Kona Sunset

 Wanderlust   

These were taken just north of where I am staying. Gorgeous.

Coffee Country Tour

 Wanderlust   

I set out with a couple of places I wanted to try to see in South Kona and kinda made my way back up to the condo I am staying at.

Nerd alert...here’s the google map:

View Larger Map

So my first stop was random - just pulled over at a spot that said “Scenic Spot”. Not so much.

I decided to drive out to the farthest place I wanted to go and work my way back. Along the way, there was gorgeous scenery as I drove up to about 1500 ft. I didn’t stop for photos because I was on a two lane highway and that wasn’t happening. When I got to the Royal Kona Visitor Center, I was stoked because I could smell coffee roasting and I could also smell macadamia nut cakes baking. The view from the visitor center kinda gives you an idea how high up you are...you can see where the ocean meets the island only by looking down. If you look straight ahead, it’s hard to tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins.

(Royal Kona)

Next stop was to drive down Napoopoo Rd to find a spot to view Kealakekua Bay. When I turned onto the road, I was behind a truck that was filled with burlap bags. I thought they were bags of coffee, but they pulled into a Mauna Loa macadamia nut processing center. Kinda bummed that the center was not open to the public, but that was fine. At the end of Napoopoo Rd, there is a small parking lot and this is your reward.

The coast on this side of the island is very rocky. This little spot had a launching are for kayaks.

After taking a few photos, I went back up the hill and stopped at the Kona Pacific Farmer’s Co-op. It was seriously like being transplanted back in time. A bunch of sheet metal buildings and what not.

(Kona Pacific Farmer’s Co-op)

Next stop up the hill was St. Benedict’s Painted Church. I’m not Catholic, but I always have appreciated the feel I get when I walk into a church or cathedral. This particular church is famous for its painted murals, which were quite beautiful.

(entering the church)

(detail)

Last stop on the tour was Kona Joe’s. They grow their beans like wine grapes, so their coffee is super expensive (but really yummy). The view here was a little different from the one at Royal Kona - it’s further north so you get more of the steppe landscape than the rocky coast.

Okay, so done with coffee right now. Gonna relax a bit before I head into town for the sunset.

Another Day….Another Island

 Wanderlust   

I’m on island #2 on my 3 islands-in-10-days-whirlwind. I’m on the Big Island, staying in Kailua-Kona and it’s so different from either Oahu and Maui. In a good way, I would say. The beaches here are very rocky and the ocean seems to go on forever. I will take photos tomorrow - too distracted to take any today.

So...Waikiki...it’s changed a lot since I was last there - I was very disappointed when I went to the Royal Hawaiian and they had their beachside bar closed off for remodeling. But Duke’s didn’t let me down and I got nice and drunky in the middle of the afternoon, which is what you’re supposed to do when you’re in Hawaii. The weather was really crappy in Waikiki. Yesterday, it rained all afternoon. But that was fine. I had stocked up on Sapporo and I was able to read a whole book, which was fabulous.

A couple of photos…

It was way cool to be able to see this from my lanai - someone got proposed to and everyone at the beach was totally respectful and left it alone. It was still there when I left today.

I know, how many photos of Diamond Head can one take? A lot. This one was taken around sunrise, I liked it because of the clouds near the top. If you ever go to Honolulu and want to climb up the crater, this is the kind of weather you want - it needs to be a little overcast so that you don’t sweat like a pig all the way to the top. The view from there is gorgeous, but once you’ve been up there once, you don’t really need to do it again.

Tomorrow, I think I am heading south and going on a coffee plantation tour. Tuesday I will go north and try to find some white sand beaches and go to a nice restaurant for lunch. Then Wednesday, I am off to Maui. I will check in daily. Aloha!

Aloha from Waikiki

 Wanderlust   

Yay. I made it to Honolulu in one piece....the travel gods smiled upon me and I didn’t have a seat mate on the way here so I got to sprawl out and got some sleep. And somehow I am still tired. But whatevs. I was stoked to get an upgraded room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (read tourist central) and this is my view.

I am off to go exploring in Waikiki before having dinner at the Top of Waikiki....check out the live feed from the dining room here.

Aloha!

Show Preview: Longwave and Eulogies at Casbah

 Rawk Shows    Rawk Tunes   

I’ve only got a few days in town before I take off, but I am so glad I am getting the chance to check out a great show at the Casbah tomorrow. Eulogies and Longwave are two bands you should pay attention to.....

