Kayaking up the Kalihiwai

There is nothing like the power of smell to invoke a fond memory, and in this case, to get me going on this site again. After a brief hailstorm at 4:30 this morning, I woke up a few hours laters and opened the windows to the scent of wet air, damp soil, and broken leaves. What immediately came to mind was the river Kalihiwai on Kauai's north shore. It empties out into a beach by the same name and is usually full of beachgoers and surfers but on that day, it was practically people-less! Click on the image to appreciate the full beauty of this area — I'm just posting a few photos and a quick video clip because unless I get these files deleted from my camera, I'll never be able to get on with Italy.

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In the video my dad is trying to trap opae or hawaiian freshwater prawns with a bamboo net contraption. It's not an easy job going that route; they are quick little buggers who try to avoid the cooking pot at all costs. Lucky for the one below that I was only interested in a photo op; he was tossed into the river thereafter.


Hihiwai (also known as wi) are the most delicious freshwater snails ever, and you really have to shake your head in amazement at the plethora of foodstuffs that native hawaiians of long ago were accustomed to eating. Never mind that it took effort to reap what nature had to offer. This is gourmet dining from the beginning, when I was still a scrawny kid. (And here I thought I was all hot n' stuff for ordering escargot in France). The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources link at the bottom was extremely helpful in information on the endemic creatures in Hawaii's freshwater lakes and streams. The next time around there will be none of this "catch and release" action!


DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources: Hawaii's Native Stream Animals

Rubber Slippers is back in Italy

...but I need to confess that although I may physically be, once again, in the land of pasta, pizza, and wine, my mind is still wandering the islands as I go through and sort the images taken during the last days of my stay on Kauai. It has been a week since my return, and jet lag notwithstanding, I've already graced the dinner table with an italian 'Welcome Back' meal to reinitiate myself into all good things to eat and drink in this country.

Miss Maddie seems to have adopted my husband as the new 'pack leader' but in time I'm sure she'll remember who sneaks her all of the gourmet treats in this house. After a quick snack of burrata and prosciutto di Parma, she promptly went into her little doggie house that my father-in-law made for her while I was away. Of course, I just had to add the plaque to the right which reveals so much about the customs in Hawaii.

To all of you who read this blog, a big mahalo! for continuing to visit. And to the several newfound family and friends that have stumbled here by chance, it is GREAT to know that I'm putting a smile on your faces. I'll certainly continue to try my best at entertaining you with tales of living in Italy. Aloha!

6/16/2006 - Me and Maddie at a café in center Lecco.

Taste of Hawaii 2006

Grand Hyatt Regency Kauai: Chocolate Mousse Bombe with Lilikoi Curd and Fruit Coulis

Last entry from Kauai — the 18th Annual Taste of Hawaii held this past Sunday on June 4th at Smith's Tropical Paradise was a great turnout as always, and like all the other times before, my intentions of photographing as many food offerings as possible were tossed aside as the hot midday sun bore down on us. Definitely an event to look forward to each year, as it's also dubbed "The Ultimate Sunday Brunch".

Beach House Restaurant: Crab-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Purple Molokai Sweet Potatoes


Grand Hyatt Regency Kauai: Wasabi-Crusted Island Fish, Crab Hash, Citrus Ponzu and Ginger Butter Sauce

A Hui Hou!!

Fly Away Mejiro!

GAZILLIONS of things to do here while I continue to wrap things up, but not so much that it prevents me from stopping to "watch the birdies". Picking up where I left off in the case of the mejiros, once again, I didn't get the chance to witness the little ones learning to fly. I came home one day and they were all gone. The young mejiro above however, is from another nest that I had recently found on our property and I estimate it to be around two weeks old. Notice the lack of white coloring around its eye which is a distinguishing feature of this species. It was only by the excited cries of the parents that brought my attention outside to where it perched in this palm plant. I'm guessing that (the parents) were encouraging it to fly as they were flitting about madly from branch to branch and tree to tree. Poor fella didn't move a feather (of course with me and my camera right up it's beak, why should it?). I was able to make a video clip of this grand event and you should be able to hear the parents in the background, before I butted in with my own commentary!

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Going back several weeks to the first family of mejiros, I did manage to snap a photo of a baby on the day when it finally opened its eyes. Click to zoom out for an entire view of the nest. Yippee for date/time stamps on cameras; this image puts them at 6 days old. Me feels like a true bird mama... now I'm going through empty nest syndrome.