The Waianae Pueo
In 1995 while driving home to Makakilo I spotted a Hawaiian owl. Fifteen years later this same Pueo (owl), a symbol of guidance, is back as I am back to the West Coast of Oahu.
My home for two years now has been Maili. I am only a mile from the beaches that run along this beautiful coast. Living here has inspired me to start a blog (my first). I hope you will enjoy the snippets of history that I am learning about the Waianae Coast as well as the wonderful transformation it is going thru.
Waianae is for me Oahu's last frontier. Her people struggled in the past with lack of water, poor living conditions and the heat can be unforgiving. Today the people of Waianae struggle with other concerns, encroaching development, the growing homeless, lack of jobs .... And yet there is beneath the surface of Waianae a living history of caring people, a unique culture and enormous talent.
Your comments are more then welcome. Make them positive and we will all learn together.
Aloha
The Aulani Resort is scheduled to open phase 1 next month, August 2011. Embracing the culture and arts of the Island the Aulani has been filled with the music, language and aloha of the Islands. Peter Espiritu, Artistic Director for Tau Dance Theater has been busy working with performance that will take place at Aulani. View our gallery of photos of Peter and local performers getting ready for the big opening. For more information on Peter and Tau join his facebook page at Tau Dance Theater on facebook.
Peter (Tau) with Kealii Riechel and Joe Rhody at the Aulani
- Tau with Sonja Mendez, Angela Morales and Aaron Sala at Aulani
In rehearsal at Aulani-Musical Director Aaron Sala, Producer Milan Bertosa and Peter (Tau)
Waianae Coast Rotary Calendar 2011 Sample photographs
PHOTO CONTEST: “96792 PRIDE”
CALL FOR ENTRIES
The 2nd Annual “96792 Pride” Amateur Photo Contest, sponsored by the Waianae Rotary Club starts May 1st to July 31st. The photo competition encourages residents of ALL ages to take fun photos that capture the unique spirit of the Waianae Coast of Oahu.
Winning photos will be published in the “96792 Pride Calendar” for the year 2012. Winners will be honored at an evening reception featuring their photos nicely framed and matted for them to keep. In addition, prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place.
Last year’s contest resulted in the beautiful Waianae photos of 25 winners being featured in the 2011 “96792 Pride” Calendar.
Participants may submit a maximum of three (3) photographs, in the form of photo prints only, with a title for each photo. All entries must include the photographer’s name and phone number or email address. All photos must be received by July 31st.
Send photos to:
Waianae Coast Rotary Club
2010 Photo Contest
P.O. Box 651
Waianae, HI 96792
Application forms can be found at website: www.waianaerotary.org
Tau Dance Theater celebrated it’s Honolulu Premiere performance on Sunday, March 27th at Hawaii Theatre in Downtown Chinatown.
Audience were wowed by the the dancers ability to transition from traditional hula to contemporary dance and ballet. Six classically trained ballerina’s from Nagoya, Japan performed the on point pieces a treat for many of us who have not seen ballet in a Hawaiian performance.
Visit Tau Dance Theater’s facebook to see photos of Poli’ahu.
Soon to be released piece on Poli’ahu by Hawaiian Airlines will be coming out shortly. Get it first at when Tau tweets it’s followers. Sign up at: https://twitter.com/TauDanceTheater
Tau Dance Theater’s Crystal Ball Fundraiser Photos at Honolulu Design Center
Tau Dance Theater’s Crystal Ball held on March 18th was amazing. Guests came dressed in silver and dripping with bling, face art and ready for a good time. VIP’s feasted at Stage Restaurant and then were escorted into the Cupola Theater. Regular ticketed guest were entertained by Nanakuli’s Performance Center singers Nikita and Christian in the wine bar and then were escorted into the Cupola Theater. We were all treated to a spectacular night of performance followed by dancing til the wee hours of the morning.
Honolulu Magazine did an amazing job photographing the nights events. Go to the following link to see the HonMag online photos of Tau’s “Crystal Ball”
Tau Dance Theater is now on Twitter. Keep up to date with Tau’s events, dances, fundraisers and international happenings.
