Memorial Service for Virginia Kealoha Han Hind

Saturday was a celebration of the life of Gina Hind, the mother of local Hawaiian musician Bobby Koanui (pictured above).
The Old Airport Park was full of music, hula, and ono (delicious) island food.
The family spread her ashes in the ocean later that day.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

The Sand at Magic Sands is Gone, Replaced by Seaweed, Rocks and Tidepools

In a matter of only three weeks since the sand disappeared, the tide pools have seaweed and algae growing in them.
It's amazing how fast the watery greens can grow after months of being covered by sand.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

(wide angle image of Magic Sands when there was sand by Japanese photographer ＳＡＣＨＩＫＯ ＴＡＫＥＵＣＨＩ)

It was an Ozomatli Party on The Big Island of Hawaii

The Grammy award winning Latin-funk, hip hop band from LA came and rocked the Sheraton Convention Center in Keauhou to a packed house.

Ozomatli put on quite a show, full of energy and salsa poly-rhythms, and horns.
Everyone should see this culturally-interesting and innovative group at some point; its a great party.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

2 New Sand Mandalas in Capt Cook, Hawaii

The sand mandala for Compassion.

The Medicine Mandala.

Five days of work, from 7 to 10 hours a day, the Tibetan monks from Dzongkar Choede Monastery in South India, created these two beautiful sand mandalas (paintings) for everyone to see at the Paleaku Peace Garden.
So stop by in Capt Cook on Painted Church Rd to see these beautiful works of art.

For more information, click on the website at Paleaku Peace Garden.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Tibetan Buddhist Monks in Kona, Hawaii 2009

Master Jampa Sopa would perform rituals and blessings in the evenings.

During the day the monks would work on two sand mandalas, for 5 days. From left to right is: Jampa Tsering, Lobsang Dhondup, Master Jampa Sopa, Thupten Sangpo, and Jamps Monlam.

Master Jampa Sopa in the Galaxy Garden at Paleaku Peace Garden in Capt. Cook, Hawaii.


(photos by Randy Magnus)

The Making of Two Sand Mandalas in Capt. Cook

First they removed the old sand paintings, laid out a new mandala pattern, add color to the white marble sand (hence: the green hands)
Tibetan monks from the Dzongkar Choede Monastery in South India are at the Paleaku Peace Garden which is located on Painted Church Rd in Capt. Cook, creating not one, but two sand mandalas in five days. Come by and check out their work. Lectures in the evening.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Wash Your Organic and Home-Grown Vegetables Well

I've been getting email about some cases of rat lungworm disease in the Kapoho/Black Sands area on the Hilo side of the Big Island.
The disease occurs when parasitic worms are passed from rat feces to slugs or snails and laid inside leafy vegetables which people eat, causing significant pain and damage to the nervous system and, in some instances, paralysis, blindness and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Sarah Park said people cultivating home-grown vegetables need to clean them leaf by leaf, and warned that a species of slug on the Big Island has tiny larvae, about 1 to 2 millimeters long.
So be careful, wash all of your fruits and vegetables very well. Be safe, not sorry.

High Waves Closes Beaches in West Hawaii

Magic Sands Beach has been closed the past couple of days due to high waves and strong undercurrents.

Kahalu'u Beach Park was also closed because of the high waves.
Lymans was full of surfers riding the waves, but the water was choppy.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Champions Golf Tour This Week at Hualalai on Big Island

The PGA Seniors are playing at Four Seasons this week. I think its only $10.00 or so to see a day's worth of watching the old masters play golf.

(photos are from archive by Randy Magnus, showing Fuzzy after he won that year)

Tibetan Monks Visit Kona, Hawaii

A group of Tibetan Monks will be at Paleaku Peace Garden next week to work on some sand mandalas.

They are very interesting people, full of energy and peace. (Coke A Cola was this one's favorite beverage at the time.)

So come and check them out. The evening lectures are benefits for their monastery in Zongkar Choede. Listen to what they have to say. Its quite interesting. (Click on the poster to read it more easily.)

(photos by Randy Magnus from the archives, six years ago when they created the last mandala.)

The American Diner in Hawaii

The American diner is alive and well at Chubby's Dinner, located inside Kona Bowl.
It's a mixed plate, greasy spoon, Local / Hawaiian / American / Filipino kind of food place. I'm getting the oxtail soup the next time I come by.
(That's Aunty Mary getting her ice taken out of her drink.)










