Just think. What if everyone in the world took a step in the right direction? Together we can set the planet on its proper course.
It's happening everywhere. Little and big efforts to respect nature, to grow compassion, to live righteously. These actions translate into a universal and unconditional love. In Hawaii, it's called aloha.
This blog is dedicated to the people who are changing the way they work, play, and live to take a step in the right direction. Planting, conserving, sharing, recycling. They make it easier for everyone to find the magic we call the country feeling.
Send us your own country feeling photos with captions. Email us here. Visit our site here.
Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal depart from the Long Beach Aquarium in California for Hawaii on a raft of 15,000 plastic bottles in order to help call attention to the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans. There blog is here, or check out www.algalita.org for more info.
How many plastic bags have been consumed this year? Find out at bringyourown.org .
Sliding Liberia will be shown at Cafe Haleiwa at 8pm tonight. Dinner(!) will be available beginning at 5pm and music will follow the movie.
ALL SOUTH SHORE BEACH CLEAN UP Venue: Magic Island (next to the Lagoon) and Waikiki Date: Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00PM
Come down south for the first annual ALL SOUTH SHORE BEACH CLEAN UP, hosted by KanuHawaii, Vana Ohana and the Surfrider Foundation’s O’ahu Chapter. Join us in making personal commitments that will better our beaches and this place we all call home.
Organizers and sponsors hope that volunteers, will come down and pick up trash at their favorite beach. Gloves, trash bags, and information about this beach clean up and future cleanups will be provided at two main stations – one in Waikiki and one at Magic Island. Our project has three main goals:
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to come and encouraged to spread the word!
Anyone who would like to get involved with the ALL SOUTH SHORE BEACH CLEAN UP should meet us at 9:00 AM at Magic Island (Next to the Lagoon) or Waikiki. Refreshments will be provided, along with prizes for lucky volunteers. Sunscreen and Hats are recommended
If you would like more information about the beach clean up, you can email: jching@scu.edu or call 808-277-7200. For more information about KanuHawaii, you can go to http://www.kanuhawaii.org or email james@kanuhawaii.org For more information about the Surfrider Foundation, go to http://www.surfrider.org/oahu/
Businesses cater to those who don't have the time to grow their own. Read about lazy locavores in this NYT story.
The gang at We Add Up understands that every individual makes a difference, and they're putting that message on their t-shirts. Check out the different ways you can be a +1. 
Check out Surfreel.com, a platform for sharing your favorite surf videos. The beta version launches in August 2008.
July 17, 2008 Green Drinks
WHAT: An informal get-together with environmentally-minded friends over drinks & pupus. Includes drink specials, local/organic pupus, & more! (This time there's also a movie screening hosted by Surfrider at Patagonia next door afterwards.)
WHEN: The first ever HALEIWA Green Drinks will be on Thursday, July 17th 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. (Future events will be every second Thursday of the month, check back at www.greendrinks.org for updates.)
WHERE: BREAKERS Restaurant & Bar, North Shore Marketplace
WHO & WHY: All are invited! Please join us for some fun, inspiration and support at the newest chapter of GREEN DRINKS. Bring a friend!
HOW: July is sponsored by the Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Plastic Free Haleiwa. You can get there by foot, bike, rollerskates, unicycle, carpool, vanpool, Da Bus, horse, hang glider....
*Please contact alohadiva@yahoo.com if you would like to participate, host, or sponsor a future Haleiwa Green Drinks.
Chinatown Boardroom proudly presents July's Surf Discussion Series speaker, Ben Aipa: Ben caught his first wave in 1962, competed in his first surf contest in 1965 and began a surfing and shaping career in 1966. Ben has been coaching young surfers since 1970; in 2008 he received the Coach of the Year award from the National Scholastic Surfing Association. In 1991 he was inducted into the International Surfing hall of Fame. He is also known for his progressive designs: the Sting, Swallow Tail and the Modern Longboard.
What: Surf Discussion Series
Who: Ben Aipa
When: 3rd Thursday, July 17, 2008, 6:30–7:30pm
Where: Chinatown Boardroom, 1160 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu
The 11th annual T&C Grom Contest takes place at Kuhio Beach this weekend. Beach entries accepted $35. Heats begin at 9am at Queens.
Governor Lingle intends to veto H.B. 2843, a bill to fund invasive species prevention measures. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the spread of invasive species is the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy, natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people.
Click here to send a message to Governor Lingle asking her not to veto this important piece of legislation.
March along with the Keep the Country Country crew in the 4th of July Kailua Parade. Here are the details compliments of the great Pat Caldwell, seer of the waves:
Kailua Parade Friday July 4th Group 38
Meet Pukoa street (from Aikahi, third right off Kalaheo), mauka of Kainalu street, where parade goes... If you want to decorate the host vehicle, show up ~9am, at latest, 10 am when it begins (or just join in where ever, when ever, parade goes toward Lanikai down Kainalu). Shuttles will bring folks back to start point. If ya wanna ride something, bring a skateboard, roller blades, bike, wagon, what ever, no worries.
Free keep da country country t-shirts and bumper stickers
water provided
bring plenty sun protection and good shoes
Group 39, behind us, will host Natural Vibrations!
There's a giant collection of keynote speeches and university lectures available at iTunes U for free download. They cover everything from the humanities to business and engineering. There's a comprehensive introduction to oceanography called "The Endless Voyage" that talks about the impact of climate change on marine environments. Get there through your iTunes store.
Here is how sea level rise will affect Hawai‘i:
