Tsunami Saturday

I am contemplating a tsunami dish for dinner. What ingredients would a tsunami-inspired dish entail? Any comments are encouraged! Presently, there are no major tsunami happenings here. We are waiting it out at David and Stacey's who live on the mauka (mountain) side of the island, having been evacuated from the mannini beach cottage early this morning. After only one month on the island, I am reminded of the staggering power of mother nature and the fragility of life on earth. Note to self (and everyone else): must tread lightly.

Big Island Organic Produce

Aloha kakahiaka! (Good morning)
This picture was taken by our friends Al and his lovely wife Kathleen during their January visit to the Big Island. Conveniently scattered along the island are tropical fruit stands where one can purchase local, organic produce. This particular stand resides somewhere on the eastern side of the island near the capital of Hilo where rainfall is bountiful and fruits and vegetables grow effortlessly. Japanese cucumbers, plumeria, tangelos, tomatoes, avocadoes, bananas, plantains, lemons and much, much more....

Pass the Papayas Please

Monsieur Christophe Columbus called the papaya the "fruit of the angels". He noticed that the Caribbean natives ate the fruit after a large meal and never encountered any digestive distress. Papayas are an excellent source of antioxidant nutrients, such as carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids. They also contain beneficial amounts of potassium, vitamins E and A, folic acid and fiber. Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that aids in the digestion of proteins. This particular enzyme is used in digestive enzyme dietary supplements. Papayas provide protective benefits against heart disease, cancer and other diseases associated with free radical damage. Increase the health benefits of a succulent papaya by eating it with walnuts!

One of the Locals

This is our friendly neighborhood donkey. He roams around the area, nibbling at grass and minding his business for the most part. We haven't officially met, but I'd like to call him Eeyore. This morning I heard him talking, or rather honking to his other neighborhood buddies. "Hee-haw, hee-haw," and then nothing from him for hours. I'm sure we'll learn more about Eeyore as the days here progress. For now, I just like knowing he's around.

mannini beach cottage

This is where I live now. We'll call it the Mannini Beach cottage. We spent our first night here last night and fell asleep to the lolling sound of the ocean. This morning I wandered exactly one block to the ocean's edge where I gingerly walked over lava rocks and coral fragments to set out for my first swim in Kealakekua Bay. After further research I'll let you know just what kind of fishies are swimming beside me each morning.

E Komo Mai (Welcome)

Aloha and welcome to my health in Hawaii blog.
I am creating this blogsite in the spirit of island health
and hawaiiana healing. Here you will read about my adventures
in moving to the Big Island of Hawaii, and more specifically,
to a little cottage just steps away from Kealakekua Bay-where
Captain Cook first landed in Hawaii (and also where he was ultimately killed).
In this blog we will learn to create healthy foods with organic,
local ingredients. We will explore secluded beaches while snacking on exotic fruits.
We will create soothing elixirs made from the freshest of island ingredients.
There will be explorations into the many uses of the island's reknowned
herbs, fruits and vegetables...and perhaps we will pick a Kona coffee cherry or two.
This blog will be part travel essay, part vegan recipe book and part guide to healthy island living.
Thanks for joining me.
Mahalo,
Aimee