Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A New Years Greeting and Poem


Another fresh new year is here . . .



Another year to live!


To banish worry, doubt, and fear,


To love and laugh and give!






This bright new year is given me


To live each day with zest . . .


To daily grow and try to be


My highest and my best!






I have the opportunity


Once more to right some wrongs,


To pray for peace, to plant a tree,


And sing more joyful songs!”
William Arthur Ward





Happy New Years to everyone, aloha!

Noel

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Cookie Exchange + Night Christmas Parade, yes Please




Whats not to like when you combine a Christmas cookie exchange party with some close friends and a night time Christmas Parade in Keaau Hawaii. Everyone in our international cooking group set up some pop-ups and some really amazing cookie treats to take home for the holidays while enjoying some night holiday cheer.

Here are some of the highlights

This old pickup and tree just starts of the parade right!




Whats a parade without old roadsters and revving up the engines!




Now I know what happens to naughty kids that are not sooo nice all year long.




All the big boy trucks where out on Parade tonight, including their tractors too!










Now here are the Christmas Treats....help yourself please...













Thanks for joining the party, hey there's still alot of cookies left over - take the whole thing please!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Aloha Friday, Lets Take a Walk Around Hilo Bay.




Aloha,




My friend Devany (A fantastic food blogger) and I take regular walks around the Hilo bay front early in the morning. Your welcome to join us if you feel like seeing some of the bay this morning and doing some brisk walking, I promise it will be a great walk.


Here's where we usually start along the bay front. This is where all the canoe clubs in Hilo keep their large canoes so the teams can practise along the bay, its a big sport here.










Its a very pretty warm day today and just a few clouds in the sky.




 We cross a few bridges along our hike and even go to a little island off the point called Coconut Island and of course its filled with coconut trees.










Aren't the views here beautiful? Everyone seems to be out on the water today.













There's a large schooner that just came into the bay a few days ago and makes a striking contrast to the mountains.







I love walking pass these dramatic autograph trees everytime we pass by Coconut Island.





 

I know they have alot of old stories to tell, please tell me?





We also walk next to this beautiful Japanese Garden adjoining the bay front, its really beautiful at different times of the day. I'll have to do a separate post on this park soon!








Well we usually do our two laps around the park and Coconut Island so time to head on back to our cars...alot of shopping to do at the Hilo Farmers Market this morning also.


Thanks for joining us on our walk, it was fun!






















Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Farmers Market Time, Lets Try Some Exotic Fruit

I'm traveling to another local farmers market in Hilo Town on the Big Island to explore and taste some of our more exotic fruits that we have to offer on the Island. There are alot of fruit growers on the island and the farmers market here in Hilo is the largest. It is open seven days a week, but it is the most active on Wednesdays and Saturdays when they also have the adjoining facility open for tourist gifts and other local handi-crafts.


Here are some of the more exotic and not so unusual fruits we currently have in season.


Come and try this Mamey Sapote, it has red flesh with creamy and sometimes grainy texture that tastes like bananas and yogurt combined, very subtle flavors.




This is a Rambutan fruit which grows in clusters and is a similar fruit to the lychee. The fruit tastes like a more flavorful lychee and has a flowery aroma.





Oh, you should try this one, its one of my favorites called a atemoya, doesn't it look scaly and daunting. The flesh is very creamy and tastes like a pineapple, guava and banana combination, and its smells heavenly.




Here's another favorite of mine called Rollinias, the flesh is white and soft custardy. A combination tast of guava, banana and passion fruit.




Have you ever seen this fruit? Its called an egg fruit, boy the flavors on this one are a little bit harder to describe, kind of like a combination of a plum and papaya


Here's another unusual fruit that is in season called an abiu, it has a large seed and the flesh is white and creamy, again a mix of plum and pineapple flavors.







Oh, we get alot of fruit from this tree when its in season, its called a star fruit and most restaurants use this typically as a garnish because it cuts up perfectly into a start shape, the fruit is pretty mellow, like a crunchy apple



Wow, that was a lot to sample, wasn't that great, now you know what to pick up on your own when you come over to visit the farmers market in Hilo Town, aloha.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Here's Wishing for a Warmer Holiday Season.







It seems to be cold and icy wind conditions are making daily activities very uncomfortable and even difficult, from what I'm hearing friends and family are saying about the frigid winter weather across a large segment of the mainland from the west coast to the east.


Here's to wishing you warm thoughs from our Islands to give you some respite from the icy temperatures, at least through a virtual tropical experience with some beautiful tropical flora.

Enjoy our warm water and beaches..


















Thursday, December 10, 2009

My Christmas Decorations for This Year!








I'm keeping it pretty simple as far as christmas decorations this season since I'll be going back to the mainland to visit family and friends during the holidays.



While I was at the farmers market in Hilo, I justed picked up this nice simple christmas bouquet for only $4.00, it will make a nice centerpiece to a simple lunch I'm doing for some Ohana (close friends) this weekend.


Now, take a look at a video I was watching last night of what some people do thats over the top outdoor christmas decorating and music combined....enjoy

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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