Kava Blog

Coffee Jitters and Traditional Kava Ceremonies

Posted by on Aug 11, 2008 in The Mind of Makaira | 0 comments

Coffee Jitters and Traditional Kava Ceremonies

Aloha! So, this morning I woke up and had one too many cups of coffee. Oh, how I love my morning coffee! Usually I only have one cup, but occasionally I will have more than one. I admit that this morning I savored a total of three cups of coffee and within half an hour I felt jittery and on edge. It’s been awhile since I got the coffee jitters…maybe I need to switch to decaffeinated coffee in my old age! This reaction in me doesn’t always occur when I pour myself a second or third cup. Often times when I do, I feel fine...

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Coronation of the New King of Tonga

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

Coronation of the New King of Tonga

Aloha! I don’t know if you heard, but the Isle of Tonga crowned a new King late last week. And just how did they celebrate the new King’s coronation but with a kava ceremony! I watched the ceremony on television, which was a big deal down here in the South Pacific. They presented the new King with gifts as he arrived at the kava circle and when the ceremony began, they mixed the kava and followed that with chanting and more gifts, then they passed around the bowls of kava to all the dignitaries present. The entire ceremony took...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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What Is a Rhizome?

Posted by on Jul 6, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 0 comments

What Is a Rhizome?

Andrew asked: I was wondering what the difference between a stem and a rhizome is. From what I have read a rhizome is a sort of “underground stem.” The following statements are included in your website: “The strongest kava comes from first generation roots and rhizomes, so we are constantly rotating our plants and crops to ensure maximum strength.” You also say this: “Please remember that the only time Kava Kava has been shown to be poisonous or cause liver damage is when the leaves and stems are consumed. This...

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Ruben Wiki Celebrates 300 with Kava Ceremony

Posted by on Jun 30, 2008 in Kava News | 0 comments

Ruben Wiki Celebrates 300 with Kava Ceremony

Aloha! I read some news over this past weekend that made my heart soar. There were several articles I discovered online about Ruben Wiki, a star player with the New Zealand National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. Ruben is 35 years old, which I believe is generally considered “old” for an athlete, isn’t it? I giggle as I write “old” since I am the ripe “old” age of 42 and don’t feel a day over 25, which of course I think is, in part, due to my daily drinking of kava. My...

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Fiji’s Prime Minister Visits Vanuatu

Posted by on Jun 23, 2008 in The Mind of Makaira | 0 comments

Fiji’s Prime Minister Visits Vanuatu

Aloha everyone! I have decided to make a concerted effort to keep up with the personal part of my blog – posting to it weekly, or maybe even twice a week! My family has been very busy here on the Kona Kava Farm, so much so that we just hired a new supervisor and a few extra hands to help with the overflow of work that needs to be done. Hopefully, this will enable me to stay current with updating this blog on a regular basis. Since I have been asked in the “Ask Maikara” section of my blog about Kava Ceremonies and have shared...

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