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To Kids & Pets
I hope this letter finds you in good health and enjoying life.
This issue has always been one of my favorites. I suppose because of the immense joy that keiki bring to their families and their significant impact on their communities.
Children are not merely the hope for a brighter tomorrow but the foundation upon which our society stands. Their innocence, curiosity, and boundless potential have the power to shape the world in ways we can only imagine. Kids represent our hardest work and greatest investment. We are stoked to highlight the comeback of the Little League for our keiki. This also turns our attention to the importance of our parks on the Big Island and how they play a vital role in a child's development.
We are proud to feature some books from our local writers for the Kona Coast. John-Mark Dyer and Matias Arredondo have both written kids' books. If you are a parent or grandparent, let’s show them some support and order some of their books! You will love them.
Secondarily, who could forget pets? This special companionship can be a transformative experience for children and adults alike. Pets provide unconditional love and the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop essential life skills in a nurturing environment. And who could ignore the bond between keiki and their furry or feathery friends? The bond is often deep and meaningful, fostering empathy, responsibility, and companionship.
We are excited to feature a local round-up of several organizations that work hard to care for these precious pets. Humane Society, Aloha ‘Īio, AdvoCats, and Rainbow Friends are known by many who own pets and animals. Margaret Kearns writes beautifully about these wonderful organizations.
Although children are of infinitely more value, what children and pets share in common is that they need us. Our care, attention, and intention shape their upbringing and who they become. We hope this issue inspires you to pour a little extra into the children and pets in your life this month.
Cheers!
TAYLOR STUTTS, PUBLISHER @KONACOASTMAGAZINE
August 2024
PUBLISHERS
Johnny Gillespie | Johnny.gillespie@citylifestyle.com
Margaret Kearns, Samantha Arredondo, Bethany Reid, Stephanie Daniels
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Andrew Hreha, Fletch Photography, CommunityEats, John Newcomb, Liam Tattersall
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
Proverbs 3:5-6
inside the issue
Building Connections With Your Child
The
West Side Hawai’i Little League
These
Mission Possible!
Engaging Hawai’i Island, animal welfare groups here are dedicated to raising awareness and saving lives
Local Children’s Books Authors
Q&A
Lava Light Galleries
The Lava Light Galleries have been around for about fifteen years on the Big Island. Started by CJ Kale and Nick Selway, our first “gallery” was a kiosk open at night in downtown Kailua-Kona. In 2013, Don and Linda Hurzeler joined the gallery, and we opened our beautiful showcase gallery in the Queen’s Market Place at Waikoloa on the Big Island. LavaLightGalleries.com
Photography by Lava Light Galleries
Monica Ament
Interior Design
Let your home tell your story. There is not one space alike because those who live inside them cannot be replicated. Every fabric, every curve of a chair, and every piece of art tells a story of who you are and where you have traveled. We design spaces to complement the architecture of your home & your very personal and unique lifestyle. MonicaAment.com.
Eye Center of Hawai’i
We consider it a privilege to be entrusted with your care. Our mission is to help you enjoy life to the fullest by protecting, preserving, and restoring the most precious gift — the gift of sight. We offer an extensive offering of medical and surgical treatments so that we can better serve our patients. We evaluate your needs and determine the appropriate treatment method that most ensures your ability to see. EyeCenterOfHawaii.com.
Photography by Fletch Photography
Photography by Monica Ament
True Eye-land Care
For 26 years Dr. Bennett has fought for eye health in the islands and Anu Nullar is taking that legacy to new horizons.
ARTICLE BY SAMANTHA ARREDONDO PHOTOGRAPHY BY FLETCH PHOTOGRAPHY
You wake up one day to find a blurry spot right in the center of your vision. No matter what you do, it won’t go away. Instead, it gradually grows larger and darker. For many living on the islands, it may take months to be seen and get a diagnosis, by which time, it can often be too late, but the Eye Center of Hawaii (ECoH) is on a mission to change that.
