" A Taste of Dakine..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

A "Taste" is The sensation caused in the tongue by things placed on it, Synonyms for Taste are Flavor, savour,love, fondness,and this year's 24TH annual "Taste of Hawai'i" this past Sunday June 3, 2012 had it all.

The Taste of Hawai'i is Kauai's signature annual event taking place each year on the first Sunday in June. Many visitors plan their sojourns around this event. Hotels run specials to coincide with this event and the locals love it for the music, food, reuniting for fellowship with friends to talk story and experience the true Aloha spirit that goes along with each Taste of Hawaii.

The Taste is billed as the ultimate Sunday brunch with over 50 chefs strutting their signature dishes, 15 plus beer, wine and soft drink beverage vendors, Ten plus musical bands, from rock' roll to Big band, a silent auction and a Lappert's ice cream station all on one of the most beautiful properties on the island of Kauai, Smiths tropical paradise. I prefer to call it the ultimate Kaua'i experience, call it Thanksgiving in June, call it a culinary delight, call it a beer garden, I like to call it dakine. I actually like to call everything I can't put a word to, "dakine..."

Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr and first lady Regina "Gina" Carvalho were amongst the  over 1,000 guests. The mayor and his beautiful wife were seen dancing the afternoon away to the sounds of many bands including the outrageously awesome Kauai Band, "Quake" led by lead singer James Norman.

The Taste always seems to fall on a bright sunny day and one of the most delectable dishes for this hot day was the refreshing and mouth-watering "Kauai shrimp and ono Ceviche, Watermelon Gazpacho, petite herb salad." created by Chef Garrison Price of the Kauai grill at the St. Regis Resort in Princeville. One other outstanding dish was Ashton beach resorts own Chef Greg Stoll's delectable and Ono "Poisson Cru," it was a culinary work of art,a raw fish salad served in a sculpted cucumber with a wasabi ,soy sauce that makes this dish orgasmic.

Taste of Hawaii is made up of hundreds of volunteers from the community, vendors pay good money to get exposure and give their food away. Tickets cost one hundred dollars each. Nobody can really eat one hundred dollars worth of food, one must look at it like your donating a hundred dollars to charity and the event is free.

Taste of Hawaii is not about "self" and how much you can eat and drink,it's deeper "Taste" is a community event, all profits go towards scholarships for our local youth and fund international projects such as providing safe drinking water and sanitation in schools for people in poverty stricken areas. "Taste" is not only a taste of food but a taste of community, a taste charity , a taste of something besides self, "Taste" is about true Aloha.

Mahalo Nui Loa to the Rotarian's for the 24TH consecutive year of giving back to the community. Rumor has it next year for the silver anniversary the event will be bigger and better if that's even possible. Until next year, A Hui Hou Kakou Malama Pono.(Take care, until we all meet again...)

Photo  Top left,
Chef Greg Stoll of the Ashton Beach resort with his culinary delightful raw seafood salad "Poisson Cru."

Top right, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. high fives  Quakes lead singer James Norman

Bottom left Nathan displays Kauai shrimp and ono Ceviche, Watermelon Gazpacho, petite herb salad." created by Garrison Price of the Kauai grill at the St. Regis Resort in Princeville.

Below, an employee of the Feral pig brings on the most delicious Cheeseburger slider ever... All photos copyright James "Kimo" Rosen

..Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher

"House Goats..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Inspiration Wednesday)

Guest-blogger Bettejo Dux is one of Kauai's most colorful people, she has lived on the cosmic island of Kaua'i for over 40 years... She is an animal lover, people lover and enjoys life to the fullest.Today she guest blogs about  "House Goats" and how  we must all strive to get along as one happy family...plus for a second consecutive week  an encore(Hana Hou)  of  her daughter Blu singing her award winning song on YouTube- "Kalaheo shuffle."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT0YuQLhBVo
 Bettejo  also  publishes her own blog column.
You can check it out at ;  http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com .   Besides her blog she recently published and authored the humorous fiction book, "The Scam," check it out at(www.bettejodux.com) or  on Amazon.

HOUSE GOATS

The night  of my daughter’s  going away  party, I had a vivid dream. My mother drifted through the scape in an attire you never hear about anymore. It was called a house coat and it was elegant. Floor length hemline, long sleeves, a zippered opening down the front so it was easy to get in and out of. Quite handy if you were naked when a neighbor came over to borrow a cup of sugar.

The next morning when I woke, two words- house goat, house goat, house goat-
kept popping up in my mind and, like a silly kid’s song, I couldn't shake them. Oopsie doopsie, my rational mind went, I’m losing it. House goat, house goat, my mind chattered back…

I went about my chores, got  boots on the right feet, food in the right pot  and rested for a moment with coffee and TGI. I rarely read the classified, but on this morning the page fell open and there, on the first page, was an ad with a picture of four darling little kids, four-legged kind, and a phone number.
House goats, of course!

