Photo Credit: artbrokerage.com

Mo'olelo: Laie

Near the water hole in Malaekahana, between Laie and Kahuku, lived a man called Mano niho kahi.  He wasn’t an ordinary man, he had the ability to turn himself into a shark.  While around other people, Mano niho kahi always wore a piece of tapa which concealed the shark’s mouth on his back.  Whenever he saw women getting ready to go to the sea to fish he would ask them where they were going.  If they replied that they were going to the ocean he would quickly run to the sea taking a secret tunnel made from a lava tube to ensure he would get there first, where he would then come upon them, turn into a shark, and eat them.  Over time many women were killed and finally the chief of the region had enough. With his Kahuna, the chief commanded all of his people to stand on a plane and disrobe; all obeyed but Mano niho kahi.  The kahuna walked up to him and pulled off the tapa revealing the shark’s mouth.  Before he could move, the chief throws a spear instantly killing Mano niho kahi.

5 types of lizards you might spot in or around your home

If you live in Hawaii it’s inevitable that you’ll find a lizard or two in your home at some point.  While some people prefer to not have them around, Others don’t seem to mind keeping them close as they’re known to eat any insects that may find their way into your home.  Here is a list of the 5 most common types of lizards you may find in or around your home.

Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

The Common House Gecko is one of the most common geckos you can find in your home. These geckos are transparent looking and known to hunt mainly at night.  It’s believed that they found their way to Hawaii through cargo ships in the early 1800s. These lizards are not poisonous and feed mainly on fruit flies and other small insects.

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Photo Credit: inaturalist.org

The Green Anole was first introduced in the 1950’s due to a rapid increase in demand in the pet trade.  These lizards are most commonly found sunbathing on rocks or scavenging for food in gardens.  While they are not poisonous they are known to bite if you manage to get a hold of one.  These are great lizards to keep around as they feed mainly on spiders, flies, crickets, and other small insects.

Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)

Photo Credit: wikimedia.org/

The Brown Anole isn’t known to be a picky eater, it eats just about anything it finds; sometimes including other lizards.  While found mostly outside, you can notice these lizards from a distance as the skin under their neck (called a dewlap) is bright red.  These lizards use their dewlap mainly to distinguish themselves by the colors they use and patterns of display that they show.

Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda)

Photo Credit: bioweb.uwlax.edu

The Gold Dust Day Gecko more commonly known as a “Madagascar lizard” is known for it’s green color with bright orange markings on it’s face and back.  While often found in or around your home these geckos eat a verity of food including spiders, small insects, fruit, nectar, and even other lizards (when they’re hungry enough).  It’s suspected that the Gold Dust Day Gecko found it’s way to Hawaii through plants in the 1980’s and has become a permanent resident ever since.

Jackson's Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii)

Photo Credit: primeugandasafaris.blogspot.com

On rare occasions you might be able to catch glance of a Jackson’s Chameleon lurking in your trees.  These cool looking lizards were first introduced to Hawaii in 1972 due to them being popular pets.  They were released intentionally in Kāneʻohe with the hope of reducing predatory insects and snails.  These lizards resemble miniature dinosaurs and are known to change patterns and colors. While they may be cool to look at, don’t think of selling them! According to the DLNR website, possible penalties include a $200,000 fine and the possibility of prison if they are exported between islands or commercially to the mainland.

6 Ways Hawaii Homeowners are Making Money from Their Property

Whether you like it or not, it's expensive to live in Hawaii. With the cost of living constantly increasing here in the islands it's not unusual for homeowners to find ways to make a little extra cash on the side.  Here are my top 6 ways homeowners can turn their home into a money making machine. 

Photo Credit: arainbowinparadise.com

Host Events

Do you own a beautiful piece of property with a lot of space? Maybe event hosting is something that would interest you.  Lots of Hawaii residents rent out their slice of paradise for events like movies, weddings, parties, and business outings.  Though prices vary, people often pay hundreds or sometimes thousands a day to host their event on your land. 

Photo Credit: choi.hawaiilife.com

Vacation/long term rental

There is a very high demand for rentals weather it’s a vacation or long term.  Hawaii is famous for beautiful beaches and scenery around the island and tourists often want to put themselves closer to the action.  Vacation rentals often go for a few hundred a night, and with the nice sunny weather year round there’s never a short supply of tourists looking for a home to stay.

