Kauai News & Information

HONOLULU (AP) _ The state is getting more than (m) million dollars in emergency federal funds to repair roads damaged by 42 straight days of rain in February and March.
Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye said in a news release issued by his Washington office that the money will be used for Kuhio Highway on Kauai and other roads on Oahu.
Inouye says most of the significant repair work to Kuhio Highway has been completed. He says only minor pavement work still needs to be done.
The emergency funds were authorized by the U-S Department of Transportation. They will reimburse the state for expenses related to damage caused by the heavy rainfall and flooding.

The U.S. military says despite its sonar restrictions this time around, the RIMPAC training in Hawaii waters this month was a success.
About 20,000 people from eight countries participated in the RIMPAC war games off Oahu and Kauai.
Yesterday all 35 ships came back to shore, signaling the end of their mission.
Today U.S. leaders say besides working on tactical skills, the sailors and marines learned a lot about communicating with their allies.
“We formed great relationships with our partner nations in this exercise, relationships that are critical to the future security in this region,” said Commodore Bruce Donaldson with the Canadian Pacific Fleet.
But not everyone was satisfied with this year’s exercises. Environmentalists protested RIMPAC’s use of sonar.
Several groups filed a lawsuit and got the military to change the way it uses sonar to avoid hurting marine mammals.
Then, an explosion off Ewa Beach raised controversy because the military never warned the fire department it was going to set off explosives in the area.

Hawaii is coming off a record year in terms of visitor numbers. Business, law enforcement and tourism officials gathered today to discuss ways of keeping those visitors safe.
An island vacation can go sour in a hurry if a visitor is scammed or robbed. These visitor industry, business and law enforcement officials are meeting with one goal in mind – to prevent that from happening. But if it does, the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii is there to help the visitor.
“Because they have no support mechanism, infrastructure or people to rely on while they’re here as opposed to local residents who do have family and friends that they can go to,” says Warren Ferreira, Outrigger Security.
More and more visitors are traveling to the neighbor islands. And there may be a tendency for them to feel safer in a less populated setting.
“It’s a blessing to know that people feel very safe in Kauai but at the same time we just want to make sure that, as best as possible, try and do the things that would make you safe at any destination but specifically Kauai,” says Susan Kanoho, Kauai Visitors Hawaii.
During the conference, businesses, hotel operators, hotel security personnel were reminded of warnings they need to pass on to visitors. Warren Ferreira, head of security for Outrigger hotels, says there is a fine line that must be walked.
“The concept that we’ve taken is that what we want to do is really warn without really alarming the guests and the warnings run the gamut of not leaving your property unattended on the beach to be careful when you go swimming,” says Ferreira.
There is a ray of sunshine in this conference.
“All of the crime categories are on a downward trend from 2002 to 2006 so obviously based on those statistics the problems are getting better,” says Ferreira.
“Yeah, we’re very happy about that and I really think it’s due to the collaboration of all the organizations and the law enforcement coalition – as well as the business community,” says Jan Yamane, Waikiki Business Improvement District.