Artist: Eulogies
Album: Tempted To Do Nothing
From the press kit:
“Eulogies’ songs struggle with broken-down communication, the weight of bad habits, the fear of being alone. That struggle is universal, and it’s presented within the music with a directness that’s both stark and beautiful.” -from their Dangerbird Records profile
Worth a second listen? : I haven’t heard the whole EP (I’m getting the vinyl tomorrow and will cross my fingers that an mp3 download link is included) but the single featuring Nikki from Silversun Pickups is awesome.
Listen: “Two Can Play” (click to stream, right click and save as to dl)
More info: official/myspace

Artist: Longwave
Album: Secrets are Sinister
Recommended if you like: “It’s what Coldplay might sound like if they really did rock.” - NY Daily News
From the press kit:
“No matter the stamp, there’s at lease one universal aspect to NY quartet Longwave’s music - it’s really pretty. And with Secrets Are Sinister, Longwave’s ethereal, lush arrangements and floating melodies are getting decidedly epic.” - Spin
Standout Tracks: “Satellites","It’s True”
Worth a second listen?:
I have to admit that I had a hard time listening to this the first couple of times - I think all the press left me with no idea what to expect. But it was a grower and I find myself enjoying it more on every listen. It almost seems like a throwback to some of the music I listened to when I was younger - all that “ethereal” stuff - like Cocteau Twins that rocks with a dude singing.
More info/listen: imeem/myspace/youtube/official/original signal (record label)

Last of the New Tunes

 Rawk Radio    Rawk Releases   

My last one of these for the year.

In Stores 12/9:
Justice A Cross The Universe [CD/DVD]
Thrice Thrice Live At The House Of Blues [CD/DVD]
Recorded at the May 28, 2008 show at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. If I were a Thrice fan, I would be all over this. I think HOB Anaheim is my favorite of the HOB venues to see a show.

In Stores 12/16:
All-American Rejects When The World Comes Down
(listen to the single “Gives you Hell” here)
Fall Out Boy Folie A Deux
Emo girl heaven this week. I’m sure at some point you’ll be able to stream both of these on their respective myspace pages.

Impacting on radio:
Beck - Youthless
Dead Confederate - The Rat
Ryan Adams - Magick
Weezer - The Greatest Man That Ever Lived
All radio programmers should just look to KBZT for what new stuff they should play - they’ve been on all of these for awhile.

Christmas Classics Remixed

Ssshhhh. Don’t tell anyone but I love Christmas music. I have quite a bit of Christmas music - a lot of it is old standards done by current musicians. Along that same vein, I have been listening to a great Christmas album, released by the folks at the Verve Music Group. They have a series of compilations of classic artists (such as Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald...you get the picture) where they have current artists remix the tracks. Let’s get to the nitty gritty, shall we?

Artist: Various
Album: Verve Remixed Christmas
Track Listing:
1. Count Basie - Good Morning Blues (The Real Tuesday Weld Clarkenwell Mix)
2. Louis Armstrong - Zat You, Santa Clause? (The Heavy Remix)
3. Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? (Mangini vs. Pallin Mix)
4. Billie Holiday - I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Yesking Remix)
5. Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (The Orb Remix)
6. Shirley Horn - Winter Wonderland (Christian Prommer Remix)
7. Jimmy Smith - God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (Oh No Remix)
8. Nina Simone - I Am Blessed (Wax Tailor Remix)
9. Dinah Washington - Silent Night (Brazillian Girls Remix)
10. Mel Torme - The Christmas Song (Sonny J Remix)
11. Nina Simone - Chilly Winds (Fink Remix)

Recommended if you like: remixes of classic songs
From the press kit:
“The groundbreaking Verve Remixed compilation series has, for several years, established itself as one of the most innovative and successful series in music. Its popularity and acclaim is well-founded: the marriage between the timeless Verve Records catalog and the most talked about DJs and producers today.”
Standout Tracks: “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”
Worth a second listen?:
Absolutely. If you love these classic Christmas songs, you’ll dig the remixes. A great album to pick up if you want unique Christmas music for background vibe at parties or what not. (For me, it is perfect for when I do my Christmas cookie baking, that is if I get around to it for the few days I’ll be home before I leave for Hawaii next week.)
More info/listen to previews: Verve Remixed