Hawaii Vacation Gifts Blog - Hawaiian Blog

Do You Know the Name of Your State Soil? Hawaii's is...

While surfing on the net doing research for another blog post, I stumbled upon this information. I had no idea that Hawaii had an official dirt, or Hawaii official state soil. I thought it was unusual and that aina, the Hawaiian word for land, was so important to us culturally and socially that the state of Hawaii made up something special to honor it.

However, after more digging around, the dirt I uncovered (sorry for the puns) is that each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established.

What is a State Soil?

A state soil is a soil that has special significance to a particular state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. These "Official State Soils" share the same level of distinction as official state flowers and birds. Also, representative soils have been selected for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Areas with similar soils are grouped and labeled as soil series because their similar origins, chemical, and physical properties cause the soils to perform similarly for land use purposes. A soil series name generally is derived from a town or landmark in or near the area where the soil was first recognized.

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

The official state soil of Hawaii is called Hilo Soil. The Hawaiian definition of the word “Hilo” is “first night of the full moon.” Also, the word is the Polynesian term for “Navigator.” Hilo is the main town located on the East side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Hilo soil covers about 14,500 acres and are considered prime agricultural land.

The Hilo soil series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in many layers of volcanic ash with lesser amounts of dust from the deserts of central Asia. These dust layers are noticeable because their gray color contrasts with the dark brown and dark reddish brown subsoil formed in volcanic ash. There are several buried layers within the Hilo soil profile. Hilo soils occur on the uplands of the Mauna Kea volcano along the Hamakua Coast.

Wikipedia-Hilo Soil

I find all of this ironic because I live half an hour away from Hilo near Keaau, and have no soil to speak of what-so-ever. Although we live in an endemic Hawaiian Ohia tree rainforest, we have only 2-3 inches of "mucky muck" over an ancient lava flow. If you peel away the carpet of grass and weeds, you can actually see the beautiful cool black pahoehoe smooth, ropy, billowy lava flow surface underneath it!

Share the dirt about your state with us via a comment!

Official Representative and State Soils of the US--United States

Alabama - Bama
Alaska - Tanana
Arizona - Casa Grande
Arkansas - Stuttgart
California - San Joaquin
Colorado - Seitz
Connecticut - Windsor
Delaware - Greenwich
Florida - Myakka
Georgia - Tifton
Hawaii - Hilo
Idaho - Threebear
Illinois - Drummer
Indiana - Miami
Iowa - Tama
Kansas - Harney
Kentucky - Crider
tLouisiana - Ruston
Maine - Chesuncook
Maryland - Sassafras
tMassachusetts - Paxton
Michigan - Kalkaska
Minnesota - Lester
Mississippi - Natchez
Missouri - Menfro
Montana - Scobey
Nebraska - Holdrege
Nevada - Orovada
New Hampshire - Marlow
New Jersey - Downer
New Mexico - Penistaja
New York - Honeoye
North Carolina - Cecil
North Dakota - Williams
Ohio - Miamian
Oklahoma - Port
Oregon - Jory
Pennsylvania - Hazleton
Puerto Rico - Bayamon
Rhode Island - Narragansett
South Carolina - Bohicket
South Dakota - Houdek
Tennessee - Dickson
Texas - Houston Black
Utah - Mivida
Vermont - Tunbridge
Virgin Islands - Victory
Virginia - Pamunkey
Washington - Tokul
West Virginia - Monongahela
Wisconsin - Antigo
Wyoming - Forkwood

Say Aloha To Paradise Sweepstakes--Win a Hawaiian Vacation

Say Aloha to Paradise Sweepstakes is your chance to win one of five dream vacations to Hawaii. United Vacations has teamed up with the top Hawaii hotels, car companies and activities to bring you the opportunity to win one of five dream Hawaiian vacations. These five Hawaii dream vacations are valued at over $28,000.00

Choose from an adventure on Hawaii's Big Island where you can enjoy rural outdoor spaces but stay at the luxurious Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. Or experience the Hawaiian culture and family bonding time on Oahu and reside at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa or Outrigger Reef Hotel. You can also rejuvenate your body and spirit on Kauai while you relax at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa. Or enjoy a romantic get away to Maui and share a room at the Sheraton Maui Resort.

Enter the Aloha to Paradise Sweepstakes. Contest ends June 30, 2008.

Don't just dream about a vacation to Hawaii and not do anything about it. Dream about a vacation to Hawaii while entering to win a vacation to Hawaii at the same time. Every Sunday we post a new Hawaiian sweepstakes contest. Better yet, subscribe to our Hawaii blog by RSS feed or email so you don't miss out on any Hawaii contests.

Double Brush Celebrates Its One Year Blogaversary!

Our company blog Hawaii Vacation Gifts by Double Brush celebrates its one year blogaversary today!! I find it hard to believe that I have been blogging for a whole year. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, I can honestly say that blogging has changed my life!

Blogging has enabled me to share information I find useful or interesting, or strange, and I also get to write about things that I like and care about. However, the most precious outcome of blogging for me has been the friendships that I have formed with other bloggers--especially Sheila at Go Visit Hawaii and Evelyn at Homespun Honolulu. They both have been supportive, caring, and the most genuinely nice people I know.

