Down to Earth
Down to Earth – Kauai Animal Education Center
Kaua’i Animal Education Center (KAEC), located in Kapa’a, Kaua’i, operates as a sanctuary for over 150 animals across more than 15 species, and it also acts as a community resource that merges animal rescue, public education, and community service under one roof. The center, which runs under the guiding principle of Ho’opono – an ethos centered on maintaining a balanced and symbiotic relationship between humans, animals, and nature – opens its doors to various segments of the population, providing educational programs for groups ranging from children to elders.
In a visit documented by Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, Christy Wong, a representative of KAEC, guides viewers through an environment teeming with various species, from goats and sheep to pigeons and chickens. Wong emphasizes the role of the KAEC as a “farm animal rescue providing services for our community to interact, engage, and learn from these wonderful animals.” Visitors are encouraged to engage with the animals, but with a foundational respect, understanding that “this is the animals’ home, and everyone should feel safe in their own home.”
Wong explains that alongside the core principle of providing a safe home for animals, the center also underscores the importance of establishing trust between humans and animals, stating, “they know that they can trust us” especially when the animals might be injured or in distress. The list of residents includes goats, sheep, pigeons, chickens, ducks, geese, a peacock named Romeo, tortoises, rabbits, guinea pigs, turkeys, pheasants, and pigs. Additionally, some animals, like Bob and Jen (a pair of birds whose individual identities are playfully undetermined), embody a certain communal familiarity, becoming familiar faces to the returning visitors and staff.
Amidst the visits and tours, the animals not only provide interactive experiences for the guests but also become part of an educational framework that extends into practical learning for children. Wong speaks about children taking initiative beyond their experiences at the center: “They even go home and do their own research, which is incredible because they’re taking it upon themselves to find out more, and they’re going above and beyond.” The youngsters participate in diverse activities, learning about responsibilities like feeding the animals, collecting eggs, and shearing sheep, especially during the center’s camp programs.
Tours at KAEC, which must be booked online, offer a moment for visitors to “relax, disconnect to reconnect,” providing a space away from the usual traffic and hustle of daily life. Wong encourages visits during the morning or early evening when the environment is cooler and notes that the animals have “lots of love to give.”
Haraguchi-Nakayama’s exploration of the center does more than just expose the day-to-day interactions between humans and animals at KAEC. It spotlights a model where care, education, and community service converge, as illustrated by Wong’s insight and experiences. The center stands not merely as a shelter but as a vibrant hub where humane education and animal care intertwine, demonstrating a comprehensive and compassionate approach toward fostering mutual relationships between living beings and contributing towards community wellness.
Kaua‘i Animal Education Center Website | Facebook | Instagram
Down to Earth – M.Y.Kauai Honey
Situated among the lush landscapes of Kauai, **MY Kauai Honey**, under the leadership of Michael Yulo, endeavors to explore the multifaceted applications of beekeeping and its by-products across several island locations, offering not only a sweet indulgence but also a foray into skincare and sustainable living.
In a transparent presentation of beekeeping, Mike, who conducts the operation, navigates through not only the production but also various innovative applications of his products. According to the host of a local series, Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, MY Kauai Honey produces “a lot of wonderful products,” with particular attention paid to beeswax, which has the added benefit of cleaning the air, emitting “the light spectrum the same as the sun.” This is utilized by collaborating with Kilohana’s Clay Works to craft candles from their beeswax.
Their work does not halt at illumination, diving into culinary creations, as illustrated by a “raw jam” made from a simple blend of “mango and honey.” Additionally, Mike reveals a delightful spread reminiscent of a popular hazelnut confectionery, informally termed “Kauai Nutella,” which blends chocolate, macadamia nut, and honey. He claims, “It is delicious,” indicating the casual simplicity behind these honey-infused creations.
While honey can surely be labeled a staple of the company, beeswax and propolis emerge as unsung heroes of MY Kauai Honey’s lineup. In an interview, Mike details, “I make a balm with the beeswax…excellent for sunburn, it’s excellent for minor infections.” Propolis, an amalgamation of bee saliva and sap, possessing “antibacterial and antifungal” properties, is an essential component in the beeswax balm, offering relief from both infections and the mundane annoyance of mosquito bites. The story of this remedy is personal, crafted initially for Mike’s daughter, to mitigate the swelling and irritation resulting from insect bites.
