Hawaii Preppers Network

Be Ready Hawaii Emergency Preparedness Store

2012-02-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Be Ready Hawaii

Unbelieveable! For the first time in history Hawaii gets it's very own emergency preparedness store. By now you'd think Hawaii would have done something like this a long time ago, but nope that's how slow the state of Hawaii is. All the while residents would have to rely on what's out here in what ever stores we have on any given day such as Costco's, Sam's, and every other store that just may happen to carry emergency preparedness items which is more like slim to none. If anyone would want a host of preparedness items it would have to be ordered and shipped over at the price of an arm and a leg and your first born. Or a lot of disaster preapredness companies just don't ship to Hawaii period.
Keep in mind, that this is the ONLY disaster preparedness store in town. I have not visited it yet but eventually I'll go and check it out.
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Prepare The Immune System

2012-01-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

This is the first day of the new year that I have had to call in sick to work. I was hoping that I would last at least a few months into the year before getting sick but oh well. With people coughing, sneezing and hacking in your face just about every where you go it's a good thing to build on that immune system of yours. I started feeling the "sicky" symptoms come on from the second half of my shift at work the other day, then by the time I got off I started getting chills, headache, and body aches. All I wanted was to get better ASAP because I knew I would have to call in to work sick. As I drove home I progressively got worse. So I remedied myself to some major herbal super atioxidant free radical reducing green tea, honey, mega doses of clementines, a naturopathic flu medicine, some very watery miso soup, showered, bundled up, had more tea and went to bed SUPER early. I majorly sweated my sickness out throughout the night, suffice to say I am feeling WAY better than what I have felt the night before. Most of my symptoms have diminished surprisingly to my astonishment.

With flu season happening just about any time these days it is imperative to keep the immune system working and protecting you in top form. As preppers you not only need to prepare in the food storage arena but also in your health arena. I would not want to be sick or stricken by some debilitating virus in times of emergency, that would be just horrible and a nightmare if you ask me because it would hamper your efforts in preparing and doing the things that need to be done in an instants notice. And what if you will not be able to access a doctor or hospital? It's going to be all up to you to nurse yourself back to good health, something to really think hard and seriously about I know I have. So make sure you have fully stocked and supplied yourselves medically with much needed first aid supplies, medicines, antibiotics, herbs, teas, spices that can also be used as remedies for sickness.

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Prepping in Paradise

2012-01-14T06:41:00.001-08:00

by BigIslandPrepper

If you are new to prepping in Hawaii (Paradise) you are in for some different issues than they face on the mainland. Southern warm and humid states have similar problems but we are unique. Our warm Islands are warm and humid 365 days a year.

We are also unique in that we have almost all the same disaster scenarios that they have on the mainland, except cold blizzard conditions. We have, high winds, hurricanes, and tornados. Then we also have tsunamis, volcanoes, lava flows, and lots of earthquakes.

A lot, one would think to prepare for. However, prepping is the same for one and all of our potential disasters.

I will be covering a new topic every week and waiting for responses before moving on. We will start with location, shelters, and mobility. Then move on to food, food storage, meal preparation, power, lighting, cooking, water storage and quality. Finally we will cover health, medical, nutrition, sanitation, and personal safety.

What Will 2012 The Year of The Dragon Bring Us?

2011-12-28T01:54:00.000-08:00

Yes indeed, this year is fastly coming to an end filled with natural and man made disasters of all types, sizes, and shapes. Who could ever forget about Japan's tsunami of March 11th 2011 and following that a nuclear fallout from Japan's nuclear plants that were damaged from the earthquake. Japan had the 1-2-3 punch fully loaded disaster. Egypt uprising protests revolutions around the globe started to take flight and burn like never ending wildfires across the globe into other countries. The death of North Korea's leader Kim Jong II leaves a lot of questions out there regarding the next leadership in command his son. Yet famine still flourishes in North Korea. The end of Gadhafi and Osama Bin Laden? Seems as though this guy supposedly died several times throughout the years. And no proof was ever presented to the public when the claim was made by the US government. I found it quite odd in how they seemingly got rid of the body ASAP, how about you? Strange year indeed for disasters in full swing and protests, revolutions and just plain weirdness. Yet the year zipped by like no other. The "Occupy" trend. It's not what they're for, but what they're against? Big corporations? Um, that soda pop and bottled water you're drinking is from a big corporation and so are all the foods that you eat and clothes that you wear come from. Hows about occupying the real monsters GOVERNMENT SPENDING! And everything else connected to those deceptive tentacles derived from the government. There's so much more things that came out of the year 2011 good and not so good but this would lead me to go on forever here which I refuse to because I don't have to repeat anymore news that you all hopefully already know by now.

But I will repeat the ever importance of preparedness and there has never been a greater time than now to be moreso vigilant in your preps. Don't wait for a disaster to occur because it will and don't hesitate and wait to prepare because by then it's already too late. So set yourselves up with preps and be on top of things at all times because anything is possible and impossible simultaneously. Keep on prepping!!!

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The Price Of Paradise

2011-11-17T12:29:00.000-08:00

An excellent article by Alternative Hawaii

photo by Aloha2U

The Cost of Living in Paradise is High!
If you are thinking of making Hawaii your home, consider the following facts:

Sources indicate a cost of living ranging from 30%¹ above the national average to well over 60%² for certain family sizes.

In 2006, a family of 4 renting accommodation in Honolulu needs to earn $111,695 or 55% more income to maintain a lifestyle similar to a comparable family earning $72,000 in the continental United States.²
Although the 2003 median income of $71,320 for a family of 4 in Hawaii was higher than the national figure of $65,093, this is still below the amount required to maintain the same standard of living for a family of 4 in Hawaii as elsewhere in America.³

Hawaii's High Cost of Housing and Low Income

A major component of Hawaii's high cost of living can be attributed to its high cost of housing and low income.

In 2005, the State of Hawaii ranked number 10 out of 47 States surveyed (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were excluded) for having the most expensive housing market based on a 2200 sq. ft. (approx.) single family dwelling with 4-bedrooms, 2.5 baths, family room (or equivalent) and a 2-car garage in a corporate middle-management neighborhood. Hawaii ranks number 47 (bottom of the list) for the most affordable housing market! ⁴
The national average of the markets surveyed in the above study was $401,767. The survey showed that the 2005 Average Sales Price for the most expensive Hawaii market was $745,454 (Kihei, Maui) and the most affordable was $737,625 (Honolulu, Oahu) - well over the national average.
2005 set record high prices for single family dwellings on the Island of Oahu. The 2005 median resale price of a single family home was $590,000. The 2005 median resale price for a condominium was $269,000.⁵ The cost of housing on neighbor islands was even higher and higher incomes were harder to obtain.⁶
In 2004, Hawaii's home ownership rate (proportion of owner households to the total number of occupied households) was only 60.9%, ranking Hawaii as 48th (one of the lowest) in the nation - indicative of widespread speculative investment.⁷
In 2005, Hawaii's total personal income grew by 8% - the biggest increase since 1990 and the third largest increase in the nation.⁸ However, Hawaii's 2004 Per Capita Personal Income of $32,606 ranked 20th in the United States, below the national average of $33,041.⁹

For salary and cost of living comparisons between Honolulu and other U.S. cities, see the Cost of Living Wizard.

Even with 2 adults working full time, rental housing and home ownership are becoming increasingly unaffordable, if not impossible, for the average family in Hawaii.

Cost of Food

Amazingly, Hawaii has less than a seven day supply of many foods, especially perishables. Some 90% of our food is still imported.

