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Total Number of Articles - 28
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  • This is Winter in Hanalei

    Hanalei Pier in winter at sunrise.Today, I returned to my desk after a weekend writing retreat in Hanalei on Kauai's North Shore. The environmental philosopher Kathleen Dean Moore shared inspiration and tips on writing nature essays. Here, with Kathy's tutelage, is one essay I wrote from the retreat. She called this form, combining prose and poetry, a haibun. Read More
  • Eat of the Birds of Koolau

    Green sea turtle sunning on beachLast week, I went for a walk on Kauai’s Aliomanu Beach at sunrise. It was a beautiful sunrise. I mean, what sunrise isn’t, especially one that pokes her head above the Pacific Ocean as the warm sands of Hawaii prickle my toes? There’s something about that big, ball of fire, though, that demands our attention and makes us stop in our tracks. Or, in the case of last week, the sunrise made me stop in the tracks of some dog’s footprints. Read More
  • A Gift of A Beach, A Day and A Man

    haena coastline, kauai, north shoreIt was off-and-on rainy in Kapaa one Kauai morning last week after rounds of loco moco, eggs and spam, buttermilk pancakes and shave ice at Ono Family Restaurant. Angry clouds circled Sleeping Giant and other inland mountains. Conventional weather wisdom in Hawaii says, “If it’s rainy where you are, go west.” Or, at the very least, on Kauai, go south to Sunny Poipu. But we wanted to go the other direction into the tropical rainforest  of Kauai’s North Shore, to a special  place, for a special reason. The beach is known as Tunnels. It’s Hawaiian name is Makua. The mountain, hovering like an anxious parent, overlooks the beach and was featured in the 1950s movie South Pacific and called “Bali Hai.” Its Hawaiian name is Makana, which translates to English as “gift.”
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  • Earth Day 2011

    Underwater photograph of reef fish courtesty of NOAAToday is Earth Day. This weekend, as usual, thousands of people will head to the beaches around the Hawaiian Islands. Mahaulepu on Kauai. Haleiwa Beach Park on Oahu. Kaanapali on Maui. Kahaluu Beach Park on Big Island. Most will walk the shoreline or wade into the water. Many will slip snorkel masks over their faces to explore life under the lip of the ocean’s surface. Some will kayak, canoe, surf or sail. A few will participate in the many beach clean up days scheduled to coincide with Earth Day. Read More
  • Sunset with Seals

    hawaiian monk seal t12 at beachAfter a long and busy day at my desk, my feet started to throb come late afternoon. Strange, I know, they should hurt after a big hike--like the one I enjoyed at Kokee State Park over the weekend; more on that in a later post--but the advice of most editors and writing coaches--just sit your butt in your chair and write--isn't always good for the body. Read More
  • Happy President's Day

    Many people wonder, my mother included, why I had to move so far away from home to find my home--from Missouri to Hawaii. A little over a year ago, I sat in my living room on Kauai watching history in the making on TV as Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States. President Obama spoke about community service. He spoke about volunteerism. Read More
  • Summertime and the Livin Is Easy in Hanalei

    A lazy Sunday afternoon on the shores of Hanalei, recently named "America's No. 1 Beach" by Dr. Beach. Read More
  • Warning Box Jellyfish Invasion

    Once a month, Hawaii receives a visit from alien invaders.  Instead of the air, they come from the sea.  They are box jellyfish, and they particularly like the beaches along Waikiki.  I've always heard they arrive a week or so after the full moon.  I've seen warning signs placed on beaches.  I've read about their "victims" in the newspapers.  This month, when an email crossed my desk announcing the the pending arrival of these critters, I decided I wanted some more information.  So, I went to the experts--the Waikiki Aquarium--and Karen Quinn patiently and thoroughly answered my questions. Read More
  • 2010 Year in Pictures

    In 2010, I traveled around the main Hawaiian Islands, exploring Oahu, Maui, Big Island and, of course, the island on which I live--Kauai.  I always pack one of my various cameras when I travel, either my handy iPhone, portable Canon G9 or my SLR, a Canon 20D with a variety of lenses, including a fun and funky Lensbaby, walk-around 17-85mm, and a super-telephoto Tokina 75-400mm.  I take way more pictures than I ever post on this blog.  Here, in a review of 2010 in pictures, are many of those images that, for one reason or another, were never published.  Enjoy.
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  • Things You Should Know about Hawaii Five-0 2.0

    Hawaii Five-0 premier on waikiki beach, shot of crowd and screenThe reincarnation of Hawaii Five-0 premiers Monday, September 20, 2010 on CBS.  For dedicated fans of the long-time running cop show,  there are a few things you should know. Read More
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