Wordless Wednesday - Panda Bear!

My fur child..not a real panda..but yes a baby goat with a shirt on (it was cold)

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and here on 5minutesformom

Jonara Blu Maui

The Infamous Jewelry Octopus - Beachy Hawaiian Style

I couldn't help myself when I found this mother of pearl octopus...we've all seen this creature used again and again in jewelry over the last several years. Mostly in different metals..though I have seen it gem incrusted..that one was gorgeous! I think he's such an interesting subject :)



In Hawaii we call the octopus "tako" though that is a Japanese word. You will find Japanese words used here and there quite often in Hawaii. The Hawaiian word for octopus is one that I never even heard living here..I had to look it up! It's "he'e" which would be pronounced "hay-ay" as 'e' sound is 'a'.



This Mother of Pearl Octopus Necklace is available for purchase at Jonara Blu Maui

Or if you prefer Etsy you may find it here: Octopus Necklace in Mother of Pearl - Maui Style

Hanging out with Sea Turtles!

Want a nice way to spend an evening? How about heading out to the beach at Sunset...watching the sun slowly go down...watch the surfers come in...



And then watch the turtles come in!








Hawaii state law prohibits touching these beautiful creatures..and believe me it's hard not to...they come up so close to you! But you also want to think about keeping all your digits..they have sharp beaks for mouths and could probably snap a finger right off! Plus we don't want to add to any difficulties they are having as an endangered species so we don't touch..have a quick photo shoot and then sit back and watch as they nap in the moonlight. Not really sure what they are doing but they definitely want out of the water by sunset. And no they are not laying eggs. I imagine they are really smart and do that somewhere where people can't come to watch and take pictures with them (^-^)




Here is a video of one of the turtles that I posted on YouTube
sea turtle coming to shore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZXSfXQGH5w

Aloha from Hawaii! Collection on ArtFire

Today my Black Lip Shell Hibiscus Earrings made it on the Aloha from Hawaii Collection on ArtFire :)

Our experience with the Maui, Hawaii Tsunami from the Japan Earthquake - March 2011

It was Thursday night when my mom called and told us there was a Tsunami warning for the state of Hawaii from the Japan quake. This has happened to us many times over the years and usually it ends up being nothing on our end. Last year we had a good surge..but I believe no damage. I was shocked by her call though and thought it was a bit late for the tsunami because the only earthquake I had heard about was on Wed and it was something like a 7.8 (can't remember exact measurement) I had checked online for that and was so happy to find out that Japan was safe and didn't even loose power. I also tried to check for tsunami warnings but found none. No she said..there was another one today....8.9 (now upgraded to a 9.0) My heart sunk.. I turned on the news and oh those poor people! It looked like a bomb had gone off :(

We kept one eye on the news as we prepared on our end...for us since we live so high up the mountain we were safe from any threat of water..so this meant mostly calling friends and relatives in the flood zone making sure that they had a place to go "Bring your pets too!" I insisted..I hate to hear stories of animals getting hurt and lost in these disasters. I was on the phone a lot at first trying to find out if my aunt in Kihei was going to go up to my moms..she waited last minute until the cops came to her road telling everyone to get to higher ground! I found that out later because after just a little bit of time the phones stopped working..I could receive txts for a while but could not call or txt anyone back. Most people I talked to lost the use of their phones as well.

We also turned up our refrigerators and freezers as suggested on the news in case of a power outage and we filled up some containers for drinking water and some buckets for flushing the toilets and for the pets. I washed a bunch of clothes and we all took showers just in case we would not be able to later. On line it seemed a lot of friends and family were doing the same.

The tsunami was due to hit Hawaii around 2:50...something a.m....then changed to 3:07 a.m. I believe. We tried to stay up to watch on the news as we did last year when one happened in the middle of the day. We couldn't make it though and went to bed around 1:30 a.m. Then just after 3:00 a.m. I got woken up by multiple txts from friends and family from the mainland asking if we were okay. My mom said she even got one telling her she better wake up a tsunami was going to hit! Like we wouldn't know? lol! The state of Hawaii gave us ample warning..they said they even started the warning sirens 2 hours earlier then they normally would. I'd heard that the sirens started going off around midnight..we could hear them over the news when they show news journalists trying to report in Honolulu. Family here heard the sirens down a bit farther from us..but up here high on our volcano (in our little area called Olinda) it's nice and quiet. My brother just 5 min down the hill from me in Makawao was woken up by them.

