(Today we made our first attempt to go LIVE in the STUDIO) We hope we can continue to bring the Show LIVE every week with the Lucky We Live Hawaii Podcast, today however we ran into a few issues…We hope to have them fixed soon for future podcasts…Today our Topic was about Summer in Hawaii…and there are PLENTY of things to do in the SUMMER TIME in HAWAII…

Summer time is the time to hit the water for snorkeling, kayaking, late evening Hikes and sunsets, early morning sunrises and Star Gazing…the currents are chill and it makes great times for doing water sports. Spending all day at the beach, camping or BBQing is the common thing to do here in Hawaii during the summer months and the fishing is choice as well. Getting your drink on is also a summer thing…Cocktails, summer brews…you name it…Hawaii has it. Moves on the beach is a big summer activitiy here as wel as summer festivals…Getting out on your Paddle Boards are the big summer thing to do here with the chill flat water of the North Shore and the ease of heading down or up stream and do some river kayaking or paddle boarding…there is an endless amount of fun and activities you can do in summer so have fun, stay safe an always go with friends no matter what activties you do…Summer in Hawaii is one more reason why we are so lucky to live in the 808.

The Sacred Na Aumakua…what are they, who are they and where is their place in Kanaka Maoli culture? (Native Hawaiians) The culture of the Kanaka go way back…thousands of years. As they left their past behind on Tahiti they took many of their cultural history with them to the promised land of Hawai’i.  

If we are to understand the meaning of the Na Aumakua, we must understand the Spiritual Power (MANA) they posses, Mana is the spiritual energy and also healing power which can exist in places, objects and persons…with Mana there is KAPU…Kapu is a CODE of CONDUCT of LAWS and REGULATIONS. Only the Ali’i Nui (Royalty/Chiefs) could put Kapu’s on items, people, things and Aumakuas, which is a ( Family God, Guardian, Protector and Ancestor)

The “MANO”…Our Sacred Aumakua. Pictured here is the well known, loved and feared Tiger Shark of the Hawaiian Islands.

Why would a free diver off Moloka’i toss away every few fish he speared?

For his Aumakua…that’s why.

All of a sudden, this huge MANO, (Tiger Shark) came up and took the fish tossed away by the diver…The Shark did not attack the free diver, but why? For the Diver was feeding his ‘Aumakua. Wherever the diver would go, his MANO (shark) would help him, guide and protect him from other sharks…His Aumakua would protect and follow him wherever and whenever he would dive.

The Story goes like this:

A long time ago a tour boat sank off Moloka’i in the 1930s. Sharks swarmed as the tourists splashed away, all of the tourists were attacked and killed. The captain of the boat, however, started to chant and pray for protection. “His Aumakua appeared and offered his dorsal fin up and carried the captain to safely to shore. Is this just a story? Even in modern times, things like this happen. People try to explain it, but you can’t. A lot of Kanaka Maoli culture cannot be explained only accepted.

Can we Forget our Na Aumakua the HONU? The Gentle Giant of the Hawaiian waters, or friend and protector as well as protector of our reef, The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.  The Hawaiian way is to value all creatures as having a rightful place in the ecosystem…it is the essential connection between the aina, the kai, the aumakua and the mana of the old Kapu system that was in place thousands of years ago.

The shark, turtle and other Sacred Ancestors in Hawai’i are more than just ferocious ocean predators or Goats of the ocean…These Na Aumakua are woven into the fabrics of Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) History and culture.

Those who had an Aumakua believed that a departed ancestor took the form of these beings after death and appeared in dreams to living relatives. These Hawaiians would feed and pet a special Aumakua whom they believed to be a relative of their Kanaka Bloodline. In turn, the Aumakua would protect the family. This did not mean every animal a Kanaka Maoli comes across was their Aumakua…Ones Aumakua are identified very specifically by body markings, and are named. They are part of the ohana. There is a direct connection, a blood relationship between ones Aumakua and the ohana’s Bloodline. When comparing the relationship to the feelings a person might have for his elders (Kupuna). When you’re in a difficult situation, one may recall the lessons that your grandparents or great grandparents taught you…There’s a feeling that they’ll be there to watch over you, give you guidence and protection, usch as the MANO or HONU.

Care and feeding of your Aumakua was an essential part of this symbiotic relationship, may it be the MANO (Shark),

( We had issue with the opening song this week…it will be back next week guys…sorry! )

This can go for moving anywhere really, but why we are talking about it today is because you are MORE LIKELY to get ROOMMATES in HAWAII than any other place you live…Why you ask…because it’s just TOO EXPENSIVE not to when you first move here…and if you have a job that doesn’t pay well in the start, you’ll need to have roommates to survive until you get a better Job. What we suggest is you either get a 6 MONTH LEASE and Month to Month after that…or…You go Month to Month right away! Making the move to Hawaii is one thing, but we all know living with strangers is even worse! how do you know you’re not moving in with ROOMMATES FROM HELL? No one really knows until they move in and live with someone…On todays Podcast we discuss what it’s like and what you need to look out for and if need be how to get out of living with roommates from hell!!!

