Andrea in Kaua‘i

Google Street View

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:00:57 -0400

Street View has finally made its way to our tiny island. Last year, I saw the Google car multiple times on the roads and highways of Kauai — along the Kuamoo Highway, by the Wailua Golf Course and parked at the Kauai Beach Resort.

It looks like the Google car covered most of the island, or at least that parts that are paved. It seems like Google didn’t opt to traverse dirt roadways or trails.

Google even uploaded a gallery titled “Scenic Hawaii,” which includes scenes of Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay.

Be prepared to spend countless hours exploring Kauai’s ocean views, lush countryside and gorgeous scenery from the comfort of your computer screen.

Poop

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:33:37 -0400

You know how everyone tells you to back up your hard drive because you just never know? Well, learn your lesson from me, and do it.

My hard drive crashed and I hadn’t backed it up since last year. I lost a whole bunch of amazing photos and videos, text documents and design files. Poop.

So, if you are reading this, take a moment, and back up your hard drive. When your two-year-old MacBook crashes unexpectedly, you will be glad you did.

View from the swinging bridge in Hanapepe — before an...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:07:56 -0400

View from the swinging bridge in Hanapepe — before an idiot decides to stomp all the way down it and smash my fingers on the railing.

Sunday, foodies descended on Smith’s Tropical Paradise for...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:44:12 -0400

Feral Burger Sliders from The Feral Pig.

Ahi pesto salad from Mermaids Cafe.

Hibiscus iced tea from Mermaids Cafe.

Burrito from Red Hot Mama's.

Smoked beef from Scotty's Beachside BBQ.

Papaya salad from Sukhothai.

Risotto from Casa Di Amici.

Braised pork from Hukilau Lanai.

Curried pork belly from The Eastside.

Braised beef brisket from The Fairmont.

Sunday, foodies descended on Smith’s Tropical Paradise for Taste of Hawaii. Dozens of chefs from around the state attended, giving out samples of their most delectable dishes. It was a fun event, with live music, yummy food and drinks in a beautiful setting. My favorite included the Feral Burger Sliders from the Feral Pig (Kauai ground beef, smoked pork shoulder, house pork belly, cheddar cheese and onions on a taro bun) and curried pork belly from the Eastside (roasted pork belly with a crispy finish and a steamed peking bun with sweet peppers). Onolicious!

<3

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 16:19:56 -0400

Tonight is the First Saturday in Old Kapaa Town art walk! Check...

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 19:40:28 -0400

Tonight is the First Saturday in Old Kapaa Town art walk! Check out this partial flyer of events (I can’t find the full flyer!): http://instagr.am/p/LXaAjWJ6HA/

I’m always stoked for the fire dancing at Alley Kat Art!

So, I’ve been a bit homesick the last couple of days. I...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:55:00 -0400

So, I’ve been a bit homesick the last couple of days. I think island fever is setting in (which happens when I don’t leave this rock for a few days within a six-month time period). The last time I left Kauai was when I boarded a plane to see my family in Oakland, Calif.

I took this photo, which is part of the Oakland Riviera mural (meant to be taken tongue-in-cheek, of course). As I’m making plans to spend my Friday night exploring Hanapepe Art Night, I’m getting a big dose of nostalgia for the Art Murmur.

Photo

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:55:45 -0400

I love Hawaii in May. While the days become longer, flowers...

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:55:00 -0400

I love Hawaii in May. While the days become longer, flowers burst into bloom and the trade winds carry its sweet blossom scent into my room. I also love all the beautiful and creative lei people make from natural materials, like these ones I snapped a few weekends ago.

Aloha from the Kauai Museum! These Menehune of Hawaii were used...

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:23:44 -0400

Aloha from the Kauai Museum! These Menehune of Hawaii were used as a promotional tool for United Airlines. These two menehune (think Hawaiian leprechauns) are on display at the Kauai Museum as part of an exhibit highlighting the history of tourism on island.

I know, longtime no update. Here’s a photo of when I went...

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:49:37 -0400

I know, longtime no update. Here’s a photo of when I went to the acoustic Jack Johnson concert last week in Kauai. It was the first date in his Hawaii tour, and it was amazing. He sounds just like he does on his recordings. No sound editing for him. He took John Cruz and Paula Fuga with him.