In recent years, the cost of food in Hawaii has been offset to some degree with the arrival of major warehouse outlets throughout the Islands (e.g. Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart). However, the Economic Research Institute's 2006 Cost of Living Analyses for Honolulu shows that the cost of consumables weighted to pricing patterns of grocery and drug store chains is as much as 66% more than the U.S. average depending upon family size, earnings level and spending patterns.²

Perhaps 10,000 acres could grow all the perishable food Hawaii needs. Unfortunately, key factors in utilizing these acres are the high cost of some land, tax laws and leasing difficulties, water, labor and transportation.

You just can't grow cucumbers on $95,000+-an-acre land!

Land Availability

Nearly half of Hawaii's 4.1 million acres are managed by the State or Federal Government and of the remaining 50% in private ownership, approximately 20 percent is controlled by seven private landowners.¹⁰

Of the total acreage, the State Land Use Commission classifies 95% as belonging to either Agriculture or Conservation Districts and only 5% to Rural and Urban Districts.¹¹

Increasing urbanization and growing pressure from developers to use agricultural land for resort and large subdivision development is likely to continue fueling the high price of housing, food, and cost of living in Hawaii.

America's Health Care - A System in Crisis

The Nation's health care costs in 2006 have hit the $1.9 trillion mark and now consume 16 percent of the gross domestic product.

Half of the people filing for bankruptcy in the United States cited medical costs as the reason. About 75 percent of those filing had health insurance when they became ill.

Currently, 46 million Americans are uninsured and millions more have inadequate health insurance. In terms of health indicators like life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, and obesity, the United States ranks close to the bottom of the list of Western countries.¹²

Health Care Costs in Hawaii

As at January 1, 2006, the average cost for HMO (Managed Care) for an individual in Hawaii was $437 a month - for a family $747 a month. The average cost for Indemnity (Non Managed Care) for an individual was $563 a month - for a family $936 a month.²

The 2006 U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Poverty Guideline for a family or household of 4 people in Hawaii is $23,000 a year.¹³ In Hawaii, approximately one in ten persons were living "at or below poverty level" in 2004. Of those below poverty, 12.4% were uninsured (compared to 4.4% of those above poverty).¹⁴

Hawaii Quest is a State program that provides health coverage through managed care plans for eligible lower income Hawaii residents. To be eligible for Hawaii Quest, you must have income not more than 100% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines.¹⁵

In 2004, the percentage of the Nation's population without health insurance remained unchanged, at 15.7% percent.¹⁶ Hawaii had a total uninsured population of 5.2% in 2004.¹⁷

Beginning in 2006, Hawaii intends to extend Medicaid coverage to an additional 29,000 people over the next six years.⁸

Many Hawaiians believe that health care is a precious human right that cannot be trusted to the vagaries of the profit-driven market model. -Alternative Hawaii

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

2011-08-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

Your food storage plan should most definitely be supplemented by having an edible garden. Growing vegetables and fruits is a step in the right direction to being self-reliant and self sufficient when it comes to preparedness. As a prepper I have managed to grow and harvest time and time again endless amounts of fruit and vegetables that grow specifically in my area. Living in Hawaii you have the normal gardening challenges and dealing with garden insects is universal wherever you live in the world. My neighbor gave me excellent advice when growing fruits and vegetables. She said "always remember, grow one for the birds, one for the bugs, and one for you in any and everything that you grow." And with this advice I grew 5-6 times the amount of food that I'd normally grow because I know that not everything will grow and turn out the way that I might expect it to. It's better to have more than less and these days you never can tell what's going to happen on a daily basis when it comes to disasters. And disasters come in many shapes and forms when you least expect them to.

Having an edible garden gives you a peace of mind and provides you with a set of skills to take care of yourself and family if all else fails when the grocery stores shut down and are looted in the event of SHTF scenario. I'm no expert in what I do preparedness wise but I am willing and ready to be prepared and do what is needed to acquire the much needed skills to be where I need to be in a preparedness manner. And if someone needs help prepping I am more than happy to assist the person(s) where assisting is needed because the first step in prepping is being aware of your surrounding and having an understanding of what is going on in the world and how it affects you on many levels. If you have not noticed by now how unstable the world is and how volitile things are you better start waking up because time is definitely running out and real fast.

What ever the living situation you may find yourself in there are ways to start a garden at any budget and living space. You don't need an acreage to grow fruits and vegetables although that would be an ideal situation. If you live in an apartment you can grow things on the balcony in planter pots and or 5 galon buckets. You can also grow things indoors as hanging planters. Get a sprouting kit and start sprouting vege's it's really easy and always at your fingertips. You really don't need to spend a lot of money on gardening because you can always recycle things that you use normally in the home to start with. All those clear plastic containers that hold berries or tomatoes that you purchase from the grocery stores can be used for sprouting seeds and starting seeds. Seeds can be harvested and saved from your fruits and vege's that you normally buy and consume. Or you can also purchase a packet of seeds which run about a dollar a pack.

Start somewhere and don't wait, have an edible garden as part of your food storge plan. My food storage plan consists of canned goods, dehydrated, freeze dried, garden edibles, etc. I made it a point to always have a variety of different types of foods to allow myself in having options that will become critical especially if I'm faced with a disaster that will not allow me to get to any store for fresh vege's or anything else foodwise for that matter. Growing herbs in the garden is also an excellent idea because herbs will give you many options and flavors to chose from when making the same thing over and over again to eat because after awhile eating that can of spam day in and day out will wear out REAL fast. So you'll want to kick it up a notch and spice things up with lots of herbs and spices. Besides, they are easy to grow and you can dry them out such as lavender and use as a tea and they are healthy for you and provide you with other medicinal properties, many herbs do so remember to grow these as well. And a lot of herbs are insect repellents in and out of the garden. So it is beneficial to have some of these in the garden because they perform multiple duties that will only benefit you in the long run.

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Prepare for Tighter Manipulation and Control with Conditions

2011-07-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but if you haven't noticed by now how the government in it's many tentacles, offshoots, and forms works to prevent, eliminate, and basically destroy a lot of our very freedoms and liberties you're in bad shape to say the least to not be aware of. The FDA regulates the food and drug industry but I would not trust them with a ten foot pole, no make that a one inch pole.

Keep in mind, this was uploaded April 2007. We are currently facing this very issue NOW in 2011.

A pattern of manipulation and control is closing in tighter and tighter knowing these things you need to be reactive and proactive in preparing for yourself and family at a vigilant level. Knowledge is power and power is knowledge. Fully arm yourselves with knowledge in all aspects that you will need to survive any type of storm including and if not the most important of all is your health and wellbeing. I don't need to tell you how to eat or what precautions to take to keep yourself healthy because that's your responsibility and everyone has different needs. But I can tell you to prepare yourself nutritionally by eating foods that are right for your body and that will provide all the proper nutrtional values that you would need to survive and function properly. Especially if you'll need to rely on your health in the event of a disaster that may require you to live without food or water for an unspecified time. And if this would ever happen pray that you have prepared with all the food storage preps ahead of time. Hopefully, you will have stocked up on medicine, vitamins, heirloom seeds, books and everything else that you'd need in a survival situation to keep your mind, body and sprirt going strong. Something to ponder, should the FDA regulate your vitamins.

And, how Big Pharma got Americans hooked on anti-psychotic drugs. Um, this is a no brainer here. If you weren't aware of this one then Big Pharma has already gotten to your brains and body, lot's a luck in detoxing yourself on this one. Any and everyone that takes prescribed drugs will be taking them for the rest of their not so healthy life and you will never heal from these drugs it's all an illusion. The drug just keeps you going and hobbling along never tackling and eliminating your underlying health problem think about it. And how about the side effects that come along with each and every drug that you take, when you think about it the drug you're taking for one ailment is compounding you with another ailment that you probably never had to begin with, now you got an additional one and need another drug to maintain that condition or ailment at this rate you'll never be fully healthy ever again. Big Pharma really has people wrapped around "pill taking" so deceiving. People, you have got to take better responsible care of your own bodies, health and wellbeing. Start somewhere and become self-reliant with yourself and not allow others to dictate your health. Do something for yourself and your family, be the rock and pillar of strength that will lead the way for them and you. You have a choice you know. Choose self-reliance and self-suffciency, a sound mind and body is a better prepared one to face any type of storm.