It’s not the sandy beaches or dramatic mountain peaks or perfect weather that keeps luring me back to the island of Kauai.
It’s the colors.
The blue is first to command my attention. Kauai’s sky and sea blend in a spectrum of cobalt and azure, turquoise and ultramarine. At times there is so much blue on the horizon, you can’t tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins.
Vivid greens come next in Kauai’s pageantry of color. In each of my three visits to the island, I’ve stayed on its wet north shore, where the jagged emerald slopes of the Na Pali Coast hug the sea. Tourists like me flock to the verdant Hanalei Valley to capture its picture-perfect patchwork of jade agricultural fields. And at the beaches, it’s easy to find a bit of shade beneath leafy green naupaka trees and Ironwood pines.
Not that the countless tropical blooms on Hawaii’s northernmost island get lost amid all this blue and green. As I drive along the Kuhio Highway, the colors of red, pink, yellow, and orange appear on every roadside. I spy them in the flowers of hibiscus trees, the fragrant blossoms of the plumeria and the bouquets on the bougainvillea. Even the feral roosters that roam Kauai are streaked with iridescent plumage.
All these rich colors confirm Kauai’s reputation as Hawaii’s “Garden Isle.” During my most recent visit to the north shore, I sought out some concentrated dosages of color at two local botanical gardens.
`Makana’ Means `Gift’
My botanical sightseeing started at Limahuli Garden and Preserve in the village of Haena. While most Kauai tourists venture this far north for the caves, the snorkeling and the start of the Kalalau Trail, Limahuli Garden should not be overlooked.
Over the years, I have visited this National Tropical Botanical Garden three times – not so much for the plants but for the atmosphere. At Limahuli’s highest point, you can look to the right and see miles of blue Pacific Ocean. Look to the left, and be overwhelmed by the towering green cliffs of Makana Mountain, more commonly known as “Bali Hai.”
There are no sounds of civilization here – just the tradewinds, the birds and the rushing of water from nearby Limahuli Stream. No wonder the Hawaiian word for “makana” means “gift.”
For $15, I took Limahuli’s self-guided tour, which begins in front of some ancient lava rock terraces. This is where I got a close-up look at leaves of taro, or kalo. The purple potato plant is an important part of the Hawaiian diet – poi comes from mashed taro roots.
All the featured vegetation in Limahuli’s 17 acres is nicely spaced, clearly labeled and numbered for reference in a guide booklet. Well-designed paths lined with gravel, stairs and railings make the uphill climbs easy.
The garden’s first steep hill led me to a grove of screwpines, or hala. These unusual Hawaiian trees are easy to identify by their elevated roots, which form a triangle. Female hala trees bear a fruit resembling a pineapple, often referred to as “tourist pineapple.” According to the guide booklet, ancient Hawaiians used hala leaves to weave sails, baskets and interior flooring. I used this canopy of hala leaves to escape a sudden burst of rainfall, a frequent occurrence on the north shore.
After I had wandered past about a dozen native species and a few tourists, a peculiar plant caught my eye. It looked like a cabbage on top of a baseball bat. The label said it is called alula, an endangered Hawaiian plant saved from extinction by Limahuli Garden’s botanists. Ancient Hawaiians apparently used alula as signal horns after hollowing out the trunks.
I spent about 1½ hours at Limahuli, walking at a leisurely pace. I grew to appreciate the garden’s many benches, thoughtfully placed in spots with the prettiest vistas. I rested, admired the colors and contemplated what it would take to have a permanent life in paradise.
`Lands By The Sea’
For all that Limahuli Garden offers in natural Hawaiian flora, the Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kilauea doubles in dramatic man-made landscaping and horticulture.
Everything about this pristine 240-acre property is big and otherworldly. Orchids tied to random tree limbs seem to grow everywhere. Turn a corner and be suddenly delighted with a wistful and/or whimsical bronze sculpture.
There are more than 70 sculptures on exhibit in 13 distinct gardens, not to mention a beach, a meadow and hardwood plantation of 60,000 teak and mahogany trees.
Na ‘Aina Kai means “Lands by the Sea” in Hawaiian. It is the creation of Ed & Joyce Doty, two Californians who moved to Kauai in 1982. As their gardening and landscaping hobbies expanded, the Dotys eventually made the property a not-for-profit entity. Guided tours, gifts and the sale of the hardwoods help subsidize the cost of maintaining such a huge tract of flora.
With my 5-year-old daughter in tow, I joined Na ‘Aina Kai’s two-hour family walking tour. The guided excursion began, oddly enough, in a dry international desert garden.
Had we been magically transported to the Sahara? I wouldn’t think a cactus could survive all the rain and moisture on Kauai’s north shore. But a huge array of succulents and cacti from around the world seemed to thrive in the artificially arid conditions.
A romantic palm garden came next, where we beheld the “King Kong” of the palm world – a 50-foot-tall Talipot tree. The green leaves of this monster Sri Lankan species have a 15-foot span. And when this massive tree flowers, its one bloom can grow up to 10 feet tall. Our tour guide called it “palm on steroids.”
Then we wandered through an enormous hedge maze. More than 2,400 mock orange plants form the maze, planted in the shape of a royal Poinciana tree. Unexpected topiaries and sculptures lay in wait around every turn.
We skipped across the footbridges of a 1.5 million-gallon lagoon and fed dozens of bright orange koi living in the water. Much to my daughter’s delight, the friendly fish ate right out of our hands.
Our tour eventually ended inside a wonderful Under the Rainbow children’s garden. Open since 2005, this garden’s centerpiece is a 16-foot bronze Jack and the Beanstalk fountain that feeds a wading pool.
My daughter and I splashed in the blue water, ran through a gecko-shaped garden maze, explored a kid-sized jungle and climbed a gigantic wooden tree house. Na ‘Aina Kai was a “Neverland” neither of us wanted to leave.
When we got back to reality outside the garden gates, I had some color of my own to take home – a cache of really great photographs and a slight sunburn.

