Eye Of The Whale – Novel
Eye Of The Whale is an ecological suspense novel by national bestseller Douglas Carlton Abrams. This thriller is about a marine biologist whose fate is altered after the unexpected appearance of a humpback whale sends her on a race to discover the meaning of its mysterious song.
The main character, Elizabeth, is studying whales and their speech patterns. During her exhibition she hears an unusual pattern change in the whales song (the most complex in nature). Upon her return, her life begins spinning out of control as she receives a notice from her professor that her funding has been cut, and her husband has grown tired of her absence and leaves her. Then, when a humpback whale, Apollo, swims up the Sacramento River with a strange and unprecedented song, she makes it her mission to decipher its meaning in order to save the whale. Soon, Elizabeth is forced to decide if her discoveries are worth losing her marriage, her career, and possibly her life.
This complex book is packed with romance, science, suspense, and ecological facts, as it delves into the lives of its characters, including Elizabeth, her husband, her ex-boyfriend, her best friend an animal rights activist, whalers from around the world, professors, Apollo the whale, and a chemical company CEO. As timely as today’s ecological challenges and as timeless as the whales themselves, this novel takes readers into the mysterious world of humpback whales. In writing Eye of the Whale
Buy Local Papaya
While we enjoy papaya for its deliciously sweet taste, and soft, buttery consistency, it also has many nutritional health benefits. Papayas are rich sources of antioxidant nutrients, carotenes, vitamin C, folate, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. Together, these nutrients promote the health of the cardiovascular system and also provide added protection against colon cancer. Combine the refreshing taste with its health benefits and the fact that it is low in calories, and you have a powerful fruit.
- This fruit contains papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. This enzyme is especially concentrated in the fruit when it is unripe.
- Papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C. It is a very good source of folate and potassium. In addition, it is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin K.
- Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, and to lower high cholesterol levels.
- Papaya’s nutrients, folate, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E have been shown to be helpful in the prevention of colon cancer. And its fiber is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells.
- Papaya contains several unique protein-digesting enzymes which have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns. In addition, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, are also very good at reducing inflammation.
- Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system.
- Studies indicate that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration, the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
- If you are a smoker, or if you are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke, a common carcinogen in cigarette smoke induces vitamin A deficiency. Making vitamin A-rich foods, such as papaya, can help counter this effect and greatly reduce emphysema.
- Men who enjoy lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, apricots, pink grapefruit, watermelon, papaya, and guava are 82% less likely to have prostate cancer.
Support the local economy and eat Kauai grown. See our Kauai Events Calendar for times and locations of local farmers’ markets.
Carissa Moore Wins Gidget Pro
Carissa Moore attacked the waves at Sunset Beach with amazing poise throughout the Gidget Pro to eventually win on her home Island of Oahu. The final day of the contest with the world’s finest female surfers was run in solid 10 to 18 foot surf at Sunset Beach. In preparation for the North Shore season, Moore started training with big-wave surfers Pancho Sullivan and Myles Padaca. They held surf sessions in virtually every type of condition to prepare her for big waves at Sunset Beach.
Moore clinched the four-woman final when she completed a free-fall drop down a 15-foot wave face, then managed to maneuver her board back up the wave for a big carve off the top, and score of 7.57 (out of 10). Moore’s two-wave total of 14.24 was enough to win. Other top finishers on this second stop of the prestigious Vans Triple Crown were Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia in second with 13.07, Stephanie Gilmore of Australia in third with 12.17, and Alana Blanchard of Kaua’i was fourth with 11.17.
“It’s such an honor,” Carissa said. “I’m speechless right now. I never thought that I would make the Final in this event. All of the girls were surfing so well and congratulations to Steph (Gilmore) for winning the World Title.” Last year, Moore became the youngest surfer to win a Triple Crown of Surfing event when she won the Hawaiian Pro at Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach. Next year, she will become an official member on the ASP Women’s Tour for her first full season.
Kauai History and Makahiki
Most exchanges and sharing of food, material goods, services, or labor took place within the ‘ohana and operated more as a system of voluntary giving than of barter. This was the basic social unit of the Hawaiian community. The ‘ohana lived in clustered households (kauhale) close to fields and fishing grounds. Groups living nearer the coast would exchange seafoods, salt, gourds, and coconuts for what grew at higher elevations, such as taro, wauke, bananas, olona, medicinal herbs, timber, and thatching materials. Hawaii’s gentle climate meant ancient Hawaiians lived their lives mostly outdoors, pursuing everyday activities in the midst of warm sunshine and gentle breezes. House structures and other buildings were used primarily for storage or as protection against rough weather.
