards each other. • Allow your hips to se9le into the blocks and your shoulders to se9le onto the earth. • Open your arms to the sides and turn your palms up. • Close your eyes and breathe. Bonus: This pose opens the chest, which in turn helps alleviate mild depression. Viparita Karani • Start with your side at a wall. As gracefully as you can muster, lay back onto the floor, spin slightly so your spine becomes perpendicular to the wall, as you liF your legs up. • Allow the heels of your feet to be supported by the wall. • This is not a hamstring stretch. So if the back of your legs are feeling it, move your bo9om further away from the wall un(l you don't feel that as a stretch. • Open your arms to the sides and rotate your palms up. • Close your eyes and breathe. • To come out of the pose, bend your knees, liF one arm over your head and roll onto that side. It is important to rest on your side here for a good 5 deep breaths (longer if you are in the pose for a lengthy amount of (me), so that your blood pressure can regulate, before coming up to your seat. Bonus: This pose is so yummy aFer a long day on your feet, or aFer siPng on an airplane for some (me.
Element: WATER
Luke Evslin of
Kamanu Composites
By Lois Ann Ell Luke Evslin silently glides on his bike into the shady grove at the base of the Wailua River. Paddles and boats are stacked against carpeted earth next to gentle lapping water. High School students are warming up to practice, lunging across the lawn holding their paddles. Evslin has agreed to meet before he coaches a private paddling lesson. When asked where his paddling career began, he looked at the water in front of him. “Right here, actually, when I was eleven,” he said. “I paddled for two weeks at Pu’uwai, but I hated it and I quit.” Eventually he gave it another try though, and ended up paddling with Kaiola Canoe Club until he was 18 and left for college, but still came back and paddled in the summers when he was home. While in California attending Claremount McKenna College, he paddled inland for two years, until
finally transferring to UH Manoa to be closer to fulfilling the plan he and his high school friends came up with as teenagers. “We literally hashed out the plan in the 10th grade,” Evslin said of himself, Kelly Foster and Keizo Gates, who all now own and operate Kamanu Composites, which, as their website simply states: “We Build Canoes.” With Evslin’s experience in business, Foster’s in composite fabrication, Gates’ in engineering and all sharing a love of paddling, they established a warehouse in 2007 on O’ahu. “Hawaiian canoes are the only ones who have the manu,” Evlsin explained, pointing to the curved pieces on each end of the canoe—the manu represents the Hawaiian canoe,” he said, (ka meaning “the”). Kamanu Composites is the only company making Hawaiian canoes in Hawai’i. In addition to running the business, Kamanu Composites also has a paddling team, which won the Ironman in May 2012. It was a triumph for the team collectively, and for Evslin personally, who suffered a life-threatening accident in 2010 in the Molokaʻi Hoe—a nine-man race — during a shift change in the water, when a wave pushed the accompanying boat’s propeller over him. He was able to come back to Kaua’i to recover under the care of his father, Dr. Lee Evslin, one of Kauaʻi’s wellknown and most respected physicians. After a long rehabilitation, he returned to paddling.
“After I got injured, when I finally got back in the water it was a sort of freedom of being out there, when you are disconnected from the world.” That feeling of freedom is what has always drawn him to paddling; a sense of perspective being out in the ocean looking back to land. When on land however, Evslin is very connected with Kaua’i’s paddling community as the coach of Pu’uwai Canoe Club. “My true passion is to get kids together and develop a kid’s program,” he said, explaining that getting involved with paddling as a young age on the island is a way to keep youth out of trouble, including himself and his partners, Gates and Foster. “It did so much for us, kept us super-motivated and on the right track.” Evslin begins to gather equipment, preparing for his training session with Vick Allen, a blind paddler who has been in the water for 17 years. He is on his way to Calgary the next day to compete in the world sprints, with Evslin behind him, guiding his course. It is a first for Allen. “As a blind person, I was always a little jealous of someone who could just take off in a oneman and just go,” Allen said, which is why he has always been in six-man races. But his coach has made his dream of paddling solo come true. Evslin has not only trained with him but is fast enough to stay behind him to call out commands during the race. “He’s one of the top paddlers in the world,” Allen said of Evslin, who is surprisingly humble for all his accomplishments. As our interview wraps up, the two bring boats to the water and gather paddles, as the sunlight dots and dances along the wide waterway of Wailua river.
LUKE EVSLIN AND VICK ALLEN
Element: FIRE
The Glass Shack By Keri Jo Cooper Andy Palmer and Kyle Doepke have been friends since high school. They grew up in the Midwest where they began juggling fire on the street corners of Westport, Kansas City. They made money performing fire stunts and selling their handmade jewelry. Today, not much has changed except the geography. Andy and Kyle own the Glass Shack, a gallery/ workshop located on a street corner in downtown Kapa’a. The irony is not lost on Palmer. “I think about it everyday when I walk in the door. It’s pretty weird being a street performer still, just under a more professional text.”
In 2002, the duo was at a friend’s house attending a birthday party when they came across a glassblower’s abandoned workshop. Using the scraps of glass and leftover oxygen in the tank, they spent the next 8 hours absorbing all the information they could. As luck would have it, another friend was there and they learned enough from him in that session to get started. Kyle explained:
Andy Palmer
Kyle Doepke
The object of my art is to be seen, enjoyed, conversed about, and shared. That’s crucial. It’s fundamental to this place because all that we know has been from information shared with us. I never paid for a class. Even if you don’t know what this stuff is I will show you how to do it. One person can change your whole existence.