At that point we tried to turn on the news again and see if we could watch the tsunami live on tv. Our son had already gotten up and turned on the news in the living room..so he came and hopped on the end our our bed to watch in our room. The news had the camera on the water..and it looked like it had some sort of enfrared (sp?) lights so we could see..but not sure if thats what it was. My eyes would just not stay awake though..so I fell asleep and the guys said they turned it off before they could see anything happen.

Morning came and thankfully it was not such bad news for Hawaii..The Big Island was hit the hardest..I believe a few homes were carried out to sea. No deaths though. For Maui the worse part was up Puunene Ave. in Kahului. The water went up as far as Walgreens. My bank on the corner of Puunene and Kamehameha was flooded. My husband, Paul, waited at home Friday..not going to work until the afternoon because roads to his shop were closed. On this video below of some Aerial Reconnaissance on Maui... near the beginning it mentions Kahului Beach road and how all the cement barriers from the harbor are all over the road..that is the road he takes to work.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRZvK7FG020

We could see the traffic and how bad it was using binoculars from our deck. There was another way around that Paul could have taken to work..but it looked really traffic-y and the news kept urging people to stay home and let the city clean up the roads. He had to get down there eventually though because we had a customers car in our shop and they were needing it back. So when he saw the roads seemed clearer..he left. Once down there he decided to at least try the usual road which was said to still be closed on the Maui County update page..but it was open when he got down there and looked fine. We spoke to others with businesses nearby who came down but closed up shop because there were no customers. Also everyone was dead tired! Most on Maui had stayed up most the night..and many of those who had to evacuate either spent the night on a road somewhere trying to sleep in their cars.

As for my aunt..like I said..she eventually came up to stay with my mom after being warned by the police! Then she left my moms house super early going back way before the all clear was given. She said the road by her condo was full of mud and fish and smelled bad! Then when she got to her place someone yelled to her that it was not over yet..a huge wave just came over South Kihei road! She kept her stuff packed in her car and thought about coming back up the hill to us..but ended up staying there and is fine thankfully!

Just yesterday my husband had to go check out a car at one of the car lots we do work for and they showed him a car that had been parked at the harbor having just arrived for them to pick up. The water line can clearly be seen on it..here are pictures my husband took:





Here is a clip from Maui County showing the rescue of a turtle that was washed up from the Tsunami. The Hawaiian sea turtle is an endangered species and in normal circumstances not to be touched..however this was a special circumstance and I'm glad they helped him back out to the ocean.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhMZiIR-YEM

I'm sure a lot of people around the shore have had to do much clean up and I read that it caused tens of millions of dollars in damage..but other then that we are very fortunate. Especially compared to those in Japan. I was able to contact a friend I had met from Japan in 2009 and find out that her and her family were safe and farther away from the damage. However every day we think of and pray that others in Japan find their loved ones safe and sound.

Hamoa Beach

A quick peek at the beautiful Hamoa Beach in Hana Maui. We took our yearly camping trip to Hana and enjoyed a beautiful day w/ calm waves at Hamoa.

Note from a bride...

I just received a wonderful thank you note from a bridal customer...makes me remember why I like making jewelry so much..especially when it gets to be part of such special a occasion :)

Jamee,

Aloha! I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that I received my new anklet in the mail today. It's absolutely gorgeous! The anklet looks even better than how I envisioned it looking in my head! I am planning on wearing it on my left foot where I got a sea turtle tattoo from the Chrome Lotus Tattoo shop in Maui during our 2008 Christmas vacation.

Thank you so very much for adding a little something special to my wedding day. The anklet will go great with my wedding dress!

Sincerely,

Angela
Baltimore, MD

here is the anklet she purchased for her wedding day:


Mahalo Angela!

Double Strand Bracelet - New! Just added!

Taxes are finally done and I am on the jewelry path once again! Right now I am mostly trying to go through my 3 shops and organize..however I did make a few pieces right before I started working on my taxes and this is one of them:

Turtle Rainforest - Double Strand Asymmetrical Beaded Bracelet

A whimsical mix of dyed stabilized turquoise in different shades, lime chalk turquoise, lime dyed howlite, spring green dyed jade, dyed freshwater pearls, glass seed beads in bright turquoise and lime green, peridot and paua abalone shell with accents of sterling silver and cute charms..one a Hill Tribe silver turtle and the other a silverized pewter leaf.

available here

What's been going on?

Looks like my blog got away from me again! That happens every so often...so many things to keep up on..sometimes something has got to give. I must admit though..I have fallen in love and am allowing it to steal up a lot of my time.

I mean who can resist cuties like this?



We have 5 new babies..all about 3 weeks to a month old. And we are expecting more very soon! I've also become momma to some orphaned chicks..



