Introduce yourself

[volcano_roc]

Aloha Kakou! Ooops I have been “lurking” on punaweb too long…..since first hearing about this forum many years ago. So thought to start with the introduction and who knows where it goes? I am born and raised in Hawaii (Queens Hospital Room 206, Nov.1957). Lived on Oahu most of my life (Dad was in the service and he had several contracts serving in CA, FL, Guam and Samoa) until moving to Kauai for 4 years in the 80’s, then 14 years on Maui til 2002, and Puna ever since. Bought a fixer-upper that borders the big Kahaualea forest in Volcano in 2002 and began to sculpt my Eden with all my favorite plants: natives, bromeliads, bamboo, ti, dracaena and about any other non-invasives that will grow in the wet and cold of upcountry. My school background was at Punahou and UH Manoa (degree in Biology and Real Estate Appraisal and Marketing). I have worked as an Air Traffic Controller on Kauai and Maui, a schoolteacher on Maui (mathematics and volleyball coach), Eco-tourguide (specialties are Hawaiian ethnobotany and Marine Biology), a Rock n’ Roll DJ on Oahu and Maui (yes I was the Pirate of the Earwaves on KAOI-FM in the early 90’s), and many years RE sales/brokerage on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and now Hawaii island. I love God and my wife and son, getting wet (snorkel, SCUBA, windsurfing, kayaking, swimming), hiking (the longer the better), caving (Puna is the No. 2 place in the world for caving behind Kentucky), gardening and propagating flora, painting and sketching, reading and writing, and enjoying a simple life. Currently I volunteer as a MasterGardener at UHH helping the public with their ag questions, and as a rain-forest guide on the free Monday morning walks at Volcano Art Center. Mahalo punaweb-ites for all your input. It has been great reading about all what’s happening in our community over the years; thanks to all the contributors and moderators. Anyone looking for a buddy to go on long, strenuous, sweaty hikes to places few else ever goes, or spelunking the many caves of Puna and Ka’u (I know where the caves are!) please let me know and contact me at: jjonhawaii AT yahoo dot com ...or... Eight Oh Eight 985-9030
Aloha pumehana me ke Aloha! JJ