Month: November 2010

November 24, 2010 General Ag News and Notes, Turkey Post a Comment

Thanksgiving Holiday Guide

Craft Fairs & Markets

Hoala Winter Craft Sale A variety of craft, food and specialty booths. Hoala School, 1067 A California Ave.: Sat., 12/4, (9am–3pm) 621-1898

Mamo Arts Market The arts market features Native Hawaiian artisans, keiki activities and live music. Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St.: Sat., 12/4, (9am–5pm) Free. 847-3511

36th Annual Mayor’s Craft Sale The yearly event features unique handmade items created by city senior clubs, along with other exciting arts, crafts and entertainment. Neal Blaisdell Center, 777 Ward Ave.: Sat., 12/4, (9am–2pm) Free. 768-3045

“It’s Really Nice” Fine Arts & Crafts Show A fine arts and crafts show through the holidays. [www.louispohlgallery.com]. Louis Pohl Gallery, 1111 Nuuanu Ave.: Runs through Tue., 12/28, 521-1812

7th Annual Christmas in Honolulu An evening craft fair with local art, clothing, soup mixes, jewelry, ceramics, purses and more. Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, 2454 South Beretania St.: Tue., 11/30, (5–8:30pm) Free. 734-3693

12 Ways of Christmas A dozen craft artisans showcase one-of-a-kind items. Cafe Laufer, 3565 Waialae Ave., Mon., 11/29, (5–9pm) 753-3611

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November 24, 2010 Ag Tourism, General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Culinary Crumbs: Hawaiian Adventures Part 1: Maui

Hawaiian Adventures Part 1: Maui

I had previously promised to share my stories and experiences from Hawaii, and now that I’ve been back at home in Texas for nearly 6 weeks, I think I’m ready to do just that. Any sooner would have been too painful for me. You see, my brief time (just under three weeks) spent in Hawaii opened up a new realm of self to me. I got to ooh and ahh over breathtaking scenery and experience deep gratitude and appreciation for this earth and everything God has put in it unlike I ever have before. I got to revel in my surroundings and listen to my inner thoughts. All the while sipping a mai tai of course. It was exactly the vacation that I needed- plenty of solitude and relaxation mixed with gluttony and adventure.

My Hawaiian vacation consisted of two legs: a week spent in Maui and a week (which “accidentally” turned into 11 days- we’ll get to that later) on the Big Island. I’m lucky enough to have a grandmother who lives in Wailuku, Maui, but unlucky enough to have only been to visit her once when I was 16. I decided that I was indeed due for a visit. She graciously showed me around her beautiful island and introduced me to my favorite town in Maui- Paia, which is a charming surfer’s village with this hippie-esque vibe that I found completely groovy. I spent a few days wandering around Kihei, Lahaina and Kaanapali Beach lounging, sunbathing, reading, eating, people watching. I like the down time every now and then where I can just sit and absorb what’s going on around me. However, I like the thrill of adventure just as much. And I feel like my time is better spent sharing the details of that part of my trip as compared to talking about how many times I flipped from my stomach to my back trying to maintain an even tan.

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November 24, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Delta Will Be Happy To Transport Your Christmas Tree This Season

Bringing a little more back home with you than just indigestion and a few extra pounds? If your checked baggage includes an entire Christmas tree then look no further than Delta to help you get your holiday tree back home in one piece. Most airlines would probably just laugh at you if you brought a Christmas tree to the airport, but apparently Delta will welcome you and your Tannenbaum.

Freshly cut trees will be accepted as limited-release baggage—that means you can’t flip out if they break a branch—for all flights within the nifty fifty. That’s right…no problem bringing one back to Hawaii, so you can share a little holiday aloha with your friends and family in the islands. You’ll just need to send it through the agricultural inspection folks when you arrive in paradise.

Like any checked baggage, trees will be subject to all kinds of baggage allowance and size restrictions, so that means no crazy ginormous trees. We’re thinking that also means that it will cost just as much to check a tree as it would to check a bag, so carry-on this holiday season and send the tree underneath!

Just make sure that the tree is wrapped all nice and snug in burlap or something similar, and that the root ball or base is covered as well. They don’t want any dirt or branches escaping into the cargo hold and you don’t want to find a mangled tree waiting for you at baggage claim.

Delta Will Be Happy To Transport Your Christmas Tree This Season || Jaunted

November 24, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

VIEWPOINT: Sewage disposal is a serious matter

Maui News staff writer Harry Eagar’s Nov. 15 column expressed unfounded opinions that trivialized a serious community issue. Sewage disposal is no laughing matter. It is a quality of life issue for all who live on Maui, our visitor industry and those voiceless ones who inhabit Maui’s waters.

Concerns about the connection between effluent disposal, water quality and reef decline are shared by scientists and environmental professionals tasked with safeguarding water and natural resources. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/pubs/MauiReefDeclines.pdf) identified land-based pollutants as part of the problem causing coal decline. The Environmental Protection Agency ordered Maui County to characterize the pollutants in the effluent and to identify where the effluent goes after injection. The state Department of Health has declared coastal waters near the wells as impaired due to presence of nutrients and other pollutants (hawaii.gov/health/environmental/env-planning/wqm/2006_Integrated_Report/2006_Chapter_IV_Assessment_of_Waters.pdf).

There is substantial evidence that the effluents injected into the groundwater at county treatment plants is reaching the ocean. The presence of effluent indicators in ocean water was found by the University of Hawaii and the U.S. Geological Survey. There is no scientific evidence supporting Eagar’s assertion that coral not only eat sewage, but love it.

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November 23, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

State approves quarantine zones to stop spread of coffee berry borer on Big Island

An emergency interim rule creating two quarantine zones to halt the spread of the coffee berry borer on and off the Big Island is expected to take effect in a few days.

The state Board of Agriculture today passed the rule halting the shipment of unroasted coffee berries, coffee plants and related bags off the Big Island, unless properly treated to kill the alien beetle and its larvae.

Contaminated coffee farm areas from Kaloko in South Kona to Manuka State Park in Kau also are barred from taking unroasted coffee berries, coffee plants, and related bags to areas on the Big Island that are still free of the coffee berry borer.

The quarantine rule will go into effect when it is published in newspapers in a few days and can remain in effect for a year, the state said.

State approves quarantine zones to stop spread of coffee berry borer on Big Island – Hawaii News – Staradvertiser.com

November 23, 2010 General Ag News and Notes, Turkey Post a Comment

Editorial – A time for … turkey trivia : Viewpoints – Tampa Bay Newspapers

Just in case you wanted to know, here’s some Thanksgiving trivia for you to chew on as you enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

• The National Turkey Federation says that 87 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving whether it’s coffee rubbed turkey from Hawaii, barbecued turkey, cajun fried turkey or – say it isn’t so – in a television frozen dinner.

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November 23, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Waimea renews tradition with 40-foot Christmas tree

Kickoff of Lokahi Giving Project slated

Before the 40-foot Monterey Cypress could be felled Monday morning, master woodworker Ski Kwiatkowski talked to it, shared the plan and asked the tree’s permission.

The 80-year-old tree in Puu Pueo, an area owned by Parker Ranch along Mana Road, is the centerpiece of Waimea’s holiday season. It is part of the town’s effort to commemorate Christmases past and ignite traditions.

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November 22, 2010 General Ag News and Notes, Globel Warming Post a Comment

Contrails or chemtrails?

Some Kaua‘i residents are growing increasingly concerned over what they call ‘chemtrails’ in the sky, suspecting aircraft of spraying potentially harmful chemicals over populated areas. They have been tracking these trails, disseminating information and generating discussion online at kauaisky.blogspot.com. Government agencies assert that ‘persistent contrails,’ line-shaped clouds composed of ice particles, pose no direct threat to public health but may contribute to human-induced climate change.

Contrails or chemtrails?

November 22, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

State lays groundwork for more clean energy

HONOLULU – The goal of breaking Hawaii’s addiction to shipped-in oil first took vague shape during a ceremony in the governor’s executive chambers, with lofty speeches and frequent applause but few specifics.

The ceremony featured a broadly worded deal between the state and federal government to work together toward a so-called clean energy future. The agreement lacked details or the force of law, and it seemed to have all the substance of a government report destined to gather dust.

Almost three years later, however, the initiative launched in the Governor’s Office that day has helped support dozens of energy programs that have laid the groundwork for the nation’s most oil-dependent state to potentially become its most energy self-sufficient.

It will take at least a few more years before a major influx of renewable energy puts a dent in Hawaii’s heavy oil usage, but the state is making visible progress.

Tall wind turbines are sprouting across the islands. Residents and businesses will soon be able to sell homegrown solar power back to the grid. Charging stations for incoming electric cars are being built – by law, at least one per 100-space parking lot by the end of next year.

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