Chief Executive Officer of ECoH, Anu Nullar, is familiar with the difficulties of healthcare access. Native Hawaiian, Anu grew up on a coffee and mac nut farm 40 miles south of KailuaKona and attended Ho’okena Elementary. It wasn’t the easiest place to grow up, things like television and running water weren’t a given during her childhood, let alone regular and consistent medical care. “Access to health care (in the islands) is … unacceptable is the only way I can put it,” says Anu.
Like so many people who grow up in small towns, it was hard for her to imagine having a meaningful impact. Still, after graduating from Konawaena High in 1995, she studied at the University of Hawai’i, Hilo, before leaving for job opportunities on O’ahu, like much of the youth from our outer islands.
Young’s practice, originally named Eye Center of Hawai’i was brought under the umbrella of Dr. Bennett’s Institute; it was the start of something new for both, the organization and for Anu. “The growth has been exponential since then, and it's been an amazing journey for me personally, as well,” says Anu. With the encouragement and mentoring of Dr. Bennett, over the next years, Anu went from helping to check in patients, to Director of Operations, to eventually becoming COO. All while they expanded to both Hilo and Maui.
This was a big step for her, as she freely admits struggling with the visibility of her new position and the voice it gave her. Especially back then, she says, “We’re taught as girls — especially being a native Hawaiian — we should be seen and not heard.”
For years, she worked in various medical offices and even project managing construction, putting her degree in business administration to good use. Then in 2010, she took a front office position with Dr. Michael Bennett at the Retinal Institute of Hawai’i. Now recognized as one of the best cataract surgeons in America, Dr. Bennett was working on improving specialized eye health for the islands. That same year he expanded to the Big Island when Dr. Young, one of the few ophthalmologists on the Kona Coast for decades, decided to retire. CONTINUED >
IT HIGH LIGHTED HOWTHERE’S SUCH A GAP, A DISCREPANCYIN OUTER ISLAND CARE VERSUSO’AHU.
Her instinct was to not put herself forward, but Dr. Bennett wasn’t having it.
On one particular occasion, they were trying to secure funding for a study to put cameras able to diagnose hypertension and diabetes in the offices of primary care physicians. Just one of the many ways they were seeking to improve the overall health care in outlying islands. So she and Dr. Bennett met with a large insurance company with a plan to distribute 40 of these cameras.
“There was this huge conference table,” says Anu, “and I sat not even at the table, I sat in the corner.”
Afterward, Dr. Bennett pulled her aside and told her not to ever do something like that again.
“He said, ‘Your voice is the most important voice here. You should absolutely have a seat at the table.’
That was kind of a pivotal moment for me.” For the first time, Anu began to realize that what she had to
think, to say, mattered and that perhaps she was the one who could make the difference.
As the vision to expand care continued to grow, Anu also had a growing desire to return to her home island. In 2017, she did just that, moving herself and the main operations of ECoH to Kona. With this move also came a new name for what was now the largest retinal practice in Hawai’i: The Bennett Eye Institute.
Then came the pandemic and the move to a new location off of Nalani Street. The new office was bright, spacious, and — most importantly — had ample parking to meet the growing demand.
Things were going incredibly well for the practice and Anu had just been made CEO when everything became much more personal. Early in 2023, her Uncle who lived on Kauai was suffering from eye problems. He tried to make an appointment to be seen, but the earliest availability was months away. In the meantime, it got so bad that he actually lost all vision in his left eye. That was when he contacted Anu and asked if they could see him at one of the O’ahu offices. Of course, she immediately said yes.
Unfortunately, by that time, it was too late.
The doctor’s visit revealed that his vision loss had been the first symptom of pancreatic cancer and just after Christmas 2023, he passed away. The loss of a loved one of course can never be fully encompassed in words, but along with the grief, Anu was deeply upset by the circumstances. “It highlighted how there's such a gap, a discrepancy in outer island care versus O’ahu.”
