Island Wide Black Out 12-26-08

There had been off and on heavy rains throughout the day today. Then at 6:25pm we had an island wide black out. Rain (well a light drizzle and lightening occurred most of the night then early Saturday morning the lightning and thunder started. At 4:25am the power was restored to our Property. Then at 7:35am the rains started again. There were no incidents on the Property last night. Everyone seemed to know what to do and did what they had to. There is an attorney staying in Unit 405. His wife was reading Blacks Law Dictionary to him. He said it made it easier for him to sleep and to take his mind off the storm.

Landscaping Before and After

TORCH GINGER
http://www.greenculturesg.com/articles/may08/may08_torchginger.pdf

The torch ginger is an indispensable plant for an ornamental tropical-themed garden or a herb and spice garden. The plant itself makes a great garden landscape plant, its flowers have immense ornamental value and its young flowering shoots are an important spice. Various parts of the torch ginger plant also have folk medicinal uses. Hence, it is not one of those “can-see-but-cannot-eat” plants.

A hardcore tropical perennial plant, the torch ginger is native to areas near home - Malaysia and Indonesia. Botanically it is known as Etlingera elatior, the torch ginger is a member of the true ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It has been formerly classified in various other true ginger genera including Alpinia, Phaeomoria and Nicolaia. The genus is named after the German botanist Andreas Ernst Etlinger while the specific name elatior, in Latin, has the meaning of “taller”.

The growth habit of the torch ginger is rhizomatous in nature. It is a large-growing herbaceous plant. A mature torch ginger plant is a stately one, commanding much attention. The leafy shoots of a mature specimen can reach a towering height of about 3 meters with a diameter of about 4 cm. The strap-like leaves that line alternately on the leafy shoots can grow up to a length of about 80 cm.
For those of you who have seen the torch ginger flower, the reason why the torch ginger is a popular cut flower in many areas around the world is clearly apparent. Due to the striking resemblance of the inflorescence to a flaming torch, it is not difficult to discern why the common name for this ginger is as such. Besides possessing ornamental value, the young flowering shoot (often called a flower bud) of the torch ginger is an indispensable ingredient used to flavour both rojak and laksa, which are popular dishes in Malaysia and Singapore.

The flowers of the torch ginger are produced in an interesting way. The inflorescence arises from the rhizome beneath the ground like a spear and is protected by a series of bracts. It is supported on a scape that can reach a height of 60 cm to more than a meter. The thickness of the scape can range from 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter. When the final height has been attained, the outer protective bracts gradually open. These outer bracts eventually become reflexed to form the ‘rim’ of the burning torch. This, in turn, reveals a central, pinecone-like structure consisting of many small tight bracts that form the ‘flame’. The individual true flowers appear from between the bracts found on the pinecone-like structure.
When mature, the torch ginger blooms all year round in the tropics. Its inflorescence is available in three main colours, namely, pink, red and white. When not in flower, plants from the three varieties cannot be easily differentiated via their aerial parts as all plants will be similarly green in appearance. However, there is a torch ginger variety that produces red inflorescences that has purplish red leaf undersides and the leafy shoots also take on a similar reddish tinge. In general, the pink variety is the one that is the most floriferous which is followed by the red and white varieties. It is therefore not surprising to rojak fans now why the rojak flower that they are familiar with is usually pink in color.

After successful pollination, a fruiting head that looks like a club with numerous round bumps on it forms. These are actually individual fruits, technically referred to as berries. They are green at first and turn red when ripe. Numerous small and dark-colored seeds can be obtained from them.

The torch ginger also has a place in an eco-garden. The flowers attract the sunbird, its natural pollinator. Whether grown for food use or as a sunbird attractant, one should refrain from using chemical pesticides in the garden. An organically grown garden is generally a safer and healthier place for every living thing that visits it.

First and foremost, the torch ginger is a huge plant and is not one that can be grown in containers. However, apartment gardeners who love and want to grow this plant need not despair! Go to your nearest community garden to get yourself some space to grow a plant. If there isn’t a community garden, go start one and this is perhaps the most convenient place for you to do a multitude of plants.

The torch ginger thrives in soil that is well-drained and moisture-retentive. Refrain from growing the plant in a waterlogged location. Clay soil which is the common soil type encountered in Singapore is best amended with liberal amounts of organic matter such as compost. Organic materials incorporated into clayey soils will help to open up the structure to improve aeration, improve drainage as well as retain moisture.

