Thru Jim's Eyes 
I recently was recounting my introduction to Hawaiian coffee and I felt compelled to share it. I was truly excited when I got invited on an exclusive tour of White Mountain Coffee Company’s farm. Why was I so excited? Since I first began to have big dreams I said, “In my life I will own a coffee plantation and a vineyard.” Today, I become 1 step closer to my dream of owning a coffee plantation.
Let’s start this story with a little background. When we first moved to Waimea on the Big Island, we found ourselves one Saturday at the Parker School Farmers Market. As we walked into the market a man in the first tent on the right said “Would you like some free coffee?” Now I’m not cheap, but he had just used 2 of my favorite words in the same sentence: coffee and free.
We tried the Javaloha label coffee by White Mountain Coffee Co. We tried the medium and the dark roast. The medium I was impressed with. The dark roast blew me away. I have had some great coffees over the years: Kenyan, Jamaican, Kona, and the list goes on. I even had a friend in Guatemala who took over his dads farm, converted it to coffee, grew everything all natural and off the grid (solar powered, catchment water, hand processed). That had been the best cup of coffee I had ever had. Anytime he was in town I would purchase a couple pounds. Over the ensuing months I would enjoy a French press every few days of something which truly tantalized my taste palette. Hmmmmmmm.
I enjoyed the coffee so much that I eventually had to ween myself off, because my body was becoming too acidic. So when I tell you I enjoy coffee I have to impress upon you, I truly enjoy good coffee. Never will you see me jonesing for coffee. It has little to do with the caffeine. I’m all about the dark robust flavor. It’s the same reason I enjoy a robust dark beer like Moysons Irish Red Ale or ice cream with extra chocolate sauce. I enjoy the light Kenyan brewed coffees on occasion. But my leaning is towards a darker roast and bolder flavor with a touch of organic raw sugar. I like my coffee like I like my wife, hot, sweet, and dark. My little Persian Princess.
When I met this Javaloha label coffee I was impressed. When I heard the story about how the coffee is grown and processed, off the grid and by hand, my impression deepened. Then John told me how the coffee cherries, the name for the coffee bean in its husk, are hand picked by a Micronesian church and they take their proceeds and share them with the less fortunate throughout the South Pacific. Then my cynicism met my hope that there is still a place in the world and people in this world who understand how to “do it right.” It sounded like a Starbucks commercial. I was waiting for the salesman to come out and try to sell me 100 pounds of coffee at $75/pound…. But, it didn’t happen. I asked John what I owed him for the coffee. He simply said it was aloha, a gift of love, no cost. “WHAT?!?!?” Could this be real? Am I still alive? Pinch me. You are actually giving away cups of the best coffee I have ever had? Well obviously you are limiting them to 1 cup, right? No, do you want some more? This was how I became introduced to Javaloha label coffee by White Mountain Coffee Co.
More of this story to come…
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
I saw the bumper sticker yesterday, “If you could ask one question of God, what would it be?” My question would be “Why?” Why do I have such trouble reprogramming my mind around childhood issues? Why do I have to work so hard for something I desire so much? Why do I love so much? Why do I hurt so much? I try to do everything right and yet it still feels like some of the same issues keep coming up. You want to piss me off, tell me I can’t do something. I have rebelled, almost as long as I can remember, against constraints or limitations placed upon me. My attitude when I saw a “Don’t Walk” sign was to cross the street immediately. That or I would skip or dance across the street so I could say, “Look, I’m not walking. I did what you said.” (Quite juvenile. I know.)
Going through major change can be scary. Emotional insecurities about what one’s abilities and talents are can be challenging and bring up our greatest fears. Since my teenage years my saying was, “Do what you fear most. Stare into the eyes of the dragon.” That belief took me down some interesting and sometimes very dark alleys. Now I look for the light in all things and people. Usually I find it. But when I am not feeling light it is easier to find the darkness in the world. Thus I come back to the question, “Why?”
Why do I have to go through this pain of learning something new? Why do I have to drive the speed limit? Why can’t I have it all now? The answer is you don’t have to. You don’t have to go through the pain of learning anything. You don’t have to drive the speed limit. You can have it all. The answer is predicated upon 2 facts: 1) You asked for more out of life; 2) You do have to do the work to get that which you have asked for.
You don’t have to go through the pain of learning something new… unless you actually what to live your dreams. You can be homeless and live on the streets. You can also live in a mansion on your own private island. The studies show the smartest people are also the wealthiest people. So learning something new is usually required to live your dreams.
You don’t have to drive the speed limit… unless you actually want to live your dreams. You can speed to your hearts content. This might conflict with the rule of law in the area you live and you might find yourself in jail with your car impounded and your license revoked. You can also find an area where you can drive as fast as you desire. There are race tracks throughout the world and racing clubs as well. Then there is always the autobahn in Germany.
Finally, you can have it all. “Now” is another subject. What I have learned is it takes 2-5 years to master almost anything. Relative to a lifespan 2-5 years is a blink of the eye. Depending on how long you live you will have 16-40 of these 2-5 year blocks in your life. So look at the past 2-5 years of your life. What were your goals 2-5 years ago? What have you accomplished towards your goals in that time? What have you learned towards your goals that is new in that time? How much closer are you closer to “Having it all now?” If you are closer, then kudos. Reward yourself today. Reward yourself for making a plan to better yourself and your position in life and taking action. If you desire to “have it all” and you are not any closer than you were 2-5 years ago… make a plan now!!! Use the SMART goals as a basic format. You can find SMART goals online with simple search. Take the next 2-5 years and start achieving your dreams.
