We’re enjoying the sounds of Thievery Corporation’s on their latest release, Radio Retaliation. We’ve been fans for a decade now, and the disc is a real standout. It’s one of the rare instances—at least, as we far back as we can remember—where downtempo chill has managed to successfully take on political commentary (just take a listen to “The Numbers Game” or “33^rd Degree”). But our favorite track is perhaps the least political (instrumentals aside, of course). “Sweet Tides”, with vocals courtesy of Loulou, is one of those songs that make for a perfect dreamy interlude, a little cinematic moment for us to lose ourselves. We  like to think of it as an updated companion piece for Mazzy Star’s “Fade into You”. Interestingly enough, the videos are similar with their roadtrip theme, despite being made over a decade apart. ( Compare the two for yourself below.) Both songs are already on our summer playlist for drives down to Keawa‘ula or around Makapu‘u.

Thievery Corporation with Loulou – “Sweet Tides”

(The oversized sunglasses and the dreamcatcher hanging in the car are great touches.)

Mazzy Star – “Fade into You”

(Notice similar theme of solitary woman in an arid landscape, vintage car on a deserted highway and big glasses.)

Thievery Corporation’s “Sweet Tides”  from Radio Retaliation is available on iTunes.

Kauwela, the Hawaiian summer, has been ablaze for some weeks now, and I find myself fleeing from the midday heat. Of course, nothing beats the heat like a cool cocktail. One of my favorite spiked remedies, the caipirnha, is from Brazil, where it is widely considered the national drink.What’s great is that ingredients are few, and it’s even relatively easy to make with the right tools (you’ll need a pestle). The prime ingredient is cachaça, a kind of Brazilian run made from sugar. Unlike more standard light rums, cachaça seems liveler, bright, and invigorating. While it’s not a standard item at most places on O‘ahu, two brands are available at Tamura’s-my favorite imporium-on Wai‘alae Avenue in Kaimukī. And I’ve even spotted it at Longs’. Two brands I’ve seen in the islands (and subsequently enjoyed) are Leblon and Agua Luca.

After completing your cachaça run, you’ll need to pick up some limes, preferrably organic as the fruit will be goint directly into your glass. Whole Foods in Kāhala or my favorite, Kokua Market in Mō‘ili‘ili, tend to have great organic limes in stock. Besides that, the other two ingredients are standard items – sugar and crushed ice.

But don’t forget to pick up a pestle-a small wooden baton used to crush spices in mortar. My own personal psetle is a Japanese shiribachi I picked up at the Executive Chef down at Ward Warehouse. But as this is Hawai‘i, a pestle of any national origin will due. Of course, a pestle isn’t absolutely necessary. An acquaitance of mine, actually from Brazil and quite familiar with caiprinhas, personally suggested a  bunch of chopsticks held together by a rubber band if you’re ever out of a pestle, so feel free to get creative and pound out your frustrations.

Of course, if hunting down foreign liquor and smashing limes sounds like too much work, rest assured you can let Honolulu’s bar staff do the hard work for you. I suggest heading down to Soul de Cuba , across from the Hawai‘i Theatre, or trying the Caipirinha de Uva at Town in Kaimukī.

RECIPE

Ingredients

• 1 shot cachaça
• 1-2 tsp sugar
• 1 organic lime – sliced into small sections

Wash limes thoroughly, dry, and slice into small sections. (I slice into eights personally.) Add lime and sugar to a highball glass and crush with pestle (or chopstick assemblage, etc.) to release the lime juice. Add crushed ice. Finally add  cachaça. As the drink sits in the heat, the ice will gracefully melt.

WHERE TO STOCK UP

Kāhala -  Whole Foods, 4211 Wai‘alae Avenue,  Honolulu, HI 96816, 808 738 0820

Kaimukī – Tamura’s Fine Wines and Liquours, 3496 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI, 808 735 7100 -

Kaka‘ako – Executive Chef, Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd # 1560, Honolulu, HI 96814, 808 596 2433

Mō‘ili‘ili -  Kōkua Market, 2643 S. King St ,Honolulu, HI 96826, 808 941 1922

THE EASY ROUTE (For those who prefer to avoid the labor)

Downtown – Soul de Cuba, Bethel Street,1121 Bethel St, Honolulu, HI 96813, 808 545 2822

Kaimukī – Town, Wai’alae Avenue,3435 Waialae Avenue #103, Honolulu, HI 96813, 808 735 5900

[Images by Simeon - stock.xchng]

Many in Hawai‘i are already familiar with makahiki, the period of time that lasts from roughly late October to the end of April. In pre-contact times, makahiki was a time of peace and tranquility, filled with festivities dedicated to the god Lono. But many are not entirely familiar with the other traditional Hawaiian season, kauwela-the word that also corresponds to the Western summer.

A few weeks ago, I attended a ceremony to mark the traditional beginning of Hawaiian summer, kauwela. Directed by the students of the late kumu hula John Lake (his hālau and Nā Wa‘a Lālani Kāhuna o Pu‘u Koholā), the ceremony took place right next to the Waikīkī Aquarium, which was the site of the astronomical heiau Kūpalaha.  Here, kāhuna (priests or cultural experts) watched for the setting at the southern end of the Wai‘anae mountains,over Pu‘u Pāla‘ila‘i and Pu‘uokapolei, the sign that summer had begun. After a series of hula and oli, the ceremony closed with a final chant in timing with the setting of the sun .

According to Sam ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa Gon III, who led the ceremony, kauwela is the season of Kū, widely known as the god of war. Kū, however, was more multi-faceted and epresented several other functions necessary in life.  While warfare did take place during kauwela, the season was also time for governance, taking action, making critical decisions. Interestingly enough, after a cool, rainy, and often cloudy April, in my observations, the season of Kū started off with a remarkable flash of heat. For the first few days after the ceremony, I noticed the sun set a stunning blood red.

For any of us who live on the leeward side of the islands of Hawai‘i, we are particularly know how hot and uncomfortable kauwela can be. Though it may not compare to the steaming East Coast summers I used to endure – steaming asphalt in the day, 86 degrees at 10 o’clock at night – I can feel the distinct personality of kauwela and the presence of Kū . While I’m accustomed to the Western idea of summer–a time to relax and, metaphorically, check out–I’m coming to appreciate the idea of taking things head on in the midst of the blaze of heat.