Anu suddenly had a mission to get an office open on the Island of Kauai as soon as possible. She hadn’t been able to help her uncle, but she was going to make sure she could help others. There was an eye office that had just closed after the doctor’s passing.
That was when former CEO of First Hawaiian Bank, Don Horner, jumped in. He believed in the vision and as
her new business partner they began the process of acquiring the Kauai office in February, keeping on all the former staff. With this new venture, though, Anu felt it was time for a rebranding. While Dr. Bennett had started his practice to specialize in eye surgery and retinal care, the Institute had already begun a slow integration of other eye services. Yet it was with this new personal experience and the Kauai expansion that she knew they needed a new name, one that would reflect their dedication to Hawaiian Medical Care and expanded services.
They needed to look no further than the first office they had acquired on the Big Island: Eye Center of Hawai’i.
In April, the Kauai branch officially opened under that name and with a new logo designed by Anu’s husband, Justin Dryer. Immediately, they began caring for all the established patients while bringing in the
other services ECoH is known for. In just those first three weeks, they saw an average of 70 patients a day.
Today ECoH has seven offices on O’ahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. Their mission to care for our kūpuna is thriving, and they are expanding into affordable eyewear with frames designed by Anu’s husband and made right here on the islands. They also intend to keep the practice privately owned so they can care for customers without being controlled by insurance companies. To provide care for those most in need, with things like mobile eye clinics and telemedicine to help bridge the gap for the islands they haven’t made it to yet.
As they keep looking forward, they want to focus more on chronic care management for those with glaucoma and diabetes to prevent poor outcomes, especially for the most at-risk
patients. What Anu says she hopes for most of all is to take on a larger kuleana or responsibility in our community and to show young Hawaiian girls, that even if they don’t believe it, they have a voice, they can be the change.
“Having mentors like Dr. Bennett, like Don (Horner), people who genuinely built me up in this way so that I can be confident in who I am … That's where the difference was,” says Anu. “For me, it's carrying that forward and building that amongst our community of girls.”
Because sometimes what we require is just for someone to believe in us, to see us for who we truly are, and to do that for others in turn. Then maybe we could see the beauty of what this world could really be.
Learn more at EyeCenterOfHawaii.com.
Photo Credit: Sheyanne Lyn
Photography
Building Connections With Your Child
THE POWER OF UNDIVIDED ATTENTION AND PLAY
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE DANIELS
A few years ago, my oldest daughter came home from school and walked through the front door as I handed my husband the baby and ran out the back door. I was running late for work and didn’t say hello or goodbye. I had found myself in a position where my work had enveloped my thoughts so much that I didn’t recognize it was taking from the most influential relationship I will ever have.
It’s embarrassing when you’re the expert in parent-child relationships, yet you fall short on your own. Luckily, I had many tools and research to pull from that kept me from getting stuck there, and none of us should ever feel we are stuck here. The literature on children tells us that kids aren’t that complicated; they need us to get on their level and give them a little of our undivided selves.
Undivided means leaving your world and entering theirs, and even letting them be in control. Our kids grow up with very little control, and they shouldn’t have too much control, as it’s difficult for them to make good choices when their brains aren’t fully developed for that mature decision-making. Because of this, we tell them what to eat, when to sleep, what to wear, and so on.
We manage most of their decisions, and when there’s not a good connection between us, decision-making management can turn into power-control stakeouts or empty blank stares, and we all know what that feels like. Your child feels terrible, and you feel terrible. Many of these moments are influenced by our kids
not feeling deeply connected to and understood by us. Giving our children that undivided connection and control is a saver; you need 15 minutes and some imagination and passion for your kid.
Here’s the magically simple way to bridge your developing relationship with your child. Set a timer and spend 15 undivided minutes playing with your child. Play a game or do an activity of their choice where they are completely in charge, and you are agreeable and going along. Don’t correct their rules and allow them to lead the play. Let them tell you what toys to play with, what you should do with them, what voice you should use, and so on.
