JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

Free Entrance Days in the National ParksFree Entrance Days in the National Parks

2011-11-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

America's Best Idea - the national parks - gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.*

Mark your calendar for the final fee-free days in 2011:

November 11-13
Veterans Day weekend

Make plans now to visit the national parks on these 2012 fee-free dates:

January 14-16
Martin Luther King Jr. weekend
April 21-29
National Park Week
June 9
Get Outdoors Day
September 29
National Public Lands Day
November 10-12
Veterans Day weekend

2011-09-22T14:49:00.001-07:00

Pahoa High and Intermediate School’s
2nd Annual Fantastic Family Fun Fair
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pahoa High School Campus & Kickball Field
For more information contact Jewel Castro, PHIS Student Activities Coordinator, at (808) 965-2150 ext. 180 or sign-up for ‘Ohana Kickball Game with Pahoa’s Boys and Girls Club at (808) 640-1034.

Pahoa High and Intermediate School’s 2nd Annual Fantastic Family Fun Fair

2011-09-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

Pahoa High and Intermediate School’s
2nd Annual Fantastic Family Fun Fair
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pahoa High School Campus & Kickball Field
For more information contact Jewel Castro, PHIS Student Activities Coordinator, at (808) 965-2150 ext. 180 or sign-up for ‘Ohana Kickball Game with Pahoa’s Boys and Girls Club at (808) 640-1034.

An Elopement in Paradise fit for a King and his Queen 4/30/2011

2011-09-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

An unexpected business trip to Hawaii made up our minds. We would elope! I wanted to find a castle... because I had found my Prince. Google gave us Castle in Hawaii and then we gave Sherri (aka castle lady :) a nearly impossible task... pull together our wedding within a few weeks... but we weren't sure of anything not even the date or when exactly we could arrive! Sherri rolled with our last minute thoughts and changes, arrival and wedding dates... and pulled together a ceremony and reception beyond our imaginations. It was beautiful, surreal and absolutely unforgettable. Our stay at the castle was also like a fairy tale... high comfortable beds, outside showers, a hot tub under the stars, bountiful breakfasts served to us in our lanai are just a few of the features and services that made Castle in Hawaii the ideal honeymoon or romantic getaway spot. We were also impressed with Sherri's desire to accommodate our needs... whether they be sightseeing, relaxing or just taking in the local flavor. Sherri was there to personally greet us at the airport upon our arrival and kiss us good bye as we unwillingly departed... another service that we greatly appreciated. Thank you to Sherri, her very awesome husband John and everybody who was involved in our magical and memorable time in Hawaii... and don't worry dear "Castle Lady" ... we will be back! :)

Laura Lee Sawyer and Chuck Todd Torrens

Best Adventure Vacations in the USA

2011-08-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Adventure_Vacations_in_the_USA

Marriage License Agent

2011-08-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Announcing the Commission of
Sheri Smith
By the State of Hawaii
As
Marriage License Agent

if you want to know more about this, follow this link:
http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html#howto

Going Green for a Vacation Rental or YOUR home

2011-07-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

I FOUND THIS ONLINE (DIDN'T WRITE IT MYSELF)

Cleaning Your Home:
Consider the products you or your housekeeper are using to clean your home. Did you know that on cleaning day the air pollution at your home could be up to 10 times worse than in busy cities? Best is to use eco-products or even make some of your own.

Typical household cleaners are petroleum based, which contain toxins. With all the major brands rushing to the shelves with their own environmentally-friendly labeled products, make sure that what you're buying is truly “eco” and not just a marketing tactic. You can quickly determine the recycled content and scan the packaging for a seal from a third party certification organization like Green Seal. If you can't use rags for cleaning, try to purchase 100% recycled paper towels. Also, double-check products with vague terms or sweeping claims like “natural” or “environmentally safe.”

Or, using a few simple and cheap ingredients, you can create your own products.

* Window cleaner: 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and water. Add a drop of dish detergent to remove residue from previous glass cleaners.
* All-purpose cleaner: Castile soap (soap made from olive or vegetable oil) and water.
* Disinfectant: 1 tsp of tea tree oil to 2 cups of water.
* Oven cleaner: Baking soda mixed with water. (it needs to sit overnight)

Directions and Rules for a Vacation Rental
It might be a good idea to send some general environmental guidelines to guests with directions. Or simply post them with other information at the home. For example, you could provide instructions for recycling or where to throw out organic trash that can be used for composting. You might want to talk about ways to keep the wildlife healthy in your area, like reminding renters not to go near dolphins if you are on the beach. Without going overboard and micro-managing your guests' stay, you can gently suggest ways to help the environment while they are on vacation.

Grilling and Eating
A favorite pastime is grilling out on the deck or patio. To be more environmentally conscious, use natural gas or propane for a cleaner burn. Avoid lighter fluid and charcoal.

When purchasing food to eat, keep in mind: seasonal, sustainable, organic, and local.

* Seasonal: Not only do seasonal products taste better when they are in season, but it is actually healthier for you and the environment. A typical meal travels 1500 miles from farm to fork, emitting a lot of greenhouse gases along the way. Eating “seasonally” will also help to keep local farmers in business. Fortunately many vacation properties are located in areas that have farmstands and farmer's markets. Highlight these in your guest handbook or directions so the renters can easily find them.
* Sustainable: Our salmon and shrimp supply, for example, is depleting. Suggest recommended fish in your area.
* Organic: This has become a popular buzz word, but some people are confused by the definition. This means that what you're eating is simply food grown without chemical pesticides. Again, this is better for us and for the planet and can be supplied by some local farmers. Point your renters to local grocery stores and food stands that carry organic food and products.
* Local: Help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing locally. Chances are the renters will also like the authentic experience of purchasing local foods from the towns they are visiting.

Enjoying the Water
Renters might want to experience all that their vacation home and destination have to offer. However, being unfamiliar with the area, they might not be aware of how their actions could affect the environment. Here are a few more tips to offer if you are on or near a lake or ocean.

* Sunscreen: Sunscreens have parabens that are absorbed into the skin and can be hormone-altering. When we go into lakes with these products on our skin, the marine life can be affected (scientists have seen evidence of gender bending.) Zinc products sit on the skin and repel water. Plus there are clear zinc products nowadays — no more white strip down your nose like in the "olden" days!
* Soaps and shampoos: Some people might want to get back to nature by bathing in a nearby lake. However, using soaps and shampoos in the water is not healthy for our planet. They need soil to be truly biodegradable, so it is best to stick to the showers. You can even provide eco-friendly soaps and shampoos for your guests to use as an added touch.

If you have a vacation rental, remember to suggest these tips gently, though, so as not to be overbearing. If the renter sees your concern and care for the environment without taking control of their vacation, they should be happy to comply.

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

2011-07-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
hemoglobin Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PS: NEVER put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

THE WINNER OF THE DRAWING OF THE FREE WEEK

2011-07-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please! The winner of the free week is... Barbara Louise of Ohio!

Mahalo to everyone who "liked" the new business page on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Castle-in-Hawaii/207732132583111?sk=wall

Stay tuned for more fun and exciting things to come. Tell a friend!

2011-07-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to drawing a winner for our free week! Stay tuned and good luck to all who "liked" the new Castle Business Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Castle-in-Hawaii/207732132583111?sk=wall

Big Island Film Festival/Wounded Warrior

2011-05-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jean and Lee Hendrix of Kamuela who won the stay here at the Castle in the silent auction to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project. We can’t wait to host and connect with them!

http://www.bigislandfilmfestival.com/auction.html

DRAWING FOR A FREE WEEK AT THE CASTLE IN HAWAII

2011-05-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

Official Rules
Eligibility: Drawing for a free week (FIVE DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS) at the Castle in Hawaii is open to everyone, world-wide, 18 years of age or older. The Contest is null and void wherever prohibited by law. Officers, directors, and employees of Sponsor and its affiliates, as well as those individual’s immediate family members and the residents of their households are not eligible.