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Survival Skills - From Camping to 2012

2011-06-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

Here's an excellent article I've come across from Survival-Goods. Thought I'd share this with you all.

There’s a lot of chatter about 2012 these days. Everyone seems to have an opinion. Some are dismissive, viewing apocalypse prophecies as a ruse drummed up by ancient calendars that don’t perpetuate beyond December 12, 2012. In the other camp are individuals who are greatly apprehensive, even fearful, about prospects of solar flares, planetary collisions and cataclysmic events.

The point missed by many in these extremes is that we all should be ready for any crisis. Maybe we won’t face catastrophes of the “world-ending sort”, but perhaps, more of the common “garden variety” disaster. Floods, tornados, hurricanes, raging wildfires, nuclear threats, bioterrorism, and epidemics- we humans already have more than our share of mini-cataclysmic events, even apart from 2012 mayhem. Any one of these events could significantly alter life as we know it for an undisclosed period.

In history, nearly everything is finite. Mighty dinosaurs and many powerful cultures that once ruled the Earth are no more. Of those who do survive- from animal to mankind- the sole characteristic that seems to perpetuate the species is the ability to adapt. How adaptable is the typical, urban modern man anyway? How likely would he be to survive for an extended period without normal comforts?

Even in a minor calamity (like a few hours without power) many of us wouldn’t fair well if we weren’t prepared with adequate food, water and warm clothing. But survival is more than attaining the right supplies. It means having a problem solver mentality, lacking rigidity and possessing the will to live. Along with this come certain technical skills survivors must acquire.

Whether stranded in the wilderness on a backpacking adventure gone awry, facing a natural disaster, or even in the midst of a catastrophic global crisis, you’ll need some skill to withstand the event.

Survival Skills:

Shelter: Understanding the importance of shelter is paramount. If exposed to extremely cold conditions, a human body can perish in as little as three short hours. Wandering around until fatigued in extreme temperatures instead of creating a shelter remains one of the biggest mistakes made by those in peril. Know how to build shelters in all climates, with a variety of items. This also includes realizing the necessity of staying in an existing shelter, such as your vehicle, if stranded in bitterly cold weather.
Fire: Creating fire is the single most versatile and required survival skill. In addition to providing heat, fire also cooks, purifies water by boiling, melts snow into drinking water, keeps dangerous wildlife away and can alert rescuers. Have a backup plan or two on items that can start fire in the event of a major emergency. Keep extra lighters or waterproof matches on hand. In addition, learn how to build a proper wood fire if out in the wilderness. (There is a special set of skill required to build a fire). Be aware of flammable, everyday items (like Vaseline or petroleum based lip balm smeared on cotton) that can be ignited to start a fire.
Water: In survival, you’ll hear references to the rule of 3’s. It’s a bit of information to tuck your brain for times when the going gets tough. While it’s stated that death can occur in as little as 3 hours without shelter, the second part of the rule of 3’s relates to water. 3 days without water can be lethal, especially in arid weather or when the body is suffering great exertion. Maintain at least a 72 hour store of water. Know how to purify water, both from boiling a minute and by using plain household bleach for when reserves run out or are unavailable. When in the wilderness, remember, water is usually found in low places. Go downhill toward valleys to find streams.
Food: The last of the rules of 3’s is about food. Even though hunger can be excruciating, adults can survive for up to 3 weeks without food. This means if you have to choose between finding water or food, make sure you have adequate water first. However, food is a viable way for the body to maintain warmth, as burning calories creates heat. In addition, food keeps energy levels higher. Keep a food store of high calorie, long shelf life non-perishable food products on hand. Consider items like 3600 Calorie Mayday Bars, which take up little room and last for years. In the wild, a general rule of thumb is that furry mammals and insects with 6 legs are food. Plants are risky. Unless you are very familiar with botany, don’t attempt consuming vegetation.
First Aid: Today’s response time for emergency medical teams is very impressive. In most of the United States, dialing 911 brings relief in moments. But in the event of a disaster, workers may be overwhelmed, cell phones may not have signals and you could suddenly be quite alone with a major injury. Take classes now and research means to identify and treat the following:

o Dehydration/Heat stress

o Broken bones

o Cuts, scrapes

o Severe bleeding

o Stroke

o Heart Attack Symptoms

o Concussions

o Sprains

o Choking

Learn CPR. Buy the best first aid kit you can for your home or car and tuck smaller ones in various places. Too often we skimp on this. In the event of a major illness or injury, apart from quick response of health care providers, your training and products in your first aid kit might be all you have to depend on.

Navigation: Without GPS, many of our brains couldn’t locate a building across town; much less navigate in the wilds. Remember, if a sudden disaster struck, familiar landmarks may be eradicated. Even a well traveled urban area may seem like foreign territory. You should have a map of the area handy, know how to find vital points, such as community shelters and possess a compass. Consider how you would find shelter, food and water on foot if transportation were not available. Learn at least one other means to find directions, such as using a watch to center the sun. (Hold analog watch horizontally. Point hour hand at sun. 1/2 the distance between the 12 o’clock position and the hour hand is south. For example- if the hour hand is on 8, half the distance to 12 o’clock is 10 (or south). From this you can easily figure other directions).
Other Necessary Skills: Depending on the length of a disaster, skills that will carry survivors through to recovery might be as varied as learning to use firearms, grow food products, hunt, and fish and preserve foods. Building and mechanical expertise, such as carpentry, auto repair, electrical or plumbing capabilities would be of course needed techniques. But long before recovery, the adaptive, skilled and prepared individuals must first survive.

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Disaster Preparedness Community Town Meeting

2011-05-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

Government officials and others will hold a community meeting on disaster preparedness Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pearl Ridge Elementary School cafeteria. Representatives from state and county Civil Defense, the National Weather Service and Hawaiian Electric Co. will explain how to prepare tsunamis, earthquake, hurricanes, floods and other events. -staradvertiser

For those of you who are concerned about being prepared in any and all disaster types please do attend this meeting and if you have questions have them ready. If you would like to have a disaster preparedness community meeting in your area on the island please contact your representatives, you just may have to bombard them with emails in order to get their attention or you may end up creating one of your own which is a good idea when all else fails. All representatives statewide should realize the importance of disaster preparedness and the implementation of having the entire island prepared in more ways than one. Rep. Kymberly Pine was the first and is the front runner here, hats off to you Rep. Pine!

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When The Power Goes Out

2011-05-09T03:29:00.000-07:00

Where I work there are two ATM machines, just so happen both were down and out of service for unknown reasons and they were going to be down till Monday, mind you it was Saturday. So many people rely on these money machines, as I watched and observed truck loads of sheeple trying to extract funds from these machines I could not help but think how prudent to have had money, cash stashed away on the side in the home for things of this nature. But, who am I kidding (lol) no one really thinks this way nor does it. As far as I know I'm the only one here that does it. I may be wrong, there may be others but I'm positive they are few far and wide. I don't even have a debit card and my bank card, I have no idea what the pin number is because I don't use it. If I need money I always have cash on hand 24-7. Hubby restricts me from using my credit card with good reason and I am more than thankful for his strict direction in usage of a menace that literally ruins peoples credit beyond repair. And no, mines is not ruined beyond repair.