Some things many who have roommates have to deal with… Leaving empty carton of milk or juice or other drinks IN THE FRIDGE. Not replacing the toilet paper. Leaving dirty dishes all over the house. They eat your food. They leave the doors unlocked. They use your stuff and touch your things. The leave the lights on. They have loud sex. They never clean the house. They never take the trash out. They leave notes around the house and on the frig. They don’t clean up after themselves. They invite people over without asking. They leave cloths in the washer or dryer. They don’t clean the microwave. They take long showers and use all the hot water. They fart and burp. They leave hair all over the sink and shower. They leave suprises in the toilet. They are late on the rent or paying house bills. 

If you can deal with the above issues you may be able to deal with roommates…lol…but even before you get to all these issues you need to get past the biggest issues first:

Once you’ve picked out roommates or are moving in with roommates, you need to make sure everyone’s on the same page with the big issues…

* Rent: What is everyone paying? Who will collect the money and write the rent check to the landlord?

* Space: Who will occupy which bedrooms, Master, second and thrid?

* Household chores: Who’s responsible for cleaning, who buys supplies and on what schedule?

* Food sharing: Will food, shopping and cooking responsibilities be shared? How will you split the costs and work?

* Noise: When should stereos or TVs be turned off or down low?

* Overnight guests: Is it OK for boyfriends/girlfriends to stay over every night and if so will they pay a percent of the Rent so everyones rent comes down.

* Moving out: If one of the roommates decide to move, how much notice must be given?

When choosing to live with roommates there are many factors to consider…many can’t DEAL with roommates and enjoy coming home to a quiet space and home…others love roommates and love coming home to a house with people in it and activity. It really depends on what kind of person you are…one that likes privacy or one that likes to hang out in a group…In Hawaii it more than likely you will have to deal with roommates at least for 6 months so start figuring out how this is going to work…picking the right roommates can make or break your move to Hawaii…it’s seriously one of the hardest choices you will have to make during your first month here in Hawaii.

 

It’s about time we lift everyone up…We need one of these…Moving to Hawaii IS NOT EASY…it’s going to be one of the HARDEST THINGS you ever do…and once you get here things get HARDER! We have told everyone that we don’t sugarcoat things so we are sure many ARE or WILL be dealing with having a hard time here in Hawaii…

Overall the SAME 5 POINTS reach the surface at some point and it snowballs from there:

1.) HOW CAN I AFFORD TO LIVE IN HAWAII

2.) WHY CAN’T I FIT IN HERE IN HAWAII

3.) I MISS FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM HOME

At 3 you enter the SELF DESTRUCT phase of leaving Hawaii.

4.) PLAYING THE DEFEATIST ATTITUDE AND BLAME GAME

5.) COMING UP WITH EXCUSES ON WHY HAWAII ISN’T RIGHT and WHY YOU NEED TO LEAVE

Trust me…Bruce and I have seen this again and again…this is the cycle of coming and going here in Hawaii and it’s about a YEAR PROCESS for most…If you make it to year two…you are probably SAFE…you broke the barrier

* (We has some issues with our audio skipping at min 27. We are sorry about this and trying to fix the issues) Mahalo for your kokua~

Everyone knows some of the great things to do in Hawaii…but what about the things NOT TO DO in HAWAII? Yeah…there are plenty of shitty things not to do while in Hawaii…may it be while on vacation or if you live here…there are somethings you can avoid and others you should just forget about doing all together. We give you guys a good list of things to NOT do while here, why you shouldn’t and what to watch out for while in HAWAII…We even did some Blog searching and found some NOT SO SERIOUS and FUNNY posts on what to NOT DO from a few HAWAIIANS and LOCALS that will be sure to make you laugh as we did…This will be a serious, yet funny show… so sit back, relax, have fun and enjoy this Podcast!

Don’t spend all your time in Waikiki or at your resort…

Don’t lay in the sun all day to get a quick tan or any day while in Hawaii.

Don’t Forget to TIP!

 

Don’t take a Bus Tour.

While on Oahu don’t go to places like Sealife Park, the Dole Plantation Store or The Polynesian Cultural Center.

Don’t leave anything of value in your Car Rental.

 

Don’t Approach or touch Hawaiian Monk Seals and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles called Honu.

Don’t make a choice that can risk your life that you saw in a book, blog or video for a cheap thrill.

Don’t try to speak Pidgin…ever.

 

Don’t take Volcanic Lava Rocks from the islands, Don’t pile Rocks and don’t write your names on volcanic rocks with white coral…this means actually writing with them and placing them in the shape of your name.

