Friday, October 4, 2013

New Pictures of the beautiful bamboo house and landscaping

The landscaping is coming along beautifully and the house is just such a retreat of solace and peacefulness. I love hanging out here and feel so re-energized. Each time I am here I am more and more aware of the power and healing quality of the air, water, earth and fire that this land holds. The cleanest air on the planet, the deep blue ocean, and soft rains, the newest land on the planet and the heat and energy of Pele and her lava presence.
The Ti leaves have their own guardian.
The main house over looking the lawn.
The ohana in all her early morning light and flowers. There is nothing like waking up with the sunrise flooding the room and the colors of the sky over the ocean.
The flowers are just so pretty. Everything grows here with the abundant sun and lovely rains.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Yoga class at Yoga Oasis

Check out Yoga Oasis for some really great yoga classes. Hayward teaches yoga daily from 8 -10 am Monday - Friday, and is a master. Class is $10 and you can just drop in any morning. Best of all it is less than 5 minutes from the house just up the road. Look for colorful prayer flags on the left and drive in keeping left at the next few turns. Namaste.

So Many Wonderful Things To Do

This fabulous area on the Big Island,(Puna) has so many hidden secrets most visitors to Hawaii seldom discover. They don't even show details of Puna area on the car rental maps. All the better to keep the place magical. Here are some of my nearby favorites:
Great snorkeling at Kapoho tide pools, also called Wai Opae. Just about 15 minutes down the road (137) from here, off Kapoho Kai road. The waters are protected and clear. The gorgeous coral make viewing the colorful reef fish a feast for the eyes and senses. Wear reef shoes, snorkel and mask, no fins needed and helps protect the coral and your feet from the lava rocks. Champagne ponds also in Kapoho, good for snorkeling and enjoying the tiny bubbles that naturally percolate up from the water. Ever wanted to sit in champagne bubbles? Here is your chance, and the water is warmed up from the geothermal activity thanks to Pele.
There is now a night market on Wednesday and Friday in Kalapana from 5- 9 pm. Enjoy a true locals scene with music, spontaneous Hula dancing, and some really good grinds (food). The locals artisans have their wares out and others are selling produce from their land. The locals are serving up some great food! So grab a plate, and enjoy the music and fun. Uncle Roberts Awa (Kava) bar is a must. Saddle up to the bar and get yourself a coconut bowl of Awa. Nothing like a natural, relaxing, island drink. Kalapana is at the end of the road ( Hwy 137) where the lava flowed over and is home to a traditional Hawaiian family. They were miraculously spared and have turned the end of the road into a destination. The locals have planted a coconut lined path to the ocean over the black lava. Very dramatic to see the landscape and the new lava coastline.
Ahalanui Warm Pond is just 5 minutes down the road (137). Enjoy a beautiful soak in the naturally heated, swimming size pool at the edge of the ocean. Again thanks to Pele we have a geo-thermally heated pool, that feels like a soft warm bath. Hard to get out it is so comfortable. Very beautiful and relaxing setting with shade trees and picnic tables. There is even an outdoor shower to rinse off after a nice swim in the warm ocean water. Little fish like hanging out there too, as they get washed in on incoming tides over the break. Lava Tree State Park is nice for a stroll, just a few minutes up the road from the house. The small park with walkways through beautiful flowers and lush greenery, shows trees that were cast into lava from the lava flow years ago.
Pohoiki Beach Park (Isaac Hale Beach Park) is just 1 mile down the road at the ocean. A local favorite for surfing and boogie boarding (intermediate level). The boat launch area is a nice protected place just for a swim. The lovely little secret there is a natural lava rock warm pool. Just head down along the shore from the boat launch on the right and in about 100 yards on the right you will find a beautiful little warm pool, perfect for soaking in after a swim in the ocean. (Remember there are no signs for the hidden gems. You just have to go exploring to discover them.)
There is a large pool shaped by the lava flow at the edge of the ocean with waves washing up in to it. Nice for a private swim and snorkel. It is a very dramatic coastline of black lava, blue ocean, green forests and white clouds. It is called Orr's beach, but again there are no signs. The ocean can be mellow or dramatic, so it is important that you make sure the surf size is safe wherever you are on this amazing coastline. There are lots of stories of people being washed out to sea by large waves. Needless to say they usually don't have a happy ending. So always keep a healthy respect for the powers of the ocean. Take the ocean road (137) towards Kapoho and continue straight on until the pavement ends, and go about 1.5 miles down the cinder/dirt road to where there is a little piece of pavement again. You will be driving through a magnificent old growth mango tree forest. Park and walk down a dirt path towards the ocean, through a mana filled forest. Veer to the left when you see the ocean (path is about 1/4 mile from the car to the water). Scramble over some lava rocks and you will find the lava pool.
I also like "splash beach". Drive down the ocean front road (137) towards Kalapana, and when you see Malama Ki forest reserve sign on the right (small sign) a few miles down, just before mile marker 13, park and walk towards the ocean about 50 yards. I like to just sit with a nice sun hat on and watch the waves create a symphony of white water crashing up against the lava cliffs. So dramatic and beautiful. Bring a lounge chair for real viewing comfort as you hang out on the black lava field.
Also out of Kalapana is a guided night hike out to see the lava flowing. Check in with them at the end of the road for details. Check out guide books on all the wonders of the Hilo area, including Rainbow falls, Akaka falls, Pe'epe'e' falls. See the new Imiloa astronomy center and other museums. Hawaii tropical Botanical Gardens, the scenic drive it is located on, and the What's Shakin' tropical shake are a fabulous day outing.
There are new farmers markets popping up all over the area. Saturday morning over in Sea View, as well as Sunday in Pahao. Ask a local about the details. The farmers markets have the best local produce and home made foods you will find.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

