People come from all over to vacation on Kauai, enjoying the islands rich scenery and amazing beaches. They also come for the food and breadfruit, a native Kauai fruit, is commonly used in many delectable dishes. It is a fruit that can do much more than just be in a dish in a restaurant, it is also being looked at for how it can be used to help solve world hunger.

Bette Midler owns a 58,500 foot lot in the Haena District on the north shore of the beautiful island of Kauai. She has no house on the lot and according to her attorney has no plans to build a house on the lot in spite of the cutting of 200+ trees on the property.

The cutting of the native and non-native trees was noticed by state conservation workers on Oct. 17th. The trees were being cut with a graded road being built on it stated a report submitted to the state Board of Land and Natural resources.

In Hawaii taro (kalo in Hawaiian) is a vital part of the cultural and agricultural traditions of the people. Before western contact on Kauai there were more than 300 different forms of the plant as it was a major food staple. It is a food that vacationers to Kauai will find in any restaurant they dine in.

Taro is believed to be the greatest life force of all foods and according the ancient tradition grew from the Haloa-naka the son of the Wakea (sky father) and Papa (earth mother). Haloa-naka was still born and buried. Out of his body grew the kalo plant which means everlasting breath.

When you take a vacation to Kauai the one thing you will notice is the chickens. One doesn’t really think of chickens when one thinks of a paradise island but they are definitely there. They have been there for a long time and for most they are simply part of the magic that holds to the place.

Right now there is a problem with the chickens and many are dying. Over two dozen have been found dead. Experts from the Humane Society have done autopsies on the chickens and say that it is not a sickness that should effect people or other animals. The chickens simply appear to be suffering from a respiratory illness with runny noses and red eyes. Basically they have a bacterial infection.

People come to visit the beautiful island of Kauai for vacations from all over the world. They come to bask in the sunshine, frolic in the warm ocean waters, view the breathtaking sunsets and also to see the whales. It is the whales and the potential damage the sonar testing can do them that is the reason for a large debate currently being waged on Kauai.

Since Kauai Open Space first began in 2002 it has been dedicated to preserving the land, retaining its beauty for the locals and anyone who is has the opportunity to visit Kauai.

The Goals of Kauai open space are this:

1. Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains. 2. Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites. 3. Protection of significant habitats or ecosystems, including buffer zones. 4. Preserving forests, beaches, coastal areas, and agricultural lands. 5. Protecting watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply. 6. Conserving land in order to reduce erosion, floods, landslides, and runoff. 7. Improving disabled and public access to, and enjoyment of, public land and open space. 8. Acquiring disabled and public access to public land and open space.

Kauai is called the “Garden Isle”, famous for its lush foliage, unique plants and exquisite flowers. People come to visit Kauai from all over the world to see the beauty created by Mother Nature. This beauty however is in danger as many of these plants and flowers may not be here too much longer. 180 of these plant species have less than 50 individual plants still surviving.

The people of Kauai are helping to take care of the environment and thus protecting their beautiful plush island for themselves and for all who visit Kauai, and they are accomplishing the goal with enthusiasm as they have made the Home Composting program a success once again.

The program began in 2001 and since then the Recycling Office has distributed 1,500 free Earth machine composting bins. They have in fact distributed all the bins they have and are currently out until funds to purchase more come in next year.

Creeper makes one think of a giant spider or huge snake creeping silently through the grass, but the Kauai creeper doesn’t look at all like its name. Small and delicate the bird was given the name Kauai Creeper due to its warbler-like appearance and since it gleans insects from tree trunks and branches. It is also known a the Akikiki.

The lovely bird may have a mismatched creepy name but there is something truly creepy about the sad decline of the species.

Sugar has been produced on Kauai for generations and it is now set to be filling the fields once again, as soon Kauai vacationers will be filling up their cars with locally produced ethanol.

The project will turn the sugar fields of Kaumakani into a renewable energy source. Gay and Robinson will be teaming with Pacific West Energy on the $80 million dollar project.

“We’re excited to partner with Pacific West Energy and begin transforming G&R from a commodity raw sugar producer to a provider of renewable and alternative energy for Kauai and Hawaii,” said Alan Kennett, president of Gay & Robinson, in a news release.