Promotion Period (HAWAIIAN TIME): Begins 6 A.M. on May 15, 2011
and ends midnight on July 15, 2011.

How to Enter:
Simply click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Castle-in-Hawaii/207732132583111?sk=wall (IF LINK DOESN'T "WORK" COPY AND PASTE THE URL INTO YOUR BROWSER)
and click “like”.

Additional entries: anyone that linked the link and liked it prior to May 15, 2011 is automatically entered a second time.

Drawing: On or about 7/4/11, the Sponsor will pick one of the people who liked the link.
Prize, Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) & Odds: One (1) Grand Prize: a week stay
(four nights and five days) at the castle in Hawaii vacation rental. (ARV: $975).
No substitution, cash redemption or transfer of prize is permitted except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. All federal, state and local taxes, and all other costs associated with acceptance or use of the prizes, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Odds of winning prize depends on the number of entries received. Unclaimed prize will not be awarded. Accommodations subject to availability, winner must call before making travel plans. Reservation must be made by 12/1/11 and used by 12/31/12.
General Rules: All federal, state and local laws apply. Winner will be required to call before making travel plans with exact date winner wants to stay and then sign a Rental Confirmation agreement with all the details. After signing if winner cancels reservation, no re-booking will be permitted. Winner may purchase additional nights to ADD to winning week only, at $75/night. Potential winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and a Publicity Release within seven (7) days of attempted delivery or prize will be forfeited. By participating, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor from and against any and all liability or damages associated with this Promotion or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize received in this Promotion. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer or administration of the Promotion. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for the Sponsor to use winner’s name and likeness for purposes of advertising and publicity without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. By participating in this Promotion, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules.
Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, stolen, illegible, inaccurate, damaged, incomplete, non-delivered or postage-due mail; or for printing, distribution or production errors or for technical, hardware, software, or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Promotion, or by any human, or other error, which may occur in this Promotion. If there is any suspected or actual evidence of tampering with any portion of the Promotion or if technical difficulties compromise the integrity of the Promotion, the Sponsor reserves the right to void suspect entries and/or modify and/or terminate the Promotion and/or conduct a random drawing to award the prizes using all known eligible non-suspect entries received. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Promotion or Castle Website or acts in a disruptive manner. This Promotion is offered worldwide and is governed by the laws of the State of Hawaii. By entering, entrants irrevocably consent to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Hawaii located in the county of Hawaii for any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Promotion. By participating in this Promotion, participant waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages, attorneys’ fees or any damages.
Sponsor: CastleInHawaii.com aka Castle Enterprises, Box 166, Pahoa HI 96778

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park May 2011

2011-05-05T19:31:00.001-07:00

Hawai‘i National Park, HI – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park continues its tradition of sharing the Hawaiian host culture with the community and visitors throughout May. Programs are free, but Park entrance fees may apply. Mark your calendars for these three upcoming events:

Lei Hulu and Ulana Pāpale Lauhala. Master lei maker Kilohana Domingo demonstrates the intricate art of feather work and feather lei making, lei hulu. Lehua Domingo (Kilohana’s mother) will share the beautiful ‘anoni style of weaving lau hala into an exquisite hat. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops.
When: Wed., May 11 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Kīlauea Visitors Center lānai

An Evening of Hula and Hawaiian Music. Hālau Hula Kalehuaki‘eki‘eika‘iu ma Kīlauea honors, prepares for and performs hula. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing Nā Leo Manu “Heavenly Voices” series of cultural programs.
When: Wed., May 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Kīlauea Visitors Center Auditorium

Ku‘i Kalo. Park Ranger Jason “J.Z.” Zimmer shares the art of making poi, a skill he learned from his grandfather. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes ongoing ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops.
When: Wed., May 25, from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Kīlauea Visitors Center lānai

Fan Page on Facebook

2011-05-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

My new bff (and press agent?) the fabulous Lin Decker, our recent guest, has been gracious enough to help me (technically challenged) make a "fan" page. Whatever that is (she said it's a "must have" so I believe her!) Please stay tuned because we're getting ready to start a NEW drawing for a free week at the Castle... it will be easy... just like us, really like us (thanks Sally) and you will be entered into the drawing automatically (Hey we'll bribe you to like us if we have to!) To those who already "like"d it, (well mostly my family and guests who have been here)... don't you fret - we'll take care of you - ALL will be automatically entered. Stay tuned for details as they develop (on the blog)... if you go to the Castle website blog link is there. Also would love to hear comments on the destination wedding link... had a couple just leave us last night... but they said it was a wedding they will NEVER forget. And we believe them. Aloha for now. More to come. .

http://www.gohawaii.com/

2011-03-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Grateful that GoHawaii keeps us posted!

http://mailcenter2।newmediagateway.com/hawaii/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=8818&ids=8849cdcd15d4361799c22edb5be5db71821dd7ab&viewers_email=info@castleinhawaii.com

JUST FOR FUN - Adult Truths

2011-03-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

1. Part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
7. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
8. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
9. Bad decisions make good stories.
10. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
11. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
12. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
13. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
14. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
15. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
16. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
17. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

WINNER OF THE FREE WEEK

2011-02-13T23:59:00.000-08:00

Pleased to announce the winner of the free week - Lin Decker of Chicago Illinois.
Now just a matter of choosing WHICH of her AMAZING ideas to use on our www.CastleInHawaii.com site. Stay tuned.

Follow Lin on twitter @gr8lakesevents.

Mahalo to all those who entered. We appreciate your time and support.

The 5th Annual Hawai`i Avocado Festival

2011-02-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 19th at Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden for live entertainment; Hawaiian Cultural Performances, Local Agricultural Presentations, Healing Arts, Green Fashion, and Organic Treats, lots of fun and games for the entire family emphasizing Sustainability and Zero Waste.

Support local growers and

vendors and help Kona Pacific Public Charter School.

Free Guacamole and so much more!!!

For more information call:

(808) 334-3340 or (808) 936-5233

WINNER OF THE FREE WEEK

2011-02-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

Winner of the drawing for the free week stay at the Castle has been postponed until February 14, 2011... perfect Valentine gift! Sorry for the delay and inconvenience.

SPECIAL DEALS ON HAWAIIAN AIRLINES GOING ON NOW...

2011-01-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable... Hawaiian Airlines has fares Roundtrip from Portland to Hawaii UNDER $400. You can check it out (and other special deals at their website):

http://www.hawaiianair.com/Specialoffers/Pages/New-Year-Travel-Hawaii.aspx?LID=4982_HeroHeadline&HACMP=4982_EMMP_HA-Fare-New-Year-Outbound_20110105-2_Hawaii_Explore-New-Destinations-Starting-From-374-RT_20110105&RID=172682412&MID=4982

(apparently the link process for this blog site DOESN'T work, so you have to copy and paste into your browser - sorry)

3 Ways to Practice the Slow Food Movement

2011-01-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Weil:
The Slow Food Movement - which started in Italy in the 1980s - encourages people to slow the pace of life in order to truly savor not only foods and beverages, but the pleasure of eating and the companionship of friends and family sitting around the table. Traditional foods that are fresh, made from local ingredients and served during leisurely meals are the focus of this movement. From a health perspective, this philosophy is a much-needed departure from "fast food," which is designed to be eaten on the run. If you want to get involved in the Slow Food Movement, try the following:

1. Shop for fresh, organically grown local produce and baked goods at farmers' markets.
2. Patronize restaurants that specialize in local or regional foods.
3. Keep family traditions alive. Think about the foods your grandparents prepared for holidays or family gatherings, and try to replicate what you can.

For more of these gems I encourage you to sign up for Dr. Weil's newsletter.

The Best of Hawaii By John Fischer of About.com

2010-12-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

Best Activities in Hawaii

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/hawaiivacationplanner/a/hawaii_activities.htm?nl=1

Top 12 Beaches in Hawaii

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/beaches/tp/best_beaches.htm?nl=1

Hawaiian Natural Wonders

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/hawaii/tp/hawaiian_natural_wonders.htm?nl=1

Which Is the Best Luau in Hawaii?

