No Chinese New Year in Kona, Hawaii

Another year of no Chinese New Year celebration here in Kailua Kona. Ed Yap (pictured playing the drum) got tired of losing money putting on the event.
The celebration is scheduled for February 16th in Hilo, on the other side of the island.
(photos by Randy Magnus from the last year it was held in Kona in 2006.)

Keeping Old Hawai'i Alive

Two different musical groups got together to play old Hawaiian standards. Even had a Hawaiian steel guitar player.

Sam taught people how to weave a bowl out of palm leaves.

Aunty Lei taught lei making.

All of this took place at Kahalu'u Beach Park. Keeping some of the crafts alive in Kona. Special mahalo to the organiser of the event, The Kohala Center. It was part of La Ike Day, a cultural science day at Kahalu`u Beach Park hosted by The Kohala Center.

The Royal Kona Resort Replaces Stage with A Sports Bar

I guess entertainers won't be setting up at that space anymore. The stage has been replaced with the circular bar, complete with flat screen television sets.
I wonder what happened to the mermaid-figured brackets that use to hold the railing onto the old bar.

Hawaiian Musicans Are Out of Work

The local Hawaiian Musicians here in Kona Hawaii are much like endangered species, in that their habitat is quickly disappearing. (Meaning that the places where they perform at: the Veranda Bar, Keauhou Shopping Center, etc., are no longer having live entertainment, causing these musicians to be presently pretty much out of work.)

Street Hula in Kailua Kona

Joy performs hula out on the street at the Waterfront Row on Ali'i Drive, Wednesday evenings, 6 to 8 pm. Stop by and say "aloha."
Use to see this more often around town, and its good to see that Joy is keeping the hula spirit alive in Kona.

Three Less Free Hula Shows

These three hula shows have stopped performing in public in the past year. This includes Clyde and Corina's hula troupe who were at the Veranda Bar at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort, Etua Lopez's hula halau who did a show at the Hulihe'e Palace once a month, and Polynesian Paradise who performed at the Keauhou Shopping Center on Friday evenings.

We miss them all.

The Capt. Bean Boat Is Up For Sale

Just got word that the Capt. Beans' Polynesian Cruises has stopped operation, and the boat is up for sale. The Tamure is considered one of the largest double-hulled canoes in Hawaiian waters.
The owner, Roberts Hawaii Inc. (a very big 66 year-old tourist activity group owned by the Iwamoto Family), held a meeting last night to announce the immediate closure of the boat's operation.
Once the catamaran is sold, the owner is free to move the boat to wherever.
It looks like another Kona landmark may disappear.

(Art TV Hawaii has a television special shot during last year which will air on cable ch 54 soon. Check the Art TV Hawaii website for air dates.)

Rapozo

This guy from the Mainland came by and told me that Warren Rapozo had past away last summer from cancer.
Warren was an ex-cop who had become an artist, a painter, keeping alive the old Matson cruise ship menu cover art style from the 40's.
I remember having to carry him from Huggos to his car a few years ago, suffering from internal pain. I checked up on him later and he seemed alright.

You can find his images on greeting cards, mouse pads, etc. He liked to get his work out into the public. Some can be found at Walmart.

Prices Going Up In Kona

I went to have my usual red curry with chicken special at one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Kailua Village for lunch, only to find that the price has increased to $6.95, instead of the usual $5.95.
They said that their food suppliers have raised their rates, like charging double for a bag of cabbage.

Hawaiian Gourds

A revival of decorative Hawaiian gourd making, a lost art being brought back with the help of Mary and Evie of the hawaiigourdsociety.com. At the festival they showed painted, carved, dyed, and stained gourds. Many were originally used to carry and store water.

KonaBob on Hawaiian Steel Guitar

You can see KonaBob (of the Konaweb.com site) around town at times performing on either Hawaiian steel guitar, or on his own invention, the Kona Walking Stick bass.
He does very well for an ex-baker from the mainland in adopting to the Hawaiian lifestyle.

The Holualoa River

This is the storm water runoff after the last big rain here in Kona. This is normally just a dry bedrock gully, full of plants.
I hope the subdivision building contractors pay attention and don't try building in a flood plain.

Mrs. Teshima Turns 100 in 2007

Mrs. Teshima is 100 years old, and is still seen working at the family restaurant - Teshima Restaurant. She told me that she's been going downhill since her birthday, her hearing is getting worse, her knees are bothering her.....
I tell her to keep walking, and not to fall down.

Haupia Available

Ric and Jon of Huapala Farms in Honaunau are selling slices of Haupia (coconut jello-like) with persimmon jelly on top at the Keauhou Farmer's Market that they made for $2.00 a piece.
The Farmer's Market is open 8 am to 12 pm on Saturdays in the Keauhou Shopping Center's parking lot in front of Ace Hardware.

Things Are Changing Here in Kona, Hawaii

Just returned from the Keauhou Shopping Center, where they were auctioning off the equipment of Daylight Donuts.



Jewelry by Oscar has also left the shopping center.
I think its all due to increased rents.

Brudda Matt mentioned that the Veranda Bar in the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort has shut down. So no more old-time Hawaiian music from Aloha Aina for a while.
Ken said that they were remodeling the space into a nice Hawaiian-themed restaurant.
Ten dollar drinks, here they come.

So Keauhou, Hawaii, is left without fresh donuts in the morning and a place to hear old time Hawaiian music in the evening.

Aunty Lei at Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort

Aunty Lei, Aunty Lorietta, Aunty Viba, and myself spent the last Friday of the year at the Veranda Bar in the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort.
Aunty Lei performed a couple hulas from a chair, for her knee has been bothering her, to an appreciative crowd.
It will be the last time we were able to enjoy the Hawaiian music of Aloha Aina before they closed it for the remodel.


Steve came over to say "aloha" and to wish us a happy new year.

Cooking At Home in Kailua-Kona, HI

Sometimes its better just to cook at home. On this night I made grilled salmon in which I threw in some sliced onion and garlic cloves into the pan, steamed brussel sprouts and steamed baby red potatoes done in my bamboo steamer, and a salad of fresh butter lettuce, sweet red baby peppers and asparagus stalks.

Papayas - Five For A Dollar in Kailua-Kona

Rudy has papayas 5 for $1.00, and flower arrangements at Uncle Billy's Marketplace in downtown Kailua Village.

Having Fish For New Years Day

The pleasure of having a feast featuring steamed, baked and raw fish with the Inaba Family at the Kona Hotel on New Years Day in Holualoa, Hawaii. Its hard to beat.



(photos by Randy Magnus)