Now, in the event there is a power outage, statewide or globally everyone will be SOL for not preparing ahead of time for unexpected events that have happened time and time again before but only on a smaller scale. You'd think all the previous ATM shutdowns would wise a few sheeples up but as history always repeats itself things of this nature is predictable in response of sheeple habit. I have no idea why people would not have at least an extra stash of cash on hand just in case. Because when you think about it, if there was ever a major disaster and the grid went down for an unspecified amount of time, businesses will not be taking credit cards, debit cards and checks how could they without electricity? The only people that will be able to make purchases will be those that have cash and cash only. Now, if we're talking a longer period of time without power the bartering system will be kicking in very shortly if not immediately.

When the dollar crashes completely more than likely everyone's financial situations will come crashing down as well. Get yourself situated in gold and silver and keep all those pennies and not just any penny I'm talking about the wheat penny, the one that says "one cent" with wheat on each side. Currently these are worth 3 cents a piece so save all you can on these. In these particular pennies the amount of copper is in the 90% plus range, so that means it's worth far more than the rest of the average pennies that you see and have in your pocket. Aside from having different types of funds don't forget to have food storage because having a sound food storage plan will help you and your family get through some of the greatest challenges that we are all about to face in the very near and dear future. And when the power goes out you're going to want to be prepared and ready at all costs don't be caught off guard and ill prepared, do the preparations now while there is still enough ample time and don't forget to always have cash on hand at all times always.

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News Headlines Should Prompt Preparedness In All

2011-05-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but it's best we all get into high gear and prepare, prepare, prepare. These past couple of days has been quite strange and odd to say the least. First it was the royal wedding which to me was actually a royal distraction, second for some odd reason the space shuttle was unable to blast off into space, and third US forces kill Osama bin Laden. Now, they are saying that his body was buried at sea.
How is this possible within such a short time after telling the world that US forces have killed Osama bin Laden? In fact I did not know that islams bury at sea, as far as I know islamic culture does not bury at sea.
I must admit after hearing of all these events they all just did not add up to me, the main impressions I was getting was lies, lies, lies. My question is, where's the body? And why have they not shown it to prove to the world that they in fact did kill him? The people dancing in the streets at the White House have no idea how deceived nor the depth of deception that has fallen upon them. I hate to admit it but the government has people literally eating out of their hands and going along with what ever they say and do. Like I said prepare, prepare, prepare. Too many out of sync things going on here that raises several red flags.

And let us not forget about all the tornados in the southern states killing hundreds of people. Here's another one Herbal medicines banned as EU directive comes into force. Let's not forget this can happen in America as well, are you stocked up on herbal medicines and herbs? You can grow quite a bit of these herbs in your garden think about it and utilize it as part of your food storage and emergency supplies. It is so important to keep up with all the news going on globally but you won't find honest news on your television, in fact you won't find anything that you would need to know and be in the "know" that is so vital to your health, mind, soul and wellbeing. There are several resources and avenues that offer streamlining news way ahead of mainstream news one of them is George Noory on Coast to Coast AM. Majority of my news comes from listening to this radio talk show host and his news is ahead of any TV news by far and you get the unfiltered facts in your face, nothings hidden or covered up. In fact, by the time the media ever gets anything out I'm already in the "know" by months and years thanks to George Noory. Glenn Beck is another source to draw from, although many people may dislike him but what I realized is that he does his homework and does the research into everything and tells you to do the same for yourself to find answers on your own.....now that's what knowledge is all about. Black Listed News is an independent media for independent minds. There are tons of outlets to be found on the net that can find you better news than what you're currently watching on TV which is excatly why I no longer watch TV. I only see it at work on my break in the break room, but it's useless to me because everyone watches rubbish on that TV.

But too with all these things of media nature one must also decipher and test each source of information outlet and you can't believe everything you see and hear out there this all leads to doing your own homework and investigating and researching things for yourself. Nothing empowers a person more than doing the work for yourself and becoming knowledgeble. And as a prepper having knowledge and wisdom in a wide array of categories is mandatory it's all a part of being self-reliant and self-sufficient. When you prepare regarding food storage remember to also prepare mentally, emotionally, physically, spritually and financially.

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The Solution is Preparedness

2011-04-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

Doesn't take a genius to tell you to prepare or does it? But little do people realize there are celebrities out there that are preparing as well for some unsettling times coming. Ashton Kutcher was recently in the news a few days ago talking about preparing and what he's been doing to prepare. Most Americans and individuals cannot grasp nor are aware of the reality of changes that are currently playing out around the world financially, economically, spiritually, and environmentally. What is disturbing is that there is a false sense of security in everything people do, think and know. Corruption is rampant in the media, government, federal courts, educational system, etc. Deception is business as usual, it literally blankets the United States which should scare the heck out of everyone but it does not. Why? simple answer here, it's a part of life. It's a big part of everyones lives and people are used to living, thinking and being this way.

I'll tell you one thing, this type of way of thinking does not sit too well with me and I'm positive neither does it sit well with other preppers globally. Preparing has never been so prevalent than it is now. Indonesia has just experienced another earthquake today. And there will be more earthquakes shaking up different parts of the world to come, got food storage? Radiation fall out jet streaming around the globe from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan is highly toxic, any amount of radiation is unsafe for any living and breathing creature. There is no such thing as a safe low dosage of radiation. Got potassium iodide? Try stocking up on spirulina, kelp, chlorella, NAC, melatonin, vitamin C, selenium, coQ10, vitamin E complex, and krill oil. All of these are designed to help you internally, especially when it comes to radiation from nuclear fall out or any other type of radiation. The link attached to radiation is an excellent one do read up on it and add it to your prepper skills and knowledge. As a reminder it may now take months to seal the crack in the Fukushima nuclear plants that are releasing radiation in the atmosphere, water and soil.

Got books? Always have books on hand, and I don't mean ebooks because in the event there's a power outage you definitely won't be able to access that survival book that you got on file on your PC unless you have a hard copy in hand. An excellent book and must have, is IT'S A DISASTER.......and what are YOU gonna do about it. And make sure you secure several copies. Set up your preparedness library with gardening, healing herbs, first aid, food storage, skills in what you'll need to-do type books, survival, nuclear, self defense, the bible, any and everything else that you and your family will need to have on hand in book form. Have a sizeable library of books because you'll need it!

Stock up on extra items, more of what you already have or items that you'd never think of stocking up on because this will give you an advantage when bartering. If you decide to barter a six pack of beer for labor work to be done DON'T do it. That beer that you just bartered may create a monster. Use your head and preps wisely when bartering. And never ever verbally advertise or show your case of bottled water to anyone. If you're bartering that water use one bottle and make it half empty. Always leave an impression of slim pickin's to none. No one knows how far I am nor how much preps I have, as well as exactly what I have for good reason and I'm keeping it that way. I will say things in general but I will not reveal the true scope, depth and identity of my preps.

Get your animal and pets in gear. Make sure they are prepared as well and first foremost. Stock up on their feed, food, water, first aid emergency pet kits and anything else that they would need. Do all your vet check up's ahead of time and get them squared away and updated in the event a disaster hits and you don't have their medication pills that they will need for a life time. Have alternatives regarding foods, if you run out of pet food incorporate some food that you eat such as canned vegetables, chicken but do this now ahead of time to adjust their tummies to hard times. But do also look into and research what they can and cannot eat when it comes to people food because some foods are toxic for pets.

Get yourself physically fit as much as possible. Building up on the immune system and making it as solid as can. When everything collapses death, disease, and sickness will get the best of those that are not prepared physically. Always be ready for what's coming in all aspects of life, never leave anything up to chance and definitely never leave anything up to the government. Everyone that relies on the government will one day in the very near future get a rude awakening. Don't be part of the problem, be a bigger part of the solution and always be prepared.

