Kaua'i, Hawai'i Day 1 {Doing Vacation Ourselves}

Here's our Day 1 of our trip to Kaua'i {pronounced Ta-why by the natives}.  I'm posting pictures and links for everything we did and saw with a few short stories and thoughts.  If you're planning a trip to Hawaii and thinking of visiting Kaua'i you might find this information very helpful or at least interesting.  Enjoy...

Leaving the desert for the island.

Once we arrived my sister greeted us with a lei, you know the flight attendants don't do that anymore right?

First stop was the Beach Hut.

I enjoyed an Ono Fish sandwich and some fries.  The perfect post flight food. 

Super yummy and super sweet view from their upper patio deck.

After enjoying a quick meal, we checked into our hotel at the Banyan Harbor Resort.  My mom booked the "room" for us, which actually ended up being a two bedroom, two bath, condo with stairs {not baby friendly, thankfully she only fell once and it wasn't bad}.  Here's the first floor:

After unpacking we rushed to a luau at the Smith's Family Plantation.  We arrived just when they finished roasting the pig.  Of course, I didn't eat any pork but I heard it was amazing. The first thing Cupcake noticed were all the roosters.  They used to use the feathers from certain chickens for ceremonial costumes but after the years the chickens have mixed and bread so now they can't tell them apart and ALL the chickens and roosters are protected.  They are everywhere!

Cupcake and Daddy 

This peacock was trying to impress his peahen and she was not impressed.  But, I was! 

Check out this video, ignore the commentary.

Drinks.  

Including; a Mai Rai and Hawaiian fruit punch.

The Cupcake and her cousins.  

She had so much fun with them! 

The Food. 

Papaya Dressing and Lava Guava Dressing?! Yes, Please.  Both were delicious.

Taro Potatoes. 

The Meat, I didn't eat any, but heard it was yummy and included it for those of you like steak and pork. 

my plate: lots of salad, sweet pineapple bread, taro, cucumber salad, and fruit. 

desert for two: coconut cake and rice pudding. 

Cupcake and her cousins dancing. 

Cupcake really enjoyed this music and dancing.

Did you know that originally women were not allowed to do the sacred dances.

It wasn't until Captain Cook came, that they started dancing.

Unfortunately, that sounds like he wanted some strippers and this is what he got.  It actually really disturbed me to hear about the white washing of the Native people's and their culture. 

Day 1; review and thoughts; check into a comfortable hotel, eat some yummy food, skip the luau and enjoy the culture without the performances.  This isn't Vegas!

Day 2-6 coming up this week.  Happy Hawaii photo viewing!

*See all my Hawaii posts on Tumblr here.

Our 4 Year Plan.

We recently visited the Island of Kaua'i.  I thought about this trip more than I should have and resented the fact my mom was forcing us all to go as one big family.  I love to travel but the thought of being a tourist in a formerly native island really bothered me.  I want to love the land and the people who know it, not go gift shopping in a beach front shoppe.  So after much resistance we committed to going.  My mom paid for our flights and hotel {more like a condo} and a few touristy activities as our family's Christmas presents.

After the 7 hour flight, I was unimpressed with what I saw.  I didn't understand why everyone loved this place.  I saw the airport, a car dealership and a strip mall on the way to our condo.  I saw tropical plants that I've seen in places like Florida or San Diego {both shorter distances to travel} and I felt humid, not something I enjoy as someone who is well acclimated to the desert.  My husband and I both kept exchanging looks, like what is the big deal?  Why do people fly all the way over here, there's nothing really *special* about it.

Then, we ate lunch at a burger hut, and headed to the top of the hut where there was an ocean view.  That was part one of my acknowledgement of the space.  I was enjoying a fish sandwich {as a vegetarian I allow myself, wild caught fish when in coastal areas, which is really a post in itself, but basically I'm against factory production of meat not the actual consumption of it}, and looking out into the ocean.  I really appreciated that experience!  The food I was consuming was mostly local and healthy and delicious, and the view was nice too.

After checking in to our hotel we headed to a luau, which was really just a Disneyland-esque interpretation of native celebrations and rituals.  The food was amazing and the drinks, even better.  I think in that event, I was most appreciative of the food as well.  I was trying new foods and the foods I like but usually feel guilty for purchasing because of transportation and shipping impacts on the environment.  That was another acceptance point for me.  I appreciated the local food.

My mom told me to pack some favorite foods because it is so expensive to go grocery shopping. But we did go to Safeway while there and actually spent less there than at our normal Whole Foods for the same organic or name brand items. I think a big misconception about Hawaii is that it's expensive because everything has to be imported. But everything is imported everywhere. Hardly anything I buy at the grocery store is from Arizona let alone Phoenix. I mean we buy a lot of food from the farmers market every week but we also usually spend another hundred a week at the store for items I can't get locally. And on such a small island we could walk or bike almost everywhere reducing the use of gasoline, another huge import to both the mainland and the islands. So, as a consumer I was feeling very comfortable with my purchasing options. We even went to the local farmers market and bought some tropical fruit.

After a few days, it started to grow on me.  It was never hot, although humid.  Never cold, yet breezy.  The stores and restaurants were not many, but enough to feel comfortable, not culture shocked.  The island is isolated but touristy enough to feel connected.