Join completely in their world. Put your phone far away, and don’t touch it. If you have multiple children, have the other children do an activity in another room. For 15 minutes, they are your center, where they feel powerful and interesting to you.
When the timer is up, tell your child the timer is up, and you need to get back to the other kids or whatever other task you have. Tell them you enjoyed playing with them and will do it again tomorrow. That’s it! That is the magical research from child play therapy experts. The brain science on what’s happening when you do this with them is compelling, but it seems so overly simple that it can be hard to actually do. Try this consistently with your child for three weeks. It’s easier to appreciate the person our child is when we truly know and enjoy them.
“The literature on children tells us that kids aren’t that complicated; they need us to get on their level and give them a little of our undivided selves.”
W E ST SIDEHAWA I ’I LITTLELEAG U
THESE KIDS ARE READY TO HIT A HOME RUN!
ARTICLE BY MATIAS ARREDONDO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN NEWCOMB & FLETCH PHOTOGRAPHY
“Baseball teaches children how to process failures maturely.”
Unlike other sports, baseball is a long, slow game. During the multiple segments — or innings —, each team gets to play defense and a turn at bat. During the course of a game, the score can change drastically.
A team could be behind for the whole game, and in the last inning, with two strikes against the batter, a hit could be made, and that player gets on base. Then, if more hits are made and baserunners keep advancing toward home base, a team could come from behind to win. In baseball, things can change, and miracles can happen. This is a metaphor for life, to never lose hope.
“Baseball teaches children how to process failures maturely. In life, you fail more than you succeed. So, if you learn how to deal with failure as a child, you can keep striving for success as an adult,” says Nic
Mount, former president of the West Side Hawai’i Little League (WSHLL).
During a game, keiki experience many emotions: excitement, happiness, fear, and even anger. Yet, those who can control their feelings succeed. “When I’m catching, I keep my eyes on the ball to make sure it's right in my glove,” shares 11-year-old Jonah Newcomb.
Staying focused on the goal, combined with the support received from their peers, ingrains the players the importance of being part of a community. Families who plug into the WSHLL spend time with other families and soon realize they are part of a much larger ‘ohana. “This year, my son struggled all season at bat. We're at our last few games, and now he's hitting the ball. That's all because of the team getting him there and him staying determined,” says Drianna Pantohan.
CONTINUED >
“It takes a lot to keep this running, so thank you so much for giving.”
This nurturing environment helped Pu’uwai Lanning, who worried about being the first girl to join the WSHLL when she was 9. The boys soon realized how good she was on the field, and respect for her grew. Her example encouraged other girls to join the league as well. Now, at age 14, she sends a message to future female players, “Do your best and don’t care what others think. Believe in yourself. You can do whatever boys do.”
That confidence level is only achieved with the right support. Yet, it must be acknowledged that help has also come from outside the field. When a batter faces the nine opponent players, their team cheers for them from the sidelines. In the same way, institutions have been there for the WSHLL.
After the pandemic, David Reese, Kohanaiki’s CEO, was approached by the league president, who asked for support to restart the program. “One of our values is to be good stewards of the land and respect people,” David says. Considering the community’s needs and the potential impact, the Kohanaiki Foundation decided to help through its members' donation fund and became one of WSHLL’s main patrons. That action benefited almost 500 Big Island households this year alone.
“The businesses that can donate are actually touching children and giving back to an organization that's right there in their community. We can't thank them enough. It takes a lot to keep this running, so thank you so much for giving,” says Stephanie Gandomi, WSHLL’s treasurer.
As the Little League is a nonprofit organization, everyone from umpires to coaches and even the board of directors donates their time. Some of them don’t have children of their own, yet they choose to help out of love. Volunteers undergo a thorough background check and are trained to serve excellently, ensuring the league's values are faithfully passed on from generation to generation. The hours spent caring for the public parks benefit the WSHLL and the county.
“I can’t say enough how important it is to have volunteers. Without them and the players, we wouldn't have a league,” says Britany Belisario, WSHLL’s president.