On impulse -who me?- I ran for the phone, spoke with a sweet-voiced lady, got the address, checked my stash and found two freshly printed Benjamin's, the ink was still wet, called my grand-daughter and in a manner of minutes, no make-up, work clothes and boots, set out in a dilapidated van for the farm. Got lost twice but finally found it. Through the gates we dashed, almost running down a gathering of folks dressed pretty much like me and a paddock full of bouncers.

Louisa, their darling two-legged mother, selected a neutered billy, a white nanny, showed me how to feed them, fed me a cookie, took my money and sent me home. I named the little white, who has the pinkest bottom I've ever seen, Kim, and the black and white billy, Bill.

Stopped en route to buy a huge bucket of powdered goats milk, I adopted an unweaned pair, a stainless steel bowl, a whisk to beat the hell out of it , and drove home fresh out of Benjamin's, wet or dry, to settle the kids in. They were three weeks old, about twenty pounds with an over-supply of eight-legged energy. Out the windows went their bright eyes watching the road roll by, their bleating young and gay.

I know that one of the most dangerous things to do with any animal is to introduce it into a new environment and these kids had to meet a huge black Rotshep, a big red horse, a macaw, lots of chickens and three cats, but I have a theory that everyone learns to get along, be family, when they smell alike. I busied myself petting the kids, patting the horse, grooming the dog and pulling the parrot’s tail. Before long we all smelled alike. Horse, goat, dog, cat, parrot and human Eau De Perfume. I should bottle it….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT0YuQLhBVo


Bettejo has a blog of her own you can check out at ; http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com  


Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.


http://www.bettejodux.com/

"My favorite soap opera..." 'Obama Da Dog'

The Kaua'i Garden Island Newspaper provides daily soap opera entertainment for anyone with Internet access. The Letter's to editor comments section of this newspaper is a real soap opera... Enjoy. This blog also appeared as an opinion article on 06-19-12 in the Kaua'i Garden Island News,
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor-for-tuesday-june/article_3115ea28-b9e1-11e1-a66e-0019bb2963f4.html

There's  a new soap opera, it's not on cable or network TV, it's not a web-cast, it's our own homegrown Kaua'i soap opera which can  be viewed daily via the  Letter's to editor comments section of The Kaua'i Garden Island Newspaper.

People from all over the world log onto the Garden island newspaper to see how the people of Kaua'i handle their dilemma's. The irony is many of  the people who post  in the comments don't even live on Kaua'i, thus making others believe these are opinions of Kaua'i people.

There are many soap opera's on  daytime TV, along with  "All my children," "As the world turns,"  and "the Young and the restless." I have come up with a couple names to call this  local homespun  soap opera. I call  it  "AS THE COSMIC ISLAND TURNS"  and  on most day's " THE INSANE AND SENILE."

Here is a recent reply from one of the commenter's, "Potty trained? Pimply faced? Jammies"? "Wow, you must be a liberal loon! Your "when all else fails act like you're in the third grade" tantrum is defining!"

To catch this daily drama all you need is Internet access, remember for the best soap opera on the planet tune in daily to "The Insane and Senile" and "As the Cosmic Island turns  via www.kauaiworld.com.

Read more: http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-june/article_ea70e9d2-ac76-11e1-b05e-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=comments#ixzz1wl4T8bxs

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor-for-tuesday-june/article_3115ea28-b9e1-11e1-a66e-0019bb2963f4.html
 

" A First..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspirational Monday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." She talks about some of the best things in life being free..!" Enjoy...



There is always a first for everything…

While vacationing in Los Angeles this week we decided to take in a live taping of a new show on tbs at Warner brothers caller Sullivan & son starting July 19<sup>th.

 After going through security we were seated in rows to watch this live show. The comedian that commanded us about clapping and cheering was a show in himself. We had front row seats arriving there early and he had a field day with my husband and myself. After finding out we were from Buffalo and married so long, the jokes began. He had the audience in stitches laughing at us. It was great fun to watch the filming of this live show with all well known stars and the best part …it was free.

I don’t know why we had never done this before since we have been to LA many many times before. What a great way to spend the afternoon.</sup>
New show starts July 19th on TBS….Listen carefully….You will hear me laughing…..

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher

"My one Thousandth blog, less than one year away..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'



Anticipation of dakinetalk's one thousandth blog has many licking their chops with a rumor the blog may be edited into a book..?"

 "My One Thousandth blog, less than one year away..."


 I continue on my daily blog sojourn, through the blogosphere of the cyber-wold, anticipating the day I reach blog #1,000. 

Once I reach my one thousandth blog I will do an edit to make a book out of the best blogs that I penned myself. The edit  hopefully will come down to people world-wide understanding, comprehending  and smiling by the words of dakinetalk.

That day is less than a year away if  I keep posting on a daily basis.

Ten years ago if you would had told me I would have been publishing a daily blog, I would had replied, "What's a blog..?"

Ten years from now if you tell me my blog is on the N.Y. Times best seller list, I will know I have died and gone to heaven.

"What's next..?"
 
Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

"The man who gave up sex for golf..!" 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Marvin Gross a Financial planner from Western N.Y. talks about the sport of Golf! Enjoy...

A golfer is in a competitive match with a friend, who  is ahead by a couple of strokes.

 

"Boy, I'd give anything to sink this putt,"  the golfer  mumbles to himself.

Just then, a stranger walks up beside him and whispers,

 

"Would  you be willing to  give up one-fourth of your sex life?"

 

Thinking the man is crazy and his answer will  be meaningless,

 

the golfer also feels that maybe this is a good omen so he says,

 

"Sure," and sinks  the putt.

Two holes later, he mumbles to himself again,

 

"Gee, I sure would  like to get an  eagle on this one."

The same stranger is at his side again and whispers,

 

"Would it  be worth giving  up another fourth of your sex life?"

Shrugging, the golfer replies, "Okay." And he makes  an eagle.

On the final hole, the golfer needs another eagle to  win.

 

Without waiting for him to say anything  the stranger quickly moves

a long side of the golfer and says,  "Would winning this match be worth

 

giving up the rest of your sex  life?"

 

 

"Definitely," the golfer replies, and he makes the eagle.

As the golfer is walking to the  club house, the stranger walks

 

alongside him and says, "I haven't really been fair  with you,

 

because you don't know who I am. I'm the Devil, and from this day

 

forward  you will have no  sex life."

"Nice to meet you," the golfer replies, "I'm  Father O'Malley .

 

And I thank you for a great game."

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

 

" Those who can do more..." 'Michael A. Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about the teaching profession and what it's really about...  Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/



　
It's Aloha Friday.

"Those who can do more ?"Aloha folks,

An old saying goes, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
I believe that the saying should be "Those who can, do. Those who can do more, teach."

I began teaching in September . . . 1965. I hung in there for thirty-four and one-half years. Probably more like forty if you count in overtime, for which I did not get paid. When I was teaching, teachers were expected to show up for Carnivals and Fun Days and spend the entire day working in order to raise money for the PTA or similar group. It was enjoyable, but it was time spent away from my family. I was also expected to prepare my classroom for Back-to-School night and I stayed after school for Parent-Teacher Conferences. It was what I had signed on for, and I fulfilled all my duties. Even sitting there in my room waiting time after time for a parent who didn't show, and didn't notify me that they weren't coming.

I've heard the word 'idealistic' applied to teachers many times. I started off idealistic, but I lost a great deal of my idealism in my first year of teaching. I was working in San Francisco, teaching students from the Bay View and Hunters Point areas. I was hired to teach English to 7th thru 9th graders in a middle school. When my students couldn't read the texts assigned by the District for their grade level, I did some quick testing of my own. I soon found that my average 9th grader was reading at a 3rd grade level, barely. I junked the District text (Robinson Crusoe) and began buying paperback books, high interest, low reading level. A little of my money; some free books through sales of Scholastic books to my students (one free book for me for every 4 or 5 books my students purchased). I gradually built up a library of easy to read books. Together my students and I made progress.

Then other things started to take my interest. Like the fact that we had to chain and padlock many of the doors leading out of the school, because too many bad guys were using them to get into the school to sell drugs and do other bad stuff. We had riots in the area, and they spilled over into the school. We survived them. But I finally had enough of inner-city schools when one of my 7th graders didn't come to class. At first none of the other students would tell me why he was absent. Finally I found out that he had cut school, gone to the elementary school next door, and had raped a 3rd grade girl in the bathroom there. I copped out. I applied for a job in the suburbs and moved my wife and son there with me. I figured things would be better teaching kids in the suburbs. Wrong. There were still lots of problems there. In my first year in the suburbs I discovered that the pudgy twin 5th grade girls in my math class were being regularly sexually abused by their father. In my third or fourth year an estranged husband came on site and shot his wife to death as she waited in the parking circle after dropping off their Kindergartner. About six years into my service at this suburban school a 6th grade boy killed a female classmate after she refused his sexual advances.

But there were also the good kids, the bright kids and the average kids. Kids who were just kids. Who were willing to learn, sometimes even eager, if you just helped them a little. Some of my students went on to become enormously successful. I'd like to think some of their success was because of my work with them. But I also know that most of those who succeeded would have succeeded even if I'd never met them.

There are still lots and lots of good bright kids in our schools. But they aren't going to learn if we keep cutting the school day, cutting the school year, cutting the school budget.

We have lots of truly wonderful teachers, though, as with any profession, there are some real duds out there. Some who are not dedicated, or much less idealistic. But we have good people in oh so many of our classrooms. It's just too bad that so many of those good people get pushed into Administration. Why? Because they can make more of a living wage as a school administrator.
We have some really big problems with our schools here in the USA. Solutions to those problems are hard to come by, and aren't accomplished overnight. But we keep working at finding answers. And one day we will.

In the meantime, this does apply to so very many of our teachers — "Those who can do more, TEACH."

Okay folks, see you next week.

check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/ 

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

 

ALOHA FRIDAY

June 1, 2012