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/luau/tp/best_luau_in_hawaii.htm?nl=1

And yes, we KNOW, the "links" don't work... thanks blogger... just copy and paste.

Is Honey Healthy? by dr weil

2010-12-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

If you are trying to reduce your intake of refined sugar, honey is one alternative - but not necessarily a healthier one. However, honey does have some health benefits over sugar, as it:
• Is sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use less.
• Has a higher proportion of fructose, which doesn't stress the pancreas as much as sucrose.
• Has a slightly lower glycemic load than table sugar.
• Contains trace enzymes; minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium; amino acids; and vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.
Raw honey may even help promote wound healing - research indicates it can be an excellent first aid measure for burns, even very severe ones. (Don't treat a serious wound with the honey you get at the supermarket or health food store - you need a medicinal honey and someone with expertise to treat you.)
But honey also has its drawbacks. Its sticky consistency contributes to cavity formation, and can be worse for the teeth than refined sugar. Honey also should never be given to infants under one year of age, as it may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system.

While honey may not be much healthier than sugar, if you like it I recommend buying raw honey, which is tastier and has a better texture than heated and processed commercial honey.

Continental Airlines Announces New Service to Hilo, Hawai'i

2010-12-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/apps/vendors/default.aspx?i=PRNEWS

NONSTOP FLIGHTS FROM LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO BEGIN JUNE 2011

APPRECIATION

2010-12-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

We get the weekly Kabbalah tuneup and wanted to share some excerpts (written by Yehuda Berg):

Our connection to ourselves, others, and ultimately to the Light of the Creator begins and ends with appreciation.

This is something we already know. I simply wish to remind you of the utter importance of constantly fighting to remain in gratitude. And make no mistake it is a struggle, because our natural instinct is to look for the negative. It takes effort to not compare ourselves with others, and to not feel lack. It’s easy to erupt in anger and self-pity resulting from jealousy or insecurity, but far more difficult to wage the internal battle against ego (which is the root cause of resentment, doubt, and you can fill in the rest.)

All of us are blessed with various gifts. We need to take time to be grateful for these gifts, so they will remain with us. Through appreciation we can avoid feeling that we are missing out on something, thereby wasting or losing what we do have. The feeling of abundance creates more abundance.

This week, take a step back. Develop greater appreciation by imagining what life would be like if the things, people, qualities, abilities you do have were taken away. Every time you find yourself fixated on the glittering lives in the pages of People, or the shiny new toys your neighbor has, bring back your focus. Come back home to yourself, to your life, and look around.

TIS BETTER TO GIVE! DRAWING FOR A FREE WEEK AT THE CASTLE IN HAWAII - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN

2010-12-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

GOAL – NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR A SYMBOL/AVATAR OR “SOMETHING” TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE “GREEN”
(solar being installed now!)
To Be Used on our CastleInHawaii website (http://www.CastleInHawaii.com)

Official Rules
Eligibility: Drawing for a free week (FIVE DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS) at the castle in Hawaii is open to everyone, world-wide, 18 years of age or older. The Contest is null and void wherever prohibited by law. Officers, directors, and employees of Sponsor and its affiliates, as well as those individual’s immediate family members and the residents of their households are not eligible.

Promotion Period (HAWAIIAN TIME): Begins 6 A.M. on December 6, 2010
and ends midnight on February 6, 2010.

How to Enter: By Email Only, Email to:
Contest@CastleInHawaii.com
with
(cut and paste THE FOLLOWING into your email, then fill in the blanks):

First and Last Name: ________________________
Phone number with area code: ________________
Email address:_____________________________
Twitter “handle” if you have one: _______________
Snail mail address including zip code: ___________
Suggestion for our “green” announcement
(must be something that is NOT copyrighted):

____________________________________________________________
Suggestion may be a “symbol”, an “avatar”, verbiage or _______________ ?

for additional entry only: link where you posted our link (to the Castle: http://castleinhawaii.com) or link to your tweet with date and time.
If you tweet the link, make sure to add: “@CastleInHawaii”
to the tweet and include the date and time and link of the tweet.
Your entry will automatically have an additional chance to win.
Entrants must complete all required information or entry will be deemed void.
If you don’t tweet for example, put n/a (not applicable).

LIMIT ONE (1) ENTRY PER PERSON/PER EMAIL ADDRESS EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO TWEET OR POST THE LINK.

Drawing: On or about 2/6/11, the Sponsor will pick one of the “green suggestions”.
If there are no suitable suggestions, sponsor will draw one name from all entries submitted. There WILL be one winner (even if none of the suggestions is used on the website – and the winner will be notified by phone and/or email and/or US mail and it will also be posted on the blog (http://castleinhawaii.blogspot.com).

Prize, Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) & Odds: One (1) Grand Prize: a week stay
(four nights and five days) at the castle in Hawaii vacation rental. (ARV: $975).
No substitution, cash redemption or transfer of prize is permitted except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. All federal, state and local taxes, and all other costs associated with acceptance or use of the prizes, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Odds of winning prize depends on the number of entries received. Unclaimed prize will not be awarded. Accommodations subject to availability, winner must call before making travel plans. Reservation must be made by 6/30/11 and used by 12/31/12.
General Rules: All federal, state and local laws apply. Winner will be required to call before making travel plans with exact date winner wants to stay and then sign a Rental Confirmation agreement with all the details. After signing if winner cancels reservation, no re-booking will be permitted. Winner may purchase additional nights to ADD to winning week only, at $75/night. Potential winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and a Publicity Release within seven (7) days of attempted delivery or prize will be forfeited. The return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable or failure to return any documents in a timely manner may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be chosen. By participating, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor from and against any and all liability or damages associated with this Promotion or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize received in this Promotion. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer or administration of the Promotion. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for the Sponsor to use winner’s name and likeness for purposes of advertising and publicity without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. By participating in this Promotion, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules.
Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, stolen, illegible, inaccurate, damaged, incomplete, non-delivered or postage-due mail; or for printing, distribution or production errors or for technical, hardware, software, or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Promotion, or by any human, or other error, which may occur in this Promotion. If there is any suspected or actual evidence of tampering with any portion of the Promotion or if technical difficulties compromise the integrity of the Promotion, the Sponsor reserves the right to void suspect entries and/or modify and/or terminate the Promotion and/or conduct a random drawing to award the prizes using all known eligible non-suspect entries received. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Promotion or Castle Website or acts in a disruptive manner. This Promotion is offered worldwide and is governed by the laws of the State of Hawaii. By entering, entrants irrevocably consent to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Hawaii located in the county of Hawaii for any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Promotion. By participating in this Promotion, participant waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages, attorneys’ fees or any damages.
Sponsor: CastleInHawaii.com aka Castle Enterprises, Box 166, Pahoa HI 96778

Congratulations to our contest winner Mark Franco

2010-10-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Mark Franco of Southern California was the winner of our free week contest. Congratulations Mark - we can't wait to have you as our guest.

Please check back here (rss feed) as we will have more contests in the near future.

Jackie Evancho

2010-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard of this child - you will!

PETS

2010-08-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats:
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food.
The other dishes are mine and contain my food.. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm..

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered.
Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.
Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't smoke or drink,
(7) don't want to wear your clothes,
(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children

(author unknown)

Hawaiian Airlines offer Harvest Fantastic Fall Fares – U.S. Mainland just $288*

2010-08-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

Aloha,

Fall is a great time for reflection–to contemplate the events of the previous year and prepare for the coming months. And what better place to reflect than the beautiful beaches of Hawaii? With smaller crowds and great room rates, you’ll soon find out what other savvy travelers already know – fall is a great time to go:

Fares to the Islands are starting at $288* RT; now is the perfect time to book a relaxing escape. Prepare to let the blue-green waves of the Pacific set your mind at ease as you and your family prepare for another trip around the sun.