Hanapepe’s Storybook Theatre is a popular venue for kid-oriented activities. Locals are proud of Hanapepe’s vintage architecture. (Carol Bain/Lonely Planet Images )
Driving along Kauai’s southwestern coast, a sign points to Hanapepe: “KAUAI’S BIGGEST LITTLE TOWN.” Huh? Hanapepe barely tops 2,000 residents and lacks even a single stoplight. I’m curious, so I veer onto the town’s sole commercial street, Hanapepe Road.
Located inland, Hanapepe is no surf town. Rather, it resembles the Wild West, with retro wooden buildings and dusty roads baking under the sun. On a weekday, I feel I’m the sole visitor to a ghost town or a Hollywood set. Indeed, Hanapepe substituted for the Australian outback in the TV miniseries “The Thorn Birds,” for the Filipino Olongapo City in the movie “Flight of the Intruder” and for an iconic Hawaiian town in Disney’s animated movie “Lilo and Stitch.”
But behind the quaint facades are 15 art galleries, plus a handful of longtime shops and restaurants. The best time to visit: Friday Art Night, when Hanapepe throws a town party with live music. Galleries take turns hosting the free event and stay open till 9 p.m.
Locals are proud of Hanapepe’s vintage architecture, which includes more than 40 sites that meet State or Federal National Historic Register criteria. I can appreciate the old buildings after snagging a copy of Hanapepe’s colorfully detailed Walking Tour Map ($2, or use the free coupon from This Week Kauai, a widespread freebie guide).
Most galleries are artist-owned, letting you meet the artists face to face. For traditional Hawaiian themes, visit Koa Wood Gallery, which features classic woodworking (admire the gleaming $2,000 rocking chair), and Kauai Fine Arts, with antique maps and prints, plus rare Niihau shell jewelry. The Art of Marbling showcases exquisite, vividly dyed silks – wearable art, including an affordable $40 square scarf.
If you prefer spending under $20 for a souvenir, go to Banana Patch Studio for terra-cotta coasters with petroglyph or tiki designs (two for $12) or hand-painted hanging tiles (from $17). The ones stating “Please remove your shoes” are ubiquitous across Hawaii. Remember, it’s a local custom to go barefoot indoors.
A visit to Hanapepe is incomplete without two stops: First, walk across the town’s Swinging Bridge, a short-but-sweet suspension bridge over Hanapepe River. Don’t expect a massive Capilano Suspension Bridge. Think backyard-y, neighborhood-y, old-time landmark.
Second, savor homemade chips at Taro Ko Chips Factory (808-335-5586). Calling the one-room kitchen a factory is an exaggeration, but don’t let the dilapidated building fool you. Elderly, diminutive Mrs. Nagamine, who still fries sliced taro (and potato and purple sweet potato) in giant cauldrons at dawn, puts the mass-produced stuff to shame.
If you’re wondering why Hanapepe has remained so untouched by the tourism rampant elsewhere on Kauai, here’s the
backstory: In the early 1800s, Hanapepe was a thriving, taro-farming, Native-Hawaiian community. But Hanapepe’s native population declined from introduced diseases, and by 1870 only a small village remained. In the late 1800s, Hanapepe became a haven for the sugar-plantation malcontents, including labor-union organizers and restless laborers who started small businesses or farms.
In the early 1900s, Hanapepe was a bustling commercial center, popular for military R & R, but in the late 1930s, Lihue became the island’s shipping, business and political seat. Hanapepe declined further when the main highway bypassed the town center.
Today Hanapepe is reinventing itself as an artists’ colony and tourist stop. Swing by on your way toward Waimea Canyon or after swimming at nearby Salt Pond Beach Park. Or visit after a bird’s-eye tour with Inter-Island Helicopters (800-656-5009; $185-250), which flies open-door choppers.
Hanapepe adopted the “biggest little town” moniker to attract passersby. On one hand, I hope the town is bustling every day, not only on Friday nights. On the other, I want Hanapepe to remain a sleepy, small-town secret. Unlike the island’s showy attractions, from the lush Na Pali Coast to world-famous golf courses, Hanapepe offers an insider’s peek of Kauai.