Beginning in late October or early November when the Pleiades constellation was first observed rising above the horizon at sunset, the Makahiki festival marked the end of the yearly farming cycle and continued for four months. Because of the seasonal weather of rough seas, high winds, and heavy rains, activities such as deep-sea fishing were also kapu. Makahiki was a time to pay tribute, a time to cease labors, a time to feast, and enjoy competitive games. Hawaiians gave ritualized thanks for the abundance of the earth and called upon the gods to provide rain and prosperity in the future. They gathered to celebrate with feasts and games like boxing, wrestling, bowling, foot races, marksmanship, guessing games, pageants, chants, and hula dancing. The hula included many chants and dances composed specifically for Makahiki to invoke rain and fertility. Once all the proper rituals and ceremonies were performed, the kapu was lifted on fishing and farming and a basket of food was set adrift on the sea. Normal life resumed and the farming cycle began again.
Orchid Cymbidium Care
Cymbidium (pronounced sym-BID-ee-um) orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or for corsages in the spring. The popularity of miniature Cymbidium is now spreading from the foothills of the Himalayas to the worldwide orchid community. These ancient flowers have been treasured for their fragrance and long leaves for nearly two thousand years.
Cymbidium Light
Coming from cool and bright areas in Asia, they need high light, but cool temperatures. The maximum amount of light possible should be given to the plants. This means only light shade during the middle of the day, or about 20 percent shade. Leaves should be a medium to golden green in color, not dark green.
Cymbidium Temperature
Temperatures are another critical factor in flowering cymbidiums. Optimum temperatures are 75 to 85 F during the summer days and 50 to 60 F during the night to initiate flower spikes. Optimum temperatures in winter are 65 to 75 F during the day and 45 to 55 F at night. High summer temperatures, especially at night, may prevent the plants from blooming.
Cymbidium Water
They need the most water during the spring and summer when they produce their vegetative growth. Water heavily during the growth season, keeping the potting material evenly moist. Reduce water when the pseudobulbs complete growing in late summer. Keep barely moist during the winter.
Cymbidium Humidity
Humidity outdoors is usually sufficient during the summer, except in dry climates, where evaporative cooling in a greenhouse is necessary. Keep humidity at 40 to 60 percent during the winter, especially if plants are in bud. Keep the air moving to prevent fungus from spotting the flowers.
Cymbidium Feeding
Fertilize at the proper time to help cymbidiums flower. During the growth season (spring through late summer), high nitrogen fertilizer is used. In late summer, use a high-phosphorus, blossom-booster fertilizer, to help form bloom spikes. Fertilize at full strength every week to two weeks, and once a month in winter. It’s important to flush with clear water once a month.
Cymbidium Potting
Potting is usually done in the spring after flowering, usually every two years or when the potting medium decomposes. These orchids need moisture at the roots at all times and correspondingly good drainage. Since these plants grow enormous bulbs, a large pot is recommended.
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument encompasses 139,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. This immense size makes it one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world, and larger than all the US national parks combined. Northwest of the main populated islands of Hawai‘i lies this string of tiny islands, atolls, shoals, and reefs spanning 1,200 miles. Hundreds of miles northwest of Kaua‘i, islands and atolls like Nihoa, Necker, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan, Pearl & Hermes, Midway, and Kure comprise the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Thanks to their isolation, the wild coral reefs are among the healthiest and most extensive in the world.
The extensive coral reefs found in Papahānaumokuākea are home to over 7,000 marine species, twenty-five percent of which are found only in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Many of the islands and shallow water environments are important habitats for species once abundant in the main Hawaiian Islands, but rarely found today. Prominent species include the highly endangered Hawaiian monk seal, and uninhabited sandy islets provide the nesting grounds for 90 percent of Hawaii’s threatened green sea turtles. Though land areas are limited, over 14 million seabirds nest here and this is the only home for four endangered land birds – the Laysan Finch, Nihoa Finche, Nihoa Millerbird, and Laysan Duck.
The area was originally proclaimed the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2006 and renamed Papahānaumokuākea in 2007. “Our duty is to use the land and seas wisely, or sometimes not use them at all. Good stewardship of the environment is not just a personal responsibility, it is a public value,” said the President in his proclamation speech. “To put this area in context, this national monument is more than 100 times larger than Yosemite National Park, larger than 46 of our 50 states, and more than seven times larger than all our national marine sanctuaries combined. This is a big deal.”
Globally the NWHI are a natural and cultural treasure of outstanding scientific, conservation, and aesthetic value. The steps taken in preserving these undisturbed environments are gifts we give to our children’s children, and help in sustaining the ocean’s bounty that supports us today.
Here is how to pronounce Papahānaumokuākea.
next – Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Evolution