Book: August 26 - August 31, 2010
Travel: August 23 - November 18, 2010

go to (copy and paste into your browser): http://www.hawaiianair.com/specialoffers/pages/Discover-Hawaii-Flights.aspx/?pid=Fall-Al-Islands-pos1_20100816

eat organic, locally grown foods

2010-08-25T18:52:00.001-07:00

Not only do organic, locally grown foods generally taste better, but they often have higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals. But the advantages don't stop there. Local farmers' markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) groups provide food choices that haven't been shipped from thousands of miles away, so less gas and pollution goes into getting you your meals. Look for local farmers' markets and CSA's in your local paper or on the internet. Bon appetite!

National Geographic

2010-08-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

If there's going to be sufficient water to meet everyone's needs--and those of rivers and fish and birds we're going to need to shrink our footprints and share Earth's water more equitably.

This post is part of National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative.

By now, most of us probably turn off the tap while brushing our teeth. If we've lived through a drought maybe we've shaved a couple minutes off our showers, and even ripped out some thirsty turf grass and planted drought-tolerant shrubs.

What more can we do to conserve water?
As it turns out, quite a lot.
The stuff of life is just plain thirsty. Embedded in that hamburger is perhaps 630 gallons of water--most of it going to grow the corn to feed the cow. And that cotton T-shirt probably gulped some 760 gallons between field and factory. The mobility of our lives takes water, too--about 13 gallons of H2O for every gallon of gasoline at the pump.
Added all up, the average American lifestyle demands nearly 2,000 gallons a day--about twice the global average. If there's going to be sufficient water to meet everyone's needs--and those of rivers and fish and birds and mussels, too--we're going to need to shrink our footprints and share Earth's finite water more equitably.
Saving water at home--indoors and outdoors--is an important place to start, because it helps protect your drinking water source. But on average, home water use makes up only 5% of the average American's daily water footprint. Diet--at 55 percent--accounts for the lion's share, followed by electricity use and transportation at 35 percent. Purchases of clothes, computers, magazines and other consumer goods make up the remaining 5 percent.

Tip from Dr. Weil - Going Green

2010-08-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Pull the plug.

Even if they are not in use, common household appliances and electronics such as microwaves, computers, DVD players and televisions use power when simply plugged in. This not only increases your electric bill but increases overall energy consumption - a television that is plugged in but not turned on can consume as much as 20 watts per hour. Help curb your energy consumption: unplug items you rarely use, once portable devices are charged up unplug the charger from the outlet, and use electronics only as needed.

A simple step to a healthier planet!

Miscellaneous Recycling Facts

2010-08-22T09:54:00.001-07:00

An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using enough aluminum foil to cover over 50 acres of space -- that's almost 40 football fields. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it.

Rainforests are being cut down at the rate of 100 acres per minute!

A single quart of motor oil, if disposed of improperly, can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water.

Motor oil never wears out, it just gets dirty. Oil can be recycled, re-refined and used again, reducing our reliance on imported oil.

On average, each one of us produces 4.4 pounds of solid waste each day. This adds up to almost a ton of trash per person, per year.

A typical family consumes 182 gallons of soda, 29 gallons of juice, 104 gallons of milk, and 26 gallons of bottled water a year. That's a lot of containers -- make sure they're recycled!
These recycling facts have been compiled from various sources including the National Recycling Coalition, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Earth911.org. While I make every effort to provide accurate information, I make no warranty or guarantee that the facts presented here are exact. We welcome all polite corrections to our information.

Please also feel free to contact us if you have additional recycling facts to share.

Links to our web site are always welcome. Feel free to use any information listed on our site for your own not for profit educational purposes. A link to our site as your source is appreciated.

For even more information and additional recycling facts, you can visit
http://www.nrc-recycle.org

Sage advice from Dr. Weil:

2010-08-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

For most of the United States, and especially in the desert states, there is only so much water to go around. You can help lower your water bills and conserve water for future use with this one, simple step: Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth. This can save hundreds of gallons per month, with no sacrifice required. A simple step to a healthier planet!

Solid Waste and Landfills

2010-08-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material!
Every year, each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that can be composted.
The U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year. This means that 5% of the world's people generate 40% of the world's waste.
The highest point in Hamilton County, Ohio (near Cincinnati) is "Mount Rumpke." It is actually a mountain of trash at the Rumpke sanitary landfill towering 1045 ft. above sea level.
The US population discards each year 16,000,000,000 diapers, 1,600,000,000 pens, 2,000,000,000 razor blades, 220,000,000 car tires, and enough aluminum to rebuild the US commercial air fleet four times over.
Out of every $10 spent buying things, $1 (10%) goes for packaging that is thrown away. Packaging represents about 65% of household trash.
On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash, $50 to send it to the landfill, and $65 to $75 to incinerate it.

Glass Recycling Facts

2010-08-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Every month, we throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper. All of these jars are recyclable!

The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours or a compact fluorescent bulb for 20 hours. It also causes 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than when a new bottle is made from raw materials.

A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.

Mining and transporting raw materials for glass produces about 385 pounds of waste for every ton of glass that is made. If recycled glass is substituted for half of the raw materials, the waste is cut by more than 80%.

Plastic Recycling Facts

2010-08-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour! Most of them are thrown away!
Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!
Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator.
Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam coffee cups every year.

Paper Recycling Facts

2010-08-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

To produce each week's Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down.

Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.

If all our newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year!

If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year.

If you had a 15-year-old tree and made it into paper grocery bags, you'd get about 700 of them. A busy supermarket could use all of them in under an hour! This means in one year, one supermarket can go through over 6 million paper bags! Imagine how many supermarkets there are just in the United States!!!

The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year!

The amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.

Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.

Americans use 85,000,000 tons of paper a year; about 680 pounds per person.

The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most is packaging and junk mail.

In 1993, U.S. paper recovery saved more than 90,000,000 cubic yards of landfill space.

Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution!

The 17 trees saved (above) can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.

The construction costs of a paper mill designed to use waste paper is 50 to 80% less than the cost of a mill using new pulp.

RSS

2010-08-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

Recycling - Aluminum

2010-08-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

Aluminum Recycling Facts
1. A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That's closed loop recycling at its finest!
2. Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled.
3. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.
4. More aluminum goes into beverage cans than any other product.
5. Because so many of them are recycled, aluminum cans account for less than 1% of the total U.S. waste stream, according to EPA estimates.
6. An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now!
7. There is no limit to the amount of times an aluminum can be recycled.
8. We use over 80,000,000,000 aluminum soda cans every year.
9. At one time, aluminum was more valuable than gold!
10. A 60-watt light bulb can be run for over a day on the amount of energy saved by recycling 1 pound of steel. In one year in the United States, the recycling of steel saves enough energy to heat and light 18,000,000 homes!

an opportunity for your favorite Hawai'i Park to receive a $100,000 grant from Coca-Cola through the National Park Foundation

2010-07-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

The National Park Foundation and Coca-Cola are encouraging Americans to be active outdoors in their national and state parks with the launch of the "America Is Your Park" campaign. Through this campaign, an online voting center has been created to let individuals cast a vote for their favorite park. The national or state park that receives the most votes by August 31st wins a $100,000 grant made possible by Coca-Cola's Live Positively initiative. No sign-up or registration is necessary to participate and individuals can vote as many times as they want until the voting closes on August 31st.
To vote, begin by clicking here
http://www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks
(you may have to cut and paste since i cannot get the "insert link" button to work 8-( - sorry)
Then simply:
1) Click the "Vote for your Park!" button.
2) Type the name of the park you'd like to vote for in the "Search" box in the upper left corner, and hit the Enter key. (You may also search for parks by state or zip code.)
3) Click on the red "Vote" button next to the name of the park you support.
On Hawai'i's Big Island, we have five national parks, including of course Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the only World Heritage Site in Hawai'i, plus 14 state parks - and all of them can use your votes!
In addition, for every vote cast, Coca-Cola will also donate $1 to the National Park Foundation up to a total donation of $200,000.
Please cast your votes today and spread the news to your friends, families and colleagues! Let's hope that one of our wonderful Hawai'i Island parks is selected as America's favorite and bestowed with this generous grant from the good people at Coca-Cola! Together we can make it happen! Warm aloha, George Applegate
Executive Director, Big Island Visitors Bureau

Gene Simmons, Kiss and the Military - priceless

2010-07-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Great Special Fares to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines

2010-07-07T15:46:00.001-07:00

Extended summer fares starting at $398* RT
Book your vacation TODAY!

