Basically Books Past Events 2007

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Past Events 2007

CD signing with Big Island Musical Group Kumanu
Musician Jasmine Crowe Live at Basically Books
UH Warriors Coach June Jones at Basically Books!
Special Gardening Event with Craig Elevitch and Janice Crowl
Author Event with Jean Hee
Author Event with Sally-Jo Bowman
Black and White Night in Downtown Hilo
Author Event with Frances H. Kakugawa
Author Event with Janice Crowl
Author Event with Children's Book Author and Artist Tammy Yee
Petroglyph Press Celebrates 45th Anniversary
Author Event with Kathleen Porter

CD signing with Local Musical Group Kumanu

On December 22nd, Basically Books hosted a CD signing with several members of the Big Island musical group Kumanu. A true melting pot of styles, Kumanu is an eclectic band whose songs range from R & B and Rock to Rap and Hip Hop. Kumanu's latest CD is called Earth Patriot, which is a project of artists and the environment sponsored by Recycle Hawaii and Performing & Fine Artists for World Peace. All proceeds from the CD go to support these non-profit organizations.

Our event with Kumanu was attended by many supporters of Earth Patriot, who got a chance to meet and talk story with these talented and conscientious musicians. The staff at Basically Books also enjoyed hearing about Earth Patriot's exciting projects.

Kumanu's Earth Patriot is available at Basically Books for $17.95. Remember, the sales go to a good cause! To learn more about Kumanu and Earth Patriot, visit www.artistsandpeace.org.
Local Musician Jasmine Crowe Live at Basically Books

On December 22nd, Basically Books was pleased to host Jasmine Crowe, a young and very talented musician from the Big Island. Something of a prodigy at 18 years old, Jasmine's unique blend of classical style and contemporary folk has already earned her a devoted following.

Jasmine first picked up the violin at the age of three. At five it became apparent that Jasmine had a very natural singing ability. By age 14, she was writing her own songs. Besides classical violin, Jasmine plays acoustic and electric guitar, the fiddle, and a little piano.

Our event with Jasmine Crowe was a great success. The store was full of family and fans, and some lucky people who discovered Jasmine's music for the first time. Everyone enjoyed the music, and was impressed by Jasmine's singing and musical abilities. She also entertained her audience with stories about the creation of many of her songs.

Jasmine's debut CD, Just Another Crush, is available at Basically Books. To learn more about Jasmine and her music, you can visit her online at www.jasminemirandacrowe.com.
UH Warriors Coach June Jones At Basically Books!

On Saturday December 15th, 2007, Basically Books was proud to host UH Warrior football coach June Jones! Jones was in Hilo to help celebrate the amazing achievement of the Warriors this season, as well as the release of the new book Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption. J. David Miller's Hawaii Warrior Football, which includes a forward by Jones, has been called the most authoritative and significant book in the history of University of Hawaii football.

Basically Books was packed for this event! Dozens of Warriors fans came out to meet Jones, who has led the Warriors to many victories in the past few years. We even ran out of Hawaii Warrior Football books (a common problem—the first and second printings of the book ran out in three months!) Fortunately, June Jones was willing to sign anything people brought him, including footballs and T-shirts.

June Jones has been coaching the Warriors since 1999. With him at the helm, the Warriors have played in 5 bowl games and lead the country in offence twice. They have groomed 10 All-Americans, 56 all-conference performers, and 16 NFL draft picks, including 5 drafted in 2007. Jones has, in his own words, "done it with mirrors," miraculously assembling one of the most talented, disciplined football teams against insurmountable odds.

Our event with June Jones proved to be an exciting and fun day for all at Basically Books! The feeling of community and pride in our team was high, and everyone was delighted to meet Jones, who has been so instrumental in bringing the Warriors to where they are today. For more information on the event, or on the status of Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption, please email us, or give us a call at 961-0144.
Special Garden Author Event with Craig R. Elevitch and Janice Crowl

On Saturday, December 15th, Basically Books hosted a special Gardening Author Event with Craig R. Elevitch and Janice Crowl. Elevitch is the author of the beautiful new book Pathways to Abundant Gardens: A Pictorial Guide to Successful Organic Growing. We were also pleased to welcome back our friend Janice Crowl, author of Container Gardening in Hawaii: How to Grow Paradise in a Pot.

