When it comes to coping with grief, there is no “right time” to move forward. Recovery happens at our own pace, and when we try to conform to someone else’s time frame, we often do more harm than good. Two years ago, I shared a very personal story in this column about the loss of [...]
Travis Toyama returned to Jarrett Middle School in Palolo Valley following his long winter break with a fishing tale many of his sixth-grade classmates probably didn’t believe. I can only imagine what the conversation sounded like in class. “Hey guys, I found this fish at the Makapuu tide pools during Christmas break and it looks [...]
I’ve always been fascinated by why people “need to know,” and I’m amazed how far some are willing to go to find answers. For some reason, our curiosity is often lured by the bizarre, the strange and, sometimes, the destructive. The massive earthquake and crushing tsunami that struck Japan March 11 sent tons of debris [...]
It happens right about now each year. Island families start scanning prices at their favorite stores, wondering how much they’ll be spending for that slab of ahi for their holiday gatherings. Many people are willing to pay top dollar to ring in the new year: anywhere from $13 to $35 per pound for ahi during [...]
It’s always rewarding when you discover an unexpected treasure. It’s even more satisfying when that treasure includes information that inspires you to step out of your comfort zone and ask questions. For the past few weeks, I’ve scanned the cover of a colorful book sitting on my desk, curious as to what was waiting for [...]
It’s never easy to say aloha to someone special, especially when that someone is taken away unexpectedly and much too soon. Harrison “Beanie” Lono Heen was a special man who left this world well before any of us had a chance to express our gratitude for what he gave and what he accomplished. The man [...]
They have long been one of the most mysterious creatures in the ocean. But a recently published paper in the journal Marine Mammal Science is shedding new light on the melon-headed whale, and more importantly to us, the presence of two populations of the mammals in Hawaiian waters. Jessica Aschettino is a research associate with [...]
It penetrates the human skin with relative ease and its wrath is usually felt instantly. Once the piercing pain subsides, it is replaced by constant burning; the slightest pressure on the affected area will send you through the whole process again. Relief often takes days, sometimes weeks. And to think, all of this because you [...]
Anyone can do the right thing in front of an audience, but it’s what you do when no one is watching that tells the real story. One’s character is not revealed when all eyes are on you. True character shines brightest when no one is looking. I was reminded of this while covering a destructive [...]
Shark expert John Naughton once called it “the mosquito of the sea.” Only this mosquito can be more than a nuisance. Just ask Maui Realtor Michael Spalding. The veteran ocean swimmer got a taste of the cookie cutter shark’s bite in March of 2009 while attempting to swim from Hawaii Island to Maui across the [...]