Browsing over my past posts for the year, I came up with my favorite top 5 blog posts--as of today;)

1. How Double Brush Saved Hundreds of Trees
Saving our Hawaiian rainforest and not supporting clear cutting is something that I care deeply about.

2. What's the Big Deal with Interracial Marriage and Dating?
Using our families as an example, I show what true multiculturalism love means.

3. Wild Pigs on the Big Island Hawaii
We live in a rural area of the Big Island and wild pigs are a part of the environment here.

4. Maile Lei--The Most Rare and Special Hawaiian Lei
This is my favorite leis because of its intoxicating scent. The next goal is to plant some on our property.

5. The Rainiest City in the US is Hilo Hawaii
People find it hard to believe the east side of the Big Island gets 100-200 inches of rainfall annually.

Mahalo to all of my readers, subscribers, and commenters. Thank you for your continued support, I am pretty sure I would stop blogging if no one read my blog.

Please share with myself and everyone else reading, "What is your favorite Double Brush blog post?"

Golfer's Dream Hawaii Vacation in Maui Sweepstakes

If you love to golf, and the idea of winning a trip to golf in Maui with 3 of your best golfing buddies sounds like a dream come true, then have we found the perfect Hawaiian Sweepstakes for you to enter!

The Golf Channel is sponsoring their "Big Break Escape to Paradise", also called "Big Break Ka'anapali" contest to Maui, Hi from now till July 15, 2008.

HAWAIIAN MAUI GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY:

Round Trip Airfare for 4 people to Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii

OCEAN VIEW accommodations at the beautiful Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Ka'anapali
for 4 people

Full Size Rental Car for 6 days

Spa treatment massage at the Heavenly Spa by Westin for 4 people

8 Rounds of golf at the Ka'anapali Golf Resort at the courses in Ka'anapali

Enter here to win for your Big Break Escape to Paradise Ka'anapali. Read the Golf Channel Hawaii golfing sweepstakes contest official rules here.

We take the time to find and publish the best Win a Free trip to Hawaii sweepstakes and Hawaii contests at our Hawaii Vacation Gifts by Double Brush blog every Sunday. Be sure not to miss out on any new contests by subscribing to our Hawaii blog by RSS feed or email.

Take a look at our current Hawaiian sweepstakes 2008 contests.

Who is Double Brush? Let Our Customer-friends Tell You

Here at Double Brush, having our own little arts and crafts home business on the Big Island of Hawaii is something we take seriously. Besides being known for hand crafting quality Hawaiian style candles and gifts, we also only carry high quality products from other companies that we believe in.

Lots of companies have great products, however I believe it is our personal customer service with aloha that sets us apart from other companies. The following is a sampling of the kinds of notes we regularly receive:)

------------

To Whom It May Concern:

I was directed to your site when another merchant there on the big island was unable to ship via US Postal Service. I ordered my wife a gift basket for her birthday. After using your products (Soul of a Woman) a few times, she has become absolutely enthralled with them. She absolutely loves them and has been letting her friends know about you. Thank you very much for the special "extra" gift of the earrings as well. She is very much a nature and earth conscious person, who is also very in tune with her body. When it comes time to restock on these items, we will be going back to you!!

A very big and heartfelt MAHALO to you and yours!!

David

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Aloha Cheryl,
We did receive the gifts late here since I had closed the office to allow everyone an extra day off. As a result everyone received their gifts today and were thrilled. I would imagine tomorrow there will be some very relaxed individuals in the office.
The flowers were received on time and after a few days of enjoying them, they were passed on to an elderly individual for further enjoyment. (twice the effect with one gift how sweet is that?)
Mahalo for your attention and efforts.
Mike

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Cheryl,
> My parents in Maine got the gift basket you sent and
> they love it. It was so well packed that everything
> arrived in perfect shape. Thank you so much.
> Best wishes, Ken

---------

Hello Cheryl,
I received my order today thank you so much you were very prompt in the delivery and everything looked wonderful and thank you for the two extra candles they smell heavenly. I will be placing a order for some flowers to be delivered here in Arizona.
Maholo
Karen

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Cheryl,
Big MAHALO for the beautiful candles! They arrived in perfect condition.
Your packing job was outstanding!
Thank you for the extra coffee candle. The other package has not arrived yet with the
coffee mugs. I will let you know when it does. I am so excited for gift
giving, and can hardly wait to hear what they think. I especially love that
they are given with the spirit of aloha, made in Hawaii by a talented
artist. Mahalo!

Aloha, Jennifer Lei

------

The honu turtle cups just arrived today, they are all perfect.
Thanks so much for the postcard honu drawing, I love it.
The candle also smells real nice.

We will try to make it to Hilo and maybe try to stop by.

Mahalo

Terry Edgar

The Best Hawaii Blog Carnival Elegantly Rides into Town

Evelyn over at Homespun Honolulu has done it again! I can't believe she's hosting her 9th Hawaii blog carnival. I remember how nervous she was the first time she hosted the Hawaii blog carnival and I reassured her that it would be a big hit and she had nothing to worry about. Happily, it has proved to be wildly popular and Evelyn can add one more thing to her list of things that she is good at.