After our hike in the rain forest and the drive to Waimea Canyon, I think is when we both decided.  This is where we could live.  And not just hypothetically, like really live.  Everything there is still natural enough we could live off the land.  There is clean water, air and land, unlike the place we live now.  I love the desert and like a long relationship the thought of breaking up or saying goodbye is painful, but the thought of starting a life with land I can love is inspiring and full of hope.  I think 4 years should be enough time.  Enough time to prepare myself for the split.  To learn about the land I want to live on.  To convince my close family and friends to join us.  To maybe have another baby with the midwife I know and love.  To sell almost everything I have.  To get my Yoga certification and for Husband to continue his education so he can do what he loves in a place he loves.  To leave.  We'll see what happens in the next four years.  That's a long time, but I think moving to Kaua'i just became our 4 year plan.

Creosote Harvesting and Oil Making; A Medicinal Plant and How We Use It!

Last Sunday,we headed out into the mountain by our house with dogs and baby in tow.  Our goal was to collect some Creosote, also known as Chaparral, leaves in order to create an oil extract to use medicinally.  

Our dogs and the plant{s}. 

Once the plant is identified {not hard here, once you know what it looks like} we remove new growth branches from various bushes and give thanks {usually this means a little extra water for the giving plant}. 

Even the Cupcake is interested in the process... 

Here you can see one of the pieces Hubs gathered. 

The plant is one of the most bountiful by our home, and wouldn't you know it treats almost EVERYTHING I'd been complaining about over the past year.  It's actually an active ingredient in one of the medications I was taking for yeast.  It's a mild sun screen when infused in oil like I'm doing {about spf 8}.  And it is great for helping clear up skin, reduce scarring and overall general skin care when used in the oil mixture I'm making.  There are liver risks with this plant and should be a low ratio when ingested internally as tea.  I'm interested in taking it orally in tincture form {plant mixed with 100 proof alcohol and used as dropper into juice}, once we gather another round and purchase some vodka.  Until then I'll be using it topically.

Here's what I do with the plant when I bring it home:

Most plants' leaves should be dried, but because of the anti-fungal and antiseptic properties of this plant I didn't dry before making the oil, if you're more comfortable with dried leaves wait a few days and then use dried leaves in the mixture.

Fill the jar about 2/3 full with leaves. branches are fine, but it's the leaves I'm using as the medicine. 

Once filled and compressed to desired amount, add organic olive oil. 

Fill until covering leaves with about an inch or two of oil on top.

The oil on top keep the leaves from contacting the air. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PREVENTS MOLD FROM GROWING ON THE LEAVES. Again, this plant prevents mold, but don't take chances with your medicine!

Cover with lid, place in room temperature but dark space for 6 weeks.  Then, strain through cheese cloth and collect oil.  

Use the oil {rub onto skin} as needed for skin regeneration {prevent or heal scarring}, to treat yeast infections {I'd check with naturopath, N.D., before treating an infant's thrush though!}, as mild sun screen, to treat ring worm, and since oil pulling is great for treating tooth aches temporarily {for instance a pregnant mom who can't have fillings done, or someone in between dentists}, I think this would be an even better oil to use.

I know you can also use the raw leaves if you have a tooth ache, chew the plant and spit it out as temporary treatment.

To make a tea with this plant, dry the leaves, then using a tea infuser use 1/8 leaves to 1 part water ratio {1 part leaves 8 parts water}.  The tea is safest at about 10% creosote, strong enough to cure, but weak enough for your body to process the toxins of the plant. Drink, but don't necessarily repeat frequently.  If you experience nausea, that's your body telling you to stop.  Also, pregnant women should not drink the tea as it is listed as an abortifacient.

I'll be making a tincture eventually and I'll share that too.  but if you're in the desert and looking for natural treatments, I suggest starting with this one, as long as your liver and kidneys are fine, it's so abundant and treats almost everything!

More information about the Creosote (or Chaparral) plant is available here. and more medicinal uses here.

**Remember I'm a blogger not a doctor, this is how I am treating my family and myself naturally.  If you have questions check with your N.D. or N.M.D., an M.D. will have no idea what you're talking about!

Desert Tour with the Herb Mother!

My Friend Latisha hosted a desert walk recently, showing us the plants most abundant in the desert and the most helpful, here's what I learned...

Creosote or Chaparral plant;

yellow small flowers, vibrant tiny green leaves, fuzzy seeds and tastey unopened flower buds.

Native peoples would pickle the unopened flower buds and use them like capers.

I will be posting about how to make oils, tinctures and teas from this plant because it is so important and healing.

Creosote 

I'm posting more about Creosote tomorrow so check back then.

This dull colored leafed sage looking plant is great for using in tincture form as an antihistamine. 

It's called brittle bush. Here's more info. and more images too.

This one is called Bursage. 

Bursage

Bursage

Bursage

This one is actually the best antihistamine but once it flowers you should NOT collect the leaves because it's too hard to separate the flowers/pollen and the leaves.  And, the flowers will make allergies worse!

More info here.

This is desert lavender. {Hyptis}

It smells divine.  Well the leaves do, the flowers have no smell.

Helps with sleep, anxiety, stomach acid problems and good as a salve for bites and stings.

Make as tincture with honey to drink and amazing as incense.

More info here.  I can't explain how amazing this smell is.

Hyptis

Hyptis

Hyptis

Hyptis

Cute little weed called Scorpion Weed.

The leaves look like scorpion tails. Had to take a photo since you know Scorpions are my power animal.

This sad little plant is dehydrated, but see that red dot below? That's a Wolfberry.

It's a super antioxidant, cousin of the tomato and eggplant family.

It's the desert's equivalent to the goji berry.

It tastes so good! But don't eat too many you'll get nauseous. 

and by too many I mean a whole bush in one sitting.

Wolfberry.

And that was most of the tour.

She shared so much information I couldn't possibly tell you everything I learned.

But I hope if you're in the desert you'll