It was pretty tragic last year (or has it been longer than that?) when our beloved Laie Theaters closed down suddenly. I remember that there was only a single screen back when I was very young, and then how amazing we all thought it was after it was renovated into two theaters a few years later.

One of my first experiences holding hands with a boy took place in that theater, not to mention countless other times we went to watch movies for family outings, birthday parties, or 'just because'. You just couldn't beat the convenience (we didn't have to drive 30 minutes just to get to civilization, like usual), and the price was always much cheaper than the fancy theaters in Kaneohe or Mililani.

Anyway, the good news is that Laie Theaters is going to reopen!

In case you hadn't noticed (read the big sign hanging up in the shopping center), it's undergoing renovations right now in order to make a July 17th grand reopening as Laie Palms Cinemas.

The best part? The new owners, Don and Alicen Nielsen, are Laie residents. Two big thumbs up for community members who are willing to step up to the plate and help to provide important services here in our remote corner of the world. (Important service? The movies? YES! We all need recreational outlets, and quite frankly, I think that many of us are getting tired of drving to Kaneohe or Miliani to pay $10 to see a movie. And then another $20 to eat afterward, since we're about 10,000 miles from home).

Laie Palms Cinemas will be run as an independent theater, which will allow the Neilsens to tailor the films shown to the community. It will also show first run movies a week late to help cut down on costs, which are expected to be less than your typical chain theater but more than a dollar theater.

Yay for the Neilsens! I promise to be a faithful, regular patron to help support our local businesses. Can't wait to check it out.

I have been meaning to check this place out for ages, but two things have gotten in the way: I moved to Kaneohe, which means that I don't pass by these parts as often, and the economy has sharply curtailed my 'eating out' fund.

But we did manage to make it out on Saturday, and boy was it good!

I loved the cute, country style setup--screen door and all--the staff is very friendly and treats you like old friends. The place is also pretty clean, with both inside and outside seating.

Uncle Bobo's is adjacent to the Ka'a'awa Post Office, next door to 7-11, and across the street from Swanzee Beach Park on Kamehameha Highway.

There is a pretty impressive selection of entrees, salads, sides, and desserts on the menu.

While the smoothies and shave ice looked tempting, we were hungry!

We ordered the Special of the Day, a sloppy joe with fries, and Uncle Bobo's signature Smoked Chicken plate (left).

Both dishes came quickly, were nice and hot, and totally hit the spot--delicious!

The best indicator of a good meal = clean plates

I'd definitely recommend Uncle Bobo's Smoked BBQ after a day at the beach. There's something for everyone, from heavy-duty meals to light snacks and smoothies. See you there the next time I visit!

Uncle Bobo's Smoked BBQ
51-480 Kamehameha Hwy
Kaaawa, HI 96730
(808) 237-1000

At the end of March, local artist Hilton Alves painted a mural at the KVA as part of his Surf Art Kids Hawaii Tour 2009.

If you haven't noticed, he's done it again at Laie Elementary School, where you can see his latest mural from the highway as you drive past the campus.

Hilton told me that he embedded hidden words in the painting--when you visit, look closely!

A second, larger mural is located along two sides of E Building in the center of campus (the old office building, for those who went to Laie Elementary), and was painted by Alves and all 600+ students of Laie Elementary.

The students took shifts throughout the day Tuesday to paint a fish or marine animal of their choosing onto a reef background created by Alves.

Leading up to the big paint day, students entered a poster contest with the theme 'Our La'ie Bay" and learned more about the history of the area's hukilau fishing tradition from BYU-H archivist Matt Kester, who visited the school with archived footage of the old hukilau. Alves even attended the community's annual Memorial Day Hukilau to gain inspiration for the project (you can even see him in a red tank top and white cap in the second photo by following the link).

Left: Alves paints a clown fish (aka 'Nemo' from Disney's 'Finding Nemo') with Lai'e School first graders. Right: students trace out their fish with chalk before beginning to paint.

I ran into a few people I knew while there:

My cousin, Mary Fonoimoana (left), and neighbor, ShaCe Niu (right). Love the aprons, girls!

I also saw my little sister, Kimbrell, who forgot to bring an apron:

We are lucky to have a talented artist like Hilton Alves (a Kahuku resident), who is willing to volunteer his time and talents to better our community. Thanks also goes to the Laie School PTCO, which provided all the paint and supplies for this project.

The next time you're near La'ie School, make sure you stop by to check out these two beautiful murals.

Congratulations to the Kahuku High School Class of 2009! We can't wait to see you spread your wings and do great things.

Photo courtesy Ashleigh Lautaha

La'ie residents held their annual Memorial Day hukilau at Hukilau Beach yesterday.

The sun was hot, the fish plentiful, and community members came out in force.

Hukilau, derived from the Hawaiian words 'huki' (pull) and 'lau' (leaf), is an ancient style of fishing where a long net lined with ti leaves is pulled into a wide arc, and groups of people on the beach pull each end back to shore simultaneously. The leaves scare the fish toward the beach as the net is pulled closer and closer to shore:

By nature, hukilau-style fishing requires many helping hands--and traditionally, all who help are entitled to a portion of the catch.

The hukilau is an integral part of La'ie's history, one that spans back almost 150 years. Here is a brief version, as I understand it:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints purchased 6,000 acres of La'ie land in 1865, establishing a plantation community of Hawaiian church members. Delighted by the thriving population of Hawaiian children in the area, King Kalakaua and Queen Kapi'olani enjoyed visiting, even aiding in the construction of a community church, I Hemolele, in 1881. 
In 1940, however, I Hemolele was accidentally burned down, and the tradition of the La'ie Hukilau began.

In order raise funds for the construction of a new building, La'ie resident Viola Kehau Kawahigashi spearheaded a lu'au at Hukilau Beach in 1948, charging visitors a $3 admission fee. A huge success, the La'ie Hukilau lasted for more than two decades, ultimately funding the new chapel and maintaining a tight-knit community. It was also the inspiration for Jack Owen's popular "Hukilau Song," written after the songwriter attended a La'ie Hukilau.

The Hukilau Song
Jack Owens © 1948

Oh we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki huki hukilau
Everybody loves the hukilau
Where the laulau is the kaukau at the big lû`au

We throw our nets out into the sea
And all the `ama`ama come a-swimming to me
Oh, we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki hukilau

What a beautiful day for fishing
The old Hawaiian way
Where the hukilau nets are swishing
Down in old Lâ`ie bay

Oh we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki huki hukilau

When LDS church leaders noted that tourists would actually make the long journey out to La'ie to participate in the hukilau and lu'au, they gave approval for the Polynesian Cultural Center, which ultimately employed many of the original community volunteers from the hukilau.

Definitely a successful catch this year

I'm so glad that there are community members willing to spend their Memorial Day to perpetuate such a rich community tradition--Lucky we live La'ie!