With the Pacific Ocean engulfing the Hawaiian Islands, the fish of Hawaii are numerous, colorful, and everywhere. From large sharks to small beautifully colored fish, the waters are filled with all types. Keeping them straight is a difficult thing, so we’ll try and help you identify some fish to make your hawaii snorkeling adventure that much more enjoyable.

To begin we have to talk about the state fish. That super long word that everyone says with a smile. The Humuhumunukunukuapua’a. What a mouth full.

Where does Kona coffee come from and what is Kona coffee? These are some pretty standard questions when looking at how expensive Kona coffee is. $30 a pound, yikes. But the answers to these questions may shed some light on why Kona coffee is so expensive, and so good!

Kona coffee comes from, you guessed it, Kona, Hawaii. Kona is location on The Big Island of Hawaii. The Big Island is the newest and largest of the Hawaiian islands chain and is the largest of the islands as well located at the south eastern most point. The Big Island is littered with lava rock and still has an active volcano that is erupting daily expanding the island as it goes.

The region of Kona is located on the west side of the island just below Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa. The weather of the Kona district is usually sunny in the morning, rainy in the afternoon, and cool at night providing the region with a distinct climate to grow the award winning coffee. The mountain side two has fertile soil from the lava rock and years of sea winds.

Kona coffee is harvested from August to January and is processed by the many farmers who have made a living on the Kona coffee farms. Only coffee from the Kona region of The Big Island can be called Kona coffee. There are blends and imitations that abound but only the real deal can get the name on the packaging.

Kona coffee stamped with “Estate” means the coffee beans come from one farm and one harvest. Any other labeling of 100% Kona Coffee means the beans were collected from several farms and processed at one central location. Also out there are 10% blends that blend coffee from all over keeping only 10% Kona farmed coffee.

You don’t have to worry too much about forgetting something on your trip to Hawaii, especially if you’re traveling to Waikiki, there are plenty of stores like Wal-Mart, ABC convenience stores, and tons of other little shops. But you’ll pay a bit of premium for something that you might already own, or could have gotten cheaper back home.

Here’s a list of things to pack on your trip to Hawaii. It’s not all inclusive, but its a good starting point and a list of some of the essentials that you’ll need to remember in a place where the weather is always nice.

• Swimsuit - unless you don’t like the water, a bathing suit is essential. These can get expensive if you buy one here so save your money for other things like food, and bring on along
• Sunscreen - Hawaii is south, way south, and the sun is always shining, so bring some sunscreen to keep from burning and help prevent skin cancer. We recommend something like SPF 30 or 40, and waterproof.
• Sunglasses - Especially if you’re driving, sunglasses are a must. Reflection off the water, off buildings, off other cars, can all be dangerously blinding.
• Comfortable clothing - You can pretty much bet on 75 - 85 F weather, all year round. Dress accordingly. Maybe pack one set of clothing if it cools at night or if you’re in upcountry Maui. Other than that, shorts, skirts, short sleeves, tank tops. You don’t need much.
• Slippas - Slippers might also be called flip flops, or old school, thongs. Bring open footwear. It’ll make you feel better as you walk around.
• Comfortable shoes - although you may never remove your slippers, a nice pair of walking shoes will be great for walking, sightseeing, and hiking on Hawaii’s many many trails. Pack a pair just in case you want to get some exercise.
• Beach towel - Although you may have access to a beach towel depending on where you stay, you should pack one just in case. Buying one on your trip can be an unnecessary expense.
• Extra duffel bag - You may think you won’t buy trinkets on your trip, but you’ll buy stuff. It’s inevitable. Bring a duffel bag you can fold up and pack on the way out to Hawaii, but then fill with everything you bought on the way back.
• Umbrella - Being a tropical climate an mountainous, the islands of Hawaii can get rainy at a moments notice. You’ll be on the beach taking in a the sunshine when all the sudden a group of clouds can rain heavy on your parade. Bring an umbrella.
• Camera - digital or old school film will do. You can buy waterproof disposables which are fun. We suggest the olympus waterproof digital camera if you’re in the market. You want to capture everything so bring your camera.
• Money - If you’re traveling from the US don’t worry, you’re still in the US. Cash, checks, credit cards all work just fine. If you’re from another country, pretty much everyone accepts credit card. You may not get to go to some super local plate lunch places that only accept cash, but you can get around just fine.
• Snorkel gear - You can definitely buy snorkel gear here in Hawaii, but we suggest buying and bringing. You can use it on your next trip and can probably get it cheaper back in your hometown.

Check out this blog from the Honolulu Advertiser site.  Capitol Journalist Derrick DePledge reported on some bad blood brewing in the House of Representatives amongst the staff of all people.  It’s amazing to see the response and feelings of the people there, not to mention the names being thrown around.  I won’t go into details, as you can read it for yourself.  This is my comment on it all.

In my opinion, it’s obvious that politics has itty bitty nasty bits but the way that people are talking on these blogs, it’s obvious to me why Kimo Public feels like we stay taking it in the behind from the government.  

This is my second session at the Capitol.  I’ve seen so much in such a short time and still believe there is room for change but it’s the fact that people are getting so worked up over BS that’s frustrating.  I can see both sides of the coin.  I always try to take the middle path, it just makes no sense that there’d be such a fuss over a party.

Why would someone have to be forced to do anything?  Perhaps it’s the lingering effects of Hawaii’s illegal occupation or the martial state that was here in WWII.  Perhaps, it’s the effects of having one political party that’s too big for it’s own good.  Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

I wanted to run for office this year.  I live in House District 24, University and Manoa area.  I was still at UH, when the current Representative, Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell was elected.  I never saw him once.  He had 3,000 potential voters there and not once did he come to us.  I heard this from the Horse’s mouth so to say, but that is beside the point.  I wanted to run because I love this area, I love the students.  

I thought, I could be young, and inject some new blood, energy into the process if you will.  As much as I believe that, the current culture there, man, ugly.  And there are some amazing people working there, on both sides of the aisle, from Representative to Senator, to Permanent and Session staff, really amazing people, but the true challenge is the culture.

How do we change the culture?  How do wash away the sand so it doesn’t get in the places it has no business in, like a party for example…

Shoots.

JMAW of Hawaii

Hawaii State Senator Ron Menor, a Democrat whose district includes Waipahu and parts of Mililani and Mililani Mauka., was arrested just after midnight this morning by police for allegedly Driving Under the Influence. Details were not released as to what police did to determine if the Senator was intoxicated.

Menor posted bail at $500 dollars shortly after and was released. Menor is the second Hawaii legislator to be caught for DUI in under a year. The first was former House Vice Speaker Rep. Jon Karamatsu. Rep. Karamatsu shortly thereafter stepped down from his post as Vice Speaker but remained in office.

It will be interesting to see how this effects the upcoming election. Both legislators are Democrats and the Democratic Caucuses reported record showings around the state. An up and coming Democrat could have a chance at landing the post or maybe a Republican for that matter.

In this world where one President did not have sexual relations with that woman while the next can wage an unpopular war that breaks records for debt, it’s a good chance both of these legislators will be forgiven for something as “insignificant” as a DUI.

What do you think?

JMAW