Last but not least, the producer to the Learning Channel has contacted me via email. They are putting together a documentary and would like to know if there are anyone across the United States that are interested in participating. They are currently casting for a documentary focusing on stories of true and serious survivalists and preppers. Education is the emphasis here on the necessities and benefits of emergency preparedness that would help educate a largely unprepared public.

For those interested contact
Diana Johnson
310.842.9300 ext 205
Producer
Good Clean Fun
castinggcf@gmail.com

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Disasters That Affect Preparedness Items

2011-04-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

As the radiation from Japan's nuclear disaster spreads across the US. We are informed by officials, experts, and researchers that the levels are low. I don't know about you but I'm not waiting for any kind of informed status update by anyone when it comes to nuclear radiation. The situation in Japan is beyond serious and we keep getting conflicting reports from the government of Japan. I don't really even trust our own governments reports for that matter either. Although I do have a couple bottles of potassium iodide, I have not taken them. Instead I am currently taking spirulina which by the way has radiation protective benefits, I use the powder form but I also have on hand the tablets. As a prepper you really want to be on top of things as best as possible.

My findings have concluded that preparing goes well beyond one disaster such as Japan, that endured 3 and still working on capping the third. Evidently, the nuclear radiation will affect us all in some way, shape, or form as it travels across the globe. Knowing this fact there are more things that will also affect us here in the US as well, such as cars that are manufactured from Japan and think about the parts that are made there too.
Japan imports a great deal of food and other commodities to the state of Hawaii, now everything needs to be scrutinized before coming in to this state from Japan with good reason. I was planning on going there sometime this year, but well a big cancel there!

As a reminder, I would like to suggest that if you are continually working on your preps as we all are doing at this time in leaps and bounds. Do so diligently and in a timely manner, especially when it comes to items that need to be shipped from elsewhere that you may need to order outside of your state. Reason being is that you never know when and where the next disaster will occur and how it will affect the items as well as the availability of those items that you may need for your preps. You want to do this NOW if anything. I used to order certain things from Japan but now I will not be doing this for a long time. And if I purchase anything made in Japan here in Hawaii I need to question the merchant and get as much info when it comes to radiation and when was this product brought in and so forth. I would strongly suggest you do the same.

Disasters, man made or natural in general will affect supplies of all types be it food, water, medical, etc. And disasters also affect retail and wholesale outlets which eventually trickles down to the consumer, that's you and I. In summary, get all and as much of your preps in gear ASAP because no disaster will wait for you to be prepared.

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The Preppers Ultimate Challenge

2011-03-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Upon waking each day we no longer know what to expect anymore when it comes to the economy, weather, financial outlook of the dollar, housing market, jobs, civil unrest in the Middle East which ultimately leads to oil and fuel, that trickles right into the rising cost of food around the world as global food prices continue to rise. The only thing that shows consistency is unstability in the world. Natural disasters are on the rise as well, or have any of you noticed by now? Trying my hardest not to laugh at that question.

While most sheeples are more mesmerised and hypnotised by the latest Ipads, Ipods, cellphones and the best and latest Wii games, preppers such as I are more focused and honed into the likes of disasters of all types. On a continuous never ending streak of preparedness in all fields and aspects when it comes to preparing for the "what if" and "when" factor. A magnitude of preppers are already hunkering down with plans, skills, knowledge and beforehand knowledge on any and everything preparedness. We know and have known for many years the trials and tribulations that we will all be facing in these times. As we've built this wisdom of preparing, we've strengthened the knowledge of being prepared and ready for what may come. Acquiring skills in food storage, first aid, medicine, weapons of defense, gardening, hunting, the what-to's, the how-to's, the not what to-do's, etc, and the many aspects that this all entails. Researching, studying, learning and continuously building our knowledge in regards to preparedness. Our greatest teachers are history, disasters and man's unfailing predictability to NOT prepare.

Japan is a beautiful country, an industrialized country just as America is but they are different. Technology wise, they are far superior than the United states. Culturally, they are far humble, gracious and polite than Americans. Musically, more outrageous and highly talented in a multitude of styles and sounds, they are the chameleons of the music industry. They are ultimately the trendsetters of all time. Most or some of you may not agree with me but this is in my opinion only because I have lived and worked there many years ago and was able to pick up and learn the language through the Japanese people. They are accustomed to earthquakes and tsunami's, but they are not used to disasters of such magnitude in succession or sequence of one another. And the world has witnessed the unfolding of not 1 or 2 but 3 disasters Japan was faced with, one after another.

With all the technology any industrialized country has, it's still no match for 3 disasters, two of which were natural and the third is man made. Natural and man made collided as we all watched in horror and disbelief.
Japan's nuclear reactors failed due to no power caused by the earthquake which compounded into a more serious crisis, nuclear radiation. As if the tsunami was not enough and before that the 9.1 earthquake.
What would happen if our nation was faced with a multitude of disasters of these magnitudes all at the same time? Who would step up to the plate and be brave enough to help us? Look and learn from how long it takes to provide help and assistance to the people of Japan. Emotionally, I don't even want to go there or begin to tell you where it ends or starts. So much loss and devastation, how would they mentally cope with this. Physically, you really need to be fit, healthy, quick reflexes, fast and or darn lucky to have been able to survive this without any scars whatsoever. And if they did survive this, how will they be able to sustain their survival in the present situation they are currently in which is bad, very bad. On a spiritual level I'm not so sure where they're at. Financially, this affects everyone.

Prepping has just gotten punked. Disasters of this multitude has changed the playing fields of preparing, the stakes have risen kicking it up a couple notches now. Knowing these things our plans, skills and everything else for that matter needs to be tweaked tenfold to the tenth power to warp ten. And tweaking them needs to be at warp speed out of this world in another galaxy. We need to be on top of, over and under and way beyond the milky way in our prepping. This is what I call the preppers ultimate challenge.

Japanese search for survivors

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Always Prepare For The Worst

2011-03-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

Here is an excellent article regarding one of the most industrialized countries in the world, Japan. The overwhelming scale of damage is astronomical, heartbreaking and definitely makes the world hopefully, think about the "what if" factor if this was ever to arrive on the shores of their nation.

Japan overwhelmed by the scale of damage -msnbc

As I read the article I could not help but read into it a little more deeper. From this disaster alone it's saying WAKE-UP! More things are to come. But not only that, I've noticed of how great and enormous this disaster is not even their own government can truely help their people. This industrialized country has literally been brought to it's knees. Foreign search and rescue teams being dispatched to assist Japan has taken a while to reach all these cities or prefectures, and majority of the people of Japan in the hardest areas hit have been running on empty for four days now. One man stated that his wife had prepared by having stocked up on water in the event of a disaster, this man is very fortunate to have a wife that at least prepared them with water. I cannot say the same for everyone else.

I strongly believe every single country will be brought down to it's knee's and we are all being shown a few of the things that will come upon us all, it's just so evident in what is happening globally, economically and nationally with all countries. There are no favorites when it comes to disasters. And if this article alone does not speak volumes on end regarding preparing in full force to the mass, I don't know what will. I have no idea how many horrendous disasters it will take to wake people up out of their slumber to start preparing. These days no country is exempt from catastrophic disasters and that goes for industrialized countries like the US.

Oh don't get me wrong the US is and has suffered disasters throughout the years but not of this porportion and magnitude, this one far outweighs anything we have ever seen here in the US alone.

