When we hiked to Kalaupapa in October, I never mentioned we were packed with fresh fruits from Kauai. We originally planned to bring them down in a large ice chest. One look at the steep and muddy trail changed our mind. I could just imagine sliding in the mud and making an impromptu fruit smoothie. We opted to carry the fruits in our backpacks and shopping bags for the steep three mile hike.

Why would Beat of Hawaii do this? Two words: Father Felix. His dear friend is our neighbor and had asked us to make the delivery.

The priest from Belgium has been a fixture in Hawaii for fifty years serving parishes on almost all the islands. For the past three years Father Felix has been at St. Francis of Assisi Church at Kalaupapa, following in the footsteps of St. Damien and ministering to Hansen’s Disease patients.

When I heard of Father Felix’s passing a few days ago, I was thankful for the opportunity we had to meet him last year.

At the end of our hike a cheerful Father Felix was waiting for us. We presented the gifts from our neighbor which made the trip without any damage. I was drawn to his energy and kind spirit and enjoyed and will never forget our meeting with him.

Many people in Hawaii and throughout the world are remembering Father Felix Vandebroek today. We join them and celebrate his life.

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The land route to Kalaupapa remains closed on Molokai. This means that hikers and mule riders no longer have access to where Saint Damien lived and worked. Heavy rains in April created a mudslide and damaged a foot bridge. Repair work is expected to begin in October and will take 4-5 weeks to complete.

If you want to include Kalaupapa on your Hawaii itinerary this fall, you have two fly-in options available.

The least expensive is from topside Molokai where $249 buys a round-trip, tour and permit. Lunch is not provided so bring your own food.

You can also fly from Honolulu to Kalaupapa for $389 round-trip. Included with the ground tour and permit is a courtesy transfer from your Waikiki hotel and lunch.

Snack Bar and Bookstore Remain Open at Kalaupapa.

Bring small bills if you’d like to buy anything at the settlement since credit cards are not accepted. On our visit in October we purchased a t-shirt and hat.

How to Book: Call Makani Kai Air Charters at 1-877-255-8532 or 808-834-5813 from Oahu.

Tell them you’re interested in the Mule Ride Special and coupon code 1209-M.U.L.E. Visa, Mastercard and American Express is accepted.  Be prepared to give weight of each passenger, cell phone number, the hotel you’re staying at the night before, the desired tour date and one alternate.

What to do if you’re planning a trip to Molokai after November.

Read trail updates on Molokai Mule Rides. The trail will open to hikers first. It will take longer before the mule rides are back since they’ll need retraining on the trail and conditioning.

Tip: We also wrote about our experience in October hiking the Pali Trail and taking the Damien Tour. The experience is one we’ll always remember.

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There’s no place equal to farmers markets when it comes to trying the best and most unusual of Hawaii’s tropical produce and flowers.  And at the top of my list in Hawaii is the Hilo Farmers Market.

U.S.D.A. has proclaimed August 1-7, 2010 as National Farmers Market Week. To celebrate, I headed to Hilo yesterday and their market on Hawaii’s Big Island

Prior to going I downloaded a coupon for two dollars off their official t-shirt. To redeem just head to the manager’s office around the corner from the market. The t-shirts run small so keep that in mind when purchasing.

Jeff is Beat of Hawaii’s food critic/chef. Here’s what he liked at yesterday’s market.

Mangoes.  Hayden and other varieties were plentiful and cheap. I purchased four large mangoes for $5.

Avocados.  Again many varieties.  I ended up with a two pound Sharwell for $1.

Papayas.  Big Island has great papayas, and I picked just the ripeness and size I wanted.  Price averaged 50 cents a pound or less.

Vegetables.  Superior quality, tremendous variety and a number of organic choices.

Flowers.  Big Island excels in flower growing (and export).  At the Hilo Market, you can come back to your hotel/condo with a large bouquet of anthuriums for as little as $2.  They last so long that you’ll be able to take them home on the plane with you.  Tip: After a visual inspection, anthuriums can be brought back to the mainland.

And the unusual.  A vendor gave me a large breadfruit, which has an unusual texture and mild sweet taste that makes for excellent curry.  How about Jaboticaba?  These are tree grapes which originated in Brazil.  Concord grape-like in a way, fabulous.

Two-hundred vendors translates to an abundance in terms of variety and competition with very reasonable prices.  Wednesdays and Saturday have the most vendors from 6am to 4pm.  Other days with fewer vendors from 7am to 4pm.

