End O' Summer Special #2

Aloha Folks.......

That time of year again, facing the wind down of summer fun, (aahh, already?!). However, this is a nice time of year to visit Maui. Despite our dry months, the air is fresh, the trade winds blowing, with fluffy white clouds in a deep blue sky.

My hens starting laying for the first time this morning, and I look forward to having local, fresh eggs to offer to guests for breakfast (is this a strange thing to feel proud of?). I don't think they could get any more local or fresh...

I did try having ducks, but they were pretty quacky a bit too early for me. I love hearing the birds singing as the day breaks, there are lots and lots of birds here. The ducks were drowning out every body else, so they moved on to a large gathering of wayward ducks on a big property in Haiku. They look pretty happy with a crew of friends now.

Sunset last night found me picking papayas all around the property. My arms were full of sunrise papayas as the day was ending. A nice feeling of contenment and gratitude to close the day.

I've decided to post a End O' Summer Special again... I am offering a 15% discount (! wow, the prices were low already) for anybody booking a stay at the Hale Hookipa for the August 15 to Sept 15 time period.

It's a bit quieter out and about, and really a super time of year in the islands. I have to ask myself here, when is not a super time of the year in the islands? Well, specials like this may just make the difference in waiting or booking now. So, limber up your fingers and drop me a line, or pick up the phone for some friendly Aloha, and a super deal. As always, I am happy to help with your plans while on our beautiful island. Folks usually like my suggestions for places to eat and things to do.

It's a beautiful Friday, and I am going to put some greens in the garden today, and maybe an afternoon stroll on the north shore with my dog Annie. She needs to chase rocks and seaweed at least three times a week, and we are due.

Life is good.....sending out Aloha worldwide.

See you in paradise soon.

Cherie

Foraging on the slopes of Hualalai

Aloha and Happy Holidays!

My family loves to work with our hands, and the holidays really put us in the mood. My daughter and I went foraging up the slopes of Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii recently.

We brought our clippers and containers, and found spots where we could trim to make our holiday wreaths. It may look like scrub to the untrained eye, but to us, it's a gold mine of scrappy native shrubs who will benefit form a little haircut.

We found ohelo berries, several varieties of lichen, dried branches, Christmas berries, and grasses. I also clipped palm berries and hydrangeas from her yard to give my wreathes some more vibrant color.

She had the blanks, and I had purchased florist pins to make the job much easier. We wrapped the blanks with ti leaf and raffia first to give the base a finished look. Then we spread out all the goods on the picnic table and got busy. It was so much fun. The kids jumped in and found that they liked gold glitter as well. Everybody's personalities came out in their wreaths. My daughter's were so beautiful, and perfect, all the berries and similar plants were grouped together. Mine were a bit on the wild side, with a lot of co-mingling going on.

It was a blast, a great way to spend time together. After all, that is what the holidays are about.

Ask my kids what their most memorable Christmas was, and they all will say, "It was the year we painted rocks for each other."

From my heart to yours, warm wishes filled with love, aloha and family during the holiday season.!!!

SnowBird Special

Aloha from Beautiful Upcountry,

Check out this morning's sunrise over Haleakala. On my way across the yard to make breakfast this morning, I did a double take on the sky, and turned back around to grab my camera. There was a Kona storm brewing, and the sunrise was spectacular. The quality of light in Hawaii is every artists dream. The natural beauty of upcountry is truly inspirational.

This past week I have had three sets of guests from Alaska. I shivered when I listened to their stories of extreme weather. Yikes, I am definitely a fair weather bird at this point in life. They oohhed and aahhed over my breakfasts all week. I served fresh banana, the sweetest you've ever tried, and the season's first Cherimoyas, and of course, loads of lilikoi, passion fruit. All this luscious bounty is from my garden.

My guests mentioned that Alaska Airlines is now offering more flights to Maui. In celebration of this, I am offering a discount to all snowbirds who book their accommodations before Christmas Day. Tell me how cold it is where you live, and I will give you an 8% discount off the price of your room before tax...that will certainly get you some great fish lunches at my favorite, Paia Fish Market. These folks prepare a perfect mahi-mahi plate. Take it from me, an old Kona fisherperson(!?) who prepared fish dishes for my family 7 days a week. "Ono", as we say (delicious).

So, hang up your winter coats, dig out your rubber slippers, and book a flight to Maui!

A hui ho, see you soon!