"Does the song of the sea end at the shore or in the hearts of those who listen to it?" ~ E.E. Cummings. Something happens to us when we allow ourselves to open up to and connect to nature. It is as if we can take our burdens out with us into nature and return home unburdened. Immersed in her beauty, we swim in an ocean or river or lake, or walk in a forest or park. Yet rather than having to solve our problems there, nature gently, profoundly allows for a return to balance. In her poem "Wild Geese," poet Mary Oliver writes, "nature calls to you like the wild geese...harsh and exciting, over and over announcing your place in the family of things." Indeed, we find sacred connection in nature. The trees become cathedrals, and the dolphins and whales become our chorus. It is in nature that we breathe, walk, and appreciate the profound gift of being fully alive, somehow connected to all things. Joy and appreciation become our natural resonance. The healing power we experience when we connect to nature doesn't stop at the sea or in the forest. It echoes in the hearts of those who have heard its song.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Puna Music Festival

More Wonderful Things To Do In Puna! Just one mile down the road at Isaac Hale Beach Park. Your Guide to the Puna Music Festival! May 5th - 11th, 2013 The Third Annual Puna Music Festival is here! Join us for this celebration of the music of Hawai'i, and the undying spirit of Puna. The festival is supported by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, the County of Hawaii, presented by KAPA FM, and stewarded by Kalani. Proceeds go to Hawaiian culture programs at schools and non-profits throughout Puna. Catch a concert or two, learn and play at our workshops, and feel inspired by the power of music for this wonderful week. Enjoy! Festival Programming Concerts -Pohoiki Open Concert: Featuring Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole & Kuana Torres Kahele -Music of Hawaiʻi - Storytelling Performance -Kalapana Night Market Celebration -Kanikapila in Downtown Pahoa -An Intimate Evening with John Cruz -Closing Concert: Nahko and Medicine for the People Workshops / Intensives -Slack Key Guitar -Harmonica Basics -Hawaiian Drum Making Special Events -Hula Class -Open Mic Tickets / Registration -Concert Tickets -Workshop Registration Concerts We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host an all-star cast of musicians for this year's Puna Music Festival. Pohoiki Opening Concert: Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole & Kuana Torres Sunday May 5th, 11AM - 6PM Isaac Hale State Park Kuana Torres Kahele. We are delighted to announce this yearʻs lineup for our free outdoor concert, and are deeply honored to welcome Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole and Kuana Torres Kahele as our headline performers. Hosted by DJs Jaz and Kaʻea from KAPA FM, the day will start off with Kumu Hula (teacher of hula) Ehulani Stephany and performers from her Halau Hula Ka Makani Hali Ala O Puna, and will be followed by Keiki o ka `Aina, a series of performances by young people from local schools. As the day continues, enjoy food and shopping from local vendors and performances from Puna Men's Chorus, Bruddah Kuz, Ikaika Marzo and the Kalapana Awa Band, and Sean Robbins. It is an absolute privilege to feature Kuana Torres Kahele, who won an astonishing 6 Na Hoku Hanohano awards in 2012 and thrilled crowds at last year's Intimate concert at the Puna Music Festival. This year, Kuana is again nominated for multiple Hanohanos, and we are so very pleased to bring him back to join our celebration of Puna! Best known for his lead vocals with the multi-award winning band Nā Palapalai, Kuana gained critical acclaim for reviving Hawaiian classics, as well as for original, new compositions. From the meteoric rise of Nā Palapalai's debut CD, Makani 'Olu'olu, the group maintained a prominent presence in both the local and international hula and Hawaiian music scene. Although still young, their contribution to hula is significant. To this day, Kuana's original, "Ke Anu O Waimea" is the most popular hula song in Japan, home to over 10,000 hula halau groups. Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole. We are also very honored to feature Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole, a five-time Nā Hōku award-winner, and the eldest son of Kekuhi Kanahele, the eldest grandchild of Pualani Kanaka'ole, great grandson of Edith Kanahele Kanaka'ole, and great-great grandson of Mary Keali'ikekuewa. The Kanaka'ole family has important roots in Puna, and Kaumakaiwa will perform with his mother Kekuhi at this symbolic performance. With his new album, Kanaka'ole finds himself setting the pace, raising the bar and pushing the standards-yet again-challenging not only himself but his contemporaries. As strong a Hawaiian as his bloodline, Kanaka'ole delivers 12 oli (chants) and mele (song) with refined dynamics that is exclusively his own. Accompanied by a passionate, unmatched love of his culture and the power that lies within his lineage, Kanaka'ole is blazing a new trail in the 21st century while paying homage to those who have come before him, a theme that resonates in his newest album. Free - Donations to Hawaiian Culture Programming in Puna deeply appreciated. Storytelling Performances Monday May 6th, 7:30PM Some 20 years ago, Cultural Practitioner Leilehua Yuen coined the term, "edutainment," for her Hawaiian cultural programs which combine traditional storytelling, chant, and hula with original music to teach, history, culture, and science of the Hawaiian islands.. Today, she and her husband, Manu Josiah, a cultural practitioner and musician with a degree in education, combine their talent and training to give people who attend their programs a memorable and inspirational journey through Hawaiian culture. From the ka`eke`eke to the steel guitar, Hawaiian music has embraced change and innovation. On this special evening, they will explore the story of Hawaiian music from its legendary beginnings, through its many changes, to modern day. Free - Donations to Hawaiian Culture Programming in Puna deeply appreciated. Kalapana Night Market Celebration Wednesday May 8th, 5 - 10PMKalapana Night Market Dance, shop, eat, and socialize at the Kalapana Night Market! Wednesday evenings at Uncle Robert's are famous for great music, and this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this iconic location and the contributions made to the cultural fabric of Puna. Special performance by Ikaika Marzo, and of course the Kalapana Awa Band. Kanikapila in Old Town Pahoa Friday May 10th, 5 - 