The number of farmers markets nationwide has tripled since 1994 to over 5,000.  Over the past few years, farmers markets seem to have become incredibly popular, including throughout the islands.

There’s even a new mystery book series set in a farmers market. If you’re an enthusiast of books and food I suggest reading Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton (which Jeff is holding in the picture).

If you have a favorite farmers market in Hawaii, be sure to leave a comment.

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On Sunday, Oahu was struck with an unusual magnitude 3.5 tremor which occurred 15 miles south of Honolulu. A series of 14 other moderate earthquakes have been felt on the Big Island in the past week.

Oahu’s last earthquake was nearly ten years ago (2002 – 3.9 magnitude), and the prior one was thirty years ago (1980 – 4.0 magnitude).

Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

Hawaii earthquakes are linked primarily to volcanic activity. They represent an aspect of the island-building processes that have shaped the geology. “All earthquakes in Hawaii ultimately result from the underlying processes that build the volcanoes.” This according to Hawaii’s Institute of Geophysics and Planetology. Eruptions and magma movement within the active volcanoes are typically accompanied by numerous small earthquakes.

Thousands of earthquakes occur annually beneath the Big Island, and earthquakes there have been reported for hundreds of years both in concert with volcanic activity and without. Here is a USGS map of recent earthquakes, and  a Google Maps version.

Historic Hawaii Earthquakes.

• In early 1868, a quake estimated at 7.9 magnitude struck the Big Island, while smoke was seen rising from Mauna Loa volcano.  A lava flow followed. Nearly 100 people died as a result of the quake and resulting tidal wave. In a period of two weeks, over 2000 distinct shocks were felt in the region.
• On January 22, 1938, a magnitude on 6.7 quake struck Hawaii.  It was centered 40 miles east of Molokai, which is as far north as earthquakes typically occur in the Hawaiian chain. It was felt widely on the Big Island, as well as on Maui and Molokai, Oahu and Lanai.
• On November 29, 1975, a magnitude 5.7 quake struck the Big Island.  It was soon followed by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, and the eruption of Kilauea caldera.

Tsunamis in Hawaii.

Another earthquake effect felt here in Hawaii is tsunamis.  These were first reported in the early 1800’s.  Most have originated either in the northwest Pacific or near the coast of South America. Tsunamis result in more lives lost than the total of all other local disasters here.

• An 1837 Chilean earthquake resulted in 20 foot high waves in Hilo, killing 62 people.
• In 1946, an Aleutian Islands earthquake sent 55 feet high waves crashing into Hilo. 173 were killed, 163 injured, 488 buildings were demolished and 936 more were damaged. The severity of the damage and loss of life prompted the formation of today’s Tsunami Warning System.
• In 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded (magnitude 9.5), off Chile, generated a tsunami that killed 61 people in Hawaii, destroying much of Hilo.

Earlier this year, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake again struck near Chile, which resulted in a tsunami warning here in Hawaii.

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Photo credit:  USGS.

PS:  This week have been very active for the Big Island’s Kilauea volcano.  Here’s a photo of the Kalapana area’s recent lava flow.  

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Tonight will be the first time in two years that we’ll see a lunar eclipse here in Hawaii. From 11:30pm to 3:00am, Hawaii will have an unparalleled view of the eclipse over its dark waters. Fifty-four percent of the moon’s surface will be occluded and the entire event will be visible here, weather permitting.

The lunar eclipse will also be visible in the Western US Mainland; the farther west the better.  On the Pacific Coast, the eclipse will take place three hours later.

Planning ahead, a total eclipse will take place on December 21.

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Photo credit: NASA

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With the nickname, “funniest show on Kauai, honest!” I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the play, The Complete History of America (abridged). It’s now extended through April at Aston Kauai Beach Makaiwa near Kapaa.

Be prepared to laugh as the trio of Ross Martineau, Jeff Demma and Nellie Foster take you on a whirlwind tour of America’s history. Under the direction of Cass Foster, the actors skillfully create a multitude of characters with flawless timing. It’s a rapid race through history so hold on to your seats for a ride not to be missed.

Not only does this talented trio excel individually, but also in group numbers which there were many. Some standouts included their Lewis and Clark vaudeville routine.

Anytime you’re on Kauai and see these three talented actors listed in a production, by all means go. They represent some of the best actors on the island.

Tickets: $35 at door or $30 if you buy in advance. Use their on-line order form (all sales final) or call 1-808-212-8444. Lower rates offered to Kamaaina with Hawaii I.D.

