Rainbow

 
A first for me. An ocean rainbow as seen on Molokai

Molokai Rocks...!!!!

Welll, not really, but it does show you some fantastic scenery and history. Actually Molokai is probably the most laid back island, having signs such as "If you are in a hurry, you are on the wrong island." There are no stop lights on the whole island and the population is about 7000 with the largest percentage of true Hawaiians than any other island so therefore the island most like old Hawaii. With very few condo complexes on Molokai we felt lucky to get a nice one bedroom in a well manicured site, oceanfront with pool, BBQ's and tennis courts. Molokai is also called the friendly isle. No problem getting info and directions. We scouted the isle the first day and booked our tour of Kalaupapa for Monday. Molokai has the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere and isolated beautiful beaches. Sunday they have a local jam session on the lanai of the Coffees of Hawaii building with sing alongs which, of course, we participated in. Local recording artist 'Lono' made a guest appearance with the house group and we like this style of Hawaiian music, kinda jazzy. But now on to our highlight, the hike down the highest seacliffs in the world onto the coastal plain. This is where Kamehameha V banished the Hawaiians who contracted leprosy. And while we were climbing down you could see how this is a natural area with no way out for them. You could also see fantastic views of the ocean, the pali, more sea cliffs and the now restored village below. Father Damien will be canonized a saint any day now in Rome, festivities to be followed here in Hawaii and on the peninsula next to the restored St. Philomena church and his gravesite. During our tour we realized what a good man he was, as those afflicted would not have survived without his dedication and gift of hope. Next was our hike out. So as not to describe the difficulty in covering the 2000 ft straight up with countless switchbacks I will just say that my quads and calfs screamed at me for two days after. Yes, you can take a mule down but we thought we would experience it the way Father Damien did when he went 'topside'. Only later did I learn that he mostly rode a horse up. Nowadays there is a landing strip there. We had a full bus tour with 6 flying in, 6 of us hiking in, and at least a dozen including our bus driver rode mules down. Learning of the history of the colony was both enlightening and starkly moving. Definitely a must do when on the island. The next day tentatively was to do another hike to the Halawa valley and falls. We decided the hike was out but we would still drive the amazing easterly coast to the valley floor and view the falls. What a drive. I say, better than the road to Hana although shorter, thankly. It was one lane hanging on the cliffs with hairpin turns and awesome views. At the end was a surreal valley where Jurasic Park II was filmed. Our last day was spent at the Meyer Sugar Mill now restored with much of the original sugar making equipment. What is so great about touring these remote islands is that the written history is so short, now just a bit over 200 years, and so much has changed these islands in that time. And to me Molokai rocks along with the rest of these islands! Next stop Lanai.

Meeting fantastic people

Meeting great humans of the world is one of benefits we enjoy on the farm. We are lucky to be only a mile and a half from the famous Painted Church and just up the road 800 feet from Kealakekua Bay where, historically, Captain Cook both landed and met his death. Also just down a bit is Pu'u uhonau o Honaunau National Historic Park also called Place of Refuge with the renowned snorkel spot call 'two step' next door. This means we get tourist traffic and some choose to stop for a farm tour. I think yesterday was our best yet. We first met Tsuro and Hiloko at the farmers market on Sat. His English was hard for us to understand and our Japanese is zero but he was able to relate that he wanted a large order of coffee to take/send back with him. He asked if he could pick it up on Sunday at our farm because as we could see he was very busy with Hiloko. He asked prices and related that he needed it all ground. We have learned that Japanese households evidently don't have coffee grinders as they all buy ground coffee. Then he said okay, if I want, and he pointed to the pound pkg, I say big one. If I want 1/2 pound, I say small one. Late Sunday morn I received a phone call from the Outrigger Beach Resort Hotel saying that a guest wanted directions to our farm, could I speak with him. He was very able to understand the directions, and he he told me how many big ones and small ones he wanted. Sure enough in less than 2 hours he and Hiloko arrived at our farm. He is the most attentive devoted husband I have ever seen. You see, he was feeding Hiloko lunch on Sat., and he must move her out of the car and carry her in. We never did understand what her ailment was but Tsuro cared for her like a mother cares for her newborn child. This is no exaggeration, but in America many like Hiloko are cared for in a Nursing Home as she requires constant attention and must be fed all her meals. He does it all while he enjoys his travels. He visits everywhere he wants and lovingly talks to Hiloko. And he does it all in stride with little effort, just patience. Not to mention how well groomed both of them were. Hiloko's hair was combed and colored a pretty reddish and her nails were painted and she couldn't even raise her arms. He told us they had been over to see the volcano last week. He never leaves her side. I could tell he wanted to have Ron show him more of the farm, so I offered to sit with his wife. We couldn't speak to each other but she all of a sudden said my name, I hugged her and she smiled. Tsuro was the most joyful, happy man. He seemed to enjoy everything, so much and was amazed with our large mango tree. He told us they have three grown children and that he comes to this island because the spiritualness was good for Hiloko. He also asked us if we would remember him if he came back next year. How could we forget!

