What makes Kauai Products so special? First of all, these items are handcrafted by artisans, chefs, musicians and authors right here on Kauai. Many use materials that are found on the Garden Island including agricultural products like fresh fruits and flowers, koa wood, seeds, seashells, beach glass, and sand. Kauai products incorporate the flavors, scents and feelings of Kauai into their products. When you buy a Kauai product, you are not getting just another plastic hula girl or shot glass made in China, instead these items are made by Kauai residents giving you the true essence of Kauai. Not only that, but by buying Kauai products, you are supporting the local economy.

With the holidays officially upon us, Kauai products make perfect gifts. A wide variety of diverse Kauai merchandise is now available in local stores all over Kauai and on-line.

Art, Publications and Music

Did you know that there are dozens of talented authors, artists and musicians that live right here on Kauai. Children’s Author, Monika Mira offers you The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book to inspire your children to learn all about the Hawaiian Reef and Susan Dierker offers a playfully illustrated story about Knuckles the Hound of Hanalei and his adventure coming home from the Humane Society. Pam Brown offers Kauai Stories, a delightful collection of humorous and inspiring stories about life on Kauai. Patrice Pendarvis Studio offers a collection of beautiful paintings that encompass the essence of old Kauai. There are also dozens of publications that you may pick up on Kauai that participate in this program.

Food and Floral

If you are looking to create the ultimate care package look no further. Papalani Gelato offers a variety of delicious treats made right here on Kauai using the finest of fresh Kauai flavors. Aunty Lilikoi offers a delicious array of passion fruit jelly, syrup, mustard and treats. Salty Wahine specializes in gourmet Hawaiian sea salts and seasonings. Lotus Fudge offers organic and sustainable mac nut butters, truffles and gluten-free fudge. Hula Baby Bakery specializes in handcrafted biscotti and granola with island flavors. The Aloha Spice Company creates delightful rubs, seasonings and organic herbs. Hippie Café offers amazing gluten-free vegan baked goods. Kauai Coffee grows and roasts rich Hawaiian coffee right on the slopes of Kalaheo and Nani Moon Mead is the only producer of honey wines in Hawaii .

Apparel Jewelry and Accessories

Cane Field Clothing has a nice selection of Kauai made jewelry and accessories. Keiki Covers creates adorable children’s clothing with Hawaiian flair. A ell designs offers custom wedding dresses, but also specializes in clothing that uses natural fibers like bamboo and hemp to create designs that are perfect for island living. KaiKini offers quick-drying swimwear with bright, bold colors and flattering cuts that are all sewn locally. Mailelani’s handcrafts beautiful purses, bags, and table linens from colorful Hawaiian designs. Kauai Carver offers Keoni’s Durant’s handcrafted tikis, fish hook pendants, and natural-edge bowls can be found in the homes of private collectors, on hotel properties and movie sets, and in galleries throughout Hawaii.

Health and Beauty

Shinil Candle & Soap  and Island Soap and Candle offers high quality, handcrafted soy candles, olive oil soaps, and lip balms. Ertha found at The Beauty Shop offers luxurious organic and vegan bath and body products like sea salt scrubs, body oil and foaming hand soap and Cloud 9 Hawaii makes organic skin care and sun care products.

There are dozens of stores around the island that now specialize in carrying Kauai Products. Some of these include: the Kokee Natural History Museum, Talk Story Books, the Aloha Spice Company, Kauai Coffee, and Banana Patch Studio on the West Side, Big Save Markets, Sueoka Store,and Living Foods on the South Shore, Kauai Plantation Railway Depot, Hilo Hattie, Kauai Museum and Times supermarket in Lihue, Divine Planet, Big Save Market on the East Side,  Aloha from Hanalei, Tahitian Goddess and Hanalei Dolphin on the North Shore.

Don’t forget to check back often on Kauai.com and follow us on Facebook for the latest this season when you are looking to send gifts with the spirit of Aloha.

