GRASSES, FLOWERS AND TREES, OH MY

Gently, an herbarium sheet of the Perrottetia sandwich or the olomea plant is opened before me.  I’m looking at more than just a plant. I am looking at a plant that was gathered in 1779 by David Nelson. Nelson traveled on the Discovery, the ship that accompanied the Resolution, commanded by none other than Captain James Cook, to the islands of Hawai’i. This would be Captain Cooks third and last voyage as he was killed on the island of Hawaii.
On board the Resolution, as Cook’s sailing Master, was the infamous William Bligh, whom Nelson would later accompany, on the ill-fated Bounty, to care for 600 Breadfruit plants.
Whipping out my camera, I ask tentatively If I can photograph the sheet. I want to photograph this little slice of history if only to vicariously touch this person and his experience at that point in time.
Perrottetia sandwicensis called olomea
 
 I am at the Herbarium Pacificum at Bishop Museum. Clyde Imada, a Research Specialist in the Botany Division of the Natural Sciences Department, is my guide.
Clyde Imada amongst his mounted plants
 
Clyde appears to be quiet and unassuming but his sense of humor peaks when he tells his wife Pumehana (who works in the Vertebrate Zoology Division) that I am here to interview him for the National Geographic. His enthusiasm shows as he introduces me to dried mounted plants, explaining about the types of makaloa, a sedge that grows on the islands. He shows me the sedge called kohekohe, deep red at the base, used to create designs on the famous Ni’ihau mats.  I see plants preserved in jars, photos of plants as they looked before drying and a wonderful wooden box, called Box Lamott, that was made specifically to hold mounted ferns.
Box Lamott 
Niihau mat woven
Close up of Niihau Mat

I just loved my visit into the Herbarium Pacificum. I wondered as I started to leave, would this count as 6 degrees of separation? Lets see. Captain Cook to David Nelson, to Bishop Museum to Clyde Imada to me! Not bad 4 degrees from Captain Cook  to me.

 

I know they are not alive anymore but I truly felt amazed that I was looking at something that the man who knew Captain Cook not to mention Captain William Bligh ,and could have possibly discussed his discovery with them, had left this to be handed down to our museum where I stood looking. What can I say, just another day in Paradise.

 

 

Fight Over Genetically Modified Organisms Food Labeling – Video from KITV Honolulu

I’m enclosing a clip from our local news about how we are fighting to have our foods labeled to let people know if there are any GMO ingredients in the package. The Hawaiian people fought to keep Monsanto and University of Hawaii from trying to Change the Taro plant into a GMO (Genetically Modified) plant and the Hawaiians won. Thank goodness.

But right now Monsanto is paying off many, many people and feeding them false information about the foods being safe. So it has been a long hard fight to get any of the representatives or senators who are not receiving anything from Monsanto to introduce this bill.

So the Hawaiians who were involved in the fight to save their taro are back to help those of us trying to keep our food from being contaminated. So they brought their statue of Haloa. Legend has it that Haloa (http://honoluluweekly.com/cover/story-continued/2006/03/food-for-life/) was born to two major gods. He was misshapen and died. When he was buried the Taro plant grew from him. His brother born after him took care of the plant and in turn the plant fed him and his family and all the nation of Hawaii.

So the taro plant is more than a plant it is family and treated with respect and honored. So with that background you can now take a look at the news clipping and understand a little more.

Hawaiian Activists Fight Over Genetically Modified Organisms Food Labeling – Video – KITV Honolulu.

 

 

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Haleiwa Hawaii Farmers Market Cacao Festival

People Brave the elements in the dead of winter to attend the Cacao Festival.

I headed out to Haleiwa  to visit the Farmers Market in search of Non GMO vegetables and to peruse what unusual crafts might be on sale. I was not disappointed.

Aren’t those beautiful avocados? I stopped at this booth looking for a plant to plant on my fence.