I was so busy in the beginning of this year I missed out on participating in some of the monthly blog carnivals. Evelyn sent me an email around midnight (knowing that I would still be awake) to let me know that the blog carnival was live. To treat myself, I spent the last 3 hours reading every one of the other blog participant's blogs and leaving comments.

Please support Hawaii bloggers by letting them know someone is reading what they are writing. Mahalo!

Win a Trip for 2 to the Picturesque Islands of Hawaii

Enter to win a trip for two to the picturesque islands of Hawai'i! You can choose to visit the island of Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Lanai or Molokai, or all of them. The catch is you only have one week to do it all in:)

This Hawaii sweepstakes contest is sponsored by NWA WorldVacations® in honor of their 20th anniversary. WorldVacations has been making it easy to travel with one-stop shopping for your entire trip and the lowest airfares on Northwest Airlines® with the purchase of an air and hotel package.

Enter by June 30, 2008 to win a trip for two to the enchanting islands of Hawai'i, including a 7-night round trip air and hotel package from World Vacations!

Vacation packages include:

* Round trip air transportation
* Choice of accommodations
* Orientation breakfast (Honolulu only)
* Assistance of a local host (located in Honolulu)

If you haven't already, don't forget to check out all of our Hawaii Sweepstakes contest listings published every Sunday. Better yet, enjoy the convenience and don't miss out on any Hawaii contest opportunities by signing up for our Hawaii blog by RSS feed or by email.

Ethanol Biofuel Raises Food Prices AND Soy Candle Prices Nationwide

A lesser known casualty of the ethanol debate about how the production of biofuels is causing the United States food prices to soar, is the fact that soy wax made from soybeans has also increased dramatically in price. This is effecting candlemakers across America and many candle companies are passing on their increased material price to the consumer--our company Double Brush is the exception. We are absorbing the price increase so our customers can still afford our Hawaiian handmade soy candles.

Three years ago our natural wax candle & gift company bought a palette of soy wax for $2068.00 and paid 501.00 in freight charges from the mainland to the Big Island, Hawaii. Today we had another shipment of soy wax delivered to us, and this time the palette of soy wax cost us $4,400.00 plus 632.00 in freight, more than double in cost, or more than a 100% increase in price!!

Our supplier told us that the prices across the board for all waxes, natural wax and paraffin wax (derived from Petroleum) increase in price every other day.

The reasons for the rising cost of soy wax are many and complex. I have spent hours researching online about this problem and I'm still trying to make sense of it all. I thought if I could present some of the information I have found, you could add your comments so we can figure this all out together.

Yesterday ABC news published an article "Food Scientist Say Stop Biofuels to Fight World Hunger--Scientists say stop biofuels to cut food prices and fight hunger, while President Bush calls for more ethanol production."

Some top international food scientists Tuesday recommended halting the use of food-based biofuels, such as ethanol, saying it would cut corn prices by 20 percent during a world food crisis.

But even as the scientists were calling for a moratorium, President Bush urged the opposite. He declared the United States should increase ethanol use because of national energy security and high gas prices.

The conflicting messages Tuesday highlighted the ongoing debate over food and fuel needs...

A World Bank study has estimated that corn prices "rose by over 60 percent from 2005-07, largely because of the U.S. ethanol program" combined with market forces...

Scientists say the diversion of corn and soybeans for fuel helps force prices higher, and removes farm land from food production. Ethanol supporters say the corn used for fuels is the type only fed to livestock. However, other experts say it leads to higher livestock feed prices, thus higher food prices.

The following is from another recent article published by MSNBC "Why your food is costing more money--Wheat, corn, and soybean prices are surging; is ethanol to blame?"

Food prices increased at a compound annual rate of 4.7 percent for the three months ending in February, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That increase was far less than the 7.6 percent jump in energy prices for the same period, but it occurred in a financial environment in which investors have been fleeing declining dollar-denominated assets such as U.S. stocks and bonds. Instead, they've been investing in commodities, such as wheat, corn, and soybeans — and it's driving up their prices.

World financial markets may seem remote from you; far away from from that turkey sandwich in your hands.

But chew this over before you swallow: seventy percent of the cost of raising that turkey in your sandwich was the food it ate. And turkeys eat corn and soybean meal...

As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke explained to the Senate Banking Committee last month, “a significant portion of the corn crop is being diverted to ethanol, which raises corn prices.”

And he added, there are “knock-on effects. For example, some soybean acreage has been moved to corn production, which probably has some effect on soybean prices. So there is some price effect on foodstuffs coming through the conversion to energy use.”...

Sen. Ben Nelson, D- Neb., said, “I think this (food price inflation) is a short-term phenomenon,” because farmers will bring more land into production, causing supply to increase and prices to fall.

He also cited the costs of oil and transportation as contributors to higher food prices. “It’s just not right and it’s unfair to say it’s all about corn-based ethanol,” Nelson said.

Personally I support finding ways of becoming free from the use of oil and gas or "dirty energy", but ethanol is not the answer. There are many other alternatives being studied and developed that are sources of "clean energy" and would not impact the world's food supply. I have read and watched tv reports about making fuel from algae, seaweed, agricultural waste products, even garbage!!