Yet, this is not where parents can sign their kids and expect someone else to coach them. Instead, every member has to do their part. “I'm really proud of what the West Side Hawai’i Little League has accomplished. I encourage parents to volunteer their time, be team moms, third baseman coaches, or whatever,” shares David Reese, Kohanaiki’s CEO.
Nevertheless, the WSHLL doesn’t have its own facilities. There are only eight true baseball diamonds located from KailuaKona to Kealakekua. “There's not enough field space. We're basically battling against all other sports on who gets what field. It's unfair to everyone that it has to be a pick and choose who gets the field,” says Tiani Lanning, WSHLL’s vice president.
As children can’t drive themselves, having parks within walking distance of every neighborhood would be a game changer for the Big Island. It would provide a safe CONTINUED >
place to play without the risk of ongoing traffic while incorporating health and wellness as a regular part of their lives. Britany Belisario, WSHLL’s president, shares that their big dream is to lease land to provide the WSHLL with its own baseball facility and fields. This might seem impossible to some, but just like keiki in baseball, we should also keep hoping.
“Our children won't know they're the future if we don't care for them. We must give them the attention they deserve and need,” says Nic Mount.
To get involved, visit WSHLL.com.
About WSHLL
Since 2007, the WSHLL has trained youth on the Big Island. Open to all children ages 3.5-16, the program offers tee ball, coach pitch, and player pitch baseball for Minors, Majors, and Upper Divisions.
After pausing in 2020 due to the global pandemic, it resumed operations in 2022. Since then, every volunteer worked hard to make baseball a thriving sport again in Kona. In its latest season, almost 500 children registered.
For those considering volunteering or signing up the keiki, start by attending some games and express your interest at westsidelittleleaguehawaii@gmail. com. The WSHLL’s annual general membership meeting on the fourth Saturday of September is open to the public and provides a good perspective on the league's current direction and involvement opportunities.
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ARTICLE BY MARGARET KEARNS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW HREHA
MISSION POSSIBLE!
WORKING TOGETHER AND ENGAGING HAWAI’I ISLAND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS HERE ARE DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS AND SAVING LIVES
Working together and engaging Hawai’i Island community members, animal welfare groups here are dedicated to raising awareness and saving lives.
Some say in ancient Hawaiian culture, individuals with animal companions were not referred to as owners but rather as their pets’ kahu, meaning protector, guardian, or honored attendant. In essence, someone was entrusted with the safe keeping of something precious, something cherished.
“Today, we are in crisis, with all island shelters and rescues full. The situation is beyond the abilities of just one organization…”
For nearly 60 years, the non-profit Hawaii Island Humane Society (HIHS) with locations in Kona (the 12-acre HIHS Animal Community Center – a one-of-a-kind in the state) and Keaau, has taken on the role of kahu for animals in need of loving homes. Since then, additional nonprofit rescue organizations have been established to help lighten the load and that of the county’s animal control agency.
“Today, we are in crisis, with all island shelters and rescues full. The situation is beyond the abilities of just one organization and all animal welfare entities here deserve community support,” Lauren Nickerson, CEO, HIHS, says. “Our mission is to prevent cruelty to animals, eliminate pet overpopulation, and enhance the bond between humans and animals, with the operational cost of both facilities now at $6,000 daily.”
HIHS funding is provided through year-round donations and two major annual fundraising events: Tropical Paws at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai each March and the Putts for Paws golf tournament at Mauna Lani Resort each July.
While cash donations are always needed, individuals can help in many other ways. Volunteering at one of the locations, fostering an animal, and giving dog food and other supplies to the HIHS Pet Pantry for families in need, are among them.
In addition to its Pet Pantry, HIHS services include free or low-cost spay/neuter, lost and found assistance via Petco Love Lost software, and counseling assistance to keep animals and their family together rather than re-homing.