I read about Friends for Life in a free pet magazine for dog and cat lovers. It’s message was short and to the point. If you have a dog or a cat you can no longer keep we will take them in and find a loving home for them. If you find a dog or cat that’s been abandoned or hurt we’ll take them in, care for them and find a home to adopt them. Seems like the right thing to do for “man’s best friend” yet little did I know about the energy, patience and faith one needs to see it through.
I called Friends for Life and asked when I could come down and see their facility, I was looking for a way to volunteer some time to the shelter. So on a Sunday I drove over to Makaha with Max in tow in the back seat. Meeting us at the entrance was Lanny Moore, the organizer of Friends for Life. He gave me the standard tour of the facility, stopping from time to time to shake a hand or hug a volunteer. Old, young it didn’t matter, people working at the shelter were there to help out in anyway they could. For a shelter caring for pets that were no longer loved, needed or wanted Lanny was also bringing together people from all walks of life to scoop poop, wash out kennels, feed and groom man’s best friend and work on the general maintence of the shelter. Office help are also volunteers who answer the phone, keep websites up to date, as well as accept donations from the public.
It’s gotta be tough you say and yes it is. A no-kill shelter is serious about giving every animal left at it’s driveway shelter, food and lots of love. So next time you see that cute puppy in the pet store window PLEASE give it another thought or two or three that you’re really serious about bringing an animal into your home. And better yet when you’ve made that decision to have a dog or cat, think about adopting a pet and give Friends for Life a call.
Friends for life can be reached at:Phone: 808-696-3777 or 808-228-5002
E-mail: friendsforlifeoahu@yahoo.com
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- Peter Rockford Espiritu, Creative Director Tau Dance Theater
I was thrilled when Guy said he personally knew Peter and would ask if he would be interested in participating. On the day of the photo shoot with back ground music playing and the INspiration showroom transformed into a photo studio, Peter performed his magic. The entire 5 hours session was a “Zen” experience as Peter lost himself to his own space and time and the furniture photo shoot became religion or as us locals would say “chicken skin”.
Peter and I became good friends from that photo shoot and since have had the privilege of serving as a board member for Tau. Having no past experience with non-profit organizations this has been an eye opening experience. The rules by which non-profits work with, it’s restrictions and deadlines can be overwhelming for the novice but performance companies like Tau are able to keep going (many times on a shoe string) with the assistance coming from individuals and corporations dedicated to support culture and the arts in Hawaii. In recent times funding for the arts has been severely cut and theater groups like Tau continue on with the love of the art holding them together.
Born and raised in Aiea, a graduate of Leeward Comunity College and later honing his contemporary dance skills in New York, Peter returned to Hawaii with the vision of having his work act as “an artistic mirror that reflect the impact of what Hawai’i was, has become and where it is headed”. Today, Tau has the distinguished privilege of being the only professional western form dance company based in Hawai’i directed by a native Pacific Islander. Strongly grounded in traditional Hawaiian song (mele) and dance (hula) Tau continuously melds Ancient, Classic, Traditional and Contemporary aspects of dance and music in all its productions.
On Friday, October 8th, 2010 Tau Dance Theater under the direction of Peter Rockford Espiritu perfomed the first public showing of Poli’ahu – Goddess of Maunakea, his third Hawaiian Dance Opera ( Hanau Ka Moku: An Island is Born (2003) and Naupaka, A Hawaiian Love Story (2006). The opera told the story of the snow goddess, Poli’ahu and her 3 sisters migration back to their home at Mauna A Wakea. Her conflicts with Pele and her ill fated romances. Never before experienced in an opera of this type is a Yupik Eskimo chant and dance, modern dance, ballet and pohuli intertwined with mele (song) and ’oli (Hawaiian chant).
Watch for a second performance of Poli’ahu in 2011 at Hawaii Theatre in Chinatown, Honolulu, Hawaii. There will also be a Tau Dance Theater fundraiser in the same month. Monies from the fund raiser will go towards Tau Dance Theaters dream to take Poli’ahu to Italy and Japan.
For more insight into Tau Dance Theater and it’s founder Peter Espiritu I’ve attached a link to a “Long Story Short” with Leslie Wilcox an interview with Peter Espiritu. http://www.pbshawaii.org/ourproductions/longstory_transcripts/LSS%20109%20Transcript%20-%20Peter%20Rockford%20Espiritu.pdf
Photo Credits: Don Ranney Jr.