As a small candle making business, we support the planet by producing environmentally friendly candles made from soy wax, a renewable resource.

We thank all of our customers who believe in what we do and buy our natural wax candles.

Avoid Sweepstakes Contest Scams Online and Offline

For today's Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday blog post, I had a difficult time finding a new 2008 Hawaii sweepstakes for my readers to enter, but I thought posting about how to avoid fraudulent sweepstakes and contest scams would be just as important, if not even more so.

I try very hard to only post what looks like legitimate Hawaii sweepstakes and Hawaii contests to win a free trip to Hawaii--usually from well know companies or brands from the United States. Check out our previous Hawaii Sweepstakes listings. Better yet, don't forget to subscribe to our Hawaii blog by RSS feed or email to stay current with new Hawaii contests. We only post the best Hawaii sweepstakes for our readers to enter!

Keep the following tips in mind when you enter any sweepstakes offer online or offline-- for example unsolicited offers received through the mail.

Never pay to enter a sweepstakes. It’s illegal for a company to require you to buy something or pay a fee in order to win or claim a prize. Buying something doesn’t improve your chances of winning. It’s illegal for a company to even suggest that your chances will be better if you make a purchase. Don’t believe that you have to give the company money for taxes on your prize. It’s up to you to declare your prize winnings when you file your income taxes. Be cautious about emails for contests and sweepstakes. Many unsolicited emails are fraudulent.

Guard your credit card and bank account numbers. No legitimate sweepstakes company will ask for this information. Never give your social security number to a sweepstakes operator unless you have carefully checked it out with the Better Business Bureau or your state or local consumer protection agency.

Be on guard for imposters. Some con artists use company names that are identical or very similar to well-known, legitimate sweepstakes operators. Tell them that you’ll get back to them and contact the real companies to ask if there is any connection.

Be wary of offers to send you an “advance” on your “winnings.” Some con artists use this ploy to build trust and get money from your bank. They send you a check for part of your “winnings,” instructing you to deposit it and then wire payment to them for taxes, bonding, or some other phony purpose. The bank tells you the check has cleared because the normal time has passed to be notified that checks have bounced. After you wire the money, the check that you deposited finally bounces because it turned out to be an elaborate fake. Now the crooks have your payment, and you’re left owing your bank the amount that you withdrew.

Get all the details. Legitimate sweepstakes companies will tell you exactly how the contest works, including the odds of winning, the value of the prizes, the date that the contest ends, and how you can find out who won.

Be especially cautious about foreign sweepstakes companies. Many fraudulent sweepstakes companies that target U.S. consumers are located in Canada or other countries, which makes it much more difficult for law enforcement agencies to pursue them.

National Consumers League's internet Fraud Watch

Celebrate May Day Wherever You are with Fresh Hawaiian Leis

Leis have always been a part of the ancient Hawaiian culture and modern culture of living in Hawaii. Hawaiian lei is a part of every celebration from births, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and deaths--there is not one occasion in Hawaii where the gift of a lei would not be appropriate.

So although leis were so much a part of every day life then and now, it wasn't until 1928 that a couple of writers came up with the idea to celebrate the lei in Hawaii with its own special day.

In early 1928 writer and poet Don Blanding wrote an article in a local paper suggesting that a holiday be created centered around the Hawaiian custom of making and wearing lei. It was fellow writer Grace Tower Warren who came up with the idea of a holiday on May 1 in conjunction with May Day. She is also responsible for the phrase, "May Day is Lei Day." If you are planning a trip to Hawaii at the end of the month into early May, you'll get to experience this Hawaiian holiday first-hand for yourself.

The first Lei Day was held on May 1, 1928, and everyone in Honolulu was encouraged to wear lei. Festivities were held downtown with hula, music, lei making demonstrations and exhibits and lei making contests.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported, "lei blossomed on straw and felt hats, lei decorated automobiles, men and women and children wore them draped about their shoulders. To the city Kamehameha's statue extended a garland of maile and plumeria, which fluttered in the wind from its extended hand. Lei recaptured the old spirit of the islands (a love of color and flowers, fragrance, laughter and aloha)."

In 1929, Lei Day was made an official holiday in the territory, a tradition which was interrupted only during the years of World War II, and which continues today.

Go Hawaii, About.com

So who was Don Blanding and how did Grace Tower Warren decide on May 1 as the day the lei should be celebrated?

According to Robert Schmitt and Ronn Ronck in their book, Firsts and Almost Firsts in Hawaii (University of Hawaii Press, 1995), this date marks Hawaii's first Lei Day. Don Blanding, then an artist and writer in the advertising division of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, created it to promote business for the paper's advertisers. Blanding went on to become Hawaii's poet laureate. It's said that Grace Tower Warren, the newspaper's society editor, supported the idea because May 1 was her birthday! Since then, May 1 has been celebrated throughout the islands as a holiday associated with the floral garland.

Hawaii Magazine

Even though May Day had its start with commercial interests in mind and continues to be a great marketing tool and money maker for the state of Hawaii, I like most people absolutely love May Day.

