Salsa Latino's Were Live at Huggos On The Rocks

Last Saturday the Salsa Latino's performed at Huggos On The Rocks to a full house.
There was alot of salsa dancing going on.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

From the Archives: Kona Holidays Past

Christmas hula at Hulihee Palace under kumu hula Etua Lopes.

Uncle George Na'ope with his brother on New Year's Eve 2002.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Christmas Trees in the Resorts on The Big Island of Hawaii

The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa.

The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

The King Kamehameha Kailua Beach Hotel's Restaurant.

Kona Hawaiian Village Resort.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Hula Girls Night Out - Pua's Birthday

The Hula Girls came out last Friday to celebrate Pua's Birthday, hanging out at Huggo's in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, listening to the sounds of Hot Lava 808.

See more photos of the evening on the Hot Lava 808 blog.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Christmas Day in Kona, Hawaii 2008

The sand came back in less than a week at Magic Sands.

Making for an enjoyable morning of boogie boarding.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Magic Sands Becomes Magic Rock

The sand was washed away during the last winter storms, exposing the rocky underneath.
Boogie board with care, or you might end up on the rocks.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Celebrating the Winter Solstice in Kona, Hawaii

We celebrated the shortest day of the year at the South Kona Green Market, which is held every Sunday starting at 8am in the parking lot of the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden parking lot up in Captain Cook.
The event featured food, crafts, and music, all local, with coconuts from Peter, music from Bolo, and an all-around good time.
Special mahalo to the Mana Ke'a Gardens and Randyl Rupar for putting the Winter Solstice Celebration on.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Hawaii Weather Today Goes Off The Air

Glenn James announced today that he will no longer be on the outside islands' television sets, where for the past 18 years he has given us a live 15-minute weather update for the Hawaiian Islands at 7:45 am every weekday morning on cable channel 55.

It was always interesting to see what aloha shirt he had on for that day, and to watch the markings on the screen outlining the trouble spots.
You can still get the information about our local weather on his website, Hawaii Weather Today.

He will be missed,
as he gives us all a shaka for the very last time.

Haku Dance by High School of the Pacific

As part of this year's Kailua-Kona Village Christmas Parade, the High School of the Pacific students performed a "Haku", a dance originated by the Maori people of New Zealand.

(video by Randy Magnus)

From The Archives: Drunk Chipmunk at Christmas

Delson recorded this, and it was something we had going during the entire holiday season a year ago. (It seems like a long time ago now.)

Keauhou Farmer's Market - One Year Anniversary

The Keauhou Farmers Market, located at the Keauhou Shopping Center, is celebrating its 1st birthday this past weekend.
On the left is a wealth made of protea blossoms, grown down in Ocean View.



(photos by Randy Magnus)

NY Punk Band Bad Brains Rocks Kailua Kona, HI

Sometimes here in Kona, Hawaii, a piece of one's past comes strolling by, completely from out of the blue. Like walking into the health food store at the same time as an old girlfriend from the mainland does.

Hello, like this is a remote island in the middle of the Pacific, isn't it?

Well, this time it was the punk rock/reggae group "Bad Brains." I first saw them around 1980 in a theatre in New York City. They had the Black Militants in their uniforms and stance and doberman dogs lining the front edge of the stage with H.R. Throat, the lead singer, dodging and weaving in and out between the men with their dogs.












This time around, 28 years later, at the Rock Starz nightclub in the Old Industrial section of Kailua-Kona, H.R. was more in a state of calm.
Still present are some of the fastest-tempo punk tunes in the industry, and the slow reggae songs are still full of dub, although I missed the reverb-spring explosions from the old days. (Technology changes.)

Bad Brains was one of the first all-black punk groups, and one of the few bands to come out of the Washington D.C. area, and still one of the fastest tempo groups around, performing to a Kona audience many of whom were not even born in 1980.

It was nice talking about the old punk days of the early 80's in New York and San Francisco with some of the band's road crew.
The mosh-pit was a little like the old Berkeley scene in the Keystone and Gilmans with metalheads, skinheads, and the youth pushing and shoving against each other and against the wall of security guys lining the front of the stage, who were happy to push back. (Some things just don't change all that much.)

Special mahalo to the band and their crew for putting me on the guest list.
Rock on.


(photos by Randy Magnus)

Scenic Shots from The Big Island of Hawaii

A cluster of bamboo on top of a hill, near Hilo, Hawaii.

The beautiful Hapuna Beach, north of Kona in the Kohala District.
(An easy place to get a sunburn.)

Looking up Hualalai Volcano from Keauhou. On a clear day recently, you could even see the top of the mountain of Hualalai.

(images by Randy Magnus)

From The Archives - Kona Images from Christmas Pasts

Celebrating Christmas Day at Kahalu'u Beach Park.

The girls from Hot Lava 808 at Huggos On The Rocks in Kailua Kona, Hawaii wants to wish everyone a very special Christmas.
Come on out and see them on Friday evenings at Huggos.

(Images by Randy Magnus)

Kona Times News Tidbits 12-08

The Destination Aloha will no longer provide music on the Kailua Pier when the cruise ships come in. So Aunty Loretta and her grandson, Aunty Lei, and Bobby Boy will be without a gig due to the budget cutbacks starting on January 1st.
One more place where old-style Hawaiian music will no longer be performing at. Its a shame.


More and more photographers and writers are jumping ship at the West Hawaii Today newspaper, for some unknown reason.
You can see the work of a few of the former-employees at Hawaii247.com.

Former Mayor Harry Kim has been suffering from a few minor strokes, leaving him unable to walk.
Let's hope for a speedy recovery so he can enjoy his retirement from public office.


(photos by Randy Magnus, graphic from Menehune Mac cookie box, good cookies.)

Searching for Manta Rays at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort

The plankton and small fish are attracted to the lights, and the manta rays follow their food source.
Usually there are two boats coming up to the edge of the cliffs at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort. But at times there has been as many as seven or eight boats, and divers underwater, all with lights, trying to get the attention of the rays.
When the boats are gone, the manta rays come up to the cliffs, easily viewed from the viewing area at the resort.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Hula Still at Huggo's On The Rocks

Kaleiula and her keiki hula halau is still performing 7pm Sundays at Huggo's On The Rocks.
So stop in for a bite to eat, a drink, and enjoy the hula show.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Happy Holidays from Kailua Kona, HI

The decorations from a neighbor's front yard.

(image by Randy Magnus)

Blue Skies in Kona, Hawaii

It was a breezy day on Monday, blowing away a storm front (and the voggy haze), allowing for some really nice blue skies.

(Image of Keauhou Bay by Randy Magnus)