Don't Let Summer Pass You By.
Book: July 7 - July 12, 2010
Travel: July 7 - August 22, 2010

Go to:

http://www.hawaiianair.com

DRAWING FOR A FREE WEEK AT THE CASTLE IN HAWAII

2010-06-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

The drawing for a free week starts tomorrow.
Please read the rules (you can scroll down or)
go to: http://castleinhawaii.blogspot.com/2010/06/drawing-for-free-week-at-castle-in_12.html

Good luck and a hui ho!

Thanks (Mahalo!) For Protecting Us

2010-06-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

Right now in appreciation for ALL civil servants (military, police, etc.) we are having a special promotion to celebrate the return of summer.

Book three or more nights and the suites are ONE HALF OFF!

Hey if they can put themselves in harm's way for us, we can give them a cheaper vacation. It's the least we can do.

All Hawaiian Airline folk - we appreciate the incredible service for over ten years so this offer applies to you as well.

CastleJohn IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR PROJECT

2010-06-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

CastleJohn (John Williams, builder of castles and sweetheart cottages) has just finished his current project.

In Kehena Beach - it's the brand new yellow house if you live in the neighborhood... and his clients are estatic!

He is now available for other projects... and YOUR vision... if you ask him why he built a castle... he says, "a man's home is his..." what's yours? Email or call him.

WHY? (people are asking "WHY are you giving it away?")

2010-06-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

There are a few reasons.

#1- It’s good business. To make a name and a reputation (and a brand) it’s GOOD to “give it away”. People LIKE to get things for free (I know we sure do). And a contest is exciting and fun. Something to look forward to. Also we hope to create a buzz about our service. We hope people will share their experience. We have a passion for what we do and LOVE connecting with people from all over the world and learning about them. We have a passion to serve!
And also (about giving), we believe you must give in order to receive. Didn’t your Mom always tell you that while you were growing up? We believe it’s a blessing to give AND to serve.

#2 - Supposedly social networking is the “thing” now. This is a test, this is only a test… does it work? We’ll see. There is a “tracking” device on the site so we have something to compare to. Call it an “experiment”. If you’d like to know how the “experiment” worked after the fact, we’d be glad to share, You can email castleinhawaii ( at ) hotmail ( dot ) com with “results of experiment” in the subject line. You will get a reply by 11/1/10.

And

#3 - We wanted to share our online grocery store. It's probably hard to get excited about groceries, but when you are saving so much...
We like to think “outside the box”… We know people are skeptical nowadays (we are too). But we found something so amazing we wanted to PROVE it and put our “money where our mouth” is. These groceries are “Cheaper to your door than going to the store.” We’re convinced that once people actually see the prices and savings of brands & things they are already buying, they will LOVE it. Who wants to pay more for something than you have to? Hence another blessing by adding something of value to peoples’ lives.

RULES FOR FREE WEEK DRAWING

2010-06-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

DRAWING FOR A FREE WEEK AT THE CASTLE IN HAWAII
GOAL – A MILLION EYEBALLS ON THE SITE
www.CastleInHawaii.com

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN

RULES

Eligibility: Drawing for a free week (FIVE DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS) at the castle in Hawaii is open to everyone, world-wide, 18 years of age or older. The Contest is null and void wherever prohibited by law. Officers, directors, and employees of Sponsor, as well as immediate family members and residents of their households are not eligible.

Promotion Period: Begins on June 28, 2010 and ends on October 1, 2010, at midnight HAWAII TIME.

LIMIT ONE (1) ENTRY per person/per email address EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO

#1 “FRIEND” us on Facebook (search: CastleInHawaii and request)
#2 “FOLLOW” our blog
#3 “FOLLOW” us on TWITTER AND TWEET: “CONTEST 4 FREE week http://www.castleinhawaii.com-Click on website, then click on blog (bottom left link) @CastleInHawaii”
Make sure you include the url of the tweet to your additional entry with the date and time of posting.
#4 POST THE LINK SOMEWHERE (A BLOG OR ON YOUR FACEBOOK) TO THE www.CastleInHawaii.com site.
POSTING: Make sure you write instructions to click on the “castle” link/site first and then on the blog link (for example: “FREE week at http://www.castleinhawaii.com CONTEST starts 6/28/10! Click on the website, then click on blog (bottom left link)”.
#5 BLOG ABOUT THE CASTLE/DRAWING ON YOUR BLOG.
Begin or end your post with: “FREE week at http://www.castleinhawaii.com CONTEST starts 6/28/10! Click on the website, then click on blog (bottom left link) for details.”
Make sure to include the url (link) where you posted the link on your additional entry. Participants MAY follow, post and tweet for additional entries PRIOR to the commencement of the promotion period (6/28/10) BUT MAY NOT enter until 6/28/10.
Any entries sent prior to 6/28/10 will be discarded and will not count. All postings/additional entries/links will be verified at the time of the drawing.

How to Enter: (By Email Only)
Send an Email to: Contest ( at ) CastleInHawaii ( dot ) com with the word: "ENTRY" in the subject line and in the body of the email:
First and Last Name:
Phone number with area code (indicate if the number is your home, work or cell):
Email address:
Twitter “handle” (if you have one):
Facebook url (how to find your page if you have one):
Snail mail address including zip code:
For additional entry only: link where you posted our link (to the Castle: http://castleinhawaii.com) or link to your tweet posting with date and time of your post.

Entrants must complete all required information as specified above
or entry will be deemed void.

Drawing: On or about 10/3/10, the Sponsor will draw one name from all entries submitted. There will be one winner who will be notified by phone and/or email and/or US mail.
Prize, Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) & Odds: One (1) Grand Prize: a week stay (four nights and five days) at the castle in Hawaii vacation rental. (ARV: $975).
No substitution, cash redemption or transfer of prize is permitted except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. All federal, state and local taxes, and all other costs associated with acceptance or use of the prizes, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Odds of winning prize depends on the number of entries received. Unclaimed prize will not be awarded, but sponsor reserves the right to re-post drawing to get a winner. Free week is not transferable. Accommodations subject to availability, winner must call before making travel plans. Reservation must be made by 12/31/11 and used by 12/31/13.

General Rules/Disclaimers: All federal, state and local laws apply. Winner will be required to call before making travel plans with exact date(s) needed, and then sign a Rental Confirmation agreement with all the details. After signing, if winner cancels reservation, no re-booking will be permitted. Winner may purchase additional nights to ADD to winning week only, at $100/night (half price). Winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and a Publicity Release within seven (7) days of attempted delivery or prize will be forfeited. The return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable or failure to return any documents in a timely manner may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be chosen. By participating, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor from and against any and all liability or damages associated with this Promotion or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize received in this Promotion. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer or administration of the Promotion. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for the Sponsor to use winner’s name and likeness for purposes of advertising and publicity without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. By participating in this Promotion, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, stolen, illegible, inaccurate, damaged, incomplete, non-delivered entries; or for printing, distribution or production errors or for technical, hardware, software, or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Promotion, or by any human, or other error, which may occur in this Promotion. If there is any suspected or actual evidence of tampering with any portion of the Promotion or if technical difficulties compromise the integrity of the Promotion, the Sponsor reserves the right to void suspect entries and/or modify and/or terminate the Promotion and/or conduct a random drawing to award the prize using all known eligible non-suspect entries received. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Promotion or Castle Website or acts in a disruptive manner. This Promotion is offered worldwide and is governed by the laws of the State of Hawaii. By entering, entrants irrevocably consent to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Hawaii located in the county of Hawaii for any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Promotion. By participating in this Promotion, participant waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages, attorneys’ fees or any damages. By participating in this Promotion, participants agree that they have read and agreed to these rules.
Sponsor: Castle Enterprises, Box 166, Pahoa, HI 96778

GOAL - A MILLION EYEBALLS ON www.CastleInHawaii.com

2010-06-11T17:51:00.001-07:00

Complete rules will be posted here BY Sunday 6/13/10

We're going to try to do a drawing and/or other fun and exciting things throughout the year so stay tuned... you can rss feed or send an email to CastleInHawaii (at) hotmail (dot) com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

interesting about the brain

2010-06-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

I cnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

gohawaii

2010-06-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

HAWAII BRINGS ITS BRAND OF SUMMER FUN TO LOS ANGELES WITH NINE EVENTS THROUGHOUT JUNE - Hawaii Shares Its Sights, Sounds, Fragrances, Flavors, and Aloha Spirit -
HONOLULU - The Islands of Hawaii will be sharing its style of summer fun with greater Los Angeles area residents throughout June with nine Hawaii-themed events showcasing the destination's unique culture and history, natural beauty, music and entertainment, culinary flavors, and familiar aloha spirit.

