Holidays vary by state
It depends on the state you live in whether you officially honor one or the other or both of these presidents, since states decide which holidays to adopt.
Flying between presidents’ birthdays to Kauai’s annual bird blessing
Here it is, Presidents Day again — the holiday that I’ve thought for many years combines the birth dates of two, revered presidents, Washington and Lincoln — Feb. 22 and Feb. 12, respectively. Turns out I’m not the only one to hold that misconception.
Proposing ‘Mu‘umu‘u Mondays’
My snowy-haired grandpapa, while reminiscing with me after seeing “Great Expectations,” narrowed his eyes, sighed, and said, “Women lost a lot when they gave up wearing beautiful hats.”
Ranting about rampaging wild ‘peegs’
Picture two sweaty people, two hours plus on the trail yesterday in the great outdoors on a fresh, sunshiny morning … but this was not a pleasure hike along the state trail that runs up the back of Nounou Mountain. This was a mission to eradicate aggressive weeds impinging on our property that borders the trail.
Getting reacquainted with a symbolic New Year’s threesome
Old Man Time reached his limit for 2018 seven days ago, accompanied by the “inexorable march of time,” often symbolized by the tortoise. And the stork, carrying birth symbolism, brings in the new year — 2019, in this case — with a quick backwards glance to the past, but with intention aimed forward.
Coming to you live, it’s the ‘Poets’ Society’
Members of the Kauai “Live Poets’ Society” will present their first live poetry program for the public, “Life is in the Word,” at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Lihue Public Library.
‘December Oli’ wishing readers Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Right now our ears are particularly attuned to the approaching stop-start rumble of our mail carrier’s truck because of the anticipated flurry of Christmas cards arriving to alleviate the tedium of bills and unwanted flyers.
‘December Oli’
Following is an original poem penned by Dawn Fraser Kawahara:
Going (and coming) ‘home for the holidays’
There’s definitely “no place like home for the holidays,” as Barry Manilow’s classic song lyrics say — unless (maybe) you’re visiting on Kauai. This statement of opinion beaming out via today’s Green Flash is one my husband Dee and I feel like underlining after a fortnight away.
Pop Finney’s Turkey Rudder Soup
Following is a recipe for Pop Finney’s Turkey Rudder Soup:
Wasting not, wanting not, in gratitude
While practicing an American medley of tunes by a male composer named Clare for the Kauai Community College Orchestra winter concert — with Thanksgiving Day upcoming — it struck me that “Turkey in the Straw” wasn’t included.
Expecting – and handling – the unexpected
The known but often-forgotten fact of our lives — to expect the unexpected — has been underlined today once again as I turned on my computer to write this column. There had been a number of automatic Microsoft downloads that needed to be configured, and configured, and configured …
Following the imprint of Queen Emma’s spirit
Speaking of diversity — the focus of the last “Green Flash” (Oct. 8) — the meaning of that word boomeranged back to me in Kokee as I enjoyed watching and being part of the Eo e Emmalani i Alakai Festival in honor of the beloved Hawaiian Queen Emma Naea Rooke and her 1871 upland trek with 100 friends into the Alakai Swamp area.
Striving to think – and write – in support of diversity
The “Green Flash” is flashing orange, cooling … slowly traveling the spectrum to return to the healing vibration of life, the color green. It’s disappointing to this writer to see the old “local vs. haole/white foreigner” division erupting in recent editions of The Garden Island Forum letters, and unacceptable language.
Pole wishing: ‘May peace prevail on earth’ – and in space
Last December, a story and photos of peace poles on Kauai caught my eye and interest (thegardenisland.com, Dec. 6, 2017, “Health and Fitness”). I didn’t recognize the byline, but the subject and images captured my imagination.
School days formula: C+D=LLL to infinity
As a P.S. (pre- instead of post-script), Dear Readers, thanks to fans who responded to the Aug. 17 “Green Flash” about my two “uglies,” in particular, the ulu, breadfruit. Keith, Terri and Jim were all affirming, and other TGI readers met while out and about.
Hurricane threat spawns blues and a green garden elegy
Hurricane Hector was still threatening southeast of us in the great Pacific last week, and Kauai folks more than residents of any other of the Hawaiian Islands, I believe, were getting prepared.
Alerting Kauai starwatchers to imminent sky events
With Mars making its closest approach to Earth in 15 years and a total lunar eclipse imminent, as well as the Perseid Meteor Showers in progress, it seems fitting to focus upon planetary events and celestial bodies.
Beware of the doggy in this Year of the Dog
Dogs have been in Hawaii since the first canoes landed. Think of the dogtooth adornments on view at our museums, which may point to ilio (dogs) being both friend and food. On Kauai in Wailua, there is even a street named Haleilio, or House of the Dog. Ilio could also be used as a metaphor for clouds in oli and mele, chant and song. That much this writer knows.
Summer: Yellow bicycle, shave ice, stay-cool days
Summer solstice once again marked the longest daylight shine of the year as June hurried toward July, and summer has truly bloomed. The thunderous rains behind us (the volcanic eruptions continuing on our “little sister” island), and the heat turned up, the following proverb stands: “Winter’s thunder makes summer’s wonder.”