Kilauea volcano is erupting again. Wednesday afternoon, lava returned to Kilauea’s summit within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after a 4-month hiatus. A new line of fissures sliced through the solidified crust of the 2020–21 lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at 3:21 p.m. HST.

Some garden shrubs are colorful all year long so we take them for granted.

Shiso or Perilla frutescens, is a herb in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is often seen as a garnish with sushi and sashimi. When it is served, I always enjoy eating the leaves. Actually the green plastic fake leaves in take-out sushi are supposed to replicate the shiso leaf.

The Pacific is home to dozens of active volcanic systems including the massive Hawaiian shield volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Most basaltic shield volcanoes in the Pacific are related to the hotspots that created the Hawaiian Islands and many of the Polynesian and Micronesian island chains.

Back in the 1940s, progressive and futuristic farmers were aware of the big mistakes farmers and ranchers had made in the earlier days causing lands to deteriorate. Today, we are still trying to improve our relationship with the environment Terms like sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management, organic farming and permaculture are used by folks concerned about minimizing our negative impact on the planet. We now focus on minimizing our carbon footprint as we experience the effects of global warming.

With the Delta Variant around the world, many of us are unable to travel yet. Our plans to Southeast Asia have been canceled in October as many countries have shut down. It is disappointing but we can “travel” through food and stay at home. In Vietnam, their chili-garlic sauce adds subtle heat and yet deep flavors over rice and noodle dishes.

Most residents of Hawaii Island live on one of four potentially active volcanoes and probably have wondered about the threat of lava flows at one time or another. Interestingly, determining future threats relies on knowledge of the past. The long-term likelihood of an area being invaded by lava in the future, is estimated in two different ways based on the history of lava flow activity.

Coca, opium, marijuana and hundreds of other plants used to alter our perceived reality are nothing new to earlier cultures and civilizations. We often think of mood altering drugs with trepidation but they have been part of the human condition for thousands of years. Marijuana, opium poppies and coca leaf have been used as were certain mushrooms and even the sap of the angel trumpet tree. As in the case of the angel trumpet, it can be also very poisonous so only the shamans of South and Central America might be trusted with its use. Many of the substances derived from these plants are now illegal in some countries due to the possibility of dangerous misuse. In the case of angel trumpet sap, it can easily kill you if ingested. Others are so much a part of our culture that we hardly give them second thought. These include coffee, tea and chocolate.

I wrote about Big Islander Ocean Kanekoa and his passion for cooking. He and his sister, Jaydene, were featured on the first episode of Peacock’s ‘Top Chef Family Style’ on Sept. 9 and will continue weekly on Thursdays.

Large quantities of volcanic gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), are released into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions. But even between eruptions, smaller amounts of the same gases continue to escape and can provide important clues about the current state of the volcano and the underlying magma. But to measure them, you first must identify where gas is coming from.

Looking for a way to save on food bills? Then plant vegetables. For many backyard vegetable gardeners on the mainland, spring means the beginning of their gardening efforts. However, this is Hawaii so we can plant our vegetables anytime depending upon the microclimate. There are many vegetable gardening activities for the entire year.