Besides its distinctive aroma, lavender boasts time-proven health, beauty and culinary value; its use has been well documented for some 2,500 years. The Maui Book of Lavender, a new lavender-scented release from Watermark Publishing, traces the herb’s historic uses in Hawai‘i and abroad, as it unveils the unique agribusiness story of Maui’s Ali‘i Kula Lavender.
A scenic farm with a diverse crop and product line, Ali‘i Kula Lavender perches high on the slopes of Haleakalā, where lavender plants stretch across the hillside in a sea of purple, green and silver. A dry, sunny region on the volcano’s leeward flank, Kula is an ideal place for growing lavender—a drought-resistant plant that requires rich soil, full sun and well-drained southwest-facing slopes.
Stunning photography and useful information on lavender crafts and home uses, as well as 40 recipes incorporating lavender, make this hardcover book a treasure for gardeners, home crafters, cooks and anyone else who appreciates a little lavender in their life.
Read the rest of this entry »I was a kid in the 40’s and 50’s, a time when it still was not cool to be Hawaiian. Kamehameha, my school from seventh through twelfth grade, even though instituted for Hawaiian children, sought to make us thoroughly American. Which I was. Except for those “aboriginal twinges” and a gaping hole in my heart. I consciously—and self-consciously—pursued article assignments to learn about being Hawaiian as well as to write about specific topics. I learned about hula, heiau, the Hawaiian diet. I spent three days on Kaho‘olawe during January Makahiki ceremonies, addressed a personal health problem through lomilomi, sailed for an afternoon on the voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a. Eventually I came to know dozens of people in the Hawaiian community. They all welcomed me, especially after I learned to approach any Hawaiian by placing myself in my family, school, and community. I think it is today’s version of what some have told me was the ancient recitation of genealogy between strangers until they came to a point of commonality. Never mind the journalism degrees and writing achievements. I am the younger Pierre Bowman’s older sister, Uncle Wright’s niece, Scotty’s cousin. I am KS ’58. I am Kailua, O‘ahu. Now we can talk.
offers a wealth of information and inspiration for this time of unprecedented change. You’ll discover valuable tools for navigating many interconnected realms of energy: astrology, Feng Shui, spirituality, metaphysics, Universal Laws, vibrational space dynamics, and human consciousness…
Read the rest of this entry »
Follow us on Twitter
Fan us on Facebook