Aloha Friday! This has been an “eh” week for me....

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:11:04 -0400

Aloha Friday! This has been an “eh” week for me. Hopefully today and the upcoming weekend will bring the good vibes!

Aloha Friday

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:16:07 -0400

Traditionally, people mark the beginning of their week on a Monday. Or even a Sunday. I like to start my week on Fridays. It just seems to make sense to me — you only have to trudge through one more day of work (yet, its bearable because you are looking forward to the weekend); and you have all these great expectations for your time off work (I’m going to go to the beach, read a book, exercise, have a really nice meal out, visit friends or family).

I like to start my Friday’s off doing some meditative yoga. It clears my mind, allows me to end my work week with the positive energy carried over from my practice and it sets the tone of my weekend.

I’ve also noticed that when I’m done with yoga, I want to listen to some mellow tunes and I get these odd food cravings. I think it’s because you are supposed to practice on an empty stomach, I get extra hungry by the time I’m through.

So, my food craving for today is a ripe, juicy mango. Too bad I don’t have any on hand.

The mellow tune I chose to listen to is “Misery’s End” by Paula Fuga. This chick rocks!

Have you ever seen a Google car? Here it is, filming the streets...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:29:12 -0400

Have you ever seen a Google car? Here it is, filming the streets of Kauai. We’re finally getting street view!

My new favorite coffee shop

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:24:58 -0400

Coffee shops are a dime a dozen these days. It seems like you can’t go a few blocks without running into one, and the same goes for Kauai. There’s 13 coffee shops (that I know of) in Kapa‘a alone.

When Art Cafe Hemingway moved into Small Town Coffee’s old location across from the Kapaa Library, I thought the coffee shop wouldn’t last a month. First, Small Town Coffee was always packed. It’s caffeinated clientele would surely follow Small Town to its new location a mile down the road.

Second, why do we need yet another coffee shop? I come from the ideology that my Tassimo coffee maker makes just as a delicious cup of coffee as any ‘ol coffee house, and it’s cheaper, too.

I visited Art Cafe Hemingway to meet someone a few weeks ago for an interview. I wasn’t interested in a cup of Joe. After one of the owners insisted I try their menu, I ordered my signature caffe latte. A few minutes later he appeared with a clear glass filled to the brim with the expresso and steamed milk concoction. After one sip, I was hooked.

It was — hands down — the most delicious latte I’ve had. As I moved upstairs to view the art gallery, I found a sunny window to enjoy my drink.

Which brings me to my next point.

While most coffee houses make it a point to decorate their establishments with cozy furniture, stock their shelves with books and magazines and offer tasty morsels to their customers, Art Cafe Hemingway took it a step farther.

They remodeled the entire upstairs and converted it into a fine art gallery. And when I say fine art gallery, I mean fine art gallery. Not a boutique that has paintings crammed next to displays of jewelry and kitschy Hawaiiana knick knacks. Not a restaurant where you have to stare at artwork that hangs above upholstered booths.

Art Cafe Hemingway has monthly rotating exhibits showcasing bodies of work from local and European artists, and they are displayed upstairs in a bright, breezy gallery.

The owners — a husband and wife team who migrated to Kauai from Prague— wanted to have a space to drink authentic Italian espresso, view fine art and relax.

Mission accomplished. The cute, bright cafe has a European feel and it’s easy to picture yourself a world away while sipping your drink (but I’m sure many of its clients would be happy to imagine themselves in beautiful Kauai!).

I just hope it stays.

Art Hemingway Cafe is located at 4-1495 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa.

Visit its website at www.art-cafe-hemingway.com for more information.

The Grand Hyatt in Poipu. I love swans!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:15:35 -0400

The Grand Hyatt in Poipu. I love swans!

Beautiful orchids that I have not killed, because they are...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:26:27 -0400

Beautiful orchids that I have not killed, because they are someone else’s. The orchids that I took home, on the other hand, are now dead. I’m not much of a gardener, just an admirer.

I made pretzels! Thanks Alton Brown!

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:05:06 -0400

I made pretzels! Thanks Alton Brown!

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:26:37 -0400

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A hibiscus bush I came across during my morning run. I just love...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:54:32 -0400

A hibiscus bush I came across during my morning run. I just love the colors! A nice way to greet the mail man, no?