Under the theme, Perfect Moments in the Islands of Hawaii, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), with the support of its Island Chapters and industry partners on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Hawaii's Big Island, will charm Los Angeles residents with a month-long promotion proving there is so much more to experience in the Hawaiian Islands beyond beautiful palm-fringed tropical beaches and sunshine. Details of the events in Los Angeles can be found on HVCB's website at

http://www.gohawaii.com/perfect/blitz.html#/Lava

A Taste of Puna Cook Off

2010-04-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Calling all creative cooks to
Kea'au, Hawaii Calling All Cooks Logo

Kea'au Shopping Center announces the 13th Annual Cook-Off on Saturday, May 15th. “A Taste of Puna” is the brainchild of Carl Okuyama, owner of Puna Fresh Foods, to promote the goodness of the District of Puna, and showcase our products, creative tastes, talents, and Aloha Spirit. All foodies and entrepreneurs are invited to compete in this fun community event. For more info visit:
http://keaaushoppingcenter.com/calling_cooks.php

JAL

2010-04-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

PLEASE READ:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supporthawaii1

SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE - WE NEED JAPANESE TOURISTS!

THE COVE

2010-04-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yet again, a big mahalo to Oprah bringing awareness to the documentary THE COVE and the work this group is trying to do to stop the slaughter of dolphins:

http://www.savejapandolphins.org

.ws (stands for WebSite) GDI

2010-04-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Just got a .ws website and hope you will check it out!

http://castleinhawaii.ws

thank the military for protecting us

2010-04-12T13:55:00.001-07:00

Are you grateful we live in the U.S. in a democratic country?
Then say Mahalo to the service people. Warning - be ready for a "good" cry (not an "ugly" cry)

http://media.causes.com/576542?p_id=92681239

Whoever made this vid - GREAT JOB!

COMMENTS - PLEASE!

2010-04-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Not a fan of Obamacare?? Look what's coming up next!!

"CAP & TRADE" COMING TO YOUR HOME !

A License Required for your HOUSE?

If you own your home you really need to check this out. At the end of this email is the Google link to verify. If the country thinks the housing market is depressed now, wait until everyone sees this. No one will be buying homes in the future.

We encourage you to read the provisions of the Cap and Trade Bill that has passed the House of Representatives and are being considered by the Senate. We are ready to join the next march on Washington ! This Congress and their "experts" are truly out to destroy the middle class of the U.S.A.

A License will be required for your house...no longer just for cars and mobile homes....Thinking about selling your house? Take a look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and Trade bill). This is unbelievable! Home owners take note and tell your friends and relatives who are home owners!

Beginning one year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this "Cap & Trade" bill, passed by the House of Representatives. If it is also passed by the Senate, it will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced.

The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure that these voters will get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. And Mrs. Middle Class have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else..

But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house without some bureaucrat's OK. Yes, you read that right.

The caveat (there always is a caveat) is that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be required to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act, to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements.

Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label" in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner. If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell.

And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act. The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program (AKA the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") and is authorized to make any future changes to the regulations and standards he/she alone determines to be in the government's best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress. Then the Administrator can set new standards every year.

The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings. However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time. Sect.. 202 - Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America .

Beginning one year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with its energy and water efficiency standards. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (expen$ive) to meet in a few years. Oh, goody!

The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements IF you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as "can't have an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K", or anything else to target the upper middle class (that includes YOU?) and prevent you from qualifying for the grants.

Most of us won't get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More transfer of wealth, more "change you can believe in." Sect. 204 - Building Energy Performance Labeling Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act."

This means that within 5 years 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help the EPA. Some of this money will, of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year...

Oh, the label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label. And, just like your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often - maybe every year.

But, the government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only cost about $200 each time. Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they first started: that in California ? It would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate.

Expect the same from the home labeling program. Sect. 304 - Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d) that one year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2454

http://www.federalobserver.com/2009/10/01/thinking-about-selling-your-house-a-look-at-h-r-2454-cap-and-trade-bill/

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/oped_contributors/Cap-and-trade-is-a-license-to-cheat-and-steal-45371937.html

COMMENTS?

DR. WEIL'S TAKE ON MICROWAVING PLASTIC

2010-04-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

It's not uncommon to see people microwaving leftovers in plastic dishes, heating up meals in the plastic containers they come in, or placing plastic wrap over foods to protect the inside of a microwave from splatters. Is all this as innocent as it seems?

I don't think so. While plastic has many terrific uses, when it comes to cooking it should be avoided. DEHA [di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate], sometimes found in cling wrap, and other chemicals commonly found in plastic are potential endocrine disrupters, and can negatively influence hormonal activity. While studies are underway to better define the health risks associated with plastics, it is best to steer clear of using plastic and plastic wrap in the microwave, as the heat can drive plastic molecules into your food. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers and cover foods with waxed paper or a paper towel. I also suggest avoiding pre-packaged foods that come in cling wrap (if you purchase such products, transfer these items to a different storage container once you get home).

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air plans flights to Hawaii

2010-04-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

By Richard N. Velotta Friday, March 5, 2010 | 4:06 p.m.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air is going to Hawaii.

The airline’s parent company, Allegiant Travel Co., today announced plans to acquire six Boeing 757-200 twin-engine jets that would have the range to reach the Hawaiian Islands from western cities the airline currently serves.

Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said several details of the company’s plans haven’t been determined, such as what routes would be served. Allegiant hasn’t identified what airports it would use in Hawaii and it’s unclear whether the airline would offer flights between Las Vegas and the islands.

Squyres said the timetable for developing service would be based on certifications and regulatory approvals, but she expects details would be announced within a few months.

Western cities currently on Allegiant’s map include Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Maria, Fresno, Monterey, Oakland and Stockton, Calif.; Medford, Eugene and Bend, Ore.; Bellingham and Pasco, Wash.; and Mesa, Ariz., in addition to Las Vegas.

A release issued by the company said the six 757s are from a single fleet operated by a European company and Allegiant would take delivery of two of the planes within the next two months with the intent of beginning Hawaii service by the fourth quarter. One other plane would be delivered in November and the fourth in January with their use to begin in the first half of 2011. The final two jets would be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2011 and in service by the first half of 2012.

The aircraft will come equipped for extended twin-engine operations required for long overwater flights.

The company plans to spend between $75 million and $90 million through 2012 acquiring the jets and preparing them for service. Company officials said that while Allegiant is capable of making the acquisition with available cash, it plans to finance a portion of the purchase.

Allegiant has been anxious to enter the Hawaii market but couldn’t do it with its MD-80 jets, which don’t have the range to fly to the islands.

“Hawaii is the most prominent U.S. leisure destination currently unserved by Allegiant and our small-city customers have been requesting this service,” Maurice Gallagher, chairman and CEO of the airline, said in a statement. “We are very optimistic about our ability to exploit the large third-party ancillary revenue opportunity we believe exists in Hawaii. We expect the sale of hotels, rental cars and many attraction and activities popular with Hawaii visitors will provide a very meaningful contribution to the success of the service.”