Ten years later and after many hours at the torch, they have earned a great deal of respect in the glass world, and what started with scraps in a friend’s basement have become their careers.
Live Glass Blowing The two use old school techniques in a modern setting. Andy explains the Glass Shack experience:
Glass melts at around 2,400 degrees. Manipulation of the glass happens at 1,050 degrees but to bring it to that temperature requires skill otherwise it will crack and break. Endurance and sensitivity is required of the glass blower because they must maintain even centrifugal force constantly while working at the torch with extremely hot glass. Kyle said,
“See product made by people who really do it, and look at basically everything we make. It’s handson. You can pick stuff up, watch it being created, and ask direct questions. That’s what makes our store unique.” To watch them create artwork using a blue-hot blowtorch to melt and morph glass is quite a mesmerizing event. Kyle said it best: “Everyone gets lost looking into the fire, even babies.” He compares his work to “being perched on the back of a dragon’s head.” He added, “That seat is intense.” Blowing glass seems to be equal parts of danger and thrill, which is why glassblowers need to be on point; one bad move and their hand is in a 5,000 degree flame.
Centrifugal force is everything. So to use all of these different elements, influences all together in this dance- that is what captivates people. It cools down at 300 degrees a second so your movement and understanding of that dance has to be really quick. That’s where my love is. Because of that dance between the fire, the glass, and the conductor— that fluidness, that’s what keeps my torch on. The dance. True artists are visionaries and these guys are just that. Better yet though, they actually bring their ideas to fruition. Every few months there is something new being sold in the shop. Their product range is eclectic and vast. Andy says, “We can make you anything you want, and we will get it done.” The Glass Shack wants to be known for paying it forward. They are always networking and passing on referrals because they feel that’s why they have been successful. Kyle said, “We try to keep the essence of that alive, and it all comes back.”
What You Can Find At The Glass Shack: Aquarium items, -igurines (scuba-‐diving chickens), kitchen accessories, jewelry including pendants ($10-‐$80), rings, bracelets, key chains, earrings, -ishing lures, tops, re-illable pens, door knobs, art pieces, guitar slides & picks, sculptures, tobacco accessories, kaleidoscopes. “Top Wars” are a popular game in the Glass Shack right now. Kids and adults gather around a plate-‐sized arena where they “battle” the glass tops against one another, and last one spinning wins. Glass Shack is located at4-1345 Kuhio Hwy. Kapaa, HI 96746
Find them at www.facebook.com/glass.shack
Element: EARTH
Digging Into The Mineral World With Crystals By Lois Ann Ell Tanya Hughes has been immersed in the world of crystals for over twenty years. She has used them for guidance, healing, and to pass the knowledge she has on to others through many courses. She invited us to explore and learn about the world of these precious gems and minerals which are formed deep within the ground which supports us.
“Crystals are natural gems and minerals found in the earth,” Tanya Hughes said. “They all have energy and represent and serve different qualities.” Tanya teaches courses on an ongoing basis through the Crystal Academy of Advanced Healing Arts, created by Katrina Raphaell, which, according to the website, “is dedicated to serving the healing process of humanity by assisting people to learn how to use the light, color, and perfect geometric form manifested in the mineral kingdom to heal and balance the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical bodies.”
The Crystal World When asked about the different types of crystals, Hughes said the mineral world is vast. “There are thousands of different crystals and new ones always coming up, just as the earth is always changing and moving,” Tanya explained. Some are well-known and found throughout the world in many varieties, like Quartz. “Quartz is the most common and wellknown,” she said. “Quartz holds a rainbow cosmic vibration and comes in many forms.” She pointed out many different types, including Amethyst, the well-known purple-hued mineral, which is a crystal that helps to open and connect. “If you are starting a meditation practice, it allows you to go within.”
Obsidian In addition to crystals, natural glass formed in the ground are gems with powerful properties as well. Obsidian is an example of natural glass. Tanya said that this shiny black gem helps you face
your fears and offers protection. “It’s kind of like the magic mirror, if one is ready to see the shadows that lie,” she said.
crystals, as well as leaving them on a Quartz crystal, a practice Tanya uses after performing healings.
In the Home “Cleansing your crystals is always very important because they hold energy,” she said. They can be cleaned in a variety of different ways, burning Sage, called smudging, being immersed in salt water (although some not for too long as they can dissolve), some can be basked in sunlight and some in moonlight. Sound can also be a cleansing technique for
Her home is filled with all different crystals of shape, color and size. Spheres and striking towers of crystals fill rooms. Walking into her crystal room, which is filled with hundreds of minerals, the grounding energy is palpable—calmness along with a light, peaceful feeling permeates the air. She even has crystals outside the home. “I always put my injured ones the in the garden,” she said.
When asked what crystals would be ideal for the home, she responded with a question. “I would first ask why—is it to clear energy? For protection?” She offers some direction on choosing crystals for the home and in general:
• • • •
To create harmony: Clear Quartz, Rose Quartz or Amethyst To manifest abundance: Citrine For grounding: Smoky Quartz, Hematite or Black Tourmaline For mental stimulation and clarity: Fluorite and Pyrite (also known as “Fools Gold”).
