Posts made in July, 2008

Traditional Kava Ceremonies and Casual Kava Drinkers

Posted by on Jul 29, 2008 in The Mind of Makaira | 0 comments

Traditional Kava Ceremonies and Casual Kava Drinkers

Aloha! After tackling such a difficult topic in my last entry on the toxic part of the kava plant, it was refreshing to read about the opening ceremony of the Festival of Pacific Arts in Samoa last week. These ceremonial rituals include traditional kava ceremonies. In Pacific Magazine, they described how “both men and women, young and old, played their respective roles in the official welcome ceremony for delegates to the Tenth Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa. While the men were busy preparing for the ava ceremony (kava ceremony), the women were getting ready to display...

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Kava and Liver Toxicity

Posted by on Jul 24, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 1 comment

Kava and Liver Toxicity

Aloha! I received a very heartfelt message from a customer last week reminding me of how important it is for us to be clear about the type of kava we grow and sell, and exactly how it is processed, here at Kona Kava Farm. This is so important because certain parts of the kava (Piper methysticum) plant should never be used, namely the tops (flowers), and branches. Only the rhizome, or rootstock, should be used. This customer’s note was a very much-needed wake-up call for me, since it made me realize we did not have a lot of information on our website about the dangers associated with...

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Tahitian Arts Festival

Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 in The Mind of Makaira | 0 comments

Tahitian Arts Festival

Aloha! So again – AGAIN! (teehee!) – I find an article on kava use by important people like dignitaries and diplomats! I am always truly tickled when I read about the importance and reach of kava throughout the world. It warms my soul as much as a nice cup of our kava does at the end of my work day. Let me fill you in on what I found. The Culture Minister of the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, Joseph Kaiha, gave a keynote speech at the opening of the 126th Heiva i Tahiti. ‘Heiva i Tahiti’ – held every July – is the most flamboyant in terms of...

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Do I Need to Strain My Kava?

Posted by on Jul 13, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 11 comments

Do I Need to Strain My Kava?

Catherine asked: Probably because I am always looking for a quick fix I decided not to blend and strain as recommended, instead I spooned 2 heaping tablespoons into a glass of water, mixed and drank quickly. Is this OK? Thank you for your time and your wonderful website. Makaira says: We always eat the root with our kava drinks; it is full of nutrients, and provides pure, essential fiber for the continued good health of the body. I don’t quite know what you’re referring to when you say a “quick fix”, but 2 heaping teaspoons of Kava into a glass of water sounds...

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The First Time

Posted by on Jul 7, 2008 in The Mind of Makaira | 0 comments

The First Time

Aloha! My work here on my family’s farm is my first love, therefore my work is never done. I even work on the weekends! Most of my weekends start out with reviewing the farm foreman’s reports on the previous week, then after that’s done, I tend to my own personal garden and read. Aside from my son and the farm, reading is my other love. And now, once again, I stumbled upon an amazing article on Kava in the news while I was reading this weekend. It always makes me so happy to read about others’ experiences with kava. The following is an excerpt from a story I read on...

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