If you’re not into renting your house out short term, long term rentals are definitely the way to go.  With house prices soaring well past a million dollars there is a very large demand for long term rentals in the islands.  If you’re able to find a good tenant this can be an excellent “hands-off” way to generate a constant income.

Photo Credit: hawaiimagazine.com

Start a Farm

Do you have a green thumb? Hawaii’s tropical climate is an excellent environment for an array of fruits and vegetables.  Even though you may not be the next Dole plantation selling fruits and vegetables that you can grow around your home can earn you a nice bit of money every month.  Typical cash crops include bananas, lychee, coffee, lettuce and much more. With the options of either traditional farming, aquaponics, or hydroponics there are a number of ways to get started.

Photo Credit: study.topcareer.jp

Host a foreign exchange student

 Hosting a foreign exchange student could be a great way to learn about a different culture and language while at the same time making a little extra money.  It's often an easy process to get started and can allow you to build a life long friendship with someone from another country. 

Photo Credit: youtube.com

Rent out Storage Space

Do you have a lot of land or an empty shed you’re not using? Why not turn that empty space into an income generating side business!  Whether it’s students going home for the holidays, military leaving on deployment, or your aunty who refuses to throw away all of her old cook books there’s always people looking to store something.

Photo Credit: staradvertiser.com

Sell your Parking space

With websites like spothero or pavemint.com renting out your parking space has never been easier.  Whether you live in the heart of Waikiki or out in the country of north shore, tourists are always looking for a way to get closer to the action.  Renting out your parking spot can be an easy and hands off way to make a little extra cash without much effort. 

Photo Credit: Lloyd Sexton; cedarstreetgalleries.com

Mo'olelo o Kahuku

One time when the people of Kahuku were fishing they caught a small shark.  They decided to put it in a calabash of water and carried to their home. He was well cared for and fed fresh fish daily.  As the shark grew it was placed into larger calabashes until the people were no longer able to find a calabash large enough to hold him.  They decided to put him in a nearby brackish pool of water which came to be known as Punamano.  A man and a woman living near the pool became the guardians of this shark and continued to care for it daily.  They had lived in their grass huts with a breadfruit tree near the pool and taro and potato patches near the mountains for several years when the brother of the woman came to live with them. 

One day the man and woman left for the shores to go fishing.  The woman’s brother who had some free time wanted to have dinner prepared for them when they returned and climbed the breadfruit tree which over hanged the pool.  As he picked the breadfruit he threw them into the pool in an effort to not bruise the fruit.  After picking enough, he climbed down the tree and began to gather the fruit but noticed one had floated into the center of the pool.  He knew of the shark but has swam in the pool of water numerous times without problems so he decided to retrieve the fruit. He did not know however that his sister had warned the shark to eat anyone who tries to steal their breadfruit when they were gone.  When the man and woman returned there was no sight of her brother or the shark but they noticed a breadfruit in the center of the pool and the water now had a reddish color.  For nearly a mile they followed a bloody trail until they came to the spring known as Punaho’olapa.  Both the brother and the shark were never seen again.

 A plantation pump now marks the site of the spring near the sea side of the road where this legend is said to have happened.  Now days Punaho’olapa is now commonly known as “Marconi” and can still be visited to this day.  

Hawaiian Medicinal Plants That You Can Grow Around Tour Home

We often under appreciate modern medicine and the miracles that they produce.  Instead of pills and hypodermic needles ancient Hawaiians had to use what was around them which were often fruits, leaves, and roots.  Here is my list of plants that can grow around your home which were used in ancient Hawaii as medicine.

Noni (Morinda Citrifolia)

Photo Credit: livestrong.com

Noni is a white and often semitransparent fruit that’s most commonly found in forests and valleys.  Even though Noni is known for it’s rotting like smell it can be used to help treat ailments like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Kava (Piper Methysticum)

Photo Credit: bulletproof.com

Kava, known in Hawaii as “Awa” is a drink made from the root of the Kava plant. Traditionally, Kava was used to relieve back pain and headaches, which also gave the drinker a euphoric feel and slight loss of muscle control while maintaining a clear mind.

