Kauai Podcast

Lucky We Live Hawaii Podcasters, Bruce Fisher and Wayde Fishman

Today I am really happy to bring you an interview with the two hosts of the Lucky We Live Hawaii podcast, Bruce Fisher and Wayde Fishman. If you haven’t listened to their show before, you really should. Their show is really different from most things you see pertaining to Hawaii, because they not only talk about the good things that we see in every travel brochure, but they also talk about current events and the challenges and the reality of daily living in Hawaii. Both are locals who have lived in Hawaii for 20 plus years, and they bring that experience to their shows.

If you have listened to their show before, today you’re going to get a chance to learn a little about each of them in a more in-depth and personal manner through two separate interviews. With Wayde, we are going to hear about his moving to the islands, how living in Hawaii has changed him, challenges facing Hawaii and what he is doing to help, and a unique tour company that he started which I think is an amazing idea. With Bruce, we are going to hear about his background in radio as a newcomer to Oahu, Hurricane Iniki, how he got into the travel business, what it’s like to own a travel business, and what people should know when booking their vacations.

As discussed in the show, I have included the following links:
Wayde’s Website and Jeep Tours
808 Cleanups
The Price for Paradise – Episode 1
Hawaii Aloha Travel
Lucky We Live Hawaii Podcast Website

Taylor Camp DVD

Taylor Camp, with John Wehrheim

I’m really excited about today’s show, and I think you are going to really enjoy it! Today we are going to talk about Taylor Camp, a “hippie” community which existed on the north shore of Kauai from 1969-1977. It began as a “safe haven” when Howard Taylor (brother of actress “Elizabeth Taylor”) bailed out 13 people jailed for vagrancy and offered to let them stay on his land at Haena. It quickly became a mecca for surfers, hippies, Vietnam vets, artists, and those looking for a different way of life. Taylor Camp really reflected the movement of the 70’s perfectly. It was a clothing optional (but many times not), drug friendly, commune of acceptance and love, an ordered community without rules, and it represented a non-materialistic way of life. It was a true microcosm of people and personalities from all over, bonded by their love of nature, Kauai, and living freely, and it seemed to provide spiritual healing for all of them in one way or another.

A couple years back I picked it up the video, “Taylor Camp”, eagerly watched it, and loved it. I thought it was a very well made documentary, an amazing mix of both incredible pictures of Taylor Camp and its residents in its day, and interviews with camp residents, Kauai locals, and the government officials who wanted them out, thirty years later. It totally drew me in, and because of that documentary, doing a show on Taylor Camp has always been a priority on my list of show subjects.

A couple months back I decided to reach out and contact my “dream interview” for this show, and I called John Wehrheim, the Emmy Award winning producer of the movie “Taylor Camp”. We talked for a bit, and after a short conversation he agreed to come on the show and discuss Taylor Camp with us. He’s not only a great guy, but I don’t think there could be a more perfect person for this show. I’m really excited to have him on and I think you are just going to love this interview.

As discussed in the show I have included the following links:
Website for Taylor Camp
John’s Website encompassing both Taylor Camp and Bhutan projects
Taylor Camp Book
Taylor Camp

The Coco Palms Lagoon

The Coco Palms Hotel, with David Penhallow

If you were to see The Coco Palms Hotel today, you would see tattered buildings and overgrown landscaping. You would sense the broken memories of a place that was once amazing. ... and still it would call to you. Coco Palms was once the premier hotel in all the Hawaiian Islands, and for good reason. Even today, 20 years after being destroyed in Hurricane Iniki, Coco Palms still gives off a magic unlike any other resort.

Today we are going to talk with David Penhallow, author of the book The Story of the Coco Palms Hotel. This great interview will take you back to 1950s Kauai, and Coco Palms in all it’s glory. I am so excited about this show on many levels. I think everyone, whether or not they have seen or even heard of Coco Palms before, should hear its story, and I don’t think there is anyone better suited to tell you the story than David. The story of Coco Palms is not just a story of Kauai History, it’s a story of living and loving life, it’s a story of “spreading aloha”, it’s a story of kindness to others, it’s a story of romance, and it could also be a story told in business schools.

As mentioned in the show, I have included the following links:
The Story of the Coco Palms Hotel: The Grace Buscher Guslander Years 1953-1985Video: The Ghosts of Coco Palms

Resting off Kalalau Beach

Kayaking Kauai’s Na Pali Coast

The Na Pali coast of Kauai consists of 17 miles of gorgeous coastline along the northwest portion of Kauai. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world with 4000 ft cliffs plunging straight into the ocean. All along, it is lined with waterfalls and riddled with secluded beaches, and sea caves. Kayaking the coast is the adventure of a lifetime, and was listed by National Geographic as the number two adventure in America. Today we are going to talk to Adrian Nicholas, an amazing dude, living the life with an incredible job as an adventure guide on Kauai, taking people on kayak trips down the Na Pali coastline. In this incredible interview, we discuss all aspects undertaking and completing of this awesome journey.

As discussed in this episode, I have included several links:
Na Pali Kayak is an incredible company, who I went with on my trip down the coast, and who Adrian works for. They have a great website with a ton of information on their journeys.

Our Na Pali journey was partially recorded by Leo, one of the members on our trip. He sent a video to us afterward with some great clips of the beginning of the coast and the first two sea caves.

Adrian was working with Elements Production, which did many shows including fire dancing. I found a performance show combining belly dance and fire dancing, that is definitely worth watching.

Today we are going to give a quick update on what’s been going on in my life since the last episode and talk about why this is very likely going to be the last episode of Kauai Podcast. Then we are going to bring on Wayde Fishman to talk about his “Living the Aloha Life” podcast, the current state of Hawaii, many other things regarding the islands, and setting up an “off grid” community on Big Island.

As discussed in the show:
Wayde’s “Living the Aloha Life” podcast
My “Exploring Tampa Florida and Beyond” podcast