Don’t forget to Take your shoes off indoors.

There are countless more we shouldn’t do when we come to Hawaii like: Don’t make a choice that can risk your life that you saw in a book, blog or video for a cheap thrill. Don’t forget to be courteous to other drivers while on the roads here. Please let others through in traffic and if someone lets you through always give them the Shaka/Hang Loose sign out the window. Do not go in the ocean if you see signs or flags telling you not to and never turn your back on it…it’s best to be safe here in Hawaii as our ocean is the most dangerous place to be. Don’t think it’s safe to cross the streets here in Hawaii, our cross walks are not the safest and jay walking has gotten many killed here in Hawaii…don’t be a statistic…Do not get too close to the Coral, touch or walk on it…it is a living breathing being like you and me. Do not leave trash or litter anywhere when you go on a hike…always take out what you took in and if you find some trash on the trail do your part, your kuleana as we say in Hawaii and pick up any trash you find…Be one wit the aina…Hawaii and her mana will be with you if you do this the rest of your trip. Don’t tell locals how it’s done on the mainland…We don’t give a shit how it’s done back there…this is Hawaii. Don’t come to Hawaii without understanding the basics of Hawaiian words and cultural history.  Don’t call Locals “NATIVES or HAWAIIANS” only KANAKA MAOLI are Native Hawaiians and they hold a high PRIDE LEVEL.

*UPDATE: NOV 2017: Wayde has been working for sometime on releasing his BOOK “LIVING OFF GRID IN HAWAII”. If you are interested in living a sustainable lifestyle and this topic interests you, please head on over to his WEBSITE and download his eBook: Living Off Grid in Hawaii:  https://www.livingoffgridinhawaii.com/

Many people DREAM of living “OFF GRID” wherever the live, but to live Off Grid in HAWAII…yeah, that’s the APEX of sustainability and self sufficiency, because unlike other places around the world and in the United States that’s JUST NOT COMPLETELY POSSIBLE like it is in HAWAII…Of all the places in the World…HAWAII is the Perfect example of OFF GRID PERFECTION! From Gardening, to Solar, Wind, Water Catchment, Septic Drainfield System, Satellite Internet System,  Smart TV and Streamer Player Boxes…IT’S ALL HERE in this Podcast…This is your GUIDE to going OFF GRID in HAWAII!

SOLAR…If you’re going off Grid you’re going with Solar. Considering Hawaii gets more than 275 days a year of SUNSHINE…you would be crazy not to take advantage of this! Solar technology continues to accelerate with new developments and greater efficiencies in the solar collector, higher wattage collectors continue to grow every day. If the Sun shines and the Clouds are not so thick, these solar collectors will gain and generate power in the daytime for between a 5-8 hour stretch. Using less power at night is suggested, candles and going to bed at a reasonable time will not only benefit your power usage, but you and your family…Spend your evenings going to bed at a reasonable hour and getting up earlier to enjoy the fullness and sunlight of your day.

WIND is another amazing option to use to supplement your SOLAR. Hawaii is well known for it’s Trade and Kona Winds…once again, not using these natural resources would be crazy! Using Solar and Wind together will be an amazing Combo for your Energy supply. Wind generating turbines are the second most common power generation system after solar, and will deliver quality power when installed properly on a Household roof.  Installing a Rooftop system will cost much less than a separate Tower system on the front or back of ones property. Most common turbines are vertical and are elevated to capture the full power of the wind.

MICRO HYDROELECTRIC…Now some of you may not have considered this, but this is the TRIFECTA of trifecta’s! To Combine SOLAR, WIND and HYDRO Power to to ensure you OFF GRID Power supply…BUT…naturally you need a Water source on your property…A Stream or Waterfall to be exact. If you do have enough WATER POWER on your property a micro hydro system CAN be installed and the great thing about this system is that it will provide 24/7 POWER GENERATION (as long as the stream is flowing with enough water). A properly installed system can reasonably generate enough power per day for an entire household in a normal manner. Combining SOLAR, WIND and HYDRO will be all the power you’ll need to be OFF GRID in Hawaii.

WATER CATCHMENT System, now that we have our ENERGY SUPPLY taken care of we’ll need to deal with our WATER SUPPLY…You want to have a properly set up rainwater catchment system that you have complete control of.

Today we go into some common questions and some funny and crazy questions and things that have been said to the both of us…it’s never a dull moment when it comes to being asked questions…As we have both said over and over…There is never a Dumb or Stupid Question…ALL QUESTIONS are VALID when it comes to Hawaii, so just know we get some pretty normal questions from time to time, but we also get some silly and funny ones. We dedicate this show to those fun questions. We also break down the news for the week and what’s happening on the islands of Hawaii…The exciting new is the NEW Branding and Launch of Bruce’s Travel Site…HAWAII ALOHA TRAVEL…this is going to be something special and we should all be exited to know that this will be your one stop shop for Booking and planning your entire Hawaii vacation!!!