Orchids

Jacaranda

 
I just had to mention jacaranda because it's in blue-violet bloom right now. A beautiful tree and I just love to say 'jacaranda'. Also is one of Ron's favorite trees. But I'm really here to talk story of the pics of the orchids above. I had the chance to attend the Kona Mothers Day Orchid show. Orchids grow exceptionally well here. I have some out in the yard that came with the place and I buy and replace more when I see unusual ones. The bloom last months, so they sure are fun to have around as they seem to bloom year around whenever they feel like it. Good for me they take little care, little water and low lumens of light. I leave them alone and they surprise me with beautiful blooms. I only brought one home but had to photograph some of the rest. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Then go to www.ronskonacoffee.blogspot.com to see the pics of our gorgeous ripening coffee trees.

Correction

http://www.ronskonacoffee.blogspot.com/

New blog

We did get out website updated and were able to add a blog to it. The new blog name is http://ronskonacoffee.blogspot.com. The blog can be reached by going to our website www.konalisacoffee.com. It is listed below the picture header on every page. You can also just type it in and go directly to it. Some current postings are already there with more to come. It's also listed below our signatures in our emails.

Catching Up

Just got reminded that I haven't blogged in 6 weeks. I knew that and here's whats been going on. Besides working on our website and introducing myself to Facebook, then adding Kona Lisa Coffee.com to Facebook, getting my computer updated, fixed and deletd of all it's rubbish and finally getting a new flat screen 20in monitor, updating tax info, Faxing tax info; well that's where I am as far as the office goes. Seems like we have been eating out way more that usual. There is a wine tasting Sunday every week at Jackie Reys resturant which we take in occasionally with 4 other friends and then do dinner. Went with Ro, Tom, Marci & Chuck to Holualoa Cafe, and did a Red Hat event at Akoni's on the beach. Drove in with my neighbor Cheryl to that RH event in her gleaming orangish Corvette convertible. She broke the speed limit all the way there and back. Hard not to do that in a Vette. She added a bit a trivia on our ride home. While her brother was here and driving the Vette he happened to count all the curves riding the pali back to our neighborhood. He told her there are 61 and I have meant to count them myself eversince, but there is so much to see and look out for on the way I haven't remembered yet. I live at least a mile plus past her place and there are at lease 14 more curves to my driveway. So just remember when you come to visit us that the last four miles consist of 75 curves and they are all fun and scenic.
Last week I hulied while out in Keauhou Bay with a 6 man outrigger crew. I knew it was a bit choppy, but was with a great steersman and crew. Our stroker mentioned the ama was bouncing and before we knew it over we went and I was swimming collecting paddles. Bruce our steersman had the rest of the crew take their spots and flipped the canoe back the first time and then the bailing started. Another canoe came over to check on us and gave us an extra bailer. We got 'er bailed out and all back in ready to paddle. I found out later that if this happens in a race, you have only 7 minutes to do all this, and be back in the race paddling or you are disqualified.
Been working with Mark on having some T-shirts screen printed. They are done and shipped but not here yet. I plan on posting some pic's either here or on Facebook and probably on our website when they come. Today I worked on Kona Lisa Coffee.com as a Facebook profile and it is up. I posted pics there already. Become a fan and comment on the coffee when you can.
Ron had been pruning the coffee trees since the picking season ended and I believe he is finished. He was worried about the trees getting stressed as we hadn't had any rain in awhile. I don't dare tell the rest of the island as ever since he complained we have had three strait days of rain. Those coffee trees sure look good though. And we will probably get another blossom as they always blossom in the winter after a good rain.
At our KCFA.org yearly meeting I was asked/drafted to be on the board and voted in. Then I was asked/drafted to be this years Secretary. I declined so they could get a real secretary on board. Well no one stepped up and quess what!! This months meeting I have to submit my first set of notes. I am the first one to admit that I am a terrible secretary but after this post I will be putting notes together to submit to the board online before our next meeting. I've already procrastinated too long.
One of the things we may do with our website is add a blog there. So I may be ending this blog soon and blogging on our website in the future. Will let you know and send a link to access the new blog when that happens.
I sure can't keep up with 2 blogs as may secretarial duties may diminish if I tried. All that won't happen until we take a rest. On April 4 we are taking a week off to visit San Francisco, Santa Rosa, California and the Sonoma/Napa wine country. We decided to spend our 32nd wedding anniversary doing something else besides coffee.

