View From Here - Hawaii Travel Blog

Kauai Celebrates Prince Kuhio

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Fri 3/19/2010

Tomorrow, the annual Prince Kuhio Celebration of the Arts commences.  The week-long event uses the example of Prince Kuhio to remind us of the importance of serving our communities and showcases many of the arts and cultural practices of our host community, including hula, canoe racing, salt making, music and, of course, food. 

Q and A with Whale Researcher Jim Darling

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Tue 3/16/2010

A few weeks ago, I managed to fire off a few emails to Jim Darling in the height of the research season. For the past 30-some years, Jim has spent his winters in Hawaii—off the shores of west Maui, in particular—studying humpback whales. Jim’s primary field of research is whale song. Through Jim’s research, as I shared last week, we know that only the male whales sing and they do their primary singing in and around the breeding season. While Jim has studied gray whales off Vancouver and humpback whales throughout the North Pacific, he returns to Maui annually to focus on humpback singers and their song.

Counting Hawaii's Humpback Whales

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Thu 3/11/2010

In Hawaii, we take our endangered humpback whales seriously. February is known as Humpback Whale Awareness Month and the last Saturdays of January, February and March are officially known as Whale Count Days for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of volunteers across the state brave potentially strong trade winds, pelting rain and searing sun to count humpback whales and record their behavior for four hours, starting at 8:00 a.m. We cancel in case of a tsunami, however, as was the case on Saturday, February 27, 2010, but we dutifully re-schedule, which is how I ended up on Crater Hill this past Saturday.

Guest Blogger: Carol Yotsuda Wraps

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Tue 3/9/2010

In 2006, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii named Carol Yotsuda a “Living Treasure” for her efforts in preserving the culture of Hawaii. Carol is the executive director of the Garden Island Arts Council, a volunteer position she’s held since 1998. She is also a retired teacher, active artist, and she produces E Kanikapila Kakou, a Hawaiian music program held on Monday evenings through March on Kauai. The gatherings are conducted in the style of backyard musical jam sessions for which Hawaii is known. This year’s EKK theme is “The Stories behind the Songs.” Here, Carol recaps three recent performances by Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole and Sean Naauao, Cody Pueo Pata, and Aaron Sala and Snowbird Bento.

Signs of Spring

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Fri 3/5/2010

Goodbye Tsunami. Hello Trade Winds.

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Mon 3/1/2010

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, Hawaii stopped. From 5:45 a.m. when the first round of automated Civil Defense messages went out via landline phones until 1:38 p.m. when the all clear sounded, most people in Hawaii stationed themselves in front of their television sets, computer monitors and/or mobile phones.

Pancakes Hawaii-Style

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Wed 2/24/2010

I missed National Pancake Day yesterday and, for some reason, I feel like I missed out on something. Pancakes—particularly pancakes topped with bananas and macadamia nuts—are steeped in the food culture of Hawaii. Especially topped with coconut syrup.

Guest Blogger Carol Yotsuda on Niihau Performers

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Fri 2/19/2010

Mama Ane Kanahele, the matriarch figure of the Kanahele family with 8 children of her own, 19 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild plus several hanai, adopted, children, is the minister of the Hawaiian Church in Waimea, kumu hula, and composer of over 100 songs, mostly himeni, hymns.

It's Malasada Tuesday in Hawaii

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Tue 2/16/2010

During Hawaii’s plantation days, in one last hoorah—so the story goes—the Portuguese community cleaned out all the butter and sugar from their cupboards and made big batches of a yeast-based dough, from which golf-ball-sized chunks were then deep-fried in oil and dipped in sugar. They shared these doughnut-like confections with everyone—neighbors, friends and family.

Happy President's Day

Kim Steutermann Rogers  on Mon 2/15/2010

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.