Local music school Kunzwanana School of Music and their performing group known simply as Kunzwanana, is teaching keiki and adults the joy of music through its unique instruments and stylings with roots in Africa and other places where the music has influenced the world. 

They craft their own marimbas from finely honed wood that's meticulously shaped and carved to emit notes as happens when striking a xylophone.  The PVC resonator pipes hanging below deepen and give the tones a rich sound.

It brings a huge smile to my face, and you'll see that it also brings joy to the many people who encounter them.  Both times I've run into them have been at Maku'u Farmers Association's Sunday farmers market.  But they frequently perform around the Big Island, including places like Kukuau Studio and other festivals.

The music makes you want to get up and dance (unless you're holding a video camera -- but maybe I was just tapping my toes a little!) . The group's colorful costumes and obvious joy at making music together for the public are engaging to young and old.  Lucky you if you happen upon them.  Better yet, look for their schedule appearances posted on their Facebook page.

Kunzwanana School of Music

After driving 2.5 hours up to the north end of the island recently, to show a home up in Hawi, Jason and I made a swing back by Costco before heading home to East Hawaii. 

The home, by the way, has a spectacular view of Maui’s north shore across the channel, only taking up a portion of an otherwise blue ocean vista.  It sits on almost 3.5 acres, has a nice pool, and the home itself uses many recycled, beautiful and rustic woods from nearby century-old water tanks, and even barn siding from the mainland.  The eclectic combination of various woods is truly gorgeous.  If you remember fondly the home in the original Parent Trap movie, in the California foothills, you’d feel at home at this place.  Let us know if you’d like more information about it.

But, back to Orange Peanut Butter.  What the heck?

I enjoy a couple of dietary supplements for their purported healthy effects.  Whether they actually are effective or not – well, maybe it’s like wishcraft, or the placebo effect, but I think I’m better for them.

One of those is turmeric, or Curcuma domestica.  It’s purported to be a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory.  Good for reducing the body’s response to certain conditions.  That orange powder, ground from the root of the plant of the same name and having many other medicinal uses. 

I had a guy inject himself into a conversation I was having recently, having overheard me pronounce it TOO-mer-ick.  Imagine learning after all these years that it’s TUR-mer-ick, and how offensive I’ve been to people it mattered to.  I could tell the fellow felt righteously vindicated when I admitted the spelling suggested he was correct.  Good job!

It is grown here in Hawaii, but not on a mass scale.  Believed to be brought with the earliest Polynesian explorers as they navigated the ocean to Hawaii, ‘olena is the Hawaiian name for turmeric. A pretty plant, that doesn’t often bloom.
But, back to Orange Peanut Butter, right?

Because it can be a bit of a, uh, caustic(?) flavor on its own, one that is most often used in Indian food as part of a blend of other spices, turmeric as a supplement typically comes in a capsule form so you can swallow it without gagging on its pure form.  Costco, always leading the trend, has supplied me my TUR-mer-ick supplements this way, but I discovered they now carry it in a full tub of loose powder.  But, how to get past the flavor if I’m not cooking up an Indian feast on a daily basis?

Peanut Butter.  Finally, we’re there.

Yup, I was just as surprised as you.  I figured I needed something I could consume almost daily, with it’s own potent flavor that wouldn’t be overpowered by turmeric.  So, here’s my recipe I call Golden Peanut Butter (because other health foodies clued me into Golden Tea and Coffee, using the powder):

Golden Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons of peanut butter (smooth, or chunky)
2 teaspoons of honey
1 Tablespoon of turmeric powder

Place the ingredients into a small mixing or cereal bowl.  Combine with a fork till well blended.  Spread it over toast, toasted bagels, or toaster waffles.  Top with sliced bananas.  That’s. It.  I liked it!  I think you might too.

Adjust the flavors as you see fit.  And, then tell me what you think.  Offer your own suggestions for how to use turmeric powder without cooking (hint: Smoothies? Teas? Or, rice if you don’t mind light cooking?) 

​Looking forward to your ideas.