'Olena (Curcuma longa)

Photo Credit: bksingh9.blogspot.com

‘Olena, more commonly known as Tumeric is a flowering plant from the ginger family.  Known mainly for it’s strong anti-inflammatory properties, some traditional uses for this plant is to treat skin rashes, sores, coughing, and sore throat.  The word 'Olena translates to “yellow” and was used to make yellow dyes for cloths.

Mamaki (Pipturus Albidus)

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff

The Mamaki plant can be found on all islands except Niihau and Kahoolawe and is typically sought after for it’s leaves which is used for tea.  If you have a sore throat or cough, Mamaki tea might just be the thing you need!  You can find this plant growing up to 18 feet in mostly wet and seasonally wet areas. 

'Iwa (asplenium horridum)

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff

The ‘Iwa fern is common in a variety of habitats in the main Hawaiian islands but is native to Polynesia.  It’s believed that this plant was carried by some of the first voyagers to the islands for medicinal purposes. The roots and leaves of the ‘Iwa fern were often ground up and consumed to treat stomach problems.

Instantly harden super glue

Super glue is a must have for any home improvement expert but sometimes we don't have 15 - 20 minutes to wait for it to harden.  If you sprinkle a little baking soda on most brands of super glue, it can harden instantly.  This is due to the baking soda acting as a catalyst and speeding up the hardening process in the glue.

Makeshift wrench 

Have you ever needed to tighten or loosen a boat but can't find a wrench? Try putting 2 nuts on a bolt and tightening them around the head of the bolt.  

Remove stripped screws

We've all been there, there's one final screw to remove and you end up stripping it so you can't take it out.  If you ever find yourself in this situation you can place the rubber band on the head of the stripped screw and then try to remove it.  The rubber acts as extra grip and reduces the chances of further stripping the screw.

Post it note dry wall catcher

Next time you hang up a new painting you might want to have a post it note handy.  By bending it at a 45 degree angle and sticking it onto the wall bellow where you're drilling it can catch any debris that falls making clean up a synch.

Rubber band paint scraper

Have you ever finished painting the inside of your house just to notice that there's paint drippings all over your floors? Try putting a rubber band around your paint tin and use it to scrape off excess paint from your brush.  Not only does this prevent your floors from getting painted, but it also saves you a lot of paint!

Photo Credit: Jacob Medina

Mo'olelo o Paumalu

On Oahu there once lived a woman who was recognized for her ability to catch.  If there was anyone who could catch a lot of squid that person was highly valued.

One day a chief decided to hold a great luau and wanted squid. He sent some of his men in search of someone who could catch squid and eventually brought the woman to him.  He told her he wanted the squid from a very specific reef and asked if she was able to catch some for him.  She said she could catch all the squid he wanted.

She walked along the beach to the reef the chief selected but just before she was about to enter the water she was approached by an old man who told her that she’s only supposed to catch a certain number of squid and returned home or something would be sure to happen to her.  She called for her daughter who had followed and told her to come with her into the water.  A few hours passed and the lady caught all she had been allowed by the old man but she kept fishing until she had more than she could handle. She sent her daughter to the shore with half of the load and told her she was ready to go home but instead she stayed as she saw a huge squid she wanted to get. Just as she reached to grab the squid a huge shark came out of nowhere and bit off her legs.  Her daughter rushed to save her but it was too late.

When the people examined her later they knew that it was done by a particular shark who guards that reef.  After that incident they named the place Paumalu which means “taken by surprise”.

Professional Surfers from Kahuku High School

With surf spots like Chun’s Reef, ‘Ehukai, or Pipeline, north shore boasts some of the best beaches on the island.  With Kahuku being the closest high school to the action, it’s no surprise that their alumni have become some most renowned surfers in the world.

John John Florence

Photo Credit: surfertoday.com/ 

John "John" Alexander Florence had an interest for surfing at a young age.  At only 13, Florence became the youngest surfer ever to compete In the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.  Throughout his career, John John has won multiple championships including the Volcom Pipe Pro, Quicksilver pro, and Billabong Rio Pro.  While he was winning championships John John also landed roles in a few award winning films including Done, View from a Blue Moon, and Let’s be Frank. 

Jamie O’Brien

Photo Credit: thenetworthportal.com

Growing up near Banzai Pipeline, it’s no surprise that Jamie O’Brien is one of the youngest surfers to ever win a Pipeline Masters event.  While he wasn’t riding waves, O’Brien was involved in the film industry appearing in films such as Blue Crush or Step into Liquid as well as producing two surfer films; Freakshow and Freakside.

