The Sad State of Big Island Newspapers

These days on the Big Island at least, you can probably save a tree and get better quality local island news by reading it online. The recent demise of locally owned Hawaii Island Journal* -the Big Island’s best and oldest “weekly” (officially three times monthly)- will certainly leave a hole to fill when it comes [...]

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Hawai’i Caucus Experience

Was that really a caucus? Look, I didn’t have any grand illusions that it would be professionally organized; I know these people are volunteers, most first timers. And we have already seen how this election has brought the Democrats out in force. On top of that, certain areas here on Hawai’i Island have grown during [...]

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If Clinton Wins…We Get McCain

<yo wil… think this one is even more to-the-point than the “Yes We Can” Obama original …and way mo funny>
The Clinton’s are disliked too much by the Republican’s. And if Hillary winds up as the Democratic nominee, the Republican’s have the weapons, the ammunition, all the Clinton corruption we’re sick of hearing about…to utilize against [...]

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Hawaii Island Caucus Precinct Sites

There have been some discrepancies in caucus locations. I’ve published below what seems like the most accurate Precinct Election & Presidential Preference Poll site directory, found at the Democratic Party of Hawai’i web site. You will need to know your representative district first —use this link if you don’t know it— then enter that info [...]

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Free WiFi Hawaii Island

So, Starbucks made their splashy announcement that they’re ditching T-Mobile for AT&T and by this Spring (a little later for Hawaii) will offer two hours of free internet with a purchase of $3.99 or more. As cutting edge as they were by taking that Seattle gourmet coffee habit and spreading the addiction to a world [...]

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If Everybody Voted…

I don’t think I’ve ever registered as a Democrat before (no, never as a Republican either), but I’m going to this time. Sure, I don’t agree with either side’s policies on frequent occasion -less government seems like a better idea- but on the other had, I suppose I’m more “liberal” than not on many issues. [...]

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Save O’oma (Pine Trees) in Kona

I thought the fight was already lost, but it seems it is still up for debate whether or not the county/ state should acquire O’oma II to protect it as public, open space. Considering how important the area around Pine Trees is -how precious the waters and how vital this surf / recreational / camping [...]

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Hilo Rain, Water on the Brain

<newly formed Lake Hilo>
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more wet…! Sure, East side Big Island residents are used to downpours, sometimes non-stop torentials lasting weeks, months… It’s often considered one of the wettest cities in the U.S. - though most lists on the topic omit it because they only focus on the [...]

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Hawaii Airfare War On Again (til tomorrow)

The airlines in Hawai’i must hate having to raise and lower their fares whenever their competition does - and Mesa (Go Airlines!) is usually the one in control. Though it was only a month ago that they raised their inter-island flights to $49 (with Hawaiian and Aloha Air happily following suit) - today it’s back [...]

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Puna Getting Some Big Island Love

Puna had seemingly been losing the battle in terms of infrastructure and development needed to keep up with the population explosion of the past few years. While there’s been lots of debating, proposals, plans… actually action, when it occurs, is typically slow and inadequate. So it came as a surprise to many when the 5th [...]

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Start a Revo[lution]

{photo by Nina Brav}
When you live in Small Town, Big Island, Hawai’i, sometimes it’s a stretch to look beyond your local environment…let alone decide to start a revolution that might have an impact on the world. But it seems easier when you have the advantage of being naively unconcerned with challenging undertakings or succumbing to [...]

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Sharks, Swells and Stinky Smells

It’s kinda a thing with surfers, to recite our homogeneous oceanic factoids and universal truths, though on occasion we’re not necessarily precisely sure what we’re talking about. This seems to be the case in regards to sharks, and particularly their olfactory sensibilities and its effect upon their desire to attack.
How many times have we heard [...]

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Legislative Superferry Circus Makes Island Tour

Possibly the final chance to get your voice heard regarding the Oahu-centric Superferry, as they decided to kindly offer public hearings on all the neighboring islands affected. But what are these hearings exactly?
No matter the rulings, ultimately stopping the Superferry seems out of the people’s hands. These hearings -which are being called “Public Informational Hearings” [...]

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Noni: The Stinky Magical Lifesaver

It is assumed that Noni (”Aspirin of the Ancients”) originated in Southeast Asia (Indonesia) and was brought, approximately 2000 years ago, by ancient peoples of French Polynesia to the islands of the South Pacific. Captain Cook recorded it’s use in Tahiti (Nono) in the 1700s, and later documents show its use in Fiji (Kura), [...]

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Kilauea Lava Heading for Puna?

It’s similar to “the boy who cried wolf”, worrying excessively -especially in the media- about potential natural disasters. Something may or may not be coming, may or may not hit, may or may not cause damage, risk any lives. But after the realization there was absolutely no tsunami warning system in Southern Asia…and after [...]

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