The plant would also appreciate a layer of organic mulch consisting of dried leaves or compost around the root zone. Organic mulches offer three main benefits – they help to maintain a cool constant temperate, reduce water loss from the roots during hot and dry weather and provide nutrients for the plant when they break down. Additional feeding will promote growth and should be done using organic fertilizer but it is usually not required.

Plants should be grown in a sheltered spot that is protected from winds as the leafy shoots can become damaged and the leaves get shredded by constant winds. Winds can also overly dry out the plant. In terms of light requirements, the torch ginger plant grows best when it is planted in a semi-shaded location. It can, however, be acclimatized to grow under higher light levels. When exposed to more sunlight, the plant reacts via an interesting manner by growing shorter in stature. Unfortunately here at the Condos in the center court yard, we want to enhance our visual beauty so we need them there at this area.

A torch ginger plant is generally not invasive as the clump of leafy shoots is quite tight and advances at quite a manageable pace. However, rhizomes can wonder into unwanted areas in the garden and if one is seen advancing in a wrong direction, it can be stopped at its tracks by breaking it with a shovel and dug up and used as material for propagation. When propagating, it is better to obtain a clump of several leafy shoots rather than one that just consist of one leafy shoot. After a section of the rhizome has been broken and dug up, the leafy shoots can be cut away (to reduce the loss of water from the leaves) and potted up in a well-drained media. Do not bury the rhizome section too deeply as that can cause it to rot. Leave the cutting in a sheltered position until the growth of a new shoot is spotted.

Fortunately, the torch ginger is relatively pest-free and disease-free plant. The most common pest is perhaps the grasshopper that chews along the leaf margins. Sucking insects such as spider mites may congregate on the leaf undersides while aphids may be found feasting on the young shoots and leaves. In general, all these pests rarely do great damage to an established plant but attention must be paid on a newly established, young plant.








This is the blue ginger we have planted in the center courtyard, but you have to know where to look







This is the grass in the center court yard. The grass actually looks greener than this. This picture was taken at night.





This is the grass fronting Bldg B. This picture too was taken at night.













This is the landscaping fronting Building B











This is the garden area fronting Haleiwa Rd to the mauka side of parking lot B









This is the North makai side of parking lot B by Japanese school










This is our front entry area listing our address.







This is the walkway from Building A to Haleiwa Rd. between parking lots A & B


This is what the front entry looked like before the changes.


This is what the front entrys looked like after the changes.



This was the look of the North wall before the replanting.


After a few months this is what it looked like.





And this is what it looks like 3 months later. Papaya's, green and red ti-leaf plants, green onions and other inventory plants for use at a later date.

Ground Transformation

This was the Nut Rubbish by Unit 101 which we cleaned up and created a beautiful garden (pictures to be posted after I finish) We finally had time to cut down the tree that made all this rubbish.



The nuts in this area made this entire portion of the Property un-usable.







I had just cleaned this area a few weeks before and this is how many nuts I picked up today. Unbelievable! What a mess.










And here's what we're building. A square foot garden for the benefit of all long term tenants and fee-owners who always wanted to garden but don't have the energy to build one.


Some more boxes to be built in the area to the right as soon as I work the ground a bit. Pictures of the new boxes and the completion of this area to be posted soon.












I could think of no better or faster way to clean up the area, so I sucked 'em up with my wet vac . . . and it worked! Finally I get to put to work all that education and training I received throughout my life.




This was the rubbish from the pine tree by the BarBQ area. The rubbish is relentless and terrible for everybody who walks bare foot in this area. This is how much rubbish I picked up today only. However, my goal is to always have this area clean enough so that everyone can walk barefoot on our grass and sand without issue.

Air Port Shuttle

One shuttle that some have used is named Oahu AP Shuttle. Their phone number is 808-681-8181. Since costs change due to fuel and overhead etc., I do not list prices on this site. However, you shoud know that it is 29 miles from the condos to this airport.

We have only one airport on Oahu (except for Hickam or Dillingham, but these are not for commercial airlines. Hickam is for military and Dillingham is for private planes).

For other distances, you may look under "Schedule of what happens in Haleiwa or on Oahu" then scroll down about 3/4 the way to the end of the post.

Another very polite shuttle service who came recommended is Frank at Aloha Waikiki Shuttle Service. Phone 808-690-3185.