In less then 18 months, Disney’s first project in Hawaii, Aulani will be celebrating it’s grand opening. The 21 acre Ko’olina property which the Disney project sits on will have a 360 room hotel, 481 two bedroom Disney Vacation Villas and 7 acres of water features. At a recent HSBP luncheon, Djuan Rivers (see photo), V.P. Disney Vacation Club and Resort Hawaii spoke about the concept, mission and the long vision for Aulani and it’s interaction with the Waianae community.
Aulani is one of three Disney Vacation Clubs outside of Disney theme park properties. Why Hawaii over any other area? According to Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts ” Hawaii has been among our most requested Disney Vacation Club getaway locations beyond our Theme Parks. … building a special family resort that honors the cultural diversity of Hawaii and reflects the spirit of Aloha that makes this location so unique.”
Unlike most projects, the vacation club did not receive a name until the Disney team spear headed by Djuan Rivers was able to communicate with the Hawaiian community, only then was a name chosen. The literal translation of Aulani is “Kings Messenger” and interpreted it means “the place that speaks for the great ones, the place that speaks with deep messages” said Djuan Rivers and “our goal is to live up to its meaning”.
The Plantation look of the the early 1900′s is NOT what you will find at Aulani. Disney is reaching out to immerse it’s guests in a Hawaiian environment based on Hawaiian culture and the arts by working closely with it’s people.
As visionaries, Disney also looked at the surrounding area while making their decision to build a new destination resort. With a 1.5 millionSF mixed use shopping center in Kapolei on the board and “Big Box” retailers already established in Kapolei along with numerous new companies (flag ship ones to boot) scheduled to break ground this year and open within 2 years, there would be other nearby locations for Disney guests to enjoy without having to make daily trips into Honolulu.
Which brings to mind, what about the Waianae Coast? Sure we have beautiful beaches and a spectacular mountain range but guests at Aulani will have 7 acres of water features to play in, as well as the rest of the Ko’olina facility. My question is, will Waianae be ready for Disney in 2011? With muscle like Disney coming to Hawaii there are huge possibilities for Waianae to develop and grow into a productive comunity for it’s people, businesses and an outlet for sharing Hawaiian Culture and the Arts. Working with Disney has already put the Waianae Community on the map let’s now move on and create our own messages for our people and visitors that will reflect the great culture and traditions that are Waianae and Hawaii.
Is it just me or have you noticed that restaurants tend to overseason their dishes. Spice is nice but over salting appetizers and entrees just doesn’t seem right. Meals out, sometimes, leave me feeling that I’ve forgotten what real food tastes like.
A freshly roasted chestnut, peeled and nibbled on has got to be one of my all time favorites or biting into a juicy slice of hayden mango. Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge raw seafood eater and once in a while will crave a juicy t-bone steak. Oh heck, I confess I’m also a pate’ fanatic and cheese fan (the smellier the better). But too often then not my palate has been assaulted by enormous quantities of sauces and rubs that do nothing to enhance the meal I’m having.
Farm to table seems to be the new mantra of many food writers and there is supposedly an ever growing number of farms offering tours, classes and dinners ‘al fresco’ style. Keeping my ear to the ground and waiting for a chance to have that farm to table experience I came across an article in a local newspaper that lead me to my own backyard, Waianae.
Approximately a mile and a half past Waianae Comprehensive Healthcare Center is a certified organic farm called Kahumana. Kahumana recently opened a restaurant on it’s grounds. Serving both lunch and dinner 5 days a week, the star attraction on their menu is the produce they grow on their farm. Managed by Robert Zuckerman, he overseas the day to day operation of the restaurant and staff as well as being the creative force for many of the restaurant menu items. (See photo of Robert and good friend Linda Chun)
The Staff at Kahumana are friendly and the atmosphere country casual, no pretentions here. The menu too is straight forward and offers not only vegetarian options but a choice of beef, chicken or seafood with many of its dishes.
Fresh, organic and prepared with care are what comes to mind when dining at Kahumana. The Macnut Pesto Whole Wheat Pasta with Garlic Butter Shrimp is delicious along with a bowl of Kabocha Soup. The Greek Salad is beautifully arranged around a mound of freshly made hummus and whole wheat pita bread.