“The 757 is a new aircraft type for Allegiant but we otherwise see this program as consistent with our existing business model,” added Allegiant President Andrew Levy. “This transaction will enable Allegiant to extend to Hawaii its strategy of serving large leisure destinations from smaller cities with no existing nonstop service.”

Initially introduced in 1983 by Boeing, the 757 is one of the largest narrow-body commercial jets and capable of holding between 186 and 279 passengers. About 1,000 of the jets are in operation. Delta Air Lines currently has the largest 757 fleet.

The company said the acquisition of the 757s would not affect Allegiant’s efforts to buy more MD-80s. The airline currently operates 46 MD-80s and will have 52 in service by the end of 2010 in addition to the first two 757s.

A Letter written by Richard Koob, Founder/Director, KALANI Oceanside Retreat Village

2010-04-04T16:19:00.001-07:00

Aloha Warren Lee and highway signage and bike path team.

We here at Kalani and many other residents in the area would like to improve the safety of 5 communities here in Puna Makai with 1200 lots and rapid population growth.

You’re familiar with our “roller coaster” ocean front scenic road, stretching from Kalapana to Kapoho.
The area with the greatest population is centered around Kehena beach. See attached map.
We’re requesting Public Work’s help with 3 important safety matters:

1. Methods to slow traffic along Hwy 137 and provide for safe pedestrian crossings. In particular Kalani requests a crosswalk at the Kalani entrance, and “Slow”, “Pedestrian Crossing” type signage and pavement markers. Kalani is non-profit educational, so qualifies for school-type safety designations.
2. A coastal bike/hike/walk/run path on the makai side of Hwy 137. The roll of the road results in limited views, creating a definite life risk for the increasing number of pedestrians and bicyclists. Just 2 miles of improvement, from the east edge of Kalani to the west edge of Kehena, would greatly reduce the risk for both locals and the visitors attracted to this beautiful preservation coast. Bicycle touring companies are increasingly using the road, as are moms with keiki and strollers!
3. County Water is overdue to the area. It’s been at Kikala Keokea subdivision for years. Only 3,000 feet more will bring it to Kehena Beach Lots, and 2 more miles stretches it along the coast to Kalani. Note 2 possible routes, shown on the attached map.

Richard Koob, Founder/Director, KALANI Oceanside Retreat Village

whales in hawaii on the big island

2010-04-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

Yippee... "FINALLY"... caught them on video and can share this 8-)

SWEETHEART COTTAGE

2010-03-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

THERE IS A $1,000 BOUNTY FOR WHOEVER SENDS US THE NEW OWNER/BUYER!
PLEASE PASS THIS ON, SHARE THIS LINK!

The sweetheart cottage is being re-listed for … $295,000

Details about the house:
• BRAND NEW, Custom-built, many special and unique details (cabinet handles, stained glass)
• 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms (includes master bath)
• 1200 square feet living space inside
• 300 square feet lanai
• 8,000 square foot lot
• High vaulted cathedral ceilings
• All new fixtures & energy efficient appliances (stove/oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, ceiling fans)
• Kitchen has stainless steel sink and garbage disposal
• 50 (FIFTY) year manufacturer warranty on roof
• Marble floors throughout
• Cupola for maximum air circulation
• Huge garage/workshop
• Security system (monthly monitoring not included)
• Secluded! Nestled in an enchanted forest with singing frogs about a mile and a half from a gorgeous black sand beach that is home to a pod of 30-40 dolphins
This home would be ideal as an investment property or vacation rental as a honeymoon cottage.

Link to pictures of the home:

http://picasaweb.google.com/castleinhawaiijohn/SweetheartCottage082607?authkey=Av6-VIhR5zA#

The Area - Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Hilo side, Lower Puna, Pahoa, subdivision: Kalapana Seaview
This area has something for everyone. See a list of area attractions and activities.

OR Rent-To-Own
Terms
Lease Period: 3 years
Rent Amount: $1600
Purchase Price: $295
Rent Credit: $400 per month will be credited to you when you buy the home (Total of $14,400 @ 3 years).

To move into the home, you must have:
1. First Month’s Rent
2. Security Deposit (Equal to one month’s rent)
3. Option Payment ($30k)

***Both the Option Payment & Rent Credit will be credited to you when you buy the home...BUILD EQUITY WHILE YOU RENT!!!
****You have the right to purchase the home at any time during the lease period.
*****Major Credit Cards accepted thru PayPal (ADD 3% fee)

SERVICES FOR GREYBEARD - Kalapana Seaview lost an old and dear friend

2010-03-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Funeral Services for Greybeard will be at Greybeard’s Beach.
Meet at the mailboxes at 9 a.m. Sunday the 21st.
A Memorial Celebration of his life will be held at the Seaview Pavilion at 1 p.m. Sunday the 21st.
Please bring a favorite desert or vegetarian pupu to share with friends…
A sad time for Seaview….we lost an old friend….now to celebrate his life!!
Please pass this on to all on your Seaview mailing list….
Aloha o’e Greybeard…..

S.P.A.C.E. - Belly Acres

2010-03-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

Author: Graham Ellis

The Community Relations Meeting at SPACE has been rescheduled for Saturday March 6th at 10 am Please come and tell friends of SPACE as well as those who have concerns and issues. We want to hear you all.
Sorry, but there will be no Farmers Market until we get our Cease and Desist order revoked.
Thanks for all the wonderful supportive comments.
(you can go to Big Island Chronicle to see all the comments, search: space)

S.P.A.C.E. - Belly Acres

2010-02-24T18:17:00.000-08:00

A letter from Graham Ellis:

MAKING GOVERNMENT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY!

The Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education (SPACE) serves lower Puna as a multi purpose community center that hosts a Charter School, a farmers market, a night bazaar, arts classes, special performances and community meetings. We serve residents from Leilani to Kehena to Kapoho – and if you love what we do or have had a family member who has been lifted by our activities, programs or performances, please read on. This is an urgent request for your help.

Because SPACE provides services and activities beyond the Special Use Permit we were granted by Hawai`i County in 2001, we are in “non-compliance” with a number of government rules and regulations. We are challenged with making significant changes to our Special Use Permit and getting those changes approved by the Planning Commission to again be compliant. We’ve worked hard to make SPACE’s operations sustainable and energy efficient, but we don’t have anywhere near the additional capital necessary to implement the necessary changes. The harsh reality is that the tough economy means that grant funding and widespread belt tightening spells doom for small grassroots organizations like ours that do not have the financial resources to fulfill County requirements.

The original permit for SPACE activities was based on a vision for a community arts center that provided a home for the Hiccup Circus. However, motivated by the need for more local services, the facility has evolved over time to provide a variety of functions that enrich our community. We need your help to let the County know that the many services we now provide at SPACE are in the best interests of our community – and moreover, satisfy a need that the County (and other governmental bodies) has been unable or unwilling to provide to lower Puna residents. Sadly, SPACE is threatened with censure and possibly closure if the County refuses to modify the Special Use Permit.

If sustainability as a goal has any meaning at all, it must embrace community-based, community-run efforts to strengthen the social and economic fabric of their neighborhoods. One solution is for government agencies to be flexible - but will they?

The dilemma SPACE faces now is not likely to be unique to other Big Island communities that have taken matters in their own hands to provide essential activities and facilities for their neighborhoods. This is especially true when government agencies are unwilling or unable to use our tax dollars for these essential services. Can our government respond to the needs of a legitimate community asset that serves the public, promotes sustainability, and buffers residents of lower Puna from the harmful effects of the great recession? I’ve observed that if the people speak loudly enough, the government can be made to listen. For that, we must look to our base as a grassroots community organization and to our service to you.