In Pathways to Abundant Gardens, Elevitch explores many important elements of organic gardening, including soil building, nutritional information for both plants and people, and decreasing dependence on store-bought food. Most of the information in the book is accompanied by beautiful full-color photographs. This is a great book for anyone interested in starting or improving their organic garden.

Since its release, Janice Crowl's Container Gardening in Hawaii has been a big hit in our store, and we are pleased to welcome her back for another author event. This fascinating book explores the rewarding practice of container gardening for all kinds of plants and environments.

We are always happy to have these two friendly, cheerful authors in our store. Even though this event was a bit overshadowed by our signing with June Jones later in the day, Garden enthusiasts who did attend enjoyed meeting the authors, and many people bought the books as a pair.

For more information on Craig R. Elevitch, you can visit his website at www.craigelevitch.com. To learn more about Janice Crowl, you can visit her blog at hawaiigardening.blogspot.com. For more information on either Pathways to Abundant Gardens or Container Gardening in Hawaii please email us, or give us a call at 961-0144.
Author Event with Jean Hee

On December 8th, 2007, Basically Books welcomed local cookbook author Jean Hee to celebrate the release of her new book, Jean Hee's Best of the Best Hawaii Recipes! Jean Hee is the author of many classic Hawaiian cookbooks, including Hawaii's Best Local Dishes, Hawaii's Best Salads, Sides & Soups, Hawaii's Best Pupu & Potluck, Hawaii's Best Local Desserts, and Hawaii's Best Mochi Recipes. In her new book, Hee presents the best of the best, combining recipes from each of these categories into one book. From Portuguese Bean Soup to Mochiko Chicken to Haupia Chocolate Pie, all of your favorite local recipes are included!

Jean Hee was born in Hilo, and raised on a sugar plantation in 'Amauulu Camp 1. She taught elementary school for thirty-four years, including thirteen years as a kindergarten teacher. After her retirement, she began organizing the great local recipes that she had collected over the years into her best-selling cookbooks. Hee currently lives in Kane'ohe with her husband, Don.

Our event at Basically Books was attended by a crowd of fans and cooks. Hee talked to many people about cooking and other subjects, and even found some old friends from the Hilo! We all enjoyed her lively company, and hope to have her back for another event soon!
Author Event with Sally-Jo Bowman, Co-Author of No Footprints in the Sand: A Memoir of Kalaupapa

As part of her visit to the Big Island, author Sally-Jo Bowman stopped by Basically Books for a special author event. Bowman is the co-author of No Footprints in the Sand: A Memoir of Kalaupapa. This important book was written in collaboration with Henry Nalaielua, who was diagnosed with Hansen's disease in 1936 and was taken from his home and family to live a life of exile at the remote settlement of Kalaupapa on Moloka'i. This unforgettable memoir tells how Henry, who came to Kalaupapa as a young boy, managed to build a full and joyous life at the settlement, and shows why he still chooses to live there today.

Our event with Bowman was a friendly "talk-story" time, during which the author shared her experiences working with Uncle Henry. The small crowd that gathered at Basically Books had a great time—as did we!

Sally-Jo Bowman was born in Honolulu, and is a renowned story-teller and author. During her visit to the Big Island, she did several presentations and workshops for students, as well as bookstore appearances.
Black and White Night in Downtown Hilo a Big Hit in 2007

Every year on the first Friday of November, downtown Hilo comes alive with music, dancing, food and events. The streets are full of Hilo residents and visitors dressed in their finest black and white clothing, enjoying the sights and sounds of our special city. This event is Black and White Night, and it is fast becoming a Hilo tradition.

This year marked the 7th annual Black and White Night. As always, Hilo embraced the event. This year, over 70 businesses participated. These businesses stayed open late, joined in the Treasure Hunt, and hosted events, sales, and drawings of their own.

Basically Books was no exception. We put out oreos and other treats, and enjoyed the night! Early in the evening we hosted musician Rob Yamanoha, who entertained everyone with his unique style if island soul (Rob's CD, "Better," is on sale as Basically Books for $17.95—it's a good one!). Later we had musicians on the corner near the store—both Alabaster Saint and Moon's Landing proved to be exciting and entertaining additions to the evening!