Yes, the Japanese people are a humble people indeed and polite and courteous by far, there's no comparison to any other culture and their humble ways but you must also realize one thing here. When you are faced with a catstrophic disaster so large and huge in scale, not to mention the nuclear plants exploding and giving off radiation to who knows what levels compounding this with no food, water, shelter, gas, electricity, sanitation, loss of major life and families being displaced and or still missing and so much more for how long more will one be able to keep hope alive? How long more faced with this can one be so humble and sustain a positive attitude in all this? We are all human and sooner than later we will all breakdown and things will start to get ugly out there without the necessities that our body needs in order to function properly and think straight. I hate to say it but if help does not reach these people sooner than later it just might turn pretty ugly. No one was prepared for this Mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. I don't think anyone was even prepared for this spiritually either.

I urge everyone to REALLY read this article and let it speak to you LOUD and CLEAR.
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Preparedness Prevents Panic

2011-03-12T03:39:00.000-08:00

Twice the charm, three times....well I won't go there. Reminiscent of last year in February when the state of Hawaii was placed on alert for a Tsunami warning stemming from an 8.8 magnitude earthquake occuring off the coast of the Maule region of Chile. It is a miracle that Hawaii has not once but twice dodged another bullet from being hit by a potentially catastrophic Tsunami. Somebody was definitely watching over us. However, all fortunate streaks must come to an end at some point and time. And unfortuantely all of us end up learning the hard way just like those unprepared residents who scurried to stores across the state once again in search of food, water, and gas haphazardly as they usually do right before a disaster strikes. Luckily, Hawaii had a 5 hour window to do and or get the needed items everyone rushed out to try and secure along with everybody else. But in my books I don't see that window as "lucky" because now you're out there with hundreds if not thousands competing for gas, food, and water. Compound that with having to evacuate your entire family and let's not forget to add you have not a clue where you're going and what you will all be needing. Oh yes and don't forget about your pets, what type of plans would you have for them as well? In fact would you even have a well thought out plan to begin with? I know the answer to that one and it's obviously no. While you're running around like chickens without heads the clock is ticking away and as you head out to the car you look out into the streets and all you see is wall to wall traffic for miles on end with no end in sight. At this point most of you have not even reached a store or gas station and then the officials start to close down major roads and highways. How prepared were you at this point? That 5 hour window was a key component in evacuating period and that does not include going to a store for food and water or stopping at a gas station to fill up.

If it was like Japan, literally no warning basically, A lot of residents would not stand a chance, were talking major devastation. Let the nature of our reality that we are all living in now teach you some major valuable lessons. If you have not noticed by now globally, many natural and man made disasters are continually going to occur and they have been occuring more frequently than usual, PAY ATTENTION! This year into next year are the years to watch but not only to watch but to be prepared. Be prepared for anything and everything. For those of you who choose to live near the ocean or water, well, that's your choice but know the risks. Begin or start to have a plan for the family and pets do this ahead of time and do a practice run every so often. The next step would be is to have a food storage plan, start stocking up on foods, water, first aid kits and items that you'd need "just in case" something arises out of the blue when you least expect it to because that is how all disasters occur when you least expect them to. Don't be caught with your pants down you'll be sorry. Remember, when the need arises the time to prepare has passed but also remember the 3 P's Preparedness Prevents Panic.

As I flew out of bed hearing the sirens blaring late in the evening of March 10th I rushed to turn on my radio and the hubby tuned into the TV to hear the news of the earthquake in Japan and a Tsunami warning issued for the state of Hawaii all I could think about was informing people on the blog as best as I possibly could. You see, I knew how prepared I was because this is something that I do on a constant basis and have been doing for years. It's in my blood and I wear it like second skin, you have to these days you just have to. Everything in the world now is so unstable you just never know what each day will bring or take away from you, your state or nation or any other nation for that matter. I am an avid prepper and I wouldn't have it any other way. And the reason I am here on this blog is to help others in this state to better prepare themselves for anything and everything as best as I possibly can. Ultimately, preparedness starts with you.

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Tsunami Warning Affecting All Islands Of Hawaii!

2011-03-11T01:33:00.000-08:00

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake near Japan has occured generating a Tsunami. Lihue and Kahului Airports will be closed and shutdown. Urgent action should be taken. Expectation of first wave is 3:07. The Tsunami will be travelling East from Japan. NOW is not the time to run to the store because if you do LOTS-A-LUCK! More details soon. Click on link for more info!

More Tsunami news
Hawaii Civil Defense
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Hawaii Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In

2011-03-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

The American Preppers Network is conducting a network-wide roll call. Whether you are a member or not please check in and let us know what you are doing to prepare.

This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.

Hawaii Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=9253

Reply to the Roll Call and let us know what you have been doing to prepare.

If you are not yet a member of the forum you can register here for free:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

Prepping Your Vehicles

2011-03-06T17:59:00.001-08:00

Prepping Your Vehicles
From: Jolynn

Most Americans spend an average 2 to 3 hours per day driving in their cars. For those dedicated parents who commute their children to and from school, to soccer games and then to karate classes, may call their cars their "Second Home". I'm a mom with a 21 year old son who is now driving himself around in his own car, and my husband and I share a car.

A year ago, I started to research about surviving a natural disaster. It's been a year since our state of Hawaii issued a Tsunami Warning, which thankfully did not happen. Most people in our state are not prepared for such a disruption to the kick back lifestyle in paradise, so a Tsunami would have been crippling to just about everyone I know, including myself. What do people living on a tropical island do when there's an unexpected disaster....!PANIC! And that's what we did. Our markets were so busy at dusk, cars inched their way in to the parking lots and it was another feat to find an empty cart. The gas stations had around the block lines causing traffic jams on the main streets and highways. So this lead me to my decision to be prepared, and not be a Hawaiian ostrich with its head in the sand. I wanted peace of mind knowing that if anything was to happen, whether by natural disaster or by an economic collapse, that I was prepared for the unexpected events of the future.

The first Youtube videos I watched on prepping talked about BOB aka Bug Out Bags. I didn't think that was enough, so I prepped my car as my BOC aka Bug Out Car. Then I prepped my sons car. As a mother, what a great feeling of comfort knowing that while we are on the road going about our busy days, we could all survive for 3 days or more in our cars. The main categories I decided to prep our vehicles: Water, Food, First Aid and Tools.

Water: I bought a case of bottled water and looked for nooks and crannies in my car. Our SUV has a compartment under the back floor for storage and access to the spare tire with lots of air space. This compartment also served as a cooler with added insulation from the rubber floor mat. My packing skills of my many travels with limited suitcases helped, and I managed to get the entire case of water stored out of site. Check

Food: I picked up a large priority mailing box from the post office, this fits perfect under the drivers seat and out of the way of back seat passengers. Filled it up with complete freeze dried meals, vacuum sealed bags of oatmeal, dehydrated vegetables, snacks, teas, hot chocolate and dried saimin. The box sealed up nicely with added tape so that no uninvited critters will get to the food anytime this century (let's hope). Check

First Aid and Tools: This section created a challenge and again my packing skills were of great use. Here is a list of items I packed in a plastic tool box from our local hardware store which measures 10"x7"x14" and sits on the floor behind the drivers seat and can easily be moved around in the car.
SS Folding Knife
Scissors (Kid's size)
Hydrocortizone Cream
Alcohol Wipes
Hydrogen Peroxide (small dropper bottle)
Band aids/Butterfly closures
Sting-Kill insect Bite Swabs
Emergency First Aid Pocket Guide
Q-tips and cotton pads
Fingernail Clipper
Elastic Bandage Wrap
Waterproof Matches
Anti-Bacterial Gel
Wet Ones hands and Face Wipes
Ziploc Bags (gallon and sandwich sizes)
Multi-purpose tool
3 Face masks with filters
Rubber Globes
2 Glide Dental Floss (multi-purpose uses)
Sunscreen (sample packets)
Votive Candles
2 Flashlights
Spare batteries (both AAA and AA)
Yellow Electrical Tape
Grocery Plastic Bags for trash with rubber bands
Utensils (Forks, Spoons, Knives)
Emergency Water Filter by Aquamira
Mosquito Net
100' Parachute Cord
Mylar Emergency Blankets
2 Sternos
Chlorine Bleach (Dropper Bottle for Disinfecting/Water Purifier)
Shampoo
Folding Stove and Pan
Large Cooking Spoon
Coffee Mug
Super Absorbent Hand Towel
and more Matches

The last thing I added to my car were rolls of toilet paper and rolls of nickels, just in case we had to barter with money worth more than paper. Sitting in our living room we have a soft car top luggage carrier, in case we are forced to evacuate our home. If we did have the time to pack, our comforts of home would be added like pillows, blankets, extra clothing, and towels...maybe even the kitchen sink. I can now say that I do feel the "peace" knowing that my family gained an added chance of survival while driving in our cars. Check.