Looking for a fun and educational experience for you and your family today? Arbor Day Kauai Tree Giveaway will be happening this Saturday November 3rd at Kukui Grove from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 pm behind Kmart. Native plants including:  `a`ali`i, alahe`e, koki`o ke`oke`o, munroidendron, maile, naio, nanu, `ohe, `ōhi`a lehua and pohinahina, as well as papaya, mountain apple, ti plants and more. An addition to this years event  educational booths and giveaways sponsored by local Kauai conservation groups will be there to answer questions and share plant facts. Take part in listening to the educators, ask questions and earn stamps toward additional free trees. The event takes place until all the 2,000 trees find a good home.

This event is made possible by Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program and the County of Kauai, National Tropical Botanical Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development, Inc., Kauai Landscaping Industry Council, Kauai Invasive Species Committee, The Kauai Outdoor Circle, Kauai Nursery & Landscaping, Alaka`i Landscaping, the Grand Hyatt, Garden Island Growers, and members of the Kauai Native Plant Society. For more information please call 821-1490 or e-mail kgunder@hawaii.edu.

 

Kolea, as they are known in Hawaii, spend their summers in Alaska foraging, mating, building a nest and waiting for their chicks to hatch. But, as the season begins to change, these small birds (weighing merely a half pound) begin to bulk up on food in order to gain enough weight to sustain them on the long journey from Alaska to Hawaii. Amazingly, these territorial birds will return to the same patch of grass every year, vehemently defending it if necessary.

Just a few days after their chicks hatch, they will leave them to fend for themselves, flying nonstop for over 70 hours, and traveling at sustained speeds of up to 70mph. When they arrive in Hawaii, they will have lost about half of their body weight, and will begin foraging once again.

The Polynesians were known to have had an intimate relationship with the Kolea. It has been speculated that the Hawaiians may have even discovered their islands by following the migration patterns of the golden plover. It was these ancient mariners, that followed the clues that nature left for them: wind and wave patterns, the position of the stars, the presence of seabirds, their timing and the direction that they flew.

Even the naturalists aboard Captain Cook’s vessel noted the presences of the Golden plover in Tahiti, but the Tahitians informed Cook’s crew that these birds did not nest in the islands, but instead flew north each spring. If they flew north each spring to nest, Cook speculated that their nesting grounds might just lie in the “Great Southern Continent” that they were seeking. His crew would come across these same birds a decade late, in their search for the Northern Passage.

The Kolea’s flight is nothing less than miraculous and to think that they come back to the same patch of grass year after year. What is even more amazing than the adult plover’s journey is that the chicks, who have never been to Hawaii before, begin to appear in October after they have had time to plump up. Since the Kolea is territorial, those that cannot establish a territory in Hawaii, will rest and take on another amazing journey to Australia, New Zealand and other islands in the South Pacific.

The Golden Plovers arrive in Hawaii sporting full mating plumage, which will fade over the winter when they molt. Near the ending of winter, they will molt again and their mating plumage will return. They will also begin to bulk up once more for their spring migration back to Alaska. By the end of April, they will be gone. This will once again mark the changing of the season.

Sources and suggested reading:

Kolea Watch: http://www.hawaiinaturecenter.org/koleawatch.html

Leskiw, Tom. The Discovery of the Hawaiian Islands: A Case of Human-Bird Mutualism. 2006.

Scott, Susan. “Returning kolea mark coming of isles’ winter,” Ocean Watch, Honolulu Star Advertiser. August 19, 2009.

Shapiro, Michael. “Flight of the Navigators,” Hana Hou Magazine. Vol. 7, No. 6, December 2004/January 2005.

Today marks the twenty year anniversary of Hurricane Iniki. Winds in excess of 150 mph trampled our island home giving new meaning to the Hawaiian word Iniki, strong and piercing winds.

The winds and rain came. They destroyed our homes, shook our core and altered our island lifestyle. But as soon as the morning after, Kauai we would be reminded of our islands beauty. An ominous full moon would sit above Mount Waialeale and give us our only light, a glow of purple, Kauai’s color. Hurricane Iniki robbed us of so much, but what it didn’t take was our resilience, our community and our Aloha Spirit.