Color Color matters a great deal as well when delving into the world of crystals. “There’s a lot of color therapy in crystal healing, and color holds energy and representation,” she said, adding that the color of crystals is often a reflection of its properties. For example, blue stones like Aquamarine, Blue Lace Agate, and Larimar are all soothing and nurturing, whereas red and orange stones such as Carnelian represent energy, action and movement. For more information, visit www.webcrystalacademy.com
Kaua’i has had its own crystals; Peridot and Calcite, but she said neither is found in abundance anymore, if at all. “Being in this line of service I’ve notices the changes that mother earth has gone through,” Hughes said. She uses the natural gems offered in the soil to help heal and transform the natural gifts we have as well. Kauaʻi Calcite
Element: AIR
‘INIKI by Kerri Villa In the prologue of her New York Times Bestseller novel, author Sue Monk Kidd opens, “They say you can bear anything if you can tell a story about it.” On September 11, 1992—20 years ago, Hurricane ‘Iniki drastically interrupted the lives of many individuals and families on the island of Kaua‘i. I know there are endless stories to be told; I will tell you mine. Many local people talk about the dates of each hurricane as a milestone in the timeline description of life. In recounting an event, it either happened before the hurricane, or after the hurricane. For me, it was an intrusion that caused a delay in my careful plan to escape from matrimonial matters—the vow I had taken had been easily minimized. Mentally, I had performed a lexical translation of a matrimonial vow to a simple legality: irreconcilable differences. For years I felt I was suffering in a silent crisis. I was too young and ignorant to understand that the waves of turmoil in a marriage were part of a vast ocean. As the Category 4 hurricane approached land, I was being tugged into its strong, piercing winds—determined to find myself. I had been domestically prepared for this hurricane. While the storm was brewing and intensifying in the Pacific, I was cooking up a huge pot of rice, getting all the laundry done and double checking my hurricane checklist. After all, I had the responsibility of a family now, a husband and two children—my son 9 and my daughter 3 years old. Ten years prior, in 1982, when Hurricane Ewa hit, I was just out of high school; my priorities were limited to work, paying bills and spending time with friends. Our home weathered the fierce winds and rain with loyal shields and protected us to the very end. But, as I stepped out of my home, my senses were immediately raped. There was an eerie stillness. No birds chirping, no leaves rustling, absolutely no fragrance from flowers or grass. Everything was stripped of life, had become naked. The entire mountain was brown, every tree was bare, no leaves or branches. As I looked out to the horizon, even the ocean had turned brown. The eye of the storm forced me to envision a life of destruction as images of me raising my children alone began metamorphosing to the aftermath of the storm around me. I refused to taste the thoughts. There was healing fueled by a community of energetic, generous people who united to restore and rebuild an island. The impact of togetherness outweighed my self-centeredness. While I chose to forfeit my marriage a year after the hurricane, my journey here has been a tremendous experience of learning, giving and receiving. Today, 20 years after Hurricane ‘Iniki, I am whole and at peace. I metaphorically immerse myself in the elements that medicate my soul and choose to continually compact the dirt that creates a firm foundation, endure the fire that melts in order to be reformed, accept the wind that carries erotic whispers, and be nourished with His thirst-quenching water.
RYLO EXCAVATION
Clearing Shredding Terracing Earth Moving Invasive Species Control Water Features www.RyloExcavation.com
808-635-0543 Lic.# C 24494
Grammy-Time owzer! It’s already Fall. School is back in session, and soon it will be Thanksgiving. Below are a few ideas on how to make back to school easier for you and your child, and maybe even have some ding-dang fun with a Thanksgiving party!
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How to ease into the back to school routine 1. Set the same bedtime every night. Most children need 10-12 hours of sleep each night. 2. Help them lay out their clothes the night before.
3. Focus on breakfast and getting ready for school in the morning. Keep the T.V. and video games off. If the kids have extra time they can make their bed. 5. When kids get home from school, homework first, maybe along with a snack. While they are doing their homework, check their book bags. By doing this, you won’t miss any notes from school, you can sign permission slips, and put events on the calendar. Getting in a routine will make your life easier.
Grammyism:
Set boundaries for your children. By doing so you make them feel safe. They look to you to know how to “be” in life. If you don’t show them, who will?
Ki d s T hank s gi v i ng Pa rt y
Get the book Stone Soup by John J. Muth. Invite the children to each bring their favorite vegetable chopped in a baggie. Before the children arrive, you and your child find a stone. Wash the rock. When all the children arrive, read the book to them. Then have your child place the rock in the soup pot. You can add the vegetable broth and onion and spices. Then have each child put what they brought into the pot. Talk about the story while this is going on. Heat the "Stone Soup.” While it is cooking, have the kids draw a picture of the vegetable they brought to add to the soup. Discuss sharing and what they are thankful for. This will take up some time while the "Stone Soup" is cooking. Enjoy your feast!
Do-it-Yourself Hand-painted Rugs By Monica Merrell
You will need:
2. Use tape to hold the stencil in place to avoid shifting.
1. The most important part of this project is planning out your design/ pattern ahead of time. Some tips include: •Starting from the middle •Measuring the size of the stencil and rug to fit the pattern appropriately in its place •Using stencils that aren't too small or detailed because the paint colors can overlap
3. When painting on Sisal, it's important to use up and down motion —like quick taps—instead of strokes, to avoid the bleeding of paint under the stencil.