When I lived on Oahu, I looked forward to wearing a special lei around Honolulu on May Day and going to Kapiolani Park to admire the winning leis from the Parks & Recreation lei making contest held annually. When you wear a lei on May Day you feel as beautiful as the lei you are wearing and feel a connection with everyone else wearing a lei because everyone is coming together to visually support something wonderful.

If you want to give or wear a fresh Hawaiian lei on May Day while you are on the mainland, we can help. Our fresh orchid flower leis and maile leaf leis can be delivered to you in 1-2 days. Our single orchid lei is only $39.00 and that includes Federal Express delivery!

This year, celebrate May Day in style wherever you are!

Soy Candles Featured on Oprah's Earth Day TV Show

The Oprah Show today celebrated Earth Day with guests Julie Roberts, Al Gore, and Sandra Bullock. However, it was Sandra Bullock's new line of soy candles that she was promoting that caught my eye.

A lifelong commitment to healthy living inspired Sandra to eliminate as many chemicals from her home as possible, including those found in her favorite candles. "I [had] a house full of candles, and one day I noticed brown soot," she says. "I started researching, and you find out about lead wicks and chemicals in your candles."

Instead of continuing to inhale harmful fumes, Sandra took action and started her own line of soy wax candles called Bessence. "They're soy-based. They're hand-poured. Everything, even the boxes, are recycled," she says. "Even the black spray that goes on the outside of [the box] is organic."

The Oprah Show

Three years ago our company Double Brush changed from using paraffin wax (which is made from petroleum crude oil or fossil fuel) to an all natural soy wax made from American raised soybeans! Our company was already heading into a more all natural products direction with our natural soap, natural solid perfumes, and other natural bath and body products, so we really wanted to make the switch. Read our post about harmful chemicals to avoid in your bath and body care products.

Our 100% natural wax candles are made from soybean wax, and a little palm wax which is made from the oil of coconuts! It's non toxic FDA approved food grade wax, kosher, vegan (no animal products of any kind), 100 percent bio-degradable, and is good for the environment because it is a renewable resource, unlike paraffin wax. Our soy candles are hand poured by us in small batches to insure the quality of our work.

The majority of candles are made from paraffin wax, a by-product of the petroleum industry’s crude oil refining process - other products include diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene & asphalt. All of these products may be manufactured from foreign oil and contributes to the dependency on crude oil. Also if your candle does not say 100 percent natural wax, or if it says "soy based", it is most likely a blend of a natural wax and paraffin wax.

Besides the quality of our natural wax, our candles are scented throughout the soy wax with the highest quality of soy oil based fragrance oils with little to no additives. Most fragrance oils have solvents, mineral oil or dipropylene glycol in them. So just because someone advertises a soy candle, it doesn't mean it is petrochemical free like ours are. We also use non-metal core natural hemp fiber wicks. (Foreign imported candles may still use dangerous lead core wicks.)

There are many brands of soy candles on the market that vary greatly in quality and price. We believe as do many of our customers, that our earth friendly high quality soy candles are the best value for your money.

How Double Brush Saved Hundreds of Trees

This is our Hawaii blog post in celebration of Earth Day.

Our company Double Brush is located at our artistic art studio home in the middle of a natural Ohia rainforest on the Big Island of Hawaii. When we had the opportunity to build our home in 1994, we carefully planned how to situate our driveway and house, in order to save the most amount of trees. For months my husband and I cut down Ohia trees with a hand saw and chain saw and carried them off to the side to decompose and return back to the earth. This way the bull dozer service we hired only had to doze our driveway and house pad as we only wanted to clear what was absolutely necessary.

After our house was built, we landscaped around our house utilizing the natural landscape and topography. We cleared by hand the invasive bushes and weeds so the native Hapu'u ferns and Ohia trees could have more room to stretch out and grow. The trees on our property are home to hundreds of birds including the native Hawaiian Hawk (I'o) and native Hawaiian owl (Pueo).

We live in the district of Puna in East Hawaii Island, and many of the land parcels out here are 1-3 acres. Many, many people (especially developers and speculators), in the last few years will buy a piece of property and completely bull doze the land flat as a pancake, so it is void of any of the natural endemic trees, plants and terrain. This is called "clear cutting" which some believe is a cost effective way to prepare for construction. Clear cutting is dangerous as it can also have another negative impact of altering water drainage patterns.

I wouldn't have a problem with this if trees were not so damn important. I feel if you don't like the forest, don't move to the forest just to cut it down. There are many unforested areas that people can move to. If everyone who had the choice to destroy all of the trees on their property did, our area would turn into a dry, hot, arid desert and then people would get worried but by then it would be too late, it takes a long time to grow a mature forest.

It is our native forest that attracts clouds and moisture to the area, and brings the rains that nourishes the native plant and animal wild life, waters our farmer's crops that produce our food, helps maintain our climate, and replenishes our water shed. Living in nature and with nature also communes with your soul by giving you a deeper connection to and respect for the earth.

The ancient Hawaiian people of Puna understood the relationship of the Ohia tree forest and rain when they named an area "Wao Kele o Puna" or the rain belt of Puna.

Win a Free Vacation Back to Hawaii with your Photographs

It is the day my readers who dream of winning a vacation to Hawaii look forward to--namely Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday!

