Thankful To Escape Iselle’s Winds

The Princeville Makai Charity Golf Tournament will benefit multiple Kauai nonprofits | Photo courtesy Starwood Hotels

The Princeville Makai Charity Golf Tournament will benefit multiple Kauai nonprofits | Photo courtesy Starwood Hotels

Thankfully, Kauai escaped the predicted wrath of Hurricane Iselle almost without a scratch. I wonder what will happen to all those plastic water bottles scooped up from store shelves so fervently during the days preceding the tropical system’s arrival? It wasn’t long ago we used to rely on tap water (remember that stuff?) to fill our buckets and bathtubs when a hurricane was threatening to impact the Islands. These days, we rush to stores to purchase a relatively new commodity that already flows freely from our faucets. Water aside, the general sense of panic across the Islands emphasized how unprepared we are when it comes to emergencies — some for which, such as a tsunami, we wouldn’t have been granted so much time to get ready. Since hurricane season just is getting started, I encourage people to visit Hawaii State Civil Defense‘s website (scd.hawaii.gov/dp_kit.html ) for a list of recommended items to have on hand (in advance) for next time …

I’m sure people are excited about Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair this weekend. It will be open Thursday (Aug. 21) and Friday (Aug. 22) from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturday (Aug. 23) from noon to midnight, and Sunday (Aug 24) from noon to 11 p.m. Don’t miss numerous special events, including Kauai Beekeepers Association‘s fourth annual Kauai Honey Tasting Thursday, following the opening ceremonies in the Ag Demonstration tent near Vidinha Stadium and the petting zoo. The open and noncompetitive tasting is a showcase for local honey (yum!) and those who collect it …

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas sponsors its sixth annual Charity Golf Tournament Sunday (Aug. 24) at Makai Golf Club at Princeville. Entry costs $110 and includes a cart, green fees, a gift bag and an awards luncheon on the 19th hole. All proceeds will benefit charitable organizations on Kauai. More than $38,000 has been raised since the tour-ney’s inception in 2009. Visit westinprinceville.com or call Jason Sessions, director of food and beverage, at 827-8719 for more information …

A public hearing related to draft rules that will be used to implement Ordinance 960 — pertaining to GMOs and pesticide use — will be held by the Office of Economic Development (OED) Tuesday (Aug. 26) at 6 p.m. at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. The draft rules may be reviewed prior to the meeting at kauai.gov in the “What’s New” section. A paper copy of the draft rules also can be acquired at the OED at 4444 Rice St., Suite 200 in Lihue. George Costa, OED director, reminds participants that the hearing is not to debate the “larger issues” of GMOs, but to focus on whether the draft rules are adequate. Comments also may be emailed to tmhaumea@kauai.gov or mailed to 4444 Rice St., Ste. 235, Lihue, HI 96766 …

Author Melissa Burovac recently self-published her first book, Wandering. She explains that when she turned 40, she purchased a one-way ticket to Mexico for a solo trip, where she spent nine months traveling and creating many fond memories.

“My book shows that anyone can have a travel experience, regardless of being a woman or older than the usual first-time traveler. It’s a humor book, not so much a guidebook — unless you are looking for what you shouldn’t do on a trip,” she jokes.

Visit wanderwithmelissa.com for more information …

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