HAWAIIANA 3
The supply of Hawaiiana candidates has not run
out yet.
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When I first moved to Hawaii, thefts from
automobiles were rampant. People who
had been here for a while recommended that an appropriate bumper sticker that
identified the car as local might deter the thieves. Along with “SAVE HONOLUA BAY” and its
like, the “EDDIE WOULD GO” seemed to be best, since a tourist wouldn’t be apt to
display it. Do you know who Eddie
was?
I’m kind of partial to the more recent
addition “LIVE PONO”. There is an
organization called Take the LEAP, Hawaii.
Their motto is “Live healthy.
Eat well. Be
Active. Live
Pono,”
Do you know the word Pono?
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Dry as the proverbial bone |
Beautiful but ready |
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Wailea and Kihei are on the
leeward side of Maui and in the rain shadow of Mt. Haleakalā. The normal rain pattern brings rain
in from the northeast, dumps it on the windward side as the clouds climb the
mountain, and leaves little for us.
However, once in a while a system comes up from the south. With the broad expanse of the
mountain collecting water and draining it toward us and the ocean, look out! Even with these huge drainage
structures, flash flooding is an issue.
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Samples from Upcountry Harvest |
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Small farms on the flanks
of Mt. Haleakalā produce Protea flowers.
These wonderful and varied blossoms are arranged with more standard
flowers and greenery and shipped around the world. They are beautiful when shipped, last
well, and eventually dry to another level of beauty.
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Kaheawa Wind Farm> |
Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. |
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The sight of huge turbines being turned by the
wind is not unique. However, I
consider the wind farm on West Maui to be special due to its capacity. This single string of 20 towers
generates about 9% of Maui’s electricity!
The farm is currently being augmented with nearly 70% increase in
generating capacity and storage batteries to extend hours of contribution.
The sight of a dirty old factory with tall
stacks belching great quantities of gases is also not unique. However, this factory is also
special. Sugar processing produces
bagasse, the fibrous remains of the cane.
In Maui, this biomass is mixed with coal and burned to produce
electricity. The Maui sugar factory
produces around 3% of Maui’s electricity!
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Pono and Judy surround Maui |
Entertainment at the Luau |
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The great god Maui pulled the Hawaiian Islands
out of the sea. Then he lassoed the
sun and caused it to slow down and spend more time over his creation. All this and more is imparted during
an evening of ‘Ulalena, a unique stage play covering the history of Hawaii in
music and dance.
Of course, the not to be missed event for
visitors is always the Luau. Local
food and entertainment feature roast pig cooked in the ground in a rock “oven”
(imu) and lots of girls in grass skirts and coconut bras doing the hula!
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Authentic petroglyphs |
Stylized petroglyphs |
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Petroglyphs can make the hair stand up on the
back of one’s neck. They are truly
ancient and full of cultural significance.
Modern artists have taken the genre to yet another level (up or down is
left to the reader).
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The cook changed
professions? |
License to steal? |
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I’ve always enjoyed the turn of phrase that
has resulted from the melting pot of languages used in the Islands. One that always tickled me was the
sign put up when something is out of order – “STAY BROKE”. I doubt if either maker of the above
signs intended my suggested meaning.
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^ Taro cookies anyone?
< Does your McDonald’s have taro pie? |
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Historically, taro was grown in Hawaii for
poi, a staple in the diets of the old ones.
Poi is still made and consumed, but other uses for taro have been
developed. Try taro pie, taro
cookies, taro bread and rolls, and yes, see what you think about poi. If you ate that white paste in
kindergarten, you might even like poi.
Last week I found ‘ono (delicious) taro rolls
at Costco!
AFTERWORD
My thanks to Judy Edwards, who was the source of a number of pictures in this
Hawaiiana series. To follow her
adventures, see her blog at
http://www.maui.net/explore-maui/green-maui/?ck=15.