Rice in Hawaii

Harvesting Rice, c.1920 by an unknown photographer

Photograph from our Vintage Hawaiiana collection. Enjoy!

As per Karol Haraguchi's Rice in Hawaii, A Guide to Historical Resources, 1987:

From approximately the mid-1860s, when the whaling industry's domination of Hawaii's economy ended, until the 1920s, when the production of rice in California began to overtake that of Hawaii, rice was second in value and acreage only to sugar in the Hawaiian Islands. The islands of Kauai and Oahu proved most suited to rice cultivation because of their abundance of water. The Hanalei Valley of Kauai led all other single geographic units in the amount of acreage planted in rice. The valley was one of the first areas converted to this use and continued to produce well into the 1960s.

... Today there is no trace of the rice fields which once existed in the Islands. The only reminder of a once great industry stands in the heart of Hanalei Valley, where the restored Haraguchi Rice Mill captures for future generations the history of Hawaii's rice industry and the people who created it.

I Will Wait For You My Friend

YouTube video posted by mercutioa1964

Here's Seabird by Jerry Santos and Olomana, from the 1976 album Like a Seabird in the Wind. This song is all you need to hear after an especially stressful day. It puts everything into perspective.

PBS: Violent Hawaii

Here's a link to the full episode of NATURE's Violent Hawaii, a fascinating PBS video directed by Kevin Bachar and Paul Atkins.

As per PBS.org:

"The Hawaiian chain of islands, made up of six main islands plus two smaller ones, stretches for more than 1,500 miles through the heart of the Pacific Ocean. It is a place of idyllic beauty. But it is also a land of volcanic fury, raging mountaintop blizzards, dangerous rockslides, monster waves, and even tsunamis."

"NATURE's Violent Hawaii reveals a tropical paradise shaped by the most brutal forces of the natural world."

The Future Begins Now

As reported by the AP on October 19, 2009, the state of Hawaii (under a new union contract approved by 81 percent of voting teachers) will be closing its public schools "on most Fridays for the remainder of the academic calendar."

"The cuts are occurring in a Hawaii public education system that's already ranked 47th in the nation in eighth-grade reading and math, according to 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores."

. . . . . . . .

On the other hand though ... as reported by Gardiner Harris of the New York Times, if you scoop ice cream at a Haagen-Dazs in the islands or wait tables at a restaurant on Waikiki Beach, your health care will more than likely be paid for by your employer.

"Since 1974, Hawaii has required all employers to provide relatively generous health care benefits to any employee who works 20 hours a week or more."  

Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii

YouTube video posted by Sunstudios54

As reported by the Associated Press, "a clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head" sold for $15,000 this past weekend at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Wow!

For the Elvis fans out there with more down-to-earth resources, here's The King singing his hit song Can't Help Falling in Love from the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii (shot on location on Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii). Elvis Presley stars as the young Chad Gates and a beautiful Joan Blackman stars as his love Maile Duval. Keep an eye out for special appearances by Angela Lansbury and Hilo Hattie in Elvis' biggest commercial film success. There's something fun and nostalgic about looking back ... and romantics everywhere still remember the film's colorful wedding scene finale shot at the famous Coco Palms Resort on Kauai, where Elvis sings his version of the Hawaiian Wedding Song.

Maui - Best Island In The World

Kamaole Beach I, Kihei, Maui

photograph by Anna Tan

It's official. As reported this morning in the Maui News, readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine have selected Maui, Hawaii as the Best Island in the World for a record 15th year (out of 22 years of opinion polls). Maui - The Valley Isle was also awarded Best Pacific Island by the readership for the 19th consecutive year. 

Iao Valley, Wailuku, Maui

photograph by Anna Tan

"The Pacific Ocean is the ratings powerhouse. Of ten islands that score above 80, seven are Oceania and four are Hawaiian led - as usual, by Maui," Conde Nast Traveler reported.

Maui is truly no ka 'oi (the best)!

Saint Damien of Molokai

Father Damien statue at St. Joseph Church, 

Kamalo, Molokai, photograph by Anna Tan

As reported by Mary Vorsino in the Honolulu Advertiser, Father Damien de Veuster, born Jozef (Joseph) de Veuster, was formally elevated to sainthood today by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. 

Saint Damien selflessly devoted his life to serving those afflicted with Hansen's disease (aka leprosy) at Molokai's infamous Kalaupapa Settlement from 1873 to 1889. He died on April 15, 1889, having contracted the disease himself. 

Father Damien the day before his death, Kalaupapa, Molokai, 1889

"The political and journalistic world can boast of very few heroes who compare with Father Damien of Molokai. ... It is worthwhile to look for the source of such heroism." - Mahatma Gandhi

Father Damien's grave at St. Philomena Church, 

Kalawao, Molokai, photograph by Anna Tan

"Father Damien challenged the stigmatizing effects of the disease, giving voice to the voiceless and ultimately sacrificing his own life to bring dignity to so many. In our own time as millions around the world suffer from disease, especially the pandemic of HIV / AIDS, we should draw on the example of Father Damien's resolve in answering the urgent call to heal and care for the sick." - President Barack Obama