It's ran by the same family as Big Island Grill. (Shown is the Loco Moco and the Hamburger steak plate.) Raymond is the manager.

(Photos by Randy Magnus)

Island Naturals Market & Deli Comes to Kona, Hawaii

The natural foods store in Hilo has now opened a market and deli in Kona's Old Industrial, across the street from Trojan Lumber.
I talked to the owner and designer, Russell Ruderman, and he stated that this is the biggest of his stores to date, it even has a mezzanine to eat your food at.

Check it out on Kaiwi St., for that Hilo natural food feel and taste in a spacious atmosphere with a highly polished brown concrete floor.
(The food at their deli is great. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Coconut Grove Volleyball Court

With over half of the businesses around the Coconut Grove Marketplace are closed, waiting for new tenants to appear. Hard Rock Cafe is gone, the jewelry store, Dairy Queen, Bitchin' Tacos, Rio's, and others are all empty, yet the sandlot volleyball court still gets good business in the evenings.
Come on down, get a cup of Kava, and enjoy a game as the sun sets.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

From the Archive: Hunter S Thompson in Kona

Gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson use to come to Kona to do research for his book "The Curse of Lono." It took him several trips to our coastline before he finally caught his marlin. You can read about his Kona experiences in "The Curse of Lono." if you can find a copy.

Kona Times - 1 Year Anniversary

Well, its been one year since I started the Kona Times blog.
During that first year, I've posted 250 entries which has been seen by 6,500 different viewers from 84 different countries.
Here in Kailua-Kona we have seen several business closures and budget cutbacks.
There are a lot less cruise ships coming to our waters, the Captn. Bean Party Boat stopped operation and was shipped off to Honolulu in an attempt of selling the vessel.

The highway construction is closer to completion with part of it open for cars.
A new shopping center called Kona Commons opened for business, and a new BMW dealership.

We went through the mayoral election, the bon dances, and many celebrations.
There was lots of hula, and nights out with the girls. (Who could ask for anything more from life in Kona?)

There are less Hawaiian entertainment available with the performing venues cutting back their operating hours, and the haziness created by the vog from the volcano comes and goes (depending on the winds).

The Kona Times have been mentioned in over 50 different websites, which is surprising.

I would like to say "Mahalo" (thank you) for all of the support, and a special thanks to all of the ones who have donated through PayPal, and the ones who have bought me a drink.
Let's keep up the good work, and continue to enjoy the paradise we call Kona Hawaii.

Randy
Kona Times

New Year's Day Leftovers on The Big Island

The pink Kona Hotel in Holualoa, Hawaii.

I had to work on new year's day, so I couldn't make it to the annual Inaba Family New Year's Day luncheon at the pink Kona Hotel in Holualoa.
Usually the granddaughter, the surfing champ turned basketball player that's laying on the couch, explains what all of the food is that's on the table for me to videotape.
It was a yearly thing.


So this time I showed up a day later for leftovers,

As the general discussion was about forgetfulness, how it is hard to remember things when you become older.

A few months ago Yayo told me about when she went a block away to pick up the mail at the post office, and walked back up to the hotel. A few hours later she got a phone call, asking her to come and get her car, which she had left in front of the post office.
(Apparently she drove to the post office, forgot about her car, and walked back.)
Its the common everyday things that one forgets,
that and people's names, she says.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Plenty of Snow on Top of Mauna Kea

You can check out the live webcam for the top of Mauna Kea at the observatory by clicking here.

Happy New Year, Its 2009 in Kona Hawaii

Kaleiula and I went out dancing to celebrate the new year, a couple of days late.
Happy new year everyone....

(photo by Randy Magnus)

A Submarine Ride in the Kailua Bay 2009

I got to be able to take a submarine ride thru the Kailua Bay, courtesy of the Atlantis Submarines.
I was surprised by the lack of color, like its a blue world down there. Everything has a dreamy blue cast, the shipwrecks, the coral, the fish, the water.
An hour ride in a bubble into the blue world of underwater in the Kailua Bay, they mentioned giant squid, and someone earlier in the week mentioned shark sightings, and
I kept waiting for them to appear.
Maybe on the next dive, but not on this one.

Call them at 808-329-6626 to schedule your Kailua Bay submarine experience.

(photos by Randy Magnus)