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Better Late Than Never Get Your Food Together!

2011-02-18T04:39:00.000-08:00

Tillamook cheese 12 oz.

Like I said in my last post prices are definitely up and set to climb more this year. Here's an article on food prices. Instability in the Middle East will definitely cause fuel to rise in cost and China growing by leaps and bounds buying up a lot of America's commodities to feed their appetites will also have a profound impact on our food prices and everything else we consume and use. Don't forget about the climate changes and how the weather all over the nation has been affecting crops drastically for the past few years now. Also, corn and how they've been using it as fuel. All of these factors are contributed to the rise in prices globally.

It doesn't help when our nation is in debt to the sound of over $14 trillion dollars and it increases by the second as interest is compounded, see for yourself at the U.S. National Debt clock. Our dollar has gotten weak and is falling faster and losing it's momentum in purchasing power, I should know as well as a lot of others just by the amount of food you can get for your dollar which is not much these days. I can remember when I used to go grocery shopping and come out of the store with 6-7 bags full of groceries for under $100. Now it's more like 2-3 bags for about $95 and up. My grocery shopping now is more selective because of the high food prices. Even if there are sales to be had the prices are still in the high range. I look at the sale prices and I want to laugh because it's like does this really make me feel like I'm getting a deal?

Witnessing the dollar dropping in value is surreal but witnessing everything else in the world going on prompts you to even more so be ready and prepared for what ever may come that is why I always advocate preparedness and food storage. You can never go wrong there and with the way things are going nowadays I think it's best to get a move on before you end up paying $20 for a loaf of bread. Every family should have a food storage plan no matter what and if one person or more in the family thinks you're nuts just show them the proof in whats going on globally, nationally and in your own state as well as other states. My hubby thought I was a nut a few years back but now he doesn't think so anymore. I find it funny because he starts to tell me all the things I've been telling him for years about what is about to unfold globally, all the things that he would shrug me off on and say "it would never happen." Then I'd have to remind him that I was the one who told him a long time ago yet he'd never listen to me.

Orange juice prices

P.S. take a gander at these sticker shock prices in Canada in the High Arctic community of Arctic Bay, Nunavut. There are 9 photos just click on the numbers below the CheezeWhiz photo.

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Prices Are Up Despite Sales In Hawaii

2011-01-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

Prices are definitely up in the state of Hawaii and it has been continually rising whether people are aware of it or not. I know I sure am aware of it because our dollars no longer have the purchasing power that it use to have 5, 10 or even 20 years ago. And knowing this it definitely will never be the same, nor return to those "good old days" prices again. For one, take a real good look at our economy and the shape it's in. Gerald Celente a trend expert has been spot on for many, many years regarding our economy, he's good and he definitely would run circles around Nostradamus if he were alive today!

With the continuation of growing and rising prices of food in Hawaii it makes absolute sense to purchase these items on sale and if there is a limit to buy the limit. Hawaii is weird where they limit your purchases but I am assuming the limit is due to supply on hand. All the more reason to always have a food storage plan in place at all times. Oh yes, cannot forget about the 5 cent tax placed upon every bottled, canned, plastic beverage here in Hawaii that we have to also pay for with an additional one cent tax nonrefundable.

Here's a couple sales going on here in the islands just to let our mainland counterparts know what we're faced with here regarding food prices. Foodland sale ads may take a few seconds to load but you could mouse over the items and get a clearer picture and zoom. Go to the top of page to change pages on the ad as well. Times supermarket, scroll to the very bottom of page to change pages. Don Quijote go to the very bottom to change pages. Down to Earth is an all natural and organic grocery store. I will be posting other stores here later and updating some big box store prices as well. This is just to give you an idea of our sale prices here in the islands.

The price is in the pudding I need not any longer repeat myself over and over like some broken record regarding food storage and getting your preps in order. The only difference now is that you'll have to pay for things at a higher price and in lesser quantity. Quality? Well, you're on your own there if you have not done your homework by now lot's of luck!

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Top 10 Survival Downloads You Should Have

2011-01-08T16:22:00.000-08:00

Author: Contributing Author

The following article has been generously contributed for your reading pleasure by Rourke at Modern Survival Online. We strongly urge our readers to take Rourke’s advice and download or print (or both) the following guides, which are available 100% free. Ideally, retain a paper copy if you have a survival folder, and save a copy to your reserve USB drive, which should be a component of your bug out survival bag or stored at your bug out location.

There are tons of good downloads in the Survival Database Download section of this website. For this article – I have selected 10 that everyone should have either printed and put away, or placed on a USB drive – or better yet both.

So – let’s get to it:

#10. FM 4-25-11 First Aid (2002) - Military First Aid Manual.First aid information is a must – get training before you need it – use this manual for reference.

#9. Guide to Canning – Being able to preserve crops to be able to provide for yourself and your family long after the growing season is over is important. This guide will help with that.

#8. Rangers Handbook (2006) – Crammed with info on demolitions, booby traps, communications, patrolling, tactical movement, battle drills, combat intelligence and much more

#7. Where There is No Dentist - The author uses straightforward language and careful instructions to explain how to: examine patients; diagnose common dental problems; make and use dental equipment; use local anesthetics; place fillings; and remove teeth.

#6. NATO Emergency War Surgery – While this is certainly not a manual that would stand alone in most persons emergency/disaster library, it is an absolutely necessary resource if you expect to handle any type of trauma where immediate comprehensive medical care is not available.

#5. A Guide to Raised Bed Gardening – This is not an “all knowing” gardening book – however it provides a lot of information to the “urban gardener” before or after TSHTF. Best to get the experience and knowledge of gardening NOW rather than later.

#4. FM 3-06 Combined Arms Operations in Urban Terrain - Combat techniques covered in the manual which may be very valuable in a “Roadwarrior”-type world.

#3. 1881 Household Cyclopedia – A massive resource of information that much of it has been lost over the past 203 generations. From Angling to Knitting – its here.

#2. FM 21-76-1 Survival-Evasion-Recovery (1999) – Excellent manual geared towards the soldier that finds himself behind enemy lines

#1. FM 21-76 US Army Survival Manual - From Amazon.com: This manual has been written to help you acquire survival skills. It tells you how to travel, find water and food, shelter yourself from the weather and care for yourself if you become sick or injured. This information is first treated generally and then applied specifically to such special areas as the Arctic, the desert, the jungle and the ocean.1970 Military Issue Manual. General Introduction and Individual and Group Survival Orientation Navigation, Finding Water In All Parts of The Globe. How To Obtain Food, Start a Fire and much more!

Well, there’s my list. Best of all – they are all 100% free. So, feel free to download them all.

Rourke

Visit Modern Day Survival Online or subscribe to their RSS feed for daily updates.