Desserts are light and flavorful, try the mango (freshly peeled just that morning) cheescake. While preparing to leave, a customer came in to pick up his tray of mango cheescake which he says after the first taste he had to order an entire tray. Now that’s a testimonial.
I’ve invited at least a half dozen friends to lunch and dinner and they run the gamut from the “I only eat meat” to my good friend Tomo who’s a devoted macrobiotic. The vote was unanimous in favor of coming back for another meal at Kahumana.
If Waianae doesn’t come across your radar, pick a Saturday when you can visit the Waianae Farmers Market held every Saturday at Waianae High School. Hours are from 8am -11:30am. Just in time for lunch at Kahumana. Then a couple hours on the beach enjoying the Paradise that is Waianae or hike one of the trails that start at the Waianae Comprehensive Healthcare Center.
Kahumana is a part of a larger entity, A.S.I. (Alternate Structures International) a 501C3 Nonprofit. Their projects include transitional housing for disenfranchised families at two locations. A.S.I. currently serves 127 families.. Kahumana does job training and is a model for sustainability. Tours of the farm and classes are given several times thruout the year.
www.kahumanafarms.org Phone: 696-6608
Photos include pics of Kahumana grounds and menu items. Thank you’s to Robert Zuckerman, manager at Kahumana, Linda Chun and my eating compatriots, Eve and Tim In.
Driving back home from OTCH obedience class I caught the second half of the Lynne Rossetto Kasper radio program, Splendid Table. Always looking for something new to add to her program she included, today, a piece by food writer and restaurant critic, Ed Murrietta. Ed recently found himself, as he put it “on the fringe of the food business… his sole source of income being food stamps”. He talked about how he had to be ‘darn creative’ in coming up with meals for himself that were healthy. Not giving in to the usual staples and canned goods he found ways of bringing fresh produce and meats to his table.
And then I thought about the Waianae Farmers Market where I make my regular Saturday pilgrmage to buy organic produce from the Waianae farmers who set up their booths there every week. I’ve never been one to shop at Farmers Markets except on a whim or to show a visitor how we too can have an outdoor market but I’ve found the Waianae Farmers Market to be quite unique. It turns out it’s the ONLY farmers market on the Island to ACCEPT EBT/SNAP (food stamps). Now that in itself is a reason for supporting this market. Now anyone can buy healthy, local grown (and organic to boot) produce for their family.
If you’re wondering about Ed, he got a job this week as a baker. Ed taught me something today, that there are 36 million people living on food stamps and 6 million of them depend on food stamps as their only source of income. Now that’s something to chew on. We need to support more entities like this market for trying to bring goods and services to all our people.
Oh, and if you’re interested my trip ended up with fresh beets, Ewa sweet onions, huge cherry tomatoes and Kahumana Kale. Not on the food list, but I just couldn’t resist, was purchasing couple of flowering orchid plants from Gail over at the Haleahi Floral Ranch booth. When visiting, don’t forget to say hello to Desiree Hikuroa and Bryan Talisayan at the Waiaane Coast Comprehensive Health Center tent . See photos where I was able to get pics of all 3.
The Waianae Farmers Market is owned and operated by the Waiaanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. The market is open every Saturday from 8am to 11:30am on the grounds of Waianae High School. Lots of parking so no excuse in going to the best little farmers market (for now) on our Island.
One of the best ways to treat yourself on a Saturday morning is to visit the Waianae Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, this Farmers Market is sure to grow and (hopefully) prosper. Waianae is populated with produce, orchid, plant and animal farms. So what you see and purchase at this market was probably picked early on Saturday morning.
Today I shopped for all the salad fixings I’ll need for the week, huge cherry tomatoes, green onion, bitter melon, baby greens and arugala. Hot off the grill pork and beef as well as poke (with condiment bar to custom the taste of your poke), hawaiian food, broke da mouth lumpia and Waianae grown tropical fruits can be found on the Grounds of Waianae High School, the location for Waianae’s Farmers Market. Bring a cooler inorder to keep your purchases fresh while you enjoy your plate lunch at the family table.