HIHS “Field Trips for Shelter Dogs” is a favorite program, offering individuals a fun way to help a dog in need. Lauren says it gives dogs shelter breaks and helps them meet potential adopters as participants are provided with gear for the day, including branded “adopt me” backpacks and bandanas.
“Research shows that even just a few hours out of the shelter promotes relaxation, reduces stress and improves dogs’ behaviors,” she says.
The center opened in August 2021 and is one of the nation’s most progressive and comprehensive animal care facilities – and there’s more to come! Later this year, the Anne Barasch Ryan Animal Hospital will open on-site.
“Construction is complete, we’re now just waiting for our certificate of occupancy. In the meantime, we’re working on furnishing the building and staffing,” Lauren says.
The facility’s diagnostic equipment will include the island’s first animal CT scanner. It will also provide medical care, including in-take examinations, for shelter animals. She says the future vision is to provide veterinary care for pet owners who can’t afford it and for newcomers to the island waiting to get established at a vet clinic.
“There’s an extreme shortage of vets here and across the nation. Many clinics no longer accept new clients and maintain large waiting lists. The number of schools currently providing veterinary degrees is insufficient –only 40 in the United States,” Lauren says.
HIHS is a limited admission facility, meaning the only time euthanasia is considered is for humane reasons, not lack of space. It currently maintains a 98.4% live-release rate, according to Lauren.
Among the additional Hawai’i Island organizations providing lifesaving animal welfare work are: Aloha ‘Īlio Rescue, AdvoCATS Hawaii, and the new Aloha Animals Alliance established in February.
“Research shows that even just a few hours out of the shelter promotes relaxation, reduces stress and improves dogs’ behaviors.”
Hawai’i Island native and lifelong dog lover Daylynn Kyles founded Aloha ‘Īlio Rescue (AIR) on her 1-acre property in Keaau as an LLC in 2010, and it became a 501c charity in 2016.
“I wanted to do something that made a difference to our island community and its animals. My motivation was, and continues to be, to stop overpopulation and euthanasia of homeless dogs. I want to bring awareness to our community and find solutions to problems that have existed here for far too long,” she says.
Today, her 15-member staff and numerous volunteers routinely care for up to 150 adoptable dogs, both on-site and in foster homes (AIR provides fosters with dog food, medical care, and medicine) and successfully secures more than 700 adoptions a year.
Community services include spay/ neuter, medical fee assistance, and a K9KauKau Corner providing food for owners needing help feeding their dog(s). Dog and cat food drives with convenient drop-off locations in Kona and Hilo are also sponsored. According to Daylynn, an amazing 15,000 pounds of food were provided each month in 2023.
Continuing to grow its programs, services, and space, AIR received a $100,000 state grant just this month for operational costs with specific programs, and in June the group was gifted an 8.5-acre parcel in the Waiakea area of Hilo by a generous anonymous donor. An estimated move-in date is five to six months, as some repairs and retrofitting are needed. A campaign fundraiser for that project will be announced soon.
“There’s an extreme shortage of vets here and across the nation. Many clinics no longer accept new clients and maintain large waiting lists.”
While based on the east side, AIR cares for homeless dogs throughout the island. It sponsors adoption and fundraising events in Hilo weekly and monthly in Kona. An online silent auction is held each November, and donations are accepted year-round.
AdvoCATS Hawaii, an all-volunteer 501c non-profit in Kailua-Kona, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and director Cindy Thurston estimates the group will have spayed/neutered some 30,000 abandoned or feral Hawai’i Island cats from 1999 to the end of 2024.
“We are committed to humanely controlling the island’s homeless cat population and preventing the spread of feline diseases through what’s known as the Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) process,” Cindy says. “We are a resource for anyone – and that’s just about everyone on Hawai’i Island –with homeless cats in their neighborhoods.”
And while many believe most homeless cats are feral (wild, never having had any human contact) Cindy says what she and other volunteers primarily deal with are former companion pets abandoned by their owners.
“We’re a transitory community. Many people move here, adopt cats, and then dump them when they leave the island,” she says.
