INN HAWAI`I

When we built our inn it was always our intention to someday have our own garden.  We thought constantly about what we would like to grow to serve our guests but kept running short of time and energy at the end of the day in order to get it going. We tried to jump start our garden, hiring helpers to frame our old concrete forms of 10 x 12′s – raising them above ground  and adding screens for drainage.  When push came to shove, our “garden” waited patiently for their time to come. They sat waiting above ground at the back of the property for some time before we finally got help to get it going.

We support our local farmers at our Na’alehu Farmer’s Market.  We get an incredible amount of veggies and fruits very close to home.   There is an abundance of other produce, eggs, even local beef,  from our area.  But there is something special about saying to your guests that the herbs in their omelet is from your own garden.  It is also amazing how rewarding it is to walk to the garden to gather greens for a salad or a stir-fry for dinner and the pleasure you get from garden to kitchen to nourishment.

One of our farmer’s from our Farmer’s Market helped mixed the soil, label, and plant the first seeds for our garden.  She also labeled our first crop and then said, “You should be seeing some shoots coming up in about a week”.  And from that little helper we were on our way.  We now go out to the  garden daily to water, weed, and collect whatever is ready to be harvested.

We also bought a tumbler composter and we were given  some worms to help us make vermipost.   We make an incredible amount of food scraps from papayas, bananas,  mangoes, eggshells, coffee grounds, and all other sorts of organic matter.  Now we toss it all in to a bucket and take it daily to the compost bin.

It has been about a month now, since we started our garden and compost and as we continue, it has become a part of our daily routine to take the days food scraps and pay a visit to the garden.  The compost bin is rotated at least once when we add to the compost and we continue to plant new things as vegetables mature, seed, or flower.

Our most favorite part is weeding because all you have to do is walk along the boxes and you can pull out whatever unwanted weeds you see without having to bend over.   It is so easy.

In a few months we’ll check out our compost and will have to decide what to do with our very rich compost.  I’m hoping a few trees and some beautiful gardenias or pikake (jasmine).

A few months ago, we hosted a Vegas Night fundraiser to raise money for the local Ka’u Hospital.  We organized a system where  guests could donate cash for chips in order to play black jack, roulette, and craps.  All donations went to the hospital and by the end of the evening, they made a generous donation of a $1000 to the hospital.  In doing so, they in turn, learned how to to play the games, as many of them were typically slot machine and one-armed bandit casino game players. They were able to use the chips they won to bid on door prizes that were donated that included gift certificates to restaurants, coffee, lodging at the inn, honey, etc.

We make the effort to support our community however we can.  We buy our local produce from our farmer’s market, we serve 100% Ka’u coffee from our coffee farmers, we get honey from our neighborhood bee apiarist, and mango in season from South Kona.  We send our guests to the areas restaurants, we ask our guests to hike in to areas to minimize erosion, and we make contributions to support events and organizations in our area.

Mapulehu mangos from Na'alehu

What entails is a network of support that builds on relationships.  If you have oranges this week, “great!, let’s have some of them; and if it’s red potatoes next week, terrific!, how about saving me some for then.

Back to the fish.

A couple months later, one of the gentlemen who helped support the Vegas Night at the inn wants to borrow the felt cloths, playing cards, roulette, and the 5-deck shoe,  He and a few friends and family want to duplicate what we did just for fun.  They are regular visitors to Las Vegas and this will be a play for chips only affair.

Their weekend is a lot of fun – as expected,  and after a few days he calls to say he’d like to return the items he borrowed.

Upon leaving he says, “Would you like some menpachi?”   For those who may not know,  menpachi is a Japanese name for what is referred to as a soldierfish or a squirrel fish.  The Hawaiian name is ‘U’u and it is usually caught at night.  They are not a very big fish but they are very delicious.  

One is expected to use your hands to eat this fish, as it can be bony, yet very tasty.

So this is how being a part of the community brought us some very ‘ono fish.  We may have had to brush up on our fish cleaning skills to cook these, but playing black jack or shooting craps will continue to remind me of fish for quite some time.  And there you have it, that is how giving to your community can bring unexpected returns like fish.

December brings our fourth weaving workshop for 2009.  Slated for December 4th through the 7th, this group will combine the creative and nimble fingers of intermediate and advanced lau hala weavers with beginners.  We will have four kumu (teachers) to support those who need assistance.  They will be available to teach haumana (students) how to prepare the hala – clean, soften, de-thorn, and strip. They will also be on hand for those intermediate and advanced weavers for specific questions or for ideas on how to accomplish a weave-specific idea.

In the spirit of the holidays, we will focus on making Christmas ornaments for the tree or small gifts for giveaway and stocking stuffers.  Some of the things that we will be able to make may include, turtles, fish, Christmas trees, crosses, balls, boxes, reindeers, and angels.

For those who prefer to just share some quality weaving time  with projects of their own, you are very welcome to do so.  After all, all that energy can be contagious.  So feel free to join us just to weave amongst the camaraderie.

Space is limited, and we are a few months away.  A great time is always the primary focus.   We have a few remaining slots we expect to fill easily.  The weaving weekend is based on a per person rate for a three day inclusive stay with shared accommodations.  $333.90 call Kalaekilohana (808) 939-8052 or visit our website at www.kau-hawaii.com

September brings the lovely ladies (and a couple men) to Kalaekilohana for Ulana Na’auao again.  This time around, the group of kumu have added an additional day to their weekend getaway.  Instead of three days, they decided their time at Kalaekilohana was too short and extended it to four days.  That means their will be more time to share fellowshop, complete more projects, and perhaps get a facial or a lomilomi (massage) from Michelle Wall-O’Conner or Tami Patton.

It has been happening every six months when the (mostly) ladies descend upon Kalaekilohana and simply, relax and weave.  The weekend getaways are now in their third year and have continued to be popular.  There is a “list” of those who have made it to Ka’u nearly every time but there has also been enough new faces to the group to keep the mix fresh.   There are visits too from family and friends and lots of camaraderie in the evenings.  Some head to Naalehu on Saturday mornings to the Farmer’s Market and some choose to do very little.  It’s all good!

Accommodations are shared typically 3 – 5 in our spacious suites and at times take on an air of girls night out and there is far too-much laughter going on.

All interested kumu (teachers) are expected to come prepared with projects to work on independently.  This retreat started as a way to allow kumu the time to share with each other and relax.  It is a great weekend to weave amongst peers.   Occasionally, weeks later, a strip of dried lau hala is found under a seat cushion – a pleasant reminder of the fun had by everyone.

September 10-14, 2009