A basic Sisal Rug (a rug woven from natural plant fibers like jute or hemp or seagrass) Stencils Brushes Acrylic paint A measuring tape
4. After the paint has dried, give the Tape (Scotch or Painter’s) rug a light coat of Clear Finish in a Clear Finish Spray Paint Satin or Matte to help seal in the design. Remember that a design can be a Fall is always one of my constantly changing as you favorite work, and that the (mes of year. Using the colors of imperfections are what will Autumn I made this easy DIY make your rug unique!
hand-‐ painted rug. This
craF idea can be used for all sorts of holidays, events or décor styles!
Animal love stories
WRITINGS SUBMITTED FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF
She is a full grown Hawaiian monk seal who frequents the east side of Kauaʻi. Blind in one eye possibly from an eel, she is wise and lovely. A close relative to the dog, the Hawaiian name for monk seal means “dog running in the rough seas”. This past April my friend Mary called me with the news that K-‐13 gave birth to a pup not 100 yards from my house. I was at home, so I walked down immediately to see her just minutes after it happened. There K-‐13 was with this beautiful tiny pure black pup which had a white mark like a star on her underbelly just by her heart. Her umbilical cord was still attached and her mom was vocally coaxing her to nurse. The scientists gave the pup a number for a name, but I call her Hoku, as she was born under the shadow of Hokualele Mountain with her white star-‐shaped birthmark.
Never in the 26 years that I have lived in Anahola has a pup been born here. I’m told K-‐13 usually gives birth on the island of Niʻihau but she might not have been strong enough to get there this time. In December she was attacked by a shark and was found *loating in a dirty canal in Kapaʻa for weeks. She barely moved and could not use one of her *ins. We had little hope that she would survive. No one knew she was pregnant. I cried many tears after seeing her in that canal. I had no idea before this how attached I had become to this sea mammal. K-‐13 has now weaned Hoku and still comes by to rest once in a while near my house. She’s a bit skinny from nursing but still looking pretty good. I am in awe of her intelligence and wonderful mothering skills. Hoku was transferred to Larson’s beach because it is more remote and she will have a better chance of survival there. I hope to see her again when she is a bit older back in Anahola. –Nancee McTernan
Sometimes pets *ind us...like my cat Po, as in realm of the gods, not Edgar Allen. Po is now six years old, but once he was forged from the belly of my ford ranger like Moses adrift in the river Nile. I left work during an epic deluge. A kitten’s cries tainted three round trips to the north shore. Three helpful mechanics could not locate the crying cat of my despair. Twenty-‐four hours later, my inner kitten had suffered a grave melt down and in a last ditch effort I *inally located the beast in a spare tire rim under the truck. He was tiny, feral, bulging blue eyes, about three weeks old. It was love at *irst sight for us both. He followed me around like a shadow, playing with the edge of my sarongs. I bottle fed him until he could eat solid food. Once his real coat grew in, he turned from charcoal stripe to all black fur with bright, yellow eyes. When he was about 3 years old he got into some sort of *ight with a pig or dog. His leg was broken in three places, leaving one claw damaged and sticking straight out. He has since taught himself how to open sliding screen doors with his protruding "claw.” He is most recently a survivor of *lesh-‐eating staph that he got protecting my mum and I from a rat intruder in the middle of the night that bit him on the side before Po ended the scuf*le entirely. I have come to believe that black cats don't bring bad luck but rather absorb any intended for their owners. He has been my friend, familiar, family and an anchor for all things good and wholesome since we met. –Adove Roven, Stylist, Purple Inc.
Long ago I visited a pier in Monterey and spent a long time watching the seals on the rocks. Suddenly someone said, “Look!” I turned my head and saw a bird diving quickly under the water. Moments later it popped out to the surface *ifty to eighty yards away. I felt I had a glimpse into a world I had never known. –Vigil Alkana, Kapaʻa When Chivas, named after my mother’s favorite beverage, was hit by a car and the vet said it would be best to put him down since his pelvis was shattered and he would probably not walk again, my mother scooped him up off of the examining table and said, “You are wrong. He will be *ine.” She then called me. “I know you already have Smokey to take care of, but now you need to take care of Chivas as well. He needs peace and quiet to recover.” Chivas, a beautiful tri-‐colored collie with an abundance of hair, still looked regal but indeed could not walk. Pat and I carried him three times a day out of our trailer, held him up
while he peed and then set him in the shade to convalesce. Smokey, who belonged to my brother-‐in-‐law serving in Viet Nam, was a one year old black lab. The lab was a cruiser with the energy of a teenager on Red Bull. He wore a red bandana and could be missing for days at a time. When Chivas arrived, who was as gentle and timid as a new-‐born fawn, Smokey slowly gave up wandering for care taking. Most days, Smokey tried to get Chivas to move; brought him sticks and tennis balls, nudged him, licked him, and encouraged him to play. For weeks there was no sign of improvement, yet, eventually it happened; Chivas started to belly crawl towards Smokey. By the end of summer, Chivas Regal was walking. Mother was right again. –Katherine Stack, copy editor, Purple Inc.
