salsa magic

dehydrated food typically conjures up thoughts of vacuum sealed packets of sustenance for astronauts & campers. a more gourmet option is pat's pineapple salsa which has been featured on food network's food finds.

each packet is filled with dehydrated pineapples, onions & chili peppers (no additives or sweeteners) straight from hawaii. all you need to do is add a few tomatoes and watch the ingredients magically plump up into fresh hawaiian salsa to enjoy no matter where you call home.

the salsa business is a labor of love for the family of the late pat campogan who are following his dream of sharing his culinary creations with the rest of us. the family also dishes up organic fare at the nasturtium café in kealakekua on the big island so stop by and see what they can whip up with nary a food dehydrator in sight.

how to be a better big island "tour"-ist

i love the tour de france. even though i haven't hopped on a bicycle since the sixth grade, the idea of a bike tour is very alluring once you cast aside the physical demands and the achy body sure to result after a long bike ride. if you have no aspirations to be the next ironman, then check out the folks at kona coast cycling tours where they make such an adventure seem not only possible but lots of fun to boot.

the old mamalahoa hwy tour which meanders through my favorite part of the big island would be my pick, however java addicts would probably savor the kona coffee express tour which includes a stop at a local coffee farm. an added bonus is that if you get bonked or, let's say, are mortified when the grammar school set initiates a breakaway, you can cruise in the team car tour van, and enjoy the four wheeled ride until you're ready to join the group again.

{update | dec 2009: kona coast cycling tours seems to be no more and has handed over the website domain to their friends at orchid isle bicycling. this means, alas, the rides mentioned above are no longer available but circle island bike tours are now offered.}

big island candies

chocolate covered cuttlefish? while the thought may have never crossed your mind, someone over at big island candies had the delicious idea to dip all kinds of island snacks into the nectar of the gods. the hawaiian da-kines line is where sweet meets salty and their ono offspring is milk chocolate dipped iso peanuts, li hing mui, rice crackers & more.

and when you're visiting the big island, don't forget to stop by their hilo headquarters where you can nibble on samples while watching everything from shortbread cookies to puffed rice get dipped in chocolate.

modern island style

lavaflow 1

living on a lava field may not be most people's idea of the oft repeated real estate maxim "location, location, location" but if you love modern architecture you'll certainly admire the work of architect craig steely. i first learned about craig when his big island home was featured in dwell a few years back and it's wonderful to know that there are folks working to bring modern design to hawaii.

now if only someone would create affordable modernist prefab housing for the islands.

the java farm that mother goose built

imagine a farm where geese dot the landscape and in their own little way help the coffee beans grow as mother nature intended. such a place can be found on the big island at mother goose farms which uses sustainable farming techniques to grow their crops. the geese are free to wander the grounds and graze which not only keeps weeds at bay but fertilizes the earth.

so your morning cup o' joe is not only 100% kona coffee but certified organic to boot. mother goose has got you covered even if you prefer to roast your own beans with their certified organic green kona coffee beans.