They were only a couple of weeks in the picture..now they are about 2 1/2 months old. Super fun and friendly though. If you sit on our deck..they will end up in your lap. Here they are greeting us in the morning the other day..I'm sure they would love nothing more then to come into the house lol!



It's cold at our new place..got down to 48 one night...but only once so far. Usually it's around 53 or 54 on a cold night. Looks like spring outside though with all the new babies around us and our Japanese peach tree in bloom:



And of course I am still creating jewelry. Though not at the same pace as I would like to. I have so many new supplies to work with, I can't wait until tax season is over so I will have more time to play. It's that time of year again to catch up on my very neglected bookkeeping for both my business and my husbands business so that I can gather all the info for the CPA. Here are some of the new Hawaiian leaf shells..just love them! Can't wait to incorporate them into more pieces ;)



Well that's a super quick update..hope that everyone is doing well. I miss reading all of your blogs and hope to get back to it soon!

Jonara Blu Maui

Wordless Wednesday - View from my deck

For more Wordless Wednesday please visit: 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - Maui Prince Beach

For more Wordless Wednesday please visit: 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday

Beach Bride Jewelry Video

Maui Beachcomber - Beaded Necklace

A Beachy mix of shells and semi precious gemstones show off a pendant of blue Peruvian opal and a shell that I found here on one of Maui's beaches.

Bead ingredients include: amazonite, abalone, mother of pearl, desert jasper, blue Peruvian opal, glass seed beads in a champagne color and Hill Tribe silver accents.

Maui Beachcomber Necklace available at Jonara Blu Maui

Wai'anapanapa Video posted online

Here is a quick video I took on our camping trip of the view from the lookout at Wai'anapanapa state park. You can see the beautiful black sand beach :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Fo8x4olFU

Wai'anapanapa - www.jonarablumaui.com - kewego
http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafMl_2.html

Anklets uploaded to my website

Bright and Sparkly Summer Anklet



Sea Blue Keshi Freshwater Pearl Anklet

Sparkly Summer Anklets

New sparkly beach anklets for summertime




Available soon at Jonara Blu Maui

Sunday Brunch at the Maui Prince Hotel

Our Sunday brunch at the Maui Prince Hotel

one of many plates....this one full of different amazing salads.



the most important part of the meal...dessert =P



egrets forging for their meal...they were being very bold..not afraid of the lawn mower at all...




The back walk was full of the most vibrant orange shower trees..






The teenager that rarely will look at the camera these days...



hubby and me :)

Monday at the Beach

We had a really nice day off at the beach last Monday. A huge group of friends and family met at one of our favorite beaches in front of Serentos in Kihei. We had two tents up as well as another on the beach below for those that preferred to be closer to the water to watch their kiddos play.






We arrived for lunch and stayed until after dinner..lots of yummy food and fun conversation. It was awesome to get our own kiddo out of the house..he has been couped up for so long. He actually swam and had a lot of fun just hanging out with some friends.



It's been really hazy here again from the vog..everyones alergies are going nuts. The views were not as nice so I didn't get any great pics. But the sun still was hot and water was so warm! We swam for a couple of hours it was so nice!




We stayed to watch the sunset..the sun was incredible..bright orange. for some reason my camera wouldn't pick it up though. This doesn't show it at all..it was a huge orange fireball.



In the way of jewelry..I've completed a new silk corded necklace with green coin pearls and abalone. I was going to get pictures done today but it's been foggy and pouring rain outside..so pics will have to wait. Hopefully tomorrow!

Morning Visitors - Ring Necked Pheasants

The last time we spoke to our new landlord...right before he took his red eye flight off to the mainland for a new life of traveling in his 5th wheel... he warned us very sternly "..and do not shoot the pheasants!"

Well I have to admit I have not completely honored my promise...I sure hope shooting with my camera doesn't count! We've had them visit much closer then these pictures..but they probably would have flown away had I opened the sliding door to 'shoot' them. So here are some shots from this morning..a male was taking in some morning sun as he sat on one of the fence posts across the street. I took these from my deck.





The Ring necked pheasant was introduced to the Hawaiian islands in the 19th century for sport. What makes me sad is that I've talked to some that say they don't do it for the meat but for the pelt(?). I see so many that have the taxidermist do whatever it is they do to it so that they can set up somewhere for show. It really is an amazingly beautiful bird and to see those feathers close up is a neat experience. But I am completely happy observing them from a distance... alive and walking around... and will continue to shoot them but only with my Canon Rebel ;-)

Same Hotel...All Grown up

Well..sort of all grown up..heheh



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