Q & A WITH SHANNON BLIZZARD OF KAUA’I HUMANE SOCIETY Interview by Jessica Krull What is your biggest concern for island animals? “The issue that keeps me up at night has more to do about the challenges in the perceived value of pets in the shelter,” said Blizzard, Executive Director of KHS. “In most cases, these animals are wonderful, healthy, well-adjusted pets—they are not damaged goods that were cast out by someone—many have gotten lost and nobody came to find them or their owner had some kind of life change that didn’t allow for them to keep the pet,” she said. “I wish everyone in the community, at every level, were clambering to find a way to keep them safe and ensuring they were well cared for.” Tips for island pet owners on how to maintain a healthy, happy island pet? “A micro-chipped and spayed/neutered pet is a happy pet,” said Blizzard. “There are other preventative medications that are recommended due to our island environment and we encourage everyone to seek a relationship with a veterinarian for a more detailed and personalized approach to preventative care,” she said. “Most importantly, love the pets in your life. Treat them with compassion and aloha; they need daily socialization, exercise, nutrition and love.” Tell us about KHS Foster Care program. “Fostering is critical to our live-saving goals,” she said. “Fosters allow our capacity to increase temporarily while providing animals with an opportunity they may not have access to otherwise.” She added, “The shelter environment can be too intense for some animals— sometimes we need short-term temporary foster support for a shy or injured animal.” Blizzard explained that foster families receive all the supplies and support they need. “We just need people to open their homes and hearts to helping these animals get the second chance they deserve.”
Services KHS offers: •Adoption
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•Free spay/neuter surgery & a mobile clinic twice monthly for cats. •Low-cost vaccines •Lost and found pet services •Human education, dog training, pet behavior support •Microchip and dog licenses •Animal cruelty/neglect investigation •Pet boarding and quarantine
Find KHS at http://kauaihumane.org or call 808-632-0610
Comstock Cattle Co.
By Lois Ann Ell Sprawling across rolling acres of green pasture on the north shore of Kauaʻi, Mark Comstock drives his truck along the dirt roads as his cattle graze among the grass, clusters of brown, black and white, with big dewy eyes glancing up. Although the origins of Comstock Cattle began in Eddyville, Iowa in 1923, Mark, who has been working with the land and animals in Anahola for over 20 years, has revitalized the business. Comstock Cattle offers cows that are humanely raised on mass acres of land, free of antibiotics and steroids. They do not just feed on grass, but also on a subtropical alfalfa and grain mix grown on the property to ensure a sustainable enterprise. Although Comstock explained there is nothing wrong with purely grass-fed beef, an organic alfalfa and grain diet allows for a higher quality meat. Across the highway in the same sweep of land, glistening horses are preparing for a ride, with sheen coats and long, flowing manes, nuzzling each other. Comstock Cattle is twofold: raising island-grown, grain-fed, healthy cattle, and providing horseback tours in a unique way; offering an experience which gives one closer to the intimate connection to animals and land. The horseback tours part of the business came about when horses were being left on the land under the care of Comstock. In some cases, the owners could no longer financially care for them. Some were retired barrel racing horses. Some were simply abandoned. Eileen Irvine, an experienced horse trainer, became a business partner along with Mark, in an effort to rehabilitate the horses and help run
a conscious, sustainable business. The partnership was a good fit, as both have the same compassion for the animals. “Mark wanted to do something creative with the horses so that they could earn their keep and they could keep retiring down there, because otherwise they get put down,” Irvine said. “One of the reasons I was attracted to working with Mark is because he’s so kind to the horses. I had to see how that was before I knew it was going to work,” she said. The horses have various requirements in order to stay healthy. They need to prevent thrush and rain rot, keep the horses clean, maintain their hooves, and manage their feed. To be economically and environmentally sustainable, Comstock Cattle have four paddocks filled with Fodder crops—Pigeon Pea and Comfrey—which are high in protein. They grow Wormwood plants, which act as a natural wormer for the horses. Veterinarian Scott Sims also helps out with the horse emergencies and various needs they have that come with rehabilitating the animals. Irvine and Comstock train the animals in order for them to go on tours, which span from the mountains near Bertylman ridge down to the ocean near Pilaʻa beach in Moloaʻa. “The tours are a way we can keep the horses in shape, keep them fed, keep them healthy, and keep them working so they are adoptable if need be, said Irvine. “So that’s why Mark started it, besides wanting to have fun.” It’s not just a tour, though. In addition to the experience of riding through Kaua’i’s sprawling hills by horse, the tours may be enriched by mini-courses such as Earth Skills and Horse Communication.
Earth Skills “Earth skills are skills that we acquire when we are living close to the earth, and we try to utilize natural materials,” Irvine said. “A lot of the things I do have roots in Hawaiian hand crafts, things like making Kukui nut candles and Hau bark cordage, and taking native herb walks.” Horse Communication Horse Communication is a central element of the tours. Irvine shares this with others. As a way for the horses and their riders to feel more connected in their partnership along the tour. Irvine explained: For me, the roots of why I love doing this are because I love to share the horse communication part—it’s what makes it all satisfying, because I can share something I feel natural doing, and do it in a way where I can benefit the animals and the people so it’s a good experience for everybody. I like the people to have a great time and make sure that their horse is comfortable, because comfort equals safety. “The root of understanding the horse is understanding that horses don’t do things out of spite or anger, they only do things if they are uncomfortable or afraid. When people understand that, they don’t take it personally and they can help. I’m striving to have people and horses understand each other.” Mark Comstock
Eileen Irvine
Horses keep me on my toes and in my truth. They encourage me to listen, connect and to be a leader, and if I disconnect from that role, they let me know right away. They are tuned in so subtlety. I strive to listen and to be clear with what I am asking, and always in love and with patience. They are trying their best. This model of listening, connecting, leading and loving transmutes into other facets of my life like my relationship with my child and with my friends. This is the immeasurable value of horse medicine to me. They encourage me, like a true friend would, to be in my power.
