Getting out of the neighborhood with mom

I picked all these flowers in the yard. Not bad, eh?
It's been a nice week with mom here. Friday night, we went to see Hapa. They were, as always, fantastic. The warm up act, Keawe Trio, was also excellent. Skylark Rosetti, local famous DJ, was there to MC the event, which was a charity fundraiser for a local rural medical organization. Keawe Trio's lead singer had a very versatile voice, singing baritone cowboy songs and Hawaiian falsetto. He was also an accomplished guitarist.
Sunday, we attended Malama Punalu'u, a ho'oloule'a, or festival, held to raise awareness and help save the area around Punalu'u Black Sand Beach in Ka'u, near South Point. The fest was held in Na'alehu, one of my favorite little towns here on the island. Skylark was there again, along with Kahikina, a.k.a. Tommy Ching, another famous DJ. There was food, music and crafts, including an authentic sailing canoe on display. My old acquaintance Keoni, the canoe builder, was there. He also makes drums. I particularly appreciated the hand-woven lauhala hats with feather lei bands. Too cool. Too much kala. Someday, when my ship comes in or when I become a rich, high-powered lawyer or when I win the powerball (which I never play) or when I happen upon a suitcase in the woods that turns out to be full of money, I'll buy one.
Yesterday, we checked out the Imiloa Astronomy Center right here in Hilo. They have a planetarium with shows changing every couple of weeks. They also have great, interactive science and cultural stuff for kids and adults to help them learn about both. The Imiloa is unique because it combines culture with science. The planetarium show we saw illustrated how ancient Hawaiian mariners used the stars to guide them to their new land.
Today, mom and I went to Kea'au to eat some great bbq sandwiches, then down to Lava Tree state park for a pretty stroll through the rainforest. Tomorrow, we plan to take a drive up the Hamakua Coast to Honoka'a, another favorite small town.
I am now bummed that my favorite TV show of the summer - Kyle XY - is over until next year. This was the second summer. We were hooked from the first episode last year. As you can see, we live a simple life.
A hui hou. Aloha!

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Born and bred

The creature stared at me, wide-eyed through the florescent glare, Saran Wrap stretched tight across its broad back. Alone in the seafood cooler, he was the only one of his kind, there among the farmed, color-added Atlantic salmon and mud-flavored tilapia, perched on a blue foam tray, legs tucked 'round him like a comfy kitten. He didn't blink. He was dead, red, cooked and chilled, ready to eat. Such a find is rare in the City Market fish department in Gunnison, Colorado. What if nobody takes him home? I thought. This beautiful animal will have died needlessly, ripped from his home, family and friends (Dory, Nemo, Crush and Gill?) only to be tossed in the trash when his expiration date came and went. I lifted him for closer inspection, checked that date, felt the heft of him, scanned his surface for cracks and blemishes. The creature was perfect. I lowered him back into the cooler, nodded farewell, turned to walk away, took one step, and stopped. Shoppers strolled past, stud

Fruity booty

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On Tennis and Writing and Being Too Nice

I've recently been recruited to play tennis for a local 4.0 ladies tennis league team, referred to as either "Team Debbie" for the nice woman who manages us, or "Have Fun," which is our pre-match chant. We're still looking for a proper name. But we do have fun, despite getting creamed most outings. Last Saturday, we played in the Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium in Hilo. Good thing, too, since outside it was pouring, complete with thunder and lightning. It's a substantial structure, covered, yet open all around, most famous for hosting the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in April. It was about 85 degrees outside and 100 percent humidity, air so thick it took three sucks of my albuterol inhaler just to breath. Several of us arrived early to warm up, but after twenty minutes' steady rallying with my teammate, Keiko, the human backboard, I was drenched. I played doubles with a nice, extremely fit and excellent ground-stroker named Cynthia from Pahoa.

Mountains and Islands

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