New Hawaii Rainforest Stamp issued today

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Photo courtesy USPS.com

On September 1, 2010 in Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, the Postal Service™ will issue 44–cent Nature of America: Hawaiian Rain Forest commemorative stamps in ten designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10, and an $8.95 Premium Stamped Postal Card Set of 10. Both were designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. Featuring a Hawaiian rain forest, the 2010 Nature of America issuance is the 12th stamp pane in an educational series focusing on the beauty and complexity of major plant and animal communities in the United States.

The setting for the colorful acrylic painting on the stamp pane is a rain forest on Hawaii’s largest island, which is also named Hawaii. Artist John Dawson, Hilo, Hawaii, painted the scene and each of the previous ones in the Nature of America series:

Sonoran Desert (1999),
Pacific Coast Rain Forest (2000),
Great Plains Prairie (2001),
Longleaf Pine Forest (2002),
Arctic Tundra (2003),
Pacific Coral Reef (2004),
Northeast Deciduous Forest (2005),
Southern Florida Wetlands (2006),
Alpine Tundra (2007),
Great Lakes Dunes (2008)
and Kelp Forest(2009).

Twenty–four different species were depicted and the scene itself is completely imaginary. Even so, every species depicted could be encountered in a Hawaiian rain forest, and all of the species and their interactions are appropriate and were recommended by scientists.

To purchase the stamp, click here.

Kalalau Trail 1 week from closing

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We told you earlier in the summer about the DLNR closing the Kalalau Trail for about 2 months at the end of the summer. That begins September 7th and is scheduled to reopen on October 31st. (I wouldn’t set my watch by that one though) To read more about the closure, click here.

Hawaiian Word of the Week

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Strawberry- O’helo papa (Oh-hel-oh pahpah)

The alphabet contains 12 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). To simplify pronunciation, sound consonants as in English and break up words so they are easy to say (ie- Humuhumunukunukuapua’a would be pronounced humu-humu-nuku-nuku-apu-a-a)

Pronounce vowels as follows:

a - a in above; e - e in set; i - ee in see; o - o in some; u - oo in moon.

Pronounce vowels marked by a glottal stop (`) quickly ie- o`o sounds like oh-oh! in English.

Stress rising dipthongs (ae, ai, ao, au, oi, ou, eu, ei) on the first letter and end with a short e, i, o or u. ie- oi sounds like oy in soy, ending with a short “i”.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Melon Ball cocktail

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2 ounces of Midori liqueur
Lemonade
Cranberry juice
Li hing mui powder

Throw the Midori and lemonade in a powerful blender until it makes a slush. It’s tempting, but don’t drink it yet. Dip the rim of the glass in li hing mui, and pour the slush in it. Float it with cranberry juice.

Recipe courtesy Garden Island News/Tradewinds bar

Tim Chapman back on Dog the Bounty Hunter?

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A&E has just released a new behind the scenes video of a photo shoot the team did and if you will notice, Tim is part of that team including what appears to be a new opening? If you want to check it out, click here.

Hawaiian Word of the Week

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Exercise- Ho’oikaika kino (ho-oh ee-kye-kah keeno)

Pronounce vowels as follows:

a - a in above; e - e in set; i - ee in see; o - o in some; u - oo in moon.

Pronounce vowels marked by a glottal stop (`) quickly ie- o`o sounds like oh-oh! in English.

Stress rising dipthongs (ae, ai, ao, au, oi, ou, eu, ei) on the first letter and end with a short e, i, o or u. ie- oi sounds like oy in soy, ending with a short “i”.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Mochiko Chicken

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10 pounds boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
1/2 cup Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour
1/2 cup Cornstarch
1/2 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
4 Eggs
10 teaspoon Soy Sauce or Huli Huli Sauce
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup green onions, chopped
4 tablespoon Sesame Seeds (optional)

Cut up chicken into serving size pieces and set aside. In a large container combine all ingredients except the chicken and mix well. Once the batter is mixed add the chicken and stir until all pieces are coated. Cover and let set in the batter overnight in the refrigerator. The following morning stir the batter and put it back in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook. Ten minutes prior to cooking take the container out of the refrigerator. Fill a wok or frying pan with enough oil to cover the chicken pieces and heat. Test hotness of oil by dropping some batter in it. If the oil is hot enough the batter will begin to cook on contact. If it does not wait until it gets hot. Deep fry the Mochiko batter chicken until golden brown. Let the cooked chicken drain on wire rack over some paper towels or newspaper then serve. Makes about 8-10 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Hawaiian Food Recipes

Four Foods on Friday 121

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Share a meal or recipe that you could make using these ingredients.

Potatoes
Ground beef
Green beans
Soup, your choice of type

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 cups frozen Tater Tots
2 cups frozen French-style green beans, thawed
3 cups Hot mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded Colby cheese

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in soup, garlic salt and pepper. Place Tater Tots in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with beef mixture and green beans. Spread mashed potatoes over the top; sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.

You can still play along, stop by Val’s place.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Hawaiian Bread Pudding

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1 loaf Hawaiian sweet bread, cut into bite size pieces
8 eggs
1 1/2 C Heavy cream
2 1/2 C Milk
1 1/4 C Sugar
1 C Raisins, optional
1 C Pecans or walnuts, optional

Optional Sauce

1 C Brown sugar
1 C Butter or margarine
Choice of fruits, such as peaches

Put bread in baking dish, press down on bread. Pour mix over bread. Let stand on counter for 30 minutes. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Optional sauce: To make to sauce just cook 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 stick of butter together with some fruits like peaches until caramelized. Spread on top of bread pudding.

Recipe courtesy Aloha World Ono Recipes

For the keiki…

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The folks at Akamai Games have created some educational games to teach keiki about Hawaiian culture. There are two games to choose from: Pele’s Perils and Ohana Mana.

Pele’s Perils is about Hawaiian culture and the hazards of living on a volcanic island. Ohana Mana is about Hawaiian culture and the strength of the family, as well as the dangers of living on a volcanic island.

If you’re interested in adding these games to your child’s choice of entertainment, go to Akamai Games website and order online or see if there is a retail outlet close to you that carries it.

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