Mark Comstock and Eileen Irvine of Comstock Cattle are changing the way we look at animals; or rather getting us back to the way we used to look at animals—a more natural approach.
TEA TIME by Keri Cooper If y war ou are c heat m you. old, t e you ed, it w If you a a will ill c re are o d ol y too chee epre ou. s r s exci ted, you. If ed, it w If y ~Gl it will ou ar ill e adst one calm yo , 18 u 6 5 .
From ancient tea ceremonies, to modern tea parties, to iced tea on the porch, tea is a way to welcome guests throughout much of the world. The only beverage consumed on Earth more is water.
Black tea, green tea, oolong, white, and yellow teas are all derived from the same plant- Camilla sinensis. The teas differ based on the oxidation process. Black tea is fully oxidized while green tea is unoxidized.
“ S h a re a th ro u g h te m o m e n t c o n n e c te d a a rc h a e o lo … It is a k in d o f li fl a v o rs a n g y . W e a re re s u rr v in g e c ti d e b a c k b e c a x p e ri e n c e s th a t b n g in u s e th e y w e re s h a re d u s g e n e ra ti o d by n s b e fo – D a v id L e e H o ff m re u s .” an T e a , 2 0 0 (A ll in th is 7)
Tea Growing & Processing 4-12 years for Camellia sinensis plant to bear seed 3 years from seed to harvest Harvest happens every 7-15 days during growing season, by picking the top1-2 inches of the plant. The finer teas begin with an experienced and skilled tea picker. Picked leaves began to oxidize and wilt or they are immediately dried. A tea master will then carefully heat the leaves to preserve the color and freshness. Green teas are picked early in the morning and processed quickly to halt the oxidation process. Black and oolong teas will go through additional processing to encourage oxidation, which causes the leaf to darken. Once desired oxidation has occurred the tea is dried, usually in the sun.
ke e a s e s li have cr men, t s u m a ty te horse Tartar ock, s t q u a li T h e b e a t h e r b o o t o f a m ig h t y b u ll e , f in le o v a e p r h t w la fa g out o r, e the de c u r l li k k e a m is t r is in e d b y a z e p h y h li c h t u r ld o a o t e f e e un k e a la k k e a f in g le a m li w e t a n d s o f t li r a in . y e b and b wept n e w ly s L u Y u ~
Black Tea- is the most oxidized of the teas and needs rolling boiling water for optimum infusion. Steep the tea for 3-‐5 minutes. The quality of water used to Green Tea- If you have ever noticed that your green tea is bitter, brew your tea is as important as it’s probably because your water is too hot. Green tea is delicate, the quality of the tea you are the water temp should usually be around 170 degrees F. The lower temperature brings out the L-‐theanine-‐ an amino acid. Let using, so start with *iltered boiling water cool for about a minute before pouring it over the water from a good source. Many leaves. Steep green tea for 2-‐3 minutes. other variables affect the taste of Oolong Tea- this is considered an artisan type of tea, requiring tea including the amount of leaf more skill from the tea master to create than any other type of tea. The water temp should be around 185-‐200 degrees. Steep for 4-‐7 used, seeping time, and water minutes. temperature. Experimentation is Tea Bags-‐ contains leaf fragments so use slightly less than boiling recommended. water. Steep for a minute or two.
Tea Brewing:
Infuse your tea again; increase steeping time with each infusion. A note about loose-leaf tea and tea bags: Tea bags generally have small bits of tea causing a quicker infusion process. While the bags- that come in dozens of varieties- are convenient, the downside is the broken pieces could become stale since there is more surface area of the leaf exposed to the air. Once you try a loose-leaf tea you will notice superior taste, aroma, and quality. The delicate handling required of these premium teas brings out freshness not found in typical tea bags.