8:00PM Mainstreet Pahoa Celebrate Pahoa town with this spectacular evening of music throughout Pahoa Main Street. Live music will played from the windows, balconies, and storefronts all throughout Old Town Pahoa! Over 25 locations are participating. Enjoy dinner at one of Pahoa's broad selection of restaurants, and stroll the streets enjoying the eclectic selection of music. Maps with venue/artist information will be available at Grand Central (Hawaiian Island Homes parking lot, across from the Bank of Hawaii), and at the Kalani Jam Session, located two doors east of Luquins. Grand Central stage will feature Bruddah Kuz and the M80s. Shopkeepers will extend their hours, and dinner accompanied by live music will be offered throughout Pahoa. Kanikapila in Pahoa is brought to you by Mainstreet Pahoa Association, Hawaii Island Homes, Luquins, and the Big Island Chronicle. An Intimate Evening with John Cruz Friday May 10th, 8PM Akebono Theater, Pahoa From the time he was a young boy growing up in Palolo Valley on Oahu, John Cruz knew he was destined to play music. His family was all musically inclined and, along with numerous aunties, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends, they have surrounded John with the gift of music for his entire life. When his first album, Acoustic Soul was released in 1996, it made an artistic and commercial impact like few other recordings in Hawaiian musical history. Acoustic Soul to date has sold over 150,000 copies in Hawaii alone. It spawned the radio hits "Shine On," "Sitting in Limbo" and "Island Style," which has become a local anthem known around the world. Acoustic Soul won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1997 - one for Contemporary Album of the Year and one for Most Promising Artist. When not on the road, John spends his time supporting cultural and educational projects. He often performs at schools, raising money for arts programs and encouraging kids to believe in themselves and follow their inspirations. He works with Guitars in the Classroom, helping kids all over the country to enrich their lives through music. Purchase tickets online here. Closing Concert: Nahko and Medicine For the People Saturday May 11th, 8:00PM Kalani EMAX Empowering lyrics, a message of unity and hope, stage presence, passion, and talent. Nahko and Medicine For the People has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds, much in part by the enthusiastic support of the people of Puna. Lead by Nahko, Medicine describe themselves as, "a community experience. Spirited thump-hop storytelling. Earth-based-spirit-inspired. Working for social and environmental justice. Musical medicine. Our band tours and performs at benefits to support causes for other non-profits aligned with a similar vision." With a unique and powerful sound that makes you want to move, Nahko and Medicine For the People always deliver an inspiring message of awareness to "shine light on the darkness within us all, that we may grow and become better for it. We will sing together remembering our connection as family." This is a magnificent show you will not want to miss! Purchase tickets online here. Workshops In addition to our concerts, the 2013 Puna Music Festival will feature five workshops, several individual classes, and jam sessions throughout the 7-day festival. One of our ongoing missions for this incredible festival, is to bring the joys of music into the hands of everyone - with learning opportunities for beginners and professionals alike. Our workshops provide immersion in an aspect of the creation of music, with a special focus on Hawaiian music. Workshops run half-days in the afternoons, from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Kamaʻaina rates are available. Slack Key Guitar May 6 -8, 2-5PM - Kalani Blue Moon Room Create beautiful, distinctly Hawaiian music with this flexible and individualistic technique. Known as Ki ho'alu, which means "loosen the key," the tradition of slack key guitar is one in which the strings are "slacked" to produce many different tunings. Each tuning produces a lingering sound behind the melody and has a characteristic resonance and fingering. After taking this workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to showcase their skills with a live performance at Uncle Robert's Night Market on Wednesday, May 8th. Instructor: Ikaika Marzo $150 / $90 kama'aina Harmonica Basics May 9 - 2-5PM - Kalani Blue Moon Room In this workshop, join Sean Phelan for a fun introduction to the harmonica. Playful and portable, the harmonica is a great instrument to keep in your back pocket for any musical opportunity. Instructor: Sean Phelan $50 / $30 kama'aina Hawaiian Drum Making May 10 - 12, 2-5PM - Kalani Blue Moon Room It is a distinct honor to host Alofaitama (Alofa) Meafou, a reknowned carver known for his custom made pahu drums, toere drums, toere sticks, Tahitian banjos, fire knives and other Polynesian items. Alofa has been making drums for over 30 years, and feels that it is now time to pass the torch onto others. Join us for this extraordinary opportunity to talk story and make a drum with this incredible man. Instructor: Alofaitama (Alofa) Meafou $150 / $90 kama'aina Additional Events In addition to our many concerts and workshops, Kalani is hosting two additional special events celebrating music and culture. Hula Class Tuesday May 7nd, 7:30PM Kalani EMAX Hula is at the heart of Hawaiian culture and storytelling, and has been described as the soul of Hawai`i expressed in motion. Embrace Hawaiian culture, music, and arts by participating in this beautiful tradition. Kalani was pleased to offer this free beginner-friendly class as part of Puna Music Festival, taught by Jonathan "Kimo" Lopez. Open Mic Thursday May 9th, 7:45PM Kalani EMAX Come share your talents and enjoy the talents of others! Open Mic is a great place to share live music, readings, and performances. Hear new and old musical favorites, listen to stories and poetic verse, and be entertained by the extraordinary local talent in our community. Tickets & Registration An Intimate Evening with John Cruz •$20 General •$35 VIP - Premium seating for the concert. Tickets available at: punamusicfestival.com. Nahko and Medicine for the People •$20 General •$60 VIP - Includes a pre-dinner reception with Nahko from 5:00 - 6:00PM, with a special acoustic performance for VIP guests. Also included is dinner at The Lanai at Kalani. A portion of the VIP ticket is tax-receiptable - contact cat@kalani.com to arrange for a tax-receipt. Tickets available at: punamusicfestival.com.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A New Tour of the Bamboo House