SPACE is the creation of a grassroots community development movement that meets the changing aspirations and needs of our community. To better understand, let’s take a brief look how this unlikely movement began. I moved to Hawaii in 1981 and have now lived 23 years on the same parcel of land in lower Puna. I’ve worked most of my adult life in education and community development, most notably in the 20 years I spent as founder and director of the Hiccup Circus. You may not know that H.I.C.C.U.P. actually stands for Hawaii Island Community Circus Unity Project. For years, the HICCUP circus project has been employing a technique called “artistic intervention” using circus arts to educate and inspire hundreds of Hawaii’s children with workshops, camps, festivals and performances throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Our work has always been about bringing people together to facilitate harmonious and sustainable living, while we try to produce miracles on a shoe-string budget.

Community involvement has always been a priority for me. I’ve served on several community boards and presently serve as President of the Board for Hawaii’s Volcano Circus, the group that manages both SPACE and the Village Green Society Ltd, which owns the property. Both are 501 IRS non-profit organizations founded by 35 professional performers and run primarily by volunteers. The Village Green Society operates as a land trust and has leased approximately 2.5 acres of its land to the SPACE community center for $1 a year for 40 years.

Times change, and our aspirations and needs change similarly. When we started in 1987, the stated vision of Hawaii’s Volcano Circus was to organize a company of performance artists and to build and operate a cultural and educational center. The mission, until we opened SPACE, was “to promote the healthy development of our community and children using circus arts.” In January of 2008 - just after SPACE opened - our Board acknowledged the growing needs of our rapidly expanding community, and amended the organization’s mission statement “to creatively promote sustainable local community in Puna Makai”

Yes, times do change. In March of 1987 when l moved to Seaview Estates, there were only 10 occupied homes and a wild assortment of residents. With 933 empty lots we knew we had to prepare for some serious changes in the upcoming years. In order to improve living conditions and to establish an organization for creating community facilities, we started having residents and owners meetings. I was elected the first President of the Board for the Kalapana Seaview Estates Community Association in 1990 and was responsible for meeting with the Bankruptcy Trustee Judge in Oahu and the transfer of power and authority to the newly formed Board at Seaview.

One of my first tasks was to work with Chris Yuen, our attorney, to create the articles of incorporation and original by-laws for Kalapana Seaview Estates Community Association. In this process it became obvious to us all that whilst the original Seaview Developer had promised considerable community facilities to prospective lot buyers, nothing would happen unless we did it ourselves. We could see even then that the County would not have the funds to support us. That is one thing that has not changed.

From this time, l persevered with our intention to build a community arts facility.

In 1998, l started the three-year agonizing process of obtaining a Special Use Permit which was granted by the County Planning Commission in October 2001. The next five years were spent fundraising. Through the work of the Hiccup Circus we slowly and very painstakingly raised about $38,000 locally and then in 2005 had a gracious offer of a $250,000 challenge grant, which required us to match the funding. Dollar by dollar and in-kind pledge by pledge we managed to meet the challenge thanks to the depth of our community support in Puna and East Hawaii.

Between the issuance of our Special Permit in 2001 and the construction of SPACE in 2007, our lower Puna community experienced a rapid and dramatic growth in population, which increased the need and urgency for SPACE to offer more than just “a home for the circus.”

I freely admit that in 1999 when we started our special permit application, we never envisioned that SPACE would become a community center offering the wide scope of services we currently provide. We never proposed having a farmers market, a school, community meetings, weddings, memorials services, or a night bazaar. We only envisioned presenting performances for our members, not the general public. All along the way things changed, the world changed.

Our present permit does not allow us to do some of the activities we presently host at SPACE – we do them because our community says they want them, because it promotes a local sustainable community and because we all have no other place to go. I truly believe that in the coming years the web of exchanges along with the sharing and connection that is happening at SPACE will have a profound and positive impact on the welfare of all the residents of our community. Many of you have told me that SPACE has already provided such an impact in just two years.

Now we need your help. For each of you who wants this community center to flourish and continue to serve the people of Puna Makai, please stand up and speak out so that all our county and state officials hear how important SPACE and other similar centers are to the health of our community. And if this is not your district - please remember that this could also happen to your community-based organizations and affect your own local services, so please support positive government response to community-based initiatives.

Please attend the:

FEB 27^th Community Realtions Meeting at SPACE at 12.30 p.m. and the

MARCH 5^th Town Hall Meeting, at Puna Hongwanji in Kea’au at 5 p.m.

Thank you and aloha!

Graham Ellis

WAIPIO VALLEY-TAKEN BY FRAN GOLDSTEIN

2010-02-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

A BATHROOM CASTLEJOHN HAS CREATED

2010-01-26T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is a mosaic of rocks collected over the last 8-10 years... who knew?
The windows are jalousie, rainbow colors inspired by church.
More pix coming.

MORE PIX BY FRAN GOLDSTEIN

2010-01-19T22:52:00.000-08:00

WOW can't wait for these bananas to be ready to be picked.

Look at all the blossoms on this mango tree.

This is a pink banana (never seen one before).

Coffee of course.

AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER FRAN GOLDSTEIN

2010-01-19T22:24:00.000-08:00

Fran and Larry Goldstein just left and left us with a slew of the most gorgeous pix of our gorgeous island. We are soooooooooooo grateful!

whales in hawaii on the big island

2010-01-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

Funny story... last night 1 am... we hear what we thought were "gunshots" (pop pop pop) well lots of them, like ten, enough to wake us up. We're poised to call the police... then it stops. We wait, then it starts again. Well, it's unlikely someone would shoot "so many" times... then we hear a LOUD groan and water spouting! Yup, it's the whales! They are certainly more active this year than in the last ten years! We see them just about two times a day (am and pm)... we are blessed to be able to share this gorgeous island paradise with such magnificent beings and to be so close to them.

BRUCE & CAROLINE OUR NEIGHBORS

2009-12-26T17:23:00.000-08:00

This morning at 9am Bruce decided it was "time" after a year long battle with a brain tumor. He was the sweetest man and best neighbor. Caroline and Bruce had been together over THIRTY years. Our thoughts and prayers are with her during her time of grieving.

RAY'S A DAD!

2009-12-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

NAIA'S ANIMAL CANDID SHOTS

2009-12-23T00:02:00.001-08:00

Princess & Merlin:
"Hey, don't bug us, we're busy here"

Bruiser "Eeewwww"

"Did someone call me to protect them?
Here I come!"

more pix by naia rae - mosaic

2009-12-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

more pix by naia rae - jacuzzi

2009-12-22T22:50:00.001-08:00

MORE PIX BY NAIA RAE - BREEZEWAY KITCHEN

2009-12-22T22:10:00.001-08:00

NEW PIX BY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER NAIA RAE FOX

2009-12-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

Bodywork

2009-12-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

I meant to mention we have some of the best "practitioners" of bodywork right in our area.

Stephanie is awesome. John is great. Too many to even list! So I apologize for that.

Michael is unbelievable if you are in pain. He specializes in Thai massage and is the head of the massage department at our neighbor resort.

So many other talented people. I am happy to recommend and refer them and most are willing to come to our rooms for our guests - a big Mahalo for that!

WHALE JUST PASSED BY!

2009-12-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

Our guest Cathy from Vancouver BC just saw a whale passing by the castle!
By the time she found her camera it was gone.
Cathy wrote in our guest book:
"The weather was better than I expected! I thought it would rain every day but it was sunny and very warm. The castle is stunningly designed. From the drawbridge to the bed (John built). I like the outdoor shower. It adds to the feel of living on a tropical island."
She leaves us tomorrow and we will be sorry to see her go. 8-(
Safe flight Cathy.

last but not least pix of the lanai at the castle cont.

2009-12-10T15:54:00.001-08:00

last but not least pix of the lanai at the castle

2009-12-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

more pix of the rooms at the castle - inside a suite

2009-12-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

drawers are built in UNDER the bed

view of a suite from both sides...

pix of rooms at the castle - front door entering a suite

2009-12-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

I AM NOT (I repeat NOT) a photographer, however, one shall come shortly and take "real" pix... for now I'm posting this cuz EVERYONE wants to see the rooms (the website: www.CastleInHawaii.com shall be updated on the amenities page when this happens!)