Hi'iaka's Healing Herb Garden

Spring 2008 Newsletter

HCR 2, Box 9620    Kea'au, Hawaii 96749-9339
goddess@hiiakas.com    www.hiiakas.com     (808) 966-6126
Volume 9, Number 3                       Spring 2008

Halema'uma'u crater in Kilauea volcano is spewing steam and ash.

Betty Crocker Landscape Awards

The Garden was nominated for a Betty Crocker Landscape Award in the zeriscape category. Awards were announced in Honolulu on June 23, and I am proud to announce that we won an "Appreciation" award. It was an honor to be included in the running.

The Betty Crocker Landscape Awards are an annual attempt to recognize some of the thousands of people who work every day to make Hawai'i a more beautiful place. The awards are named for Betty Crocker, the founder of the organization, who worked for more than 20 years to protect and preserve the state's beauty and scenic views and to encourage new beautification efforts wherever possible. She passed away in 2000.

The zeriscape category includes projects whose landscaping and gardening efforts are consistent with best natural practices, especially those that include Native Hawaiian and other "less thirsty" plants that help to conserve water.

Our recent dry weather pointed out that the plants we have selected and which remain hearty in our Garden are true survivors, able to survive nicely with very little rainfall or additional hand watering, as well as during periods of heavy rain. Native plants are the answer!

WWOOFers Took Good Care of Me

A million mahalos to Greg Hunt and Margaux Mellott, members of the volunteer organization Willing Workers on Organic Farms. They stayed with me for six weeks, before and after my hip replacement surgery, and took care of the garden and the animals... and prepared some pretty awesome meals for me while I was limping around during my four-week recuperation after the big May 12 event in Honolulu. Now, six weeks later, I am doing great. Greg and Margaux moved on to a B&B on Kaua'i June 12. Aloha, sweet people!

Greg and Margaux in the kitchen, cooking one of their fabulous meals.

Veggie pizzas Fruitful fruit Tincture makings

An Old Friend Visits

Charlene LaBelle finally visited all 50 states.

Former co-worker at Tandem Computers Charlene LaBelle visited from April 18 through the 23rd. Above, she is standing next to a beautiful specimen of our endangered state flower, the Ma'o hau hele, or Hibiscus brackenridgei, at the Naohulelua Garden near South Point. The ruins on the right are from a church that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1868. Catholic missionaries from France and Belgium built this church in 1864, a group that included Father Damien. Damien was assigned to the Big Island for several years before being transferred to Moloka'i, where he performed his saintly work with lepers.

The Na'alehu Main Street Association plans to restore the ruins. For more information about them and the work they are doing, visit their web site at www.naalehu.org.

Charlene and I explored the entire island.

Sad News About Hawai'i Island Journal

Many people on the Big Island were surprised and dismayed by the sudden cessation of Hawai'i Island Journal, with its June 14 issue. I began writing my column, "The Healthful Herbalist," in March 2002, when Lane Wick published it. It was a popular, independent paper--the only independent on this island--and will be missed by its 24,000 readers.

However, I am pleased to announce that my column will continue to be published by a brand new newspaper, the Island Sun, which will begin its tenure on July 1. Stay tuned for their web site URL and more news about this new independent paper.

Writing for Another Web Site

Beginning in March, I began writing "how to" articles for www.ehow.com. Check out my writing under the pen name "HawaiiHerbLady." It has been the perfect "job" during my recuperative period and I plan to continue writing for them as long as they continue to accept my articles.

eHow's mission is to become the most complete, authoritative "how to" site on the Internet.

I've been pleased with our association so far and am especially pleased that they have accepted my suggested articles about how to grow and use rare and endangered Hawaiian plants. I'm sure I'm the only person contributing this type of subject content!

You too can write for eHow. Visit their administrative web site, www.demandstudios.com, for information about how to become a contributor.

Abundant Summer Coming Up

Our fairly dry spring was the perfect weather for mangoes once again. They are beginning to ripen on our two trees and I always look forward to all of the mango smoothies, marinades, pies, cobblers and anything else I can dream up.

The pineapple harvest has already started and we're looking at perhaps 20 large fruit in the pineapple garden, which we hope will come to fruition gradually and not all in the same week!

Our first pineapple was oh, so juicy.

First Island Sun Excerpt

This appeared in the first issue of the Island Sun, July 1, 2008.

It's always a nice idea to attempt treating ourselves with herbs and other alternative remedies when we are suffering from minor ailments such as colds, simple flu, a sore throat, a sprained ankle. But what about more serious illnesses? Are alternative remedies effective? And how do you determine when to visit your medical doctor?

Many people postpone or avoid medical treatment because of limited finances. It is expensive, but think of the benefits you gain when your pain and suffering are gone. You can usually make arrangements to pay in monthly installments. Even with medical insurance, the out of pocket cost of major surgery can be overwhelming. I look upon it as a necessity of my life and will basically do anything to make myself whole again. I'll figure out the logistics of paying the doctor later.

For serious diseases like cancer and diabetes, I recommend everyone consult a qualified medical professional. Don't try to treat yourself: it could be a matter of life or death.

More: www.hiiakas.com/column-index.asp

Upcoming Workshops

Beginning July 5, I'll start offering my herbalism and gardening workshops once again. Here's what's coming up:

July 5:    Healthy Fourth of July Barbecue
July 12:    Beautiful Skin With Herbs
July 19:    Tinctures for Glowing Health
July 26:    Essentials of Hawaiian Herbalism
Aug. 2:    Noni Needn't Taste Nasty
Aug. 9:    Herbal Teas and Decoctions
Aug. 16:    What is ho'okupu?
Aug. 23:    Herbal Healing Baths
Aug. 30:    How To Grow Hawaiian Healing Plants
Sept. 6:    Stress Reduction with 'Awa, Chamomile, Valerian, Liliko'i
Sept. 13: Herb-Drug Interactions
Sept. 20: Herbal Cosmetics

More info: www.hiiakas.com/workshops-2008

New Friend Helped Out

Kathleen Boyd just built a beautiful house nearby and was an angel,
"babysitting" me several times during my recuperation.

To order Super Simple Guide to Creating Hawaiian Gardens, visit Amazon.com or www.authorhouse.com.