 

I looked through more plants asking myself why don’t my plants look like this? Of course I need to fertilize them and give them more soil but besides that why don’t they look like these. I didn’t find my plant I was looking for so I moved on to the next booth.

 

Proprietor Keven Easley (itzsoap@gmail.com) Gives a Shaka sign as he helps a woman make up her mind.

I  hadn’t had breakfast yet and when I saw this booth, I immediately thought of jello and fancy molds. There was Cinnamon and vanilla and many scents to wet my appetite. But I would have been blowing bubbles had I taken a bite. These were all types of soaps for all types of skins. You can just about smell how wonderful they are just by looking at the woman taking in one of the bars.

If you’re looking for a nice gift the soaps are wrapped and ready to go

In case you’re wondering the North Shore Pipeline is a surf spot not pipes being lain for oil.

Seaweed, the vegetable from the sea. Really love this in a salad

I was so tempted to buy this seaweed plate lunch it really looked good but I was saving my appetite to go out for Mexican food for lunch afterwords

 

Lets take an orchid break

Remember when we used to hope for one of these when you went on a date. Oh, I’m really, really dating myself.

Aren’t these just beautiful?

The Rambutan  is a very good fruit. For information on this strange-looking edible you can check out this site. http://www.rambutan.com/
 
And what is Hawaii without an Aloha Shirt
 
I’m not sure what these guys are but I thought they were very cute.
 
I just loved this sign. Unfortunately it was not for sale it just told people what they sold
 
Oh, I almost forgot! Yes, this was a Cacao Festival and here it is before it becomes Chocolate.
 
 
 
And here is what the nut looks like inside and one of the products made from Cacao

Increase Brain Power By Playing Tourist

I thought that this blog written by my friend Karen Gibson would be appropriate here. Traveling isn’t all fun you know (though I would be hard put to say it isn’t) it can also strengthen your brain. Now who of thought?  Though she speaks of Hawaii, it could be anywhere you live. So if your brain is in need of a tune up maybe it’s time for a look around your town.
A 1-1/2 mile hike to Maunawili Falls can provide much needed R & R for the brain.
Watching daredevils jump off Maunawili Falls can inspire your brain to get out of your comfort zone.
(photo by Karen Gibson)

How will playing tourist in Waikiki, visiting Pearl ridge or enjoying a local plate lunch help increase your mental potential? Locals in Hawaii do not realize what a rich environment Hawaii offers to the brain. There’s no need to travel to exotic places in order to offer your taste buds delectable dishes from Egypt, Thailand, Korea, etc. A brief visit to China Town will be a mini vacation if you have the right mindset.

Does this conversation sound familiar?

“I’m having a senior moment!” a 72-year-old mom exclaims with frustration. She can’t seem to find her glasses for the umpteenth time.

“Where did you last see them?” her daughter asks her, hoping to trigger her memory.

“If I knew that answer, I’d be wearing my glasses!” she replies, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Oh mom, I’m only trying to help,” her daughter says in the most encouraging tone to cover her frustration.

“You wait until you’re my age, then you’ll know how it feels when your memory goes,” as if every senior citizen is destined to lose their memory.

It is never too early or too late to improve the physiology of your brain, boosting its optimal intellectual and emotional heights. In other words, there are certain exercises we can practice on a regular basis to help our golden years be a positive experience. Some of the exercises sound simplistic, but engaging in them consistently will not only improve the function of your brain, it will create a happier and longer life.

Believe it or not, venturing out and playing tourist or just truly being in the present moment while observing visitors at Pearl Harbor, walking along Kailua Beach or even going on a hike to view the breathtaking Mauanwili Falls can provide stress relief. Making time for stress relief is one simple exercise we can all benefit from.

When was the last time you visited Pearl Harbor, saw a hula show or toured the International Market Place in Waikiki? If stress ages the brain, then wouldn’t it be worth it to take the time to explore your island? We all realize the importance of relieving stress. So, the next time you have some down time, why not pretend to be a tourist?