Sencha Green Tea
Irish Black Tea Yo u ca n ne ve r ge ta cu p of te a la rg e en ou gh or a bo ok lo ng en ou gh to su it m e. ~C .S . Le wi s
Tropical Tea Party
Clothing: Island Hemp & Cotton Cakes: Kawaii Cupcakes Stylist: Adove Roden Photographer: Keri Cooper Models: Kanako Naguchi Dumas Jessie Lehua Austin Kodi Rose
TROPICAL TEA PARTY Styling by Adove Roden Photography by Keri Cooper Jewelry by Adove Fine Jewelry Glass items by The Glass Shack, Kapaʻa All clothing supplied by Island Hemp & Cotton, Kapaʻa, (808) 821-0225
Cakes and cupcakes by Kawaii Cupcakes Models: Kanako Naguchi Dumas, Jessie Lehua Austin, Kodi Rose Special thanks to Photo Assistant and Apprentice Zadi Burke
By Adove Roden
Life isn't about finding yourself but rather creating yourself. It doesn't matter if life hands you lemons or if it is so beyond awemazing that you must celebrate, rally your favorite peeps, ‘ohana and sweet lil’ keikis for a relaxation station, high tea nosh. Pull your fringe and floss high while savoring a rehydrating, purifying sip of loose bancha, sencha, or good ‘ole earl grey. Make tea not war If your heart beats to the resonance of different drum or life seems to move too slowly in neutral, then consider reading between the lines of alter egos, autumn’s elemental nymphs, and blingtastic creatures. They all find their expression and visual voice in Clairin SunSook Goodman’s approach to accentuating your natural and supra natural features. Fringe, floss, gloss, and all panache considered, ten-mile style isn't no d'nile for Miss Clairin. https://www.facebook.com/CSunSookG Keep calm and put the kettle on What sassy wahine doesn't want to have her cupcake and eat it too? Barefoot divas recognize that variety is the spice of life, and when the occasion calls for nothing but the best, Kawaii Cupcakes owner Kristine Ichikawa is the only call to make. In this alchemical kitchen of petite delights, every culinary wish is her command, empowering your kingdom to become as wide as your imagination. Moist and luscious cake bases platform evocative flavors, including options like Black Cherry Cabernet, Green Tea Macha, and Butterfly Lavender Earl Grey are only the beginning of this larger-than-life love affair. Smooth and lux Dulce de Leche Ganache cushioning Hazelnut Eves Rocher truffles, wholesome, crested whipped cream infused with citron peel, and red velvet rosettes are amongst the simplest of top-shelf icings. All attention to details are as inspired and fresh as your
special events, be they grand or fairysized. https://www.facebook.com/ kawaiicupcakehi Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll are all very well but nothing beats a nice cup of tea Get off the grid and go old school. Ignore your i-ego device for one class moment and reconnect to your keiki spirit with Glass Shack Kauai's battle tops game. Each top is crafted for conquering a kingdom and leaving the peasants to tend the crops at home. Hand blown, one of a kind potion bottles for elixirs and messages you hope some merman finds. https://www.facebook.com/ glass.shack Native, rare and edible tropical lifescapes dominate our fantasy backdrops for meet and greet gatherings. Organize your events and surroundings to be powerful with culinary herbs and exotic species as unique as your guests. Specializing in organic options: Brady Stewart. https://www.facebook.com/brady.stewart. 142 A cup of tea solves everything All rivers leads to the sea and most wahines wish to walk its sandy beaches. A land-locked mermaiden herself, Adove Fine Jewelry combines the mermaid’s treasure chest by pairing the best of handgathered Kaua’i beach shells with grade A rare gems and unique healing minerals for their beauty and profound transformational energies. Align, empower and walk in the everyday beauty that is your ancient and
tribal soul. When acquiring personal adornment, regardless if your style is beachy, bridal, boudoir, or beyond, remember that quality always trumps quantity, as it never goes out of style. https://www.facebook.com/pages/AdoveFine-Jewelry/154411631251154 Embody the divine feminine in sacred hair henna ceremony and natural spa treatments, stretch your yogini soul with sweet, youthful children, and retreat into healing vibrations with Kanako Naguchi Dumas. https://www.facebook.com/ rani.om.unityrani.om.unity
Interview by Jericho Rell
Sashamon
We met with Sashamon as the sun was setting outside of Trees Lounge on the east side of Kauaʻi right before his show. Between moments of giving directions to tourists and watching the people come in, we talked story. He is known in the islands and beyond for his positive and contagious music. Jericho Rell: You grew up on Moloka‘i, right? Sashamon: I was born in Honolulu, and then at six months old I was on Molokaʻi until college. JR: When and why did you come to Kaua‘i? SM: January 1st, 2000. I’d had enough of the big city. I was living on O’ahu going to college. I graduated and was working at Duke’s, and I was over it. When you can’t find parking when you are going to surf, there’s something wrong. JR: When did you start playing music? SM: There was the Kupuna program in the elementary schools on Molokaʻi. They came to school and strummed ‘ukulele. As second graders, we all sang along, and we learned ‘ukulele in the sixth grade. It was the smallest elementary school in the state; there were five or six people in my class. I didn’t play again until I graduated high school. We had song contests; I sang a little bit. It wasn’t until the eleventh grade that I remember liking it. Our junior year, we won a killer song. I remember our faces vibrating, and feeling really high afterwards. JR: Did you have a mentor when you were younger? SM: No. My good friend taught me how to play the guitar. I studied anything I could from anyone. I first picked up the guitar when my friend and I went on a surf trip to Mexico. His Uncle strung a guitar for me and let me borrow it. In college, I wasn’t too popular, so I stayed home a lot and practiced…and I majored in North Shore boogie boarding, and experienced life in the big city. (Laughs.) JR: So you put your first album together here on Kaua‘i? SM: I made it here on my computer. I wrote a lot of it on Oʻahu. Somewhere in college I had this crazy idea that ‘I wanna be a musician.’ So I just got a computer and a lot of it came from jam sessions with friends. Luckily my Papa encouraged me; he walked by me and he says, “That’s good, that’s a hit.” I said, “Really?” and he said, “Really Sasha, it’s a hit.” So he encouraged me; it was good to get the support. It was a progression and it took many years to get my recording to what it is now. But it still doesn’t capture as well as what our live show can be. That’s one of the things that I hope to do in my next release.
JR: So was your goal to make a demo? SM: My goal was to make music. I would have friends come over and hear something and say, “Hey this is really good can I buy it?” Also at the time I was working in Nawiliwili and my friends would hear me play songs and they would be like “Sasha, play that song ‘Mary’.” They encouraged me, and I give thanks for the encouragement. JR: How did everything start to take off after that? SM: I gave the album to my friend Gabe Larocca, who gave it to Braden Diaz, who was one of Kauaʻi’s top professional surfers back in the day. And Braden Diaz pretty much ran the Volcom House at Pipeline. They burned the CD and the Hawaiʻi surfers heard it and it started to represent. Next thing you know it went to Big Island and ‘Butterfly’ was the number one requested song and I didn’t even have a CD released yet. Then they played ‘Japanese Squeeze’ on the radio station and then ‘The Big Tease’ on O’ahu.