Or if you want a more personal trip to the air port. Schedule with Rick Bernico who used to live on our property but has recently moved to town. He drives his own taxi service, and he can tell you all about the property and places to visit while you're here on your way to your Haleiwa vacation. You can also reach him at his cell phone: 808-780-5554

Another channel is: 800-924-9292 Website: www.reliableshuttle.com I don't know how much these companies charge and cannot recommend them. But their phone numbers are listed for you to call in a pinch. People take advantage of tourists eerywhere, and Hawaii is no excception. So be careful on who you pick, Here's a story of someone who didn't get good service:
http://thattravelingcouple.com/usa/hawaii/north-shore-oahu-and-the-160-cab-ride


Another channel is: Honolulushuttleservice.com Johnny Cheng also found happy Haleiwa Surf customers.

As with any names we offer, please give us your good and bad experiences so that we can prepare others what to expect or we can remove the bad reference from our blog.
Email me at: haleiwahi@hawaii.rr.com or haleiwahi@gmail.com. The names listed are not in any order of quality of service or recomendations. They are simply listed as names you may wish to contact.

Room Measurements

This is the before picture of the electrical panel box

Kitchen Measurements: Approximate dimensions of your kitchen in the one bedroom model before any remodeling takes place is:

Refrigerator: The Depth is 29 1/2" - the width is 31 1/2" the height 64 3/4"



However, if you choose to remove the overhead cabinet and that small 4" wall that parallels the hallway, you can put in a full size refrigerator.




Other dimensions will be ready soon or if you E me about anything specific, I'll let you know by posting your answer right away.


Here they installed the sink and the counter top to match the center island.



Oops, installed the sink on the wrong side. Change order!



After the change was completed. When you know what you're doing, it's easy to make the changes without anybody knowing. Check out the spice rack. What a creative way to cover over the electrical panel.




Remember what the kitchen sink looked like before?



Here they are creating the counter top for the center island




Here it is completed without the stove/ventless oven.





Here is the center island with the stove installed.



For cabinetry one quality supplier is in Mapunapuna named Ohana Building Supply at 2815 Kahihikapu St. Phone 833-8338 or 845-8081. Email at kirkland808@hotmail.com Their materials are made with Northwest Hardwoods. This is not pressboard Home Depot out the door quicky cabinets. This is the real thing. It is as their logo says, "Quality wood construction."


Remember: All the measurements listed below are from the single bedroom model, original layout and before any remodeling begins.

Oven: The Depth is 25" - the width is 26 1/2" the height is 36". But with this custom installed stove, the entire system can be built to whatever openings you choose.

Kitchen Flooring is approx: 36 s.f. but now with the kitchen and living room opened up with this center island, it appears to be and actually feels like much more room and viewing space. Actual spacing is 3'wide by 8'4"long and then in front of the water heater there is a small walkway 3' X 2'6".

Living Room Mearurements Width is 13'3" and length from kitchen to inside louvers is 16'7 1/4"

Hallway measurements: is (when you first open the door before the inside 2nd door) 3'4" X 9' and then from that second door to the living room is 3' X 17' long. Total square foot of about 81 s.f.

Hallway Bath is: approx. 24 sq.ft. floor space not including the counter or the shower.

Master Bath is approx. 15 sq. ft. or acually 5' X 3' floor space not including the counter, toilet or the shower.

Master Bedroom is 9' 8" wide and 12' long or about 118 sq. ft. not including the closet.

For the door sizes type in the search bar, "doors"

Clean up of our beach with the help of neighborhood kids

Here the neighbors pitch in to help clean, Ala, Aka and Hunter!


A big job goes quickly when everybody pitches in!


Everybody needs a little direction!


Here we're half way pau.




That's a big load for a small kid! U go Aka






And then the job was pau!




The City started cleaning up the rubbish that drifted in during our Kona Storm a couple of weeks ago.












Here this little girl tries to walk through one of the trenches caused by the clean up crew.

The day after

At 4:00am, things sure looked peaceful.








Then I looked at the morning light and saw the muddy water and all the rubbish on the beach and knew we had a lot of work ahead of us. This is looking towards Alii Beach.



More After Math



The width of the rubbish is about 20'. The distance was about 200' or so. What a job we faced.




Here we are looking towards Kaiaka beach park.











This is looking straight out from the Condos. You can't really tell from the pictures, but the muddy water is a dark tan in color. I will post a picture when the water cleans up and let you all know how long it took to return to the pristine beach that we all know and love.