As the evening wore on, the crowds kept coming! Hilo was full of celebration until late into the night. It was great to see everyone out in their black and white clothes, enjoying the evening and supporting downtown Hilo. We can't wait until next year!

Black and White Night is sponsored by Alice Moon and Company and P.O.S.H. (People Out Supporting Hilo). To learn more about Black and White Night and other downtown Hilo festivals, visit www.POSHfestivals.com
Author Event with Frances Kakugawa

Friday, October 5th

On Friday, October 5th, Basically Books hosted an Author Event with Frances Kakugawa, author of the popular children's books Wordsworth the Poet and, her latest creation, Wordsworth Dances the Waltz. Ms. Kakugawa welcomed a small group of Wordsworth fans, including a few who discovered her endearing books for the first time!

In Wordsworth Dances the Waltz the Hawaiian mouse Wordsworth is confused and troubled when his beloved Grandma begins to lose her memory. However, Wordsworth learns that even though Grandma has changed, she still loves him and can still enjoy the activities that she used to, such as dancing.

Kakugawa's body of work also includes the adult book Mosaic Moon: Caregiving Through Poetry, a collection of poetry which deals with the difficult issue of Alzheimer's disease. Like Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, the collection is a unique resource for anyone with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Frances Kakugawa is a retired Hawaii educator. Originally from the Big Island. she taught for many years in the Hawaii public school system, as well as serving as a teacher/trainer and curriculum writer/lecturer for the University of Hawaii and the State Department of Education. Through her workshops and speaking engagements, she is a leading advocate of the power of poetry to enrich the lives of children, the elderly, and those who care for them.

The staff at Basically Books greatly enjoyed meeting Ms. Kakugawa, as well as her family and friends. We hope to host her again in the near future!
Author Event with Janice Crowl

Saturday, September 29th

On September 29th, Basically Books hosted an Author Event with local author Janice Crowl, who recently published the book Container Gardening in Hawaii: How to Grow Paradise in a Pot. Janice signed many copies of this exciting new gardening book, and discussed her methods with the small crowd of people who attended. She even brought a beautiful example of a hypertufa container (the creation of this type of container is discussed in detail on pages 33-38 of Container Gardening. Guests enjoyed personal conversations with Janice about this and many other of the containers discussed in her book.

Full of photographs and step-by-step instructions, Container Gardening in Hawaii teaches all kinds of gardeners how to turn almost any space into a tropical oasis. Container gardening can solve many growing problems common in Hawaii, such as soil-borne diseases, bare lava rock, and poor drainage.

Janice Crowl grew up on O'ahu and on the Big Island. She currently resides in Hilo, where she is a freelance writer and master gardener with the Hawaii Island Master Gardeners Association. She holds a certificate in Landscape Horticulture from Merrott Collage in Oakland, California, and a BA in English from UH Manoa. She has taught garden-based curricula to promote literacy, health nutrition, and environmental stewardship through school gardens and community gardens in Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Janice taught us a lot about the exciting possibilities of container gardening! To learn more about Janice Crowl and her work, visit her blog at hawaiigardening.blogspot.com. Check our Upcoming Events Page for more exciting events at Basically Books!
Booksigning with Tammy Yee

Saturday, September 8th, 2007

Tammy Yee, Hawaiiana children's Book author and illustrator, stopped by Basically Books during her visit to Hilo to sign her numerous books and talk story with customers and staff. Hilo is home to many fans of Yee's charming stories and illustrations, and the store was full of the young and young at heart. Even local author Janice Crowl stopped by to visit. Yee, a former Hilo resident, said that she was happy to be back in town, if only for a day.

Tammy Yee grew up in Hilo and Honolulu, Hawaii, where she explored tide pools, swam in streams, and wrote and illustrated spooky stories. After graduating college she worked as a pediatric registered nurse. Having children rekindled her love for picture books, so in 1994 she exchanged her stethoscope for a paintbrush and she's been writing and illustrating ever since.

Tammy's extensive resume of books includes Lullaby Moon, winner of the 2003 Ka Palapala Po'okela Award for Excellence in Children's Books; Baby Honu's Increadible Journey, an island classic which has sold over 70,000 copies; A is for Aloha, which was selected by "Hawaii Center for the Book" to represent the state at the 2006 National Book Festival; and, of course, her latest book The Tsunami Quilt.

In addition, Tammy has given numerous presentations in schools and libraries across Hawaii. Tammy lives in Windward Oahu with her family, three birds, two upside-down jellyfish, and a guinea pig.

To learn more about Tammy Yee, visit her website at www.tammyyee.com. Check our Upcoming Events Page for more exciting events at Basically Books!
Fun Had By All at Petroglyph Press' 45th Anniversary Celebration

Sunday September 2, 2007

September 2nd marked the 45th Anniversary of Petroglyph Press, which has been printing, copying, and publishing in Hilo since 1962! To celebrate this landmark event for our parent company, Basically Books hosted a spectacular party, which included refreshments, music by local musician Joe Marquand, and a prize drawing. The afternoon began with speech by Christine Reed, one of the owners of Petroglyph Press, and a traditional Hawaiian blessing presented by Hollis Kiwalao Taylor. When these special presentations had been concluded, the doors opened and the party began!

Guests enjoyed a beautiful anniversary cake specially prepared by Petroglyph Press employee Krisy McKown, as well as other snacks. Petroglyph Press held a drawing for 45 prizes, including a brand new globe! Guests included Mr. and Mrs. Lau, astronomy professor and author Richard Crowe, and even the Travelocity Gnome!

Petroglyph Press has a long and interesting history—a history well worth celebrating! The original owners of the Press, the late Stephen and Frances Reed, arrived on the Big Island in 1958. Through Frances' work as Librarian at Hilo Public Library, the Reeds became aware of the demand for Hawaiian books that had gone out of print. Sparked by their desire to resurrect these valuable and popular books, they decided to enter the publishing business. As part of their interest in Hawaii, they also studied with fascination the abundance of petroglyphs on the Big Island of Hawaii. They decided to name their new company Petroglyph Press, in honor of this ancient Hawaiian form of graphic communication. And so, in September of 1962, Petroglyph Press was born.

Today, Petroglyph Press remains the only publisher in the state of Hawaii that can claim its products are entirely "made in Hawaii." From design and composition through binding and distribution, Petroglyph Press creates books about Hawaii in its downtown Hilo facility. Petroglyph Press also remains a family business—in 1974 Stephen and Frances' son, David, assumed management of the business. David's wife Christine became his business partner in 1976 when they were married.

David and Christine have grown the Press into a multi-faceted operation at 160 Kamehameha Avenue in downtown Hilo. Their firm includes Basically Books, which offers Hawaiiana books, maps, and gifts. Petroglyph Press is still going strong, with 15 books in print as well as copy, fax, and printing services available at its location in the back of Basically Books.

Stop by Petroglyph Press, located inside Basically Books at 160 Kamehameha Avenue in downtown Hilo, or visit www.petroglyphpress.com to learn more about Petroglyph Press. Check our Upcoming Events Page for more exciting events at Basically Books!
Author Event with Kathleen Porter a Great Success!

Friday August 3, 2007

On August 3rd, Basically Books hosted and exciting and informative Author Event with Kathleen Porter, author of the revolutionary new book, Ageless Spine, Lasting Health: The Open Secret to Pain-free Living and Comfortable Aging. In addition to signing her book, Kathleen gave a special talk and demonstration on natural body alignment.

Kathleen, a longtime yoga teacher, once suffered from chronic back pain and tension, as millions of Americans do today. She relied on repetitive stretching to provide relief for her aches and pains. It wasn’t until Kathleen realized that postural misalignment was the root of her pain and tension that she began to find lasting relief. Since then, she has helped hundreds of others discover how to align their bones while sitting, standing, bending, walking, lifting, carrying—even sleeping— to relieve their pain and discomfort.

In collecting research for Ageless Spine, Lasting Health, Kathleen traveled to the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Portugal to examine how many people in these cultures inhabit their bodies in truly natural ways. With hundreds of stunning photographs and clear instructions, Kathleen provides readers with tools for how to stand, sit, and move in a natural and comfortable way, staying true to the natural design of the body. Many of the photographs in the book were taken during her travels.

At our event, Kathleen gave an informative 15-minute talk on her findings. Her animated presentation style and willingness to answer the questions provided a fun and memorable night for all.

To learn more about Kathleen Porter and her work, you can visit her at http://naturalalignment.com. Check our Upcoming Events Page for more exciting events at Basically Books!