Usually I find Hawaii contests where you only need to submit some basic personal information for a chance of being the random winner chosen, but today's contest will involve some work.

First start by reviewing all of your photographs taken in Hawaii and choose the very best ones that were taken on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai. The photos can be of anything or anyone, but has to have been taken on one of those islands. If you have never been to Hawaii but know someone who has and they give you permission to submit their photographs...that could work. The rules did not say the person entering the contest had to be the photographer, only that the photographs have not been published before.

Next, enter HAWAII Magazine's 10th Annual Photo Contest by August 8, 2008

Grand Prize is airfare for two to Honolulu from your nearest Hawaiian Airlines gateway city.

Plus a six-day, five-night stay at the newly remodeled Outrigger Reef on the Beach Hotel in Waikiki.

Winner will be published in the January/February 2009 issue of HAWAII Magazine.

See all of our other current Hawaiian contest sweepstakes and giveaways here.

Don't miss out on your next chance to win a trip to Hawaii. Besides bookmarking our site, you can easily subscribe to our Hawaii blog by email or RSS feed.

Our Hawaiian Perfumes are Featured Nationally in Nails Magazine

When I was first approached by Nails Magazine to be considered for a feature article on roll on and solid perfumes, I have to confess that I had never even heard of that magazine before, and didn't know that it is really was all about nails--finger nails and toe nails to be precise, and everything that is needed to groom and adorn them.

Nails Magazine has actually been around for a long time; 25 years which is considered eons in the magazine business. It is a magazine that caters to the nail salon and nail boutique owners who racked up more than 6 billion dollars last year alone!

Our natural Hawaiian solid perfumes are featured along with 5 other companies in this month's April 2008 issue. The editor was kind enough to mail me a hard copy but page 72 which we are listed on is not part of their online Nails Magazine site.

As for myself, I keep my nails clean and trimmed but have not worn nail polish since high school--I won't tell you how many decades ago that was! The reason is that as an artist, my hands are always covered in paint or stuff, and are always active. The nail polish would get chipped and ragged looking in no time so I just stopped painting them all together. However, I think painted toe nails are cute and may go back to doing that--especially since I live in Hawaii and wear nice slippers most of the time:)

Please take part in my unofficial poll. Do you wear nail polish and do you do it yourself or go to a salon?

Get the Dirt on Ordering and Sending Flowers Online

Mother's Day is a only few weeks away (May 11, 2008), and I thought this would be the perfect time to post this important piece of consumer information.

Buying flowers online is convenient and easy, but buyer beware. Consumers are falling victim to misleading florist advertising and marketing practices every day. From substitutions of lesser quality and amount of flowers, to downright fraud, how do you know who you are dealing with and what can you do to protect yourself?

To find out about all the nitty gritty dirt on buying flowers online from ordering to delivery, visit Florist Detective. This is the only site you will ever need to read first before you plan on ordering flowers online. I spent a long time at their site with my mouth hanging open or shaking my head. These are the subjects that are covered at Florist Detective.

Free Delivery Ruse
Fake Locations
Give Us A Break
Find Real Florists
Where to Complain
Report Flower Deception to the FTC
Not Your Local Florist
Florist Price Comparisons
Be Wary of the Yellow Pages
Florists and the Media
How Flower Wire Services Work
Quality Assurance?
ProFlowers.com vs Florists
FTD vs Florists
FTD and Kay's Florist
1800Flowers.com vs Florists
Skimmer Report
Anatomy of a Flower Fraud
Letters From Consumers
All American Scam
Order Gathering
Valentine's Day
Local Search for Florists

If you ever want or need to buy tropical Hawaiian flowers such as Anthuriums, Orchids, Bird of Paradise, Protea, and Heliconia, please give us a try. We also offer beautiful orchid flower leis that are great for any occasion.

All of our flowers are locally grown on the Big Island of Hawaii where we are located, and come direct from several small flower farms. The fresh flowers are then washed, graded, and expertly packed into special shipping boxes for overnight or 2 day delivery to the mainland, by our friend's local flower shop in Hilo called Nahilihili, located one block from the Hilo airport. This location is also wonderful because your flowers get on a Federal Express plane right away.

We thank you in advance for your support of small businesses and flower growers on the Big Island of Hawaii.

How to Avoid Possible Hotel Key Card Rip Offs

My Uncle forwarded the following information to me in an email today. I thought it was important information for all of my blog readers who travel and stay in hotels to know about. Please forward this blog post to all of your traveling family and friends.

HOTEL KEY CARDS

Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

Answer:
a. Customer's name
b. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.

Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically "overwritten" on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.

But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!

The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.

For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!

If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.

Information courtesy of: Pasadena Police Department

PLEASE FORWARD to friends and family.

Papayas from Hawaii are a Popular Mother's Day Gift

I never knew this before, but Hawaiian papayas are a popular Mother's Day gift to send to the mainland. (I don't think a mom who already lives in Hawaii would get too excited about receiving a box of papayas on Mother's Day though, ha, ha.)

Anyway, last year I had a few Hawaiian papaya orders right before Mother's Day and thought nothing of it. It wasn't till I could not get a confirmation from my shipper after numerous messages and faxes that I knew something was up. When they finally called me back, they said they did receive my orders and they were shipped later at a faster service rate because they had run out of papayas and were waiting for more to arrive from the Big Island.