I know the question asked at the beginning, why, was the question of a child. I also know that we are all just little kids in big bodies. Thus the question may come up again throughout my life when I truly redefine my dreams and choose to achieve them, committing myself at a deeper level than I had before. Through this journey we call life I have learned that the question is not, “Why do I have to progress with my life?” as much as “How do we measure progress?” When you do this little exercise of, “Where were you 2-5 years ago?” and compare with where you are at today, you may not be where you want to be, but if you have been taking action steps then you have been progressing. And that, my friend, is the key to happiness. Make progress towards achieving your dreams and “the why” no longer matters.
Aloha from the beautiful Island of Hawai’i,
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
I love to see my iPad display read no service. As cell phones first came into existence we had to deal with the first generation of “mobile” phones. The term cellular was not used at the time. In the early days of mobile phones you had to carry the equivalent of a boom box or ghetto blaster on your shoulder. They were 2 pieces, you had the hand set which was attached to the base phone via a cord. This electrical cord transferred electricity and information to the handset… and they were heavy. About the only time you saw them was in a high-end luxury car or on the job site being used by the foreman, to guarantee the construction of a building would be completed on schedule.
The next generation were all in one phone. Still huge. Still heavy. Grandma couldn’t even lift one. Eventually we got to the smaller size of today’s phones. Throughout this time there was always the challenge of receiving adequate service. With a poor connection or low signal came the jokes, “Can you hear me now?” If you were on an important business call, a dropped call or garbled communication could be frustrating at best and disastrous at worst. No one wants to lose business because of poor communication.
Eventually the signal became so strong and widespread that we couldn’t get away from the phones. People are talking on them during a presentation, movie, dinner out, everywhere. We still hear the occasional, “Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?” This is usually said at a volume loud enough to wake the dead.
This fact of a strong signal came full circle for me when I started to realize, a few years back that there is no place I could go where I couldn’t get away from my cell phone. Everywhere had service. We drove last year from Las Vegas, Nevada to Wolf Creek, Utah and had an uninterrupted signal the entire drive. (Except driving passed Area 51, which didn’t officially exist until recently, so that doesn’t count).
I remember years ago driving over the Sierra Nevada Mountain range from the east side to Yosemite Valley. On that drive I witnessed and experienced what has become one of the highlights of my life. I looked down to my phone and read the most beautiful words “No Service.” It felt good to know that there were still places within the United States where one could escape the rat race and unplug from society. Now that we are living in Hawaii we see those words more often. They used to be annoying. Now they are the sweet lullaby of a peaceful, uninterrupted day… or maybe even longer.
So my challenge to you, as you read this, is this: Go forth and find a space in your world where you can see those blessed words “No Service.” Be not afraid as you venture there. It may be an unfamiliar space, but it is a safe space. It is between the breathes that we find ourselves.
Aloha from the beautiful Island of Hawai’i,
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
We have heard so many great things about Lemongrass Express Restaurant in the Queens Shops’ food court since they first opened. Right across from Ippy’s Hawaiian Barbecue, one of our favorites in Waikoloa Beach area of the Island of Hawai’i. The “Express” is because it is a scaled down version of the Lemongrass Bistro in Kona about 40 minutes to the south of Waikoloa Beach.
To optimize our experience we each ordered 2 half orders. Most finer restaurants will do half orders. I ordered the Braised Oxtail with kimchee rice and the Pad Thai noodles with tofu. Leise ordered the Orange Chicken and Basil Eggplant Sauté.
Braised Oxtail
The oxtail itself had great flavor. The kimchee fried rice was wonderfully flavorful. The onions and other fresh veggies were cooked truly to perfection with just the right crispiness so you taste the moistness in your mouth as the vegetable snaps with each bite. Peanuts, Lima beans, carrots, bamboo shoots which were sweet and sour flavor and divine.
Pad Thai tofu
Noodles cooked to perfection
How do I describe that which is beyond description. Fresh, so many new and interesting flavors which my palette and brain can’t discern. Green onion. Eggs cabbage.
Orange Chicken
Light orange flavor which dances on your tongue.
Pineapple, pepper, onion, kiffar lime. This was by far the best orange chicken either of us has EVER had. Light and tender chicken… Wow!
Basil Eggplant Sauté
Japanese eggplant, broccolini, sweet onion, carrot and tofu cooked to perfection.
All dishes had a nice level of spice and they can make it as hot as you would like.
Leise loved the Thai Iced Tea and I thought the Lemongrass Iced Tea was wonderfully refreshing.
As I relax in a food-coma listening to the sounds of the hula dancers and the accompanying song and drums my mind is still spinning from the amazingly complexity of flavors from all the dishes. I know we will be back. I know this place gets high marks.
On a 1-5 rating with 5 being the best: Food quality receives a 5 surfboards with flavor a 4, ambience receives 4 surfboards (it was small, but cute). Service was a 4 surfboards. For overall I rate it 4.25 surfboards.
Aloha, James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
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I stare at the blank screen. The blank screen which represents so many future journal writings and blog entries. The countless stories representing so many peoples lives and experiences. My writings will capture some of those experiences. More importantly, they are written with the hopes of wetting your appetite for your own travels, your own experiences. Whether you dream of Paris in springtime, riding the night train to Katmandu, taking a slow boat to China, or attending the Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, Mexico this blog is for you.
My intention is to share some of our experiences with the people and places which have touched our lives through “Jim’s Year In… Hawaii.”
Aloha, James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
Thru Jim's Eyes 
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