JR: So you started touring after that? SM: I was doing an acoustic gig at the Hanapepe Café —that was my first gig on Saturdays. They were celebrating their one year anniversary. I was listening to the reggae show on Kong and they had just played Bob Marley and Shilo Pa. They poured me a glass of champagne and ‘Pieces of Fire’ came on the radio. I was all, ‘Yeah!’ So then I started touring. I went to Big Island first then threw together a band and nervously jumped up on stage. I was nervous as hell. JR: What was touring like for you? SM: We did our first show ever in California and five hundred people showed up. It was crazy—and people knew all the lyrics and were singing along it was crazy. I remember in the beginning we would be like “Hey you got electricity?... Mean!” But since then we’ve gotten a little more spoiled. Then my mom got sick and she passed away. She had cancer. The doctor gave her six months to live and she lived for 46 months. Because she didn’t do the chemo. So I went underground a bit and didn’t really feel like writing music or playing music, I just wanted to be in Molokaʻi as much as I could. JR: Your music is uplifting and positive. For some artists when they are in a time of turmoil like that, that’s when they get inspired. SM: I don’t really want to write that kind of music. It’s not an emotional thing, I just like to find universal truths. I want to tell you the story of how I wrote ‘Butterfly’ because I feel ‘Butterfly’ was a true gift from God. I was hanging out with this lady and I was just dreaming of being a songwriter. There was this
older African lady and I started strumming like an R n’ B kind of chord progression. I said “God I need a radio song.” Right there, ninety percent of it came out right then. That song feels like a gift and it has more plays than any other. Sashamon’s Dad walks up and joined the interview. “Hey! You are wearing a nice shirt!” “I’m in an interview, Dad,” he says smiling. We ask him if there is anything he’d like to say. “He is my son and I love him very much and I am proud.” JR: When you record your next album, will you do it on Kaua‘i? SM: I have a lot of dreams. I have a home studio set up and I am working on new songs. There is a song right now on the radio by Kalalea Kaʻuhane with Paula Fuga singing on it. We recorded that in my studio. I helped him do his songs and it’s getting a lot of radio play. JR: Are you guys going to be doing any shows anytime soon? SM: No, but we did a song for Humehume (a play for the school Kanuikapono) and they ended the play with that song. I’ve always said I’ve already achieved my goals but I’m still encouraged to do more. The real gift to me is to make people dance and to be uplifted. I want to make more good music and I want to help other people make music and realize their dreams,
too.
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Veterinarian ~ Scott Sims By Jessica Krull It is a rainy, grey afternoon on the North Shore of Kaua’i and Veterinarian Scott Sims is barefoot and busy, caring for Kauai’s beloved pet population. He has graciously agreed to meet during his lunch hour and time is valuable; on a slow day, Scott receives 50 calls island-wide. On a busy day, he receives around 120 calls, ranging from routine checkups, pet emergencies, vaccinations, surgeries, teeth cleanings and more. Scott’s Kilauea home is warm and welcoming. His white walls are vibrantly adorned with personal photography, inspiring nature scenes and cherished pets. He is laid back and at ease; the sounds of twin African Grey Parrots fill the air and Scott’s two horses roam in the near distance, grazing under solar panels. Scott Sims, DVM has been a vet since 1984 and prefers to be called Scott, rather than Dr. Sims. He specializes in horses and birds but says “I’ll work on anything, and I treat the wildlife for free.” His claim to fame occurred while he lived in California, in the form of a small mammal with webbed wings. Scott was at one time the leading authority on bat orthopedic surgery, and was the first person to ever successfully pin a broken bat wing and have it return to the wild. He explained: The largest animal I’ve successfully pinned a broken leg on was a 1200-pound horse. The smallest animal I’ve successfully pinned a broken leg on was a baby bat that weighed less than three grams [a nickel weighs five grams]. The hardest part, actually, was finding a small enough steel pin to put down the center of the leg bone. The path to a healthy, happy island pet starts with the owner. “We don’t have animals because we need
them. We have animals because we like them so you need to enjoy them. We should always try and put ourselves in the animal’s position and look from their point of view, not from ours,” Scott said. Routine care for pet owners is a top priority. “Parasite control, good quality food, and fresh water. Those are the things that are most important. You have to do the routine stuff well. Then, if you are still having problems you go looking for the less routine stuff,” he said. Scott’s Philosophy for caring for Island pets is simple: “It is not about me. I’m there to be the voice for the animal, not for the owner. I try and take care of the owner, too, but that is the secondary issue.” Scott Sims can be reached at 808-651-7771. Watch for his upcoming book: Eating Horses Don’t Die.
Dr. Scott and one of his two pet African Grey parrots.
EVERYBODY. . . LOVES THE HUKILAU
Ocean View Dining Live Music Bar & Lounge Food & Wine Tasting Menu 5 Courses & 5 Wines 5:00-5:55 pm 20 Great Wines for $20 Featuring Local Products
Located in Kapa`a (Kaua`i) behind Coconut Marketplace Open Tues-Sun 5-9 pm Reservations recommended 808 822-0600 www.hukilaukauai.com
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