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) _ Kauai launched its new “Kauai Made” logo _ a marker to adorn products made on Kauai by the island’s people using Kauai materials.
The event resulted from a three-year push by Mayor Bryan Baptiste and Kauai’s Office of Economic Development to promote Kauai businesses.
Those that qualify may place on their products a circular purple and green logo featuring a pair of hands holding a package wrapped in a ti leaf. The mark is designed to symbolize a hookupu, or an offering of an honored gift in traditional Hawaiian custom.
The county developed the mark because it wanted to capitalize on the fact that more than 80 percent of tourists visiting the island shop specifically for Kauai products.
Studies show an average Kauai tourist spends 150 dollars a day shopping, creating a potential 19 (m) million industry for Kauai-based retailers and vendors.

Kauai residents are hoping you can help them restore a national treasure.
Don McConnell called our “Talk Story” phone line to share with us his dream to one day see the restoration of the Kilauea Lighthouse.
The lighthouse on Kaua’i's north shore helped guide mariners traveling from the orient to Honolulu in 1913.
Now, it sees about a half million visitors each year.
McConnell says, time and the harsh marine environment are taking a toll on the lighthouse and adjacent structures.
“The station is 100 years old and a lot of things have been done to it over the years that make it no longer historic as it could be so we’d like to restore it. We need about a million and a half dollars in total,” said McConnell.
The group has applied for a grant which will provide a significant amount of funding for the restoration.
They hope to raise the rest of the money with the help from the community.
Concerned citizens on Kaua’i have started a fund drive to restore the Kilauea Lighthouse.

HONOLULU (AP) _ Illegal tobacco sales to minors under the age of 18 remain low throughout the state.
That’s according to a survey by the state Health Department’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division.
Earlier this year, federally mandated annual inspections were conducted of retail outlets to determine the extent of illegal sales of tobacco products to youths.
Teams composed of volunteers, ages 15 to 17, and adult observers visited a random sample of 221 stores where the youths attempted to buy cigarettes.
The department says just 13 stores sold to the minors.
The noncompliance rate was nine-point-seven percent on the Big Island, seven-point-four percent for Maui County and five-point-three percent for Oahu. No stores on Kauai sold cigarettes to the youths.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center is not the only agency in town gearing up as Daniel heads our way.
State Civil Defense workers are now on 24 hour watch as Daniel approaches.
Many may be breathing a sigh of relief that Daniel is weakening, but even as a tropical storm, Daniel could do some damage.
And that is why the State is preparing for the worst.
Daniel is days away from our islands and weakening, but its now, the State is stepping up preparations for the storm.
“Were not taking this storm lightly even though it should be downgraded to a tropical storm,” said Ed Teixeira from State Civil Defense.
Because even a tropical storm could have a serious impact on the islands.
“When it comes to tropical storm force winds – 39 miles an hour – most runway operations will be shut down,” Teixeira explained.
Air travel may not be the only thing Daniel may disrupt. This storm will create rough seas and high surf for eastern shores.
“It’s going to affect inter island navigation – barge operations, ships at harbors,” added Teixeira.
In addition to planning for possible evacuations and checking the status of shelters, the State is also preparing for the worst that could happen from this storm.
Our public needs to be aware of power outages from trees and telephone poles,” Teixeira said “So that’s why they need to have a disaster kit out to about three days.
“I’d say I have a lot of things, but it’s not put together in a bag or so to take with us” Montalbo explained.
But at City Mill, store employees say many wait until the last minute to stock up for a storm.
They need essentials like non-perishable food, water, flashlights and batteries.
But those who have lived thru hurricanes have learned the importance of preparing for the worst.
“We found that, when we lived on Kauai, we were 45 days without water. And so that was a real strain on us that we were not prepared for,” Montalbo said. “Forty-five days without water is a long time.”

HONOLULU (AP) _ The state has received one (m) million dollars in federal funds to help reduce pollution and sewage in small board harbors on Kauai and Maui.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources says the money comes from the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service Clean Vessel Act Pump-out Grant Program.
The funds will be used to design and construct pump-out improvements at Kauai’s Port Allen and Maui’s Maalaea Small Boat Harbor.
Some of the money will be used to educate boaters about the importance of proper waste disposal and the consequences of improper disposal.
In an effort to reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges, Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 to establish the grant program administered by the service.