OILS OF ALOHA: COMING TO A COMMISSARY NEAR YOU

After almost four years of doing business with all five local commissaries on Oahu, we would like to thank all the men and women in the service for their loyal use of our Kukui Skin Care products and Macadamia Cooking Oils. Now, because of our success here in Hawaii, we have been given the chance to bring our best sellers from the Kukui Skin Care line to the commissaries on the West Coast of the Mainland.

So how did this come about? We found out after attending the twelfth annual American Logistics Association and DeCA Hawaii Conference's Local Vendor Trade Show. This is an event where manufacturers of products that are Made in Hawaii have an opportunity to display, present and generally show off their goods for all the VIPs who oversee the Commissaries and Exchanges that honor the men and women who serve our country.

That's me pictured about before the start of the event. We had a variety of products to give away, as well as sample including brownies and banana brea made with macadamia oil. And for lunch we had samples of smoked salmon pesto pasta.

So what does this mean for all military personnel authorized to shop at the commissaries? Start looking for our products this holiday season at a commissary near you.

KUKUI … GROWING UP IN HAWAII

In 1959 the Kukui tree became the official state tree of Hawaii. It takes its botanical name, aleurites moluccana, from the Greek for “floury,” a reference to the white-dusted green of its leaves.

From the ground, its leaves are turned a translucent green by the overhead sun in a leafy canopy of stained-glass hues. Kukui trees mainly grow on the lower slopes of the mountain in gulches. The tallest Kukui groves with trees of eighty to ninety feet are spectacular. Wherever Kukui grows, its distinctive silver foliage is its signature.

At the end of the branches small greenish-tinged white flowers bloom. These flowers, along with the trees distinctive leaves, are often seen entwined in leis.

The fruit of the Kukui is about 2-inches in diameter. The outer part of the fruit is a hard green covering about 1/4-inch thick when immature and as it matures it turns a dark grayish-black and softens. This portion of the fruit decays rapidly after it falls to the ground. Enclosed within are one or two hard, stone like, wrinkled nuts. When young the shell of the nut is whitish, but as it matures it turns brown, then black.

Nuts that remain in the damp soil will sprout. After shedding their shell a small plant takes root. It takes only a few months for it to start Growing Up In Hawaii!

HAWAIIAN TRIVIA

• The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.

• The State tree is the Kukui, the State bird is the Nene and the State fish is the Humuhumunukunukuapua`a.

• The Hawaiian language has the shortest alphabet in the world. It has only twelve letters. The five vowels are A,E, I, O,U. And the seven consonants are H,K,L,M,N,P,W.

• Average daytime temperature in July is 82°F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72°F.

• Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

• From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.

• Hawaii has its own time zone. It’s called Hawaiian Standard Time. There is no daylight savings time in Hawaii, which means that in summer, Hawaii is two hours behind the U.S. West Coast, while in winter, Hawaii is three hours behind the U.S. West Coast.

• Oahu’s North Shore has many of the world’s most renowned surfing beaches.

• Iolani Palace, located in downtown Honolulu, is the only royal palace in the United States. Electric lights illuminated Iolani Palace four years before the White house had them.

• Haleakala Crater on Maui is the world's largest dormant volcano.

• The famous Road to Hana on Maui’s north shore is a 55-mile long, narrow road and features 617 curves and 26 bridges. It has some of the most breathtaking oceanfront scenery.

• Kilauea volcano on the Big Island is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the world.

• Smooth lava is called pahoehoe and rough lava is a`a.

• The Big Island is one of the worlds leaders in harvesting macadamia nuts, kukui nuts and orchids.