We’ve got a snapshot of what some are calling “the most amazing fire/light show on earth” - the current, glorious lava flows at Kalapana, we’ve got a very special kupuna story with Uncle Robert Keli’iho’omalu, and we’ll take another trip to the spectacular Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Here’s a peek:

We’re pleased to pass on an invitation from our friends in the charming village of Wailea, just north of Hilo, for everyone to attend an event they’re calling “Wailea-Hakalau: A Walk Back In Time.” Its a wonderful mix of kupuna talk story, reflections on plantation life, and a hearty beef stew plate-lunch from Cafe 100. Sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday.
Held at Akiko’s Buddhist Bed & Breakfast in Wailea, visiting this place takes you way, way back in time. We covered their annual Mochi Pounding community event at New Years, and completely loved it. Below the poster, watch the segment we produced in its entirety — you’ll get the jist of life in Wailea. For more, plan on attending their “Walk Back in Time” gathering on June 29.

To view the YouTube version of the segment we produced on the Wailea Mochi Pounding event, click on the image below. To download a higher quality, larger Windows Media Player of the segment (83 mb) click HERE.

This segment was a part of our Episode 2, and introduces viewers to an actual family-run coffee farm that was originally established back around the turn of the century. Its since closed down as a farm, then was purchased by the Kona Historical Society, and with a lot of hard work, turned into a “living museum.” We’ve had requests to show this again, and in the short term, here’s a web sneakpeek. Enjoy!

In the next episode of Kama’aina Backroads™ we cover the Hamakua Springs Country Farm’s 2nd Annual Tomato Recipe Contest, an exciting event that puts much of the focus on culinary students at Hawaii Community College. Over the past 2 years that we’ve covered this, we’ve met a wonderful mix of people that work hard on this special program, including Professor and Chef Allan Okuda, Kitchen Manager Deirdre Kent, and Chef Sandy Barr.
It is truly heartwarming to learn that Chef Sandy Barr was executive chef of the famed Merriman’s Waimea, working for many years alongside Peter Merriman, co-founder of Hawaii Regional Cuisine; heartwarming because after she retired from a long and satisfying career at Merriman’s, Barr decided to teach Hawaii’s young about the field that has given her a full, satisfying life. OOOH, don’t you just want to hug this lady?!

JUST IN CASE you didn’t know, it is officially Merrie Monarch time in Hilo! All week long, our lovely town on the bay is buzzing with Hula. During the days, there are activities ongoing at area hotels, museums, parks and retail merchants; during the night the world’s foremost hula competition takes place at the Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium.

To see the full schedule, click HERE.

And to get a glimpse at the kind of good fun music & hula taking place at the Hilo Hawaiian, the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, and the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, check out this video clip we shot last year at the complimentary daytime entertainment we found at the Hilo Hawaiian. The kid dancing in the middle, we’ve found out, lives on the east coast, and dances for Kumu Hula Paul Neves. Enjoy a lot more of this kind of fun this week, here in Hilo, Hawai’i!