Many Visit HAWAII and some of us even live here, but do we know some of the more used words in Hawai’i??? There could be 100’s of words we could choose to go over, but we broke it down to some of the most common 50 + WORDS YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW in HAWAII. You should know what they mean and when to use them and when not to! Don’t you want to be a part of Hawaii and a guest when you are here instead of a ( HAOLE ) tourist? If you are new to the islands and a ( MALIHINI ) for a few years in the Military or perhaps you’re a Traveling Nurse don’t you want to dive into the culture of Hawai’i and respect it? What if you moved here and plan to be here for the rest of your life, it won’t be too long before you become a ( KAMA’AINA )…if you are going to fit in and try to embrace the Hawaiian culture and local Pidgin we use when “Talking Story” now’s the time…This PODCAST should get you excited…You are about to get a breakdown of the most often used words in Hawaii and once done with this next hour…you won’t forget them!

I think when it comes to words used in Hawaii many ( MALIHINI ) new comers to Hawaii feel they can’t or are not ready to use many of the common words used by Locals and Hawaiians. ( KANAKA MAOLI ) None of you should feel that way…may it be a two week vacation, a few years stay or the rest of your life…It’s never too early or too late to understand and respect a new culture and way people live and talk. Locals and Native Hawaiians will be surprised and excited to hear them!

Today you’ll learn what words like…HALE, HEIAU, KUPUNA, KAHUNA, LAULAU, HULI HULI, HOWZIT, CHEEHOO, SHOOTS, MALAMA, AKAMAI, KULEANA, KOKUA and LIVING PONO mean…These are just some of the most important words to know and understand here in Hawaii…You’ll hear them when locals talk to each other, you’ll hear Hawaiians use them, you’ll hear them used at Luau’s and BBQ’s…Once you learn them, respect them and understand them, you can start you melting into the pot that’s called HAWAI’I NEI…Our Beloved Islands

Voluntourism is becoming a well known word, not only in Hawaii, but all over the world. It puts you in touch with the local community and the aina here in Hawai’i Nei. When planning a vacation to Hawaii, why not put a day aside to be a part of the community and Hawaiian Culture…volunteer with the Sierra Club of Hawaii or the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club. You can volunteer at places like the Amy Greenwell Botanical Gardens on the big island of Hawaii or at the Lanai Culture and Heritage Center on Lanai…What about the  Maui Coastal Land Trust on Maui or on Oahu at the Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi which conserves Hawaii’s Native ecosystems…What about helping the animal population here at the SPCA or the HUMANE SOCIETY. Do Beach clean ups, pick up trash, remove graffiti and tagging. You can also get out on the aina, plant indigenous plants and trees and remove invasive ones. Even Volunteering at the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center is an option! The locations are endless and you will be surprised that most hotels that visitors stay at have Voluntourism and you can ask about volunteering at the front desk of your hotel.

Two of the best sites to see all the things you can Volunteer with is at: http://www.travel2change.org/ AND http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Below is an example of Voluntourism in Hawaii at Travel2Change: http://youtu.be/B4FyhPK4FT8

With the Price of EVERYTHING so High in Hawaii food stores we truly needed to address Food…mostly because it’s essential for survival and it’s out of control here! From OJ priced at $10 a gallon to Organic Eggs from the mainland at over $7 a doz. These prices are just not high because they come here on boat…they are priced this way because these businesses now you need to eat! So how do you deal with this? How can you survive? Are you going to settle and just give up, saying “This is the Price for Paradise”…HELL NO…You have some of the BEST RESOURCES here in Hawaii…ORGANIC FARMERS MARKETS! We get into locals markets and the great small business owners and farmers running them and one of the best sources here is the HAWAII FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: http://hfbf.org/

So what’s on the News today at Lucky We Live Hawaii? Well, first off we go over what this show is all about, because it seems of late that a few listeners want us to censor how we talk and what we talk about…well, hate to break it to the few recent followers to the show…what you see is what you get…This is a FREE COUNTRY and we have no intentions of censoring ourselves, what we stand for or what we believe in…sorry, not going to happen…so if a few of you don’t like the tone of the show…You are welcome to not listen to it…hey, it is a free country. Also we dive into a few news subject with the main one being the NEW INTERNATIONS MARKET PLACE…The state and the builders just released a VIDEO (6mins) of the new Market Place…It may not be CHEAP, it may not be ORGANIC, it may not have that OLD HAWAII CHARM…but Bruce and I have to admit…it looks pretty damn beautiful even if it looks like everyone other damn place built lately in Waikiki…So lets hold our breath and see if they can pull off what they pulled off in the video. Here is the LINK to the INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE video on Youtube…watch it…it may surprise you folks: http://youtu.be/ZxVWJAotoiM