This week in pictures

I promised pics and they follow this blog. Winter flowers shine now as the vog has cleared and we are getting some awesome sunsets too. Take a look below.

I got the opportunity to go swimming with some neighbors this week and was taken to some new sights. We first headed to Kealakakua Bay to see if the dolphins were in. Not then so we mosied over to Mehnini Beach and they showed me how to follow the opening in the sand in high tide and float past the coral out into the bay. We swam past big schools of fish and I even saw a new fish. Green and black with a yellow eye and a long narrow body. Then we swam out to a pair of underwater arches. John showed his expertise and dove under them. Pretty good job as they are a good 25 feet down. Clear as a bell to watch though. When we headed in Ron met us at the beach and said he had rode his bike over to Honounou and said the dolphins were in there. The dolphins had decided to put on a show for the tourists that day and left us locasl to play alone.

If you are hearing the news, yes Oahu is getting pounded with wind. We luckily have not had any of it. The surf has been high and the surfers are lovin' it but no wind. And we are getting beautiful winter sunny days. Comparing Honolulu on Oahu with our weather here would be like comparing Knoxville to Memphis or Pontiac to Mackinaw. It's hardly ever the same is it??

Soon I will be working on a complete overhaul of our website. Will blog about it when i get time. I find that our current website is way to slow, but I did get an order from Norway the other day. But I get more calls about how slow it is, so time to change things.

So far we have send our coffee to 6 foriegn countries, Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy & Norway and to 24 states. With any luck a new website may attract hits from all 50 states.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Been Busy

Yes, I really have wanted to blog. Then there is ocean jogging, coffee packaging, Red Hat lunches, yoga, paddling and answering emails. Yes, I'm trying to get to all your emails and answer them personally. It will happen, I promise. Meanwhile, I am getting crabby emails from my children asking why I don't call them back. I do, it just takes a little longer these days.
Today was a gorgeous day, Halemaumau has lightened up and vog had decreased and so has the rain. Now we are in the dryer season, whales are here; we see them from our lanai, picking is done. And next year we will take our little Christmas trip after Christmas instead of before. I think that is what put me behind. We went for 5 days to Honolulu before Christmas, what was I thinking??
We have been having some different and interesting flowers blooming lately. Will try to take a few pics and post this weekend. Our kitten, Little Lisa, is growing and is quite a pal to Toonces. Will do pics of them too.
Just so you know I do miss Knoxville. Can't explain why, but I do. Jackie visited with Sheila over the holidays and loved it there. Made me kind of nostalgic! Well, I gotta go and answer those emails. So you guessed it, if you want any more info on what's going on here do send an email. I love hearing from you and you will get an answer,,,,,,,eventually.