Performance Dates: Thursday and Friday nights, April 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa, 650 Aleka Loop Road, Kapaa.

Dining Options: Hotel offers a Prime Rib and Seafood Buffet every Friday night ($32.95); other choices available.

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Coffee is serious business to us. We’re home roasters with access to hundreds of wild coffee trees, and enjoy visiting plantations while island hopping. Recently, the manager of Molokai’s Coffees of Hawaii, Maria Holmes, invited us for a tour and coffee tasting. How could we refuse?

Before we go any further let me just say that their Muleskinner brand was excellent. During taste testing we scored it highest overall. I love a strong coffee without the taste of rancid oils. Muleskinner scored well in freshness and buzz factor. It’s a great and distinguished morning cup, and features a medium-body, with complex clear flavors and aromas.

We visited the plantation several times during our stay on Molokai. There’s a small cafe and I recommend you try a Mocha Mama (photo below) after hiking Kalaupapa.  They are en route. On weekends the plantation hosts a jazz night with food. During the week there are Morning Espresso Tours and a Mule Drawn Wagon Tour (call for times and availability).

Maria was kind enough to give us a personal tour of their 500 acre plantation. Spending time with Maria we could sense her dedication to the land and to ensuring only the best coffee is produced. I was impressed that they use many environmentally friendly practices like composting, water recycling, and complete sun drying.

Facebook aficionados can join the Coffees of Hawaii fan page to stay on top of deals and what’s happening at the plantation. I noticed they currently have a 10 percent discount for on-line orders and free Fed-Ex shipping with a purchase of $100 or more.

I also suggest visiting the Coffees of Hawaii website which offers many features including videos and even Hawaii proverbs. Better yet, plan a trip to Molokai on your next Hawaii vacation and visit the plantation in person.

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This red door marks the hottest night spot on Molokai. It rises to the occasion with yeast. Take some dough with you and get some in return. The nightly Hot Bread Run is where locals and visitors intersect starting at 9:30pm (closed Monday).

Your destination is Kanemitsu’s Bakery on the main drag in Kaunakakai. The storefront is closed but the bakery in back is running full speed. Park your car in front and venture down the dim lit alley to the right. Follow your nose to the second alley and you’ve arrived at the Hot Bread Run.

Every so often the red door opens and bread gets handed over. This bread is like a party-size donut with your choice of filling. The night we were there the menu offered Strawberry, Blueberry, Cream Cheese, Cinnamon and Butter. Prices start at $4.75 for plain.

Don’t forget to visit Kaunakakai during the day for shopping.

We found a large selection of t-shirts reasonably priced at Molokai Fish and Dive. I take an XXL and had many shirts to choose from. Outpost Natural Foods is a good stop for healthy eaters. Their fresh produce offers some good buys. For groceries we stopped at Friendly’s. You many want to go off peak hours. We were there close to 5pm and it felt like the whole island community had joined us. A fun bookstore with new and used books is Kalele Bookstore and Diving Expressions. Owner Teri Waros offered coffee and a talk story session. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Bamboo Pantry offered many local products and there is also a Co-Op art gallery in town. On Saturday mornings be sure to visit the Farmer’s Market across from the library.

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Hau’oli Makahiki Hou

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.

Mahalo Nui Loa for supporting Beat of Hawaii’s not-for-profit efforts to encourage Hawaii tourism in 2009!

Aloha,

Rob and Jeff

Image:  Nativity scene by Hawaii artist and friend Liedeke Bulder and the children of Lihue Lutheran Church.

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In case you missed the annual Lights on Rice Christmas parade on Kauai, here’s a short video I took to put you in our island style holiday mood.

This year’s parade took place on December 4, and as always was one of the best-attended events on Kauai.  It runs the length of Rice Street and featured nearly 60 floats and other entrants.

Lights on Rice brings both locals and visitors together to enjoy the start of the holidays featuring music, parade, craft fair (sponsored by the Kauai Museum) and food vendors.

If you missed the parade but plan to be on Kauai this month, be sure to check out the Festival of Lights. It’s open Friday through Sunday evenings from 6-8 pm., through December 24.

This year’s Festival of Lights acknowledges the passing of friend and illustrious folk artist Auntie Josie, soon after we interviewed her last Christmas.

If you’ve been to either of these two holiday celebrations on Kauai, I’d appreciate your comments.

Lights on Rice: One of The Best Small Town Parades is a post from: BEAT OF HAWAII. Please join us on Facebook and Twitter.