“We are a resource for anyone – and that’s just about everyone on Hawai’i Island – with homeless cats in their neighborhoods.”
AdvoCATS is committed to finding solutions by offering two spay/neuter clinics monthly in Kona and once every two months in Ocean View. Individuals may help through monetary contributions, food donations, volunteering to feed cats at one of the many spayed/neutered colonies and volunteering to foster.
Aloha Animals Alliance was created this year by long-time Kona resident Lauren Turnbaugh Foo to support the work of the new Hawai’i County Animal Control and Protection Agency, as well as coordinating services and programs provided by existing animal welfare organizations.
The bottom line, she says, is developing community-based programs to keep animals out of island shelters that are seriously overloaded, leading to many homeless pets being euthanized.
To help identify the most critical issues and explore solutions, the Hawai’i Animal Care Task Force was formed, with open community meetings held in five island locations during the summer of 2023. A council meeting to announce the Aloha Animals Alliance's relationship with the new Animal Control and Protection Agency is expected this month.
For more information go to HIHS.org, AlohaIlioRescue.com, or AdvoCatsHawaii.org. For Aloha Animals Alliance, contact Lauren at 808.990.7776.
CREATE MOMENTS OF CONNECTION WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE THROUGH FOOD
Ono Mango Ceviche
This mango ono ceviche recipe has become a go-to. It’s packed with protein, vitamins, and flavor, making it a wonderful Pau-Hana pupu or beach picnic item. I serve this with One-Ton chips. Serves 6-8.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb of fresh ono, veins removed
• Juice of 8–10 Limes
• 1 ripe mango, diced
• 1 ripe avocado, diced
• 4 scallions, slivered on an angle
• 1 ripe tomato, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 handful cilantro, chopped
• Local salt (Kona Salt Farm’s spicy salt is my favorite)
• Optional: red chili flakes
• For serving, One-Ton chips.
METHOD
Chop the ono into small, uniform pieces. Place them in a bowl and fully submerge them in the lime juice. Cover and refrigerate for 2–4 hours.This will cook the ono completely, turn it white,
and firm it up. After a few hours of marinating, drain the fish and place it in a fresh bowl.
Dice all the other ingredients into a size similar to the ono. I like mine pretty small, so it’s easy to scoop with a chip. Add all the diced ingredients to the ono bowl and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle in the cilantro, salt to taste, and chili flakes (if using them).
The ceviche can be served immediately or will keep very nicely in the fridge for a few hours too.
Serve with laughs and One-Ton chips!
XO, Beth.
Bethany Reid is a Private Chef and Food Experience Creator with over 20 years of experience. She draws inspiration from local ingredients and fresh flavors and loves bringing people together around good food. For more recipes or to book her for your next gathering, visit CommunityEats.com.
“It’s packed with protein, vitamins, and flavor.”
Q&A ABOUT THESE WRITERS’ INSPIRATIONS, WORK, AND FUTURE PROJECTS.
Local Children’s Books Authors
ARTICLE BY JOHN-MARK DYER & MATIAS ARREDONDO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIAM TATTERSALL
“Books shaped my imagination and gave me an appreciation for the power of a story.”
John-Mark Dyer, author of Jeremy's Tussle With His Terrible Tantrums, and Matias Arredondo, author of Little Lighthouse, interview each other.
JOHN-MARK, AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START WRITING, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
I wrote my first book when I was in 3rd grade, The Attack of the Killer Toothbrush. I guess I've always had a vivid imagination! I enjoy the process of bringing my ideas to life.
WHAT THEMES ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE TO WRITE ABOUT? WHY?
Each book is my attempt to take a deep lesson I've wrestled with and share it with others creatively. My first book is about what makes each one of us unique. My second book is about overcoming fear. And in my newest book, I'm trying to help kids see that it's better to give than receive.
NAME A FEW CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT IMPACTED YOUR CHILDHOOD.