Makua Rothman

Photo Credit: pledgemusic.com/

Makuakai Rothman began surfing before the age of 10.  At the age of 13 Rothman surrounded himself around surfing legends such as Myles Padaca, Sunny Garcia, and Dane Kealoha which helped him hone his skills as a surfer.  Throughout his career Makua has competed (often winning) numerous professional contests including the Quicksilver Ceremonial, Billabong XXL Big Wave Challenge, and O’Neill World Cup.

Kalani Robb

Photo Credit: wearesurfer.net

Competing in events such as the Quicksilver, Rip Curl, Billabong, and Boost Mobile Pro, Kalani Robb has had an impressive surfing career.  In the early 2000’s, he decided to give the movie industry a try and landed roles in films like Forgetting Sara Marshall and Blue Crush.  After placing 6^th in the Rio Marathon Surf Pro, Robb finally retired after 10 years of being on tour.

Jamie Sterling

Picture Credit: towsurfer.com/

Jamie Stearling began learning how to surf at the early age of 5 where he later worked as a life guard on the beaches of Southern California.  Not many people can say they’ve successful surfed a 50ft wave but Jamie isn’t one of those people, placing 1^st in 2010, 20112, and 2013 for the Big Wave Tour Sterling has seen his fair share of huge waves. 

Photo Credit: Jill Jermann

The Pilia'ama Stone

Pilia'ama was a Konohiki, surfer, and fishermen who came from Waimea Oahu. One day Pilia'ama was walking on a pathway leading to the ocean when an ali'i woman spotted him .  She was immediately struck by how handsome he was and began to approached him but for every step forward, he would take one step backward.  He began running and she gave chase through the narrow pathways and eventually she caught up to him.  At a moment's notice he vanished and all that remained was the rock that his foot last touched with the footprint of a crab imprinted into it.  The Pili a'ama stone can still be found today in Waimea just off of the side of the highway. Pili a'ama in Hawaiian roughly translates to pili which means to cling or stick, and a'ama which means crab; the clingy crab.

Pilia'ama Stone Waimea, Oahu. 

Photo Credit: Ian Masterson

The Eddie Big Wave Invitational

Photo Credit: surfertoday.com

The Eddie is a big wave contest that is invite only and is named after legendary North Shore lifeguard and surfer Eddie Aikau.  This competition has been around for 33 years but has only ran a total of nine times since 1984 due to the big surf that is needed to host this competition.

Location: Waimea Bay, North Shore Oahu

Date: December 1, 2018 – February 28, 2019

Volcom Pipe Pro 2019

Photo Credit: surfertoday.com

Even though the Volcum pipe pro isn’t a championship tour, it still attracts many of the world’s best surfers to show off their skills on some of the most pristine waves that North shore has to offer. You can expect the same excitement and showmanship as you would at championship competitions but with way less crowds as it’s hosted in the beginning of the surfing season.

Location: Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park, North Shore Oahu

Date: January 29  – February 10, 2019

Da Hui Backdoor Shootout & Da Hui Pipeline Warriors 2019

Photo Credit: dahui.com

Both of these competitions are invite only and feature some of the best surfers Hawaii has to offer.  The Da Hui Backdoor Shoutout is held in memory of legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku and features a unique event where jersey free teams of surfers compete against each other to win it all. The Da Hui Pipeline Warriors event is also a jersey free event which includes different divisions but unlike the Backdoor Shoutout, it's ever man for himself!

Location: Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park, North Shore Oahu

Date: Da Hui Backdoor Shootout: January 4 – 16, 2019.

Date: Da Hui Pipeline Warriors: Early February  (Exact date unknown)

Sunset Open & Sunset Pro Junior 2019

Photo Credit: worldsurfleauge.com

The Sunset Open is a Men’s Qualifying Series event to make it to the WSL Championship Tour.  Though it may not include world famous surfers, this competition is perfect for scouting new up and coming surfers with tremendous talent.The Sunset Pro Junior is a Qualifying Series that features both men and women who are under the age of 18. Though they may be young, these surfers are very talented and are definitely worth watching!

Location: Sunset Beach, North Shore Oahu

Date: January 18 – 28, 2019