Therapy animals bring joy and comfort to Maui’s elderly and disabled

Shannon Dominguez works at least 70 hours per week at Upcountry Maui’s Haku Baldwin Center.She directs a popular community program called Animal-Assisted Therapy. Several times per week, she loads up her truck with a menagerie of well-trained animals–including dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks & chickens–and visits people who are elderly, infirmed or disabled. Her therapy animals bring [...]

Pet ownership in Hawaii

On O’ahu pet ownership is higher than the Mainland, with at least 60% of households owning a dog or cat. Higher rates of pet ownership may contribute to a longer life expectancy for people living in Hawaii, on average three years longer than those on the Mainland.

Purely Hawaiian Liquor, ‘Okolehao

Native Hawaiians use taro root for more than making poi. They also make liquor, a potent distillation of ti called ‘Okolehao (prn OH-koh-lay-how). Haleakala Distillers, located Upcountry Maui, starting brewing their own 80-proof version in December 2009. It’s been described as a cross between rum and sipping tequila, with a hint of flavor unique to the islands. Here’s my favorite Okolehau drink recipe.

Two free real estate tools dish the data

If you’re looking to buy a house, rent in a new area or just want to know more about a neighborhood, I’ve found two online tools that provide a wealth of data for free: walkscore.com and redfin.com .

HAM radio operators keep lines open during tsunami

During emergencies, like tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and hurricanes, phone lines in Hawaii go down or become clogged. That’s when HAM radio operators throughout the state step in with their century-old technology to ensure emergency communications get through.