In a testament to the adaptability and timelessness of these bee products, the younger generation of MY Kauai Honey represents sustainability through the production of beeswax wraps. His daughter partakes in the creation of these wraps, which in the 1800s were used to “wrap bread with it to keep it fresh.” These products embody a continuity from past to present, binding historical methods to modern sustainability endeavors.
However, at its core, MY Kauai Honey extends beyond business and production, touching on aspects of devotion and community. Mike considers his endeavor in farming and beekeeping as “a labor of love” and attributes the fruition of MY Kauai Honey to a higher power, noting, “All of this is because of God.”
The serene island of Kauai serves as a backdrop to MY Kauai Honey, where products, derived from the delicate work of bees, amalgamate into a product line that stretches from palate to skin and beyond, threading the practicality of bee derivatives into everyday life. Such endeavors, bridging the sweet and the sustainable, play out under the Hawaiian sun, where honey, beeswax, and propolis intertwine to create not only a product but also a community tethered by the humble bee.
Down to Earth – Ho‘opulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill Tour
Ho`opulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill, nestled in Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi’s Hanalei Valley, bears the tale of agricultural resilience and preservation, enduring through the folds of time and nature’s whims. As an agrarian museum, it stands alone as Hawaiʻi’s only extant rice mill, recognized on the National Historic Register of Historic Places and is testament to a robust history dating back to the 1800s. Despite multiple restorations after damage from a fire and hurricanes, it has steadfastly maintained a bridge to the past under the stewardship of the Haraguchi family, now in their sixth generation of managing the neighboring taro farm.
In a related venture, the family farm, set against the lush backdrop of a US Fish & Wildlife Refuge, is acknowledged as home to approximately five endangered Native Hawaiian water bird species. Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, part of the Haraguchi lineage, navigates through this intricate landscape, introducing visitors to a multifaceted experience that marries nature, agriculture, and historical resonance through the Taro Farm Flood Recovery Eco Tour. Lyndsey narrates, “This right here is our over a hundred-year-old, sixth-generation family farm,” emphasizing the longevity and heritage deeply rooted in the enterprise.
The mill, albeit no longer active since the decline of Kauaʻi’s rice industry in 1960, has transmuted its essence into a non-profit entity, bent on safeguarding and interpreting the mill’s story for thousands over its 45-year tenure. Conversely, the educational arm of the organization does not merely rest upon legacy but ventures into interactive educational experiences, offering public programs and experiences, though current tours are in abeyance due to pandemic and flood-related setbacks. Lyndsey illuminates the current situation, “Unfortunately, we got hit really hard by the April floods, so we do have a taro farm flood recovery eco-tour while we’re still doing flood recovery efforts and salvaging artifacts.”
In a tangible bridge between past and present, the eco-tour doesn’t merely skim through the historical layers but immerses participants into the tactile and tangible aspects of traditional farming. It accommodates demonstrations of harvesting techniques, seedling creation, and also opens a window to the indigenous culinary world, offering a taste of taro-based family dishes like taro hummus and taro mochi. All of this is underscored by an authentic engagement with the land and history: “We’re going to be able to take you folks into exclusive areas of the farm and the fields, and I’ll be demonstrating to you folks how to harvest, how to create seedlings, [and share] the agricultural history of the valley,” shares Lyndsey.
The Taro Farm Flood Recovery Eco Tour not only opens a lens to the aesthetic and natural bounty of the farm but serves as a conduit to support the non-profit’s ongoing initiatives. Meticulously woven through the experiences offered are layers of commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and educational expansion, particularly relevant amidst recovery from flood impacts. “All proceeds from the tour go towards restoration efforts, as the museum is on the National Historic Register, and also recovery efforts from all the floods and education programs for children across the state of Hawaii,” Lyndsey asserts.
Thus, while the Haraguchi Rice Mill is emblematic of a bygone era, it, along with the taro farm, perpetuates a legacy that traverses through agricultural history, environmental conservation, and a seamless blend into the educational and cultural tapestry of Hawaiʻi, stitching together generations of knowledge, resilience, and commitment to sustainable practice and educational enrichment. The narrative of the Ho`opulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill and the adjacent taro farm is, thus, not merely historical recounting but an ongoing story of preservation, recovery, and tenacious adherence to cultural and environmental stewardship.
Haraguchi Rice Mill Tour Website |