They told me that Mother's Day is one of the busiest times for them to ship papayas.

Afterwards I thought about it and it did begin to make sense. I mean a Mom has probably received numerous bouquets of roses and candy and meals for every Mother's Day since she has been a mother, but sending a gift of health from exotic Hawaii that is full of vitamins and good for your digestion, now that makes a memorable and thoughtful gift.

A warning though, if you have siblings, they may get annoyed that they didn't think of sending mom papayas first--after having to listen to mom go on and on for weeks about how much she is enjoying her papayas every day & it was the best Mother's Day present she received.

Whether your mom is young or old, if you want to send her a box of fresh papayas from Hawaii delivered to the mainland, we can help.

For more information about the benefits of papayas, papaya recipes and more, read our Hawaiian Papaya blog category.

Travel The Road to Kona Sweepstakes on the Big Island Hawaii

It is Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday here at Double Brush where we post a new Hawaii contest to win a trip to Hawaii, at the beginning of every week.

Ford Vehicles is sponsoring a really, really great sweepstakes. Not only can you win a trip to Kona for two to attend the Ironman Triathlon Contest--as a spectator, unless you want to swim 2.4 miles in the ocean, than do a 112 mile bike ride and follow it off with a 26.2 marathon run--but the winner also receives a brand new 2008 Ford Edge SEL!!

This customizable adventure takes our Grand Prize winner island-hopping around Hawaii on a three-island tour before enjoying the VIP treatment on Kona with behind-the-scenes tours at the Ironman finals.

Enter to win The Road to Kona Sweepstakes, from now till August 31, 2008. No purchase is necessary.

GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE:

One (1) Grand Prize Ford Edge SEL

Trip for two (2) to Hawaii to attend the Ford Ironman World Championship.

Trip consists of round-trip, coach air travel for two (2) from the major commercial airport nearest winners residence to HI, coach air travel for two (2) between islands per event schedule, seven nights hotel accommodations (room and tax only, based on double occupancy), tickets to the Ironman World Championship, local ground transportation (between airport/hotel and to and from Sponsor-selected events) and $2,000.

Snooze you lose. Don't miss entering this Hawaii Sweepstakes and a new one every week by signing up for our blog by RSS or email NOW. Check out our other Hawaii contests that you can also enter now!

What has Double Brush been up to?

Aloha to my dear readers!

I apologize for not posting more in the past 2 months but was very busy with making lots of candles and switching to a new web host for our site DoubleBrush.com because my web host that I had since we started in 1999 completely shut down operations on March 31. They used proprietary software and couldn't work with all of the new Web 2.0 features that were becoming more common place and expected. They also had no export feature so it was a long manual process to redo our site.

Please take a look at our new site when you have some time and tell me what you think of it. There are still many things that need to be added such as the drop down menu on some catalog pages, but the shopping cart works and most of our items are posted. We also now have great features such as free shipping and a search our site bar.

I think it looks a bit sterile but will work on designing a better logo. We also have partnered with several mainland companies to offer more all occasion gift baskets. I will be posting those in the next week in time for Mother's Day.

Things have settled down a bit and I will begin posting regularly to our blog.

Our Hawaii blog will also be taking a little bit of a change in direction. I won't be blogging about Hawaii travel and activities as much, if any, but will still write about living in Hawaii, especially living on the Big Island where we are located. I will be concentrating more on everything related to Hawaiian gifts and gift baskets which is actually quite a lot. I hope I don't lose any of my 40 regular readers, but if I do, I understand, but please stick with us a while and see what we are up to. I will try my best not to make it boring.

I will also still be doing our popular Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday feature.

A hui hou, or until we meet again,
Cheryl

Enter the Hawaiian Honeymoon Sweepstakes from Oprah and Shutterfly

It is Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday time again! We found a great Hawaii Trip giveaway called the Hawaiian Honeymoon Sweepstakes sponsored by Oprah and Shutterfly. The great thing about this sweepstakes is that although it is called "Hawaiian Honeymoon" sweepstakes, you don't have to be a newlywed to win it.

HAWAII GRAND PRIZE INCLUDES:

Round trip airfare for winner and his/her travel companion to Oahu Hawaii.
5 days and 4 nights hotel accommodations (one room)
A choice of a Hawaiian vacation activity from a sponsored list
$200.00 Roy's Restaurant gift certificate
Four Daily Breakfast for Two at the hotel
A Couples Massage at the spa of the hotel
5 day rental car

This prize has a value of $4,750.00

This contest ends this month on April 25th, so enter this Hawaiian Honeymoon Sweepstakes Now!

Win a Trip for Two to Hawaii From Frommer's

Today is Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday and we are happy to share a great new Hawaii sweepstakes contest offered by Frommer's.

Beginning in 1957, Frommer's has grown to become a renowned travel guidebook series and the bestselling travel guides in America.