I love the illustrations in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. And Douglas Gorsline's illustrated version of The Night Before Christmas always felt magical. Those books shaped my imagination and gave me an appreciation for the power of a story.
WHAT IS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR BOOKS?
My books are fun to read because they're full of beautiful rhymes and rhythms. I enjoyed reading Little Blue Truck to my nephew and knew I wanted to recreate something like that. Another important theme in my books is the father-son relationship. It's such a significant part of a healthy family. I wanted to celebrate the powerful impact engaged fathers have on their children.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would tell myself to take more risks. I learned so much through the process of creating. Each project advanced my learning, it's a great way to grow fast. I always fought the pressure to create a masterpiece. It was helpful to remember that I was on a journey and
each project would get me closer to becoming the creator I knew I could be.
WHERE CAN WE BUY YOUR BOOKS?
You can find them on Amazon.com or directly from my website LevelHouseMedia.com
MATIAS, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THE ISLANDS?
This story about a lighthouse came to me about 10 years ago. I didn't know what to do with it, so I wrote a paragraph with the main idea and left it at that. Then one day, after we had lived several years on the Big Island, I thought why not placing it here in Hawai'i? When I learned about the Kīlauea Lighthouse in Kauai, it suddenly felt right and the whole story naturally came together.
WHO HELPED YOU IN YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
My wife Samantha is my personal editor and a terrific writer. We always brainstorm together. She gives honest feedback about what works and what doesn't in a story, and has an eye for flaws in the plot. Little Lighthouse is as much mine as it is hers, and I'm grateful for having her by my side in my writing journey. Another friend that helped me is Mona Hodgson, who taught me how to write children's books and helped me polish Little Lighthouse.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
Yes! I'm currently illustrating a picture book that seeks to affirm boys in their identity. Also, my wife and I are co-writing another children's picture book that takes place in the Hawaiian islands. It's about finding where you belong. We are refining it before we send it to our publisher.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS FOR YOU?
I enjoy seeing how the main character overcomes the challenges he or she faces. I'm the writer, of course, but my characters often come alive and take the story in a direction I hadn't considered before.
I learned so much through the process of creating. Each project advanced my learning, it’s a great way to grow fast. “ ”
It feels like I'm discovering a story instead of writing it. I truly love that.
SHARE A FEW BOOK TITLES THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING.
Since my son was born, I've read many children's books. Yet, my favorites are The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, The Story Book Knight by Helen & Thomas Docherty, and What Do You Do With And Idea? by Kobi Yamada.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK?
Read as many children's books as you can. Take notes on what you like and what you don't. Think like a child.
WHERE CAN WE BUY LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE?
You can order it on Amazon or at WelcomeToTheIslands.com . You can also support our local bookstores by buying it in Kona, Waimea, and Hilo.
AUGUST 2024
MAKE PRICELESS MEMORIES
RIDING ON THE MAJESTIC ISLAND OF HAWAII
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
EVERY SATURDAY
Keahou Farmer’s Market
Keauhou Shopping Center | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
You will find locally raised produce, honey, flowers, Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, meat and eggs, handmade bread, jams, and so much more at our market. All are 100% grown and produced in Hawai’i. Enjoy meeting the farmers and makers dedicated to bringing fresh food from their farms while walking through our beautiful outdoor market.
KeauhouFarmersMarket.com.
AUGUST 2ND
First Friday: Art After Dark
Holualoa Historical Village | 5:30 PM
On the first Friday of every month, we come together for a block party after dark. Enjoy art galleries and boutiques, live music, gourmet “grab and go” food, and a chance to mingle with fellow art and culture lovers in the heart of Kona coffee country. Holualoa gets together and celebrates after dark every month, rain or shine.
HolualoaVillage.com.
AUGUST 4TH
Hawai’i
Volcano
National Park Free Day
Volcano National Park | 9:00 AM
National parks are America’s best idea, and more than 400 parks are available to everyone every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite. The park will be free to enter on August 4th for the first anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. Come experience this unique national park. NPS.gov.