 Take a tour of the Bamboo House and grounds at Hokulea Retreat with our latest slideshow on Flickr 
Updated, detailed pictures of all of the finished (and furnished) rooms, the ohana and the surrounding gardens


Come on by our Flickr page and check out all the beautiful photos!


Call 773 4742456 or email bamboohouse@hokulearetreat.com with any questions or to stay with us for your next trip to the Hilo side of Hawaii.

Aloha,
Catherine


Saturday, April 14, 2012

On the Island


"Night on the Island"

All night I have slept with you
next to the sea, on the island.
Wild and sweet you were between pleasure and sleep,
between fire and water.

Perhaps very late
our dreams joined
at the bottom,
up above like branches moved by a common wind,
down below like red roots that touch.

Perhaps your dream
drifted from mine
and through the dark sea
was seeking me
as before,
when you did not yet exist,
when without sighting you
I sailed by your side,
and your eyes sought
what now –
bread, wine, love, and anger –
I heap upon you
because you are the cup
that was waiting for the gifts of my life.

I have slept with you
all night long while
the dark earth spins
with the living and the dead,
and on waking suddenly
in the midst of the shadow
my arm encircled your waist.
neither night nor sleep
could separate us.

I have slept with you
and on waking, your mouth,
come from your dream,
gave me the taste of earth,
of sea water, of seaweed,
of the depths of your life,
and I received your kiss
moistened by the dawn
as if it came to me
from the sea that surrounds us.

PABLO NERUDA
reblogged from Aubrey Road