If you are:

Looking for blue lagoons, lush rainforests, hidden gardens, cascading waterfalls, wild rivers running through rugged canyons, soaring volcanoes, and exquisite beaches? Enter now to win an amazing tropical getaway to Honolulu, Hawaii and you can find it all! You and a guest will enjoy a five night stay at a four star hotel in world famous Waikiki. Prize also includes roundtrip economy class tickets and a traditional Hawaiian luau for two. Enter daily to win, brought to you by Hawaii.com.

The prize package includes:

1. Roundtrip economy class airfare for two (2) from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii.
2. Five (5) Nights accommodation in a 4-Star Hotel in Waikiki (standard room / double occupancy).
3. Traditional Hawaiian Luau for two.

Click here to
enter for a Trip for Two to Hawaii.

HURRY and do it right now, this Hawaii sweepstakes ends on March 31, 2008.

I found out about this Hawaii contest from Sheila at Go Visit Hawaii. Mahalo Sheila for your generosity in sharing this contest with everyone!

Enter many more contests for free trips to Hawaii here.

A World of Memories Hawaii Trip Giveaway 2008

It is Hawaii Sweepstakes Sunday time here at Hawaii Vacation Gifts by Double Brush. Today's find is a really good one.

Enter the NWA WorldVacations A World of Memories 20th Anniversary Giveaway sponsored by Northwest Airlines. You could win a free trip for two to Honolulu, Hawaii or one of these other destinations: Las Vegas, Nevada; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Beijing, China or Paris, France. You could also be the winner of 20,000 Northwest Airlines WorldPerks miles, a $200 NWA gift card, HP Photosmart digital camera and more.

Grand Prize Trip to Honolulu Hawaii includes:

Roundtrip coach airfare for two via Northwest Airlines to Honolulu, HI
Five (5) nights hotel accommodations at an NWA WorldVacations hotel (one room, double occupancy).
Approximate Retail Value is $3,750 USD.

Enter this Hawaii vacation sweepstakes by March 15, 2008 for a chance to win. All you need to do is enter your name and email address, and agree to the office rules and terms and conditions of this sweepstakes.

Don't miss your chance to find out about new Hawaii trip giveaways and Hawaii contests every week. Simply sign up for our blog via RSS feed or by email.

See all of our previous Hawaii Sweepstakes posts.

Enter to Win the Hilton Grand Vacation Sweepstakes 2008

Enter to Win the Hilton Grand Vacations 2008 Grand Giveaway. The first prize is a Hawaiian Getaway which includes 7 nights and 8 days for two people, round-trip airfare for two, and $5,000 in spending money! (The Grand Prize is a 2009 BMW 750Li)

You have be a legal resident of the United States, D.C. or Japan in order to enter this Hawaii Contest Sweepstakes. No purchase or sales presentation is necessary to participate.

The deadline for entry is January 31, 2009. They want a lot of information but only the very basic name, address, and phone number are required. Click her to enter the Hawaiian Getaway from Hilton Grand Vacations.

Don't miss out on entering contests for Free trips to Hawaii by signing up for our blog via RSS feed or email. Every Sunday we post a new Hawaii Sweepstakes contest here.

How Bad Do You Want to be in Maui? Photo Contest

For today's Hawaii Sweepstakes contest, it actually involves a little or lot of work. Popular Photography magazine is sponsoring a photography contest called Maui: How Bad Do You Want It?

To enter this Hawaii contest, send them a picture showing how much you want to go to Maui. It must have a Hawaiian tropical theme. This is very loosely interpreted and can be real photos, or manipulated photos using image-editing software. The editors at Popular Photography will pick one winner based on creativity and originality, and relevance to the theme.

Prize Winning Maui Vacation includes:

5 nights at the luxurious Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa
Airfare for 2 from the continental U.S.
Rental car

No purchase is required. One entry per person will be accepted until April 1, 2008 For complete details and information click here: Maui Vacation-How Bad Do You Want It?

I found out about this Maui contest from a post at Go Visit Hawaii, the best Hawaii blog for honest and authoratative information about traveling to Hawaii.

Read all of our Hawaii Sweepstakes contest blog posts. Better yet, sign up for our Hawaii blog by RSS feed or email to make sure you don't miss a Hawaii contest that you could enter. Someone has to win, why not you?

We are used to Rain in Hilo, but we Hate Floods

We have been offline since Friday due to some severe weather on the Big Island, Hawaii. Hilo experienced some major flooding in areas that previously were not known to have flood conditions, and in places that always floods such as the Bayfront road in Hilo. Roads and schools were closed and many outdoor events were canceled.

We are used to rain on the East side of Hawaii island, with the city of Hilo receiving a annual rainfall of 126 inches. In Keaau where we live, the rainfall total is 120-200 inches per year!

Rain is one thing put constant pouring buckets of rain is another. It was storming so hard at our home in Puna with loud cracks of thunder, that we unplugged the computer and moved it to another room--since we lost our computer to a lightning strike a few years ago.

Luckily we had lots of food and the power didn't go off although we did have a couple of "brown outs". If you live on the Big Island, a brown out is when the electric lights in your home go dim for a second than come back on. For that moment you hold your breath and hope it won't turn into a "black out" meaning no power at all.

The east side of the Big Island has been one big soggy mess with Waiakea Uka (upper mountain area of Hilo) receiving over 20" of rain on Saturday. It feels like we must have