Author: Contributing Author
Date: December 31st, 2010
Visit the Author's Website:

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A Time of Preparedness is Now

2010-12-28T03:24:00.000-08:00

With another new year approaching and upon us all we have already seen and experienced far too many events to not be aware of on our part when it comes to preparedness. Home foreclosures across the nation, bankruptcy, businesses closing, companies downsizing cutting overhead costs and in a lot of these cases laying off employees, job loss is tremendous but it's played down, the media does no justice to what we as a people are truely experiencing on a global scale. I take it they just don't want to create panic on a mass scale and probably there's more to what meets the eye when it comes to the media in general. And let's not forget about the natural and man made disasters occuring in record breaking numbers just within this year alone.

Disasters are happening more frequently than usual and disruption to peoples lifestyles are being directly affected whether they realize it or not. Where is this all leading to? Well, the bottom line is it's all up to you.
If you lost your job like say, tomorrow, where would your next meal come from let alone how would you pay for your existing bills especially if you're living paycheck to paycheck and do most of your purchases using credit cards? Do you even have a sufficient amount of money saved up for several rainy days ahead, that will come and have been coming in waves these days. What's gonna happen if all the ATM machines were out of service due to a major power outage and there was no way of knowing how and when they would ever be up again and working? If a major storm rolled through your neck of the woods like it is now throughout the country in certain states would you have enough food and water to sustain you for an indefinite amount of time? And this does not even include the fuel you'll need to keep the home warm and running as smoothly as you'll need it to run in order to be somewhat comfortable. Would you even know how to administer first-aid in the midst of all this if your life or a family members depended on it? Because no emergency responders were available because their services were spread so thin that there weren't just enough of them to respond within 72 hours, not even three weeks what would you do?

Presented here are just a mere few important questions everyone should reflect on and think about when it comes to being prepared for what ever may blow your way. Having a family preparedness self-assessment test would be an excellent place to start off on. The Family Preparedness Guide is an excellent place to start. Another excellent and all around informative site to visit would be the American Preppers Network, here you'll find everything you need to know and be in the know when it comes to preparedness on all fronts, because the American Preppers Network encompasses all 50 states. You'll find hundreds if not thousands of topics, tips and info on just about any and everything preparedness. You'll get a glimpse and learn what's happening in all the different states, you could even listen in on the Prepper Podcast Show and gain major insights on all the guestspeakers Monday through Friday. And, if there's one book that I'd like everyone to read it would have to be IT'S A DISASTER!....and what are YOU gonna do about it by Bill and Janet Liebsch. A must have disaster preparedness book to have in your emergency kit, this book does not disappoint, what it does do is inform and help you to be better prepared in the event of a disaster.

So, now that I've refreshed a few of your memory banks deep within the sleepy vaults of your mind, the last place that I'd want anyone to be is in a state of being unprepared. And yes, I'm definitely talking especially, to the people of the state of Hawaii, whom have been asleep since who knows how long and when....too long. WAKE-UP people, we live on an island out in the middle of the Pacific......do the math!!!

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Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

Aloha all and Mele Kalikimaka as they say in Hawaiian "Merry Christmas". Wishing you and your families the very best during this holiday season. Sorry to have missed several months but I'm still here with you all continually working as swiftly as possible on prepping and everything else life seemingly throws at you. I'm also hoping to have another prepper within the state of Hawaii to pick up my gaps and slack to help things move along to inform the people of Hawaii as best as possible of the dire importance in prepping, that would be a tremendous help.

If there is any Hawaii preppers out there that would like to contribute to the Hawaii Preppers Network in a constructive and informative way please feel free to contact The American Preppers Network.

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Out-Of-Season Tropical Cyclone

2010-12-20T03:01:00.000-08:00

An out-of-season tropical cyclone has formed west of Hawaii. The storm system is located about 1,210 miles south of Kauai packing maximum substained winds of 50 miles per hour. It's forcast to become a tropical depression within 36 hours. Keep listening to KHVH for more on this breaking news. - KHVH News Radio Honolulu, HI

For more information and updates regarding this tropical cyclone go to NOAA.
Be sure to have all emergency kits updated, stock up on water and canned goods and any other emergency items that are necessary for weather related disasters. Don't forget to prepare for the pets as well, they too will need food, water and adequate shelter and a pet emergency kit.

Be prepared ahead of time and encourage others to do the same.

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Hawaii Preppers Roll Call

2010-11-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

The Hawaii Preppers Network is conducting a Roll Call on our forum. If you are a prepper please check in.

* Here is a link to the Roll Call:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=6208

You have to be registered to check in. If you aren't registered please join here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

* If you are a HAM Radio Operator check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=6219

* If you are an A.N.T.S. member please check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=618&t=6220

Prepping For Your Health

2010-10-07T02:59:00.001-07:00

Most of us take for granted our health and well being until we are faced with an illness that leads to setbacks and in this case it happened to be me, myself and I. Time waits for no one and nothing, so if you're down and out with the cold or flu or any type of debilitating illness that hampers your daily living and chores it's a setback. Preparing for any onset of illnesses is quite tricky, for myself it happens to be allergies. As a child I was plagued by allergic reactions to certain things as well as having asthma and eczema but as I grew older I had outgrown most of these ailments or least I thought I did. Until three months ago when something triggered it back once again in my life ugh!

Every aspect of preparing was pretty much covered what was not expected was the "unknown" element of my allergic reaction. To this day I still do not know what triggered it and neither do the doctors. Being one to not really go to the doctors unless it's an emergency, I prefer on handling my sicknesses on my own from my own kitchen pantry or medicine cabinet of homepathy remedies. Besides, this way is more practical for me and it also prepares me for when there will be no doctor on the horizon when SHTF. I keep a well stocked pantry of every kind of herb and spice not only for cooking but for medicinal uses as well to use internally and externally along with a book or list of it's uses and conditions that it helps alleviate. Here's some information regarding Tumeric. Along the lines of herbs and spices I also made it a point to research in depth Anti-inflammatory foods which is good to know so that you may stock up and prepare on these items as well.

Tea's are another item to always have on hand you can have it hot or cold and you can always recycle the tea bags by putting them in your compost. You can also use the tea bags for your eyes to help lessen any swelling. Tea's are not only good for you but they also carry multiple health benefits within them. I have a pretty stocked pantry of a variety of tea's loose and in tea bag form. Green tea, is an excellent all around beneficial health tea for the immune system as a whole. Chinese medicinal teas are another beneficial source to have on hand in bulk if possible, Chinese herbs are used to clear away toxins. I've been drinking the detox cleansing and revitalizing tea by Triple Leaf Tea for quite some time now and found that it has helped my condition significantly especially when it comes to recharging and revitalizing your immune system. Being sick and out of commission for a long time really made me aware of the things that I really needed to concentrate on moreso than ever when it came to preparing and that is my health. I would really hate to be in a crossfire struggling with an allergic reaction and someone or group of thugs trying to break in and take your emergency supplies, I really don't need that extra burden physically. So, at all costs I must avoid getting sick as much as possible and fortifying my immune system and overall health by preparing and staying as healthy as possible and always trying my best to keep on top of things. Here's a few more helpful links.

Earth Clinic
Health & Wellness
Annies Remedy
Disease fighting spices
Guide to herbs and spices

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Re: Hawaii Preppers Where Are You?

2010-10-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

rina

I wish Hawaii had a larger and more open prepping community....especially since we are so dependent on shipping. I shutter what it would be like if Matson/Horizon or any other shipping entity here in Hawaii went on strike or for some reason couldn't safely dock here in the Islands. Oh, the chaos that would occur.

Welcome our new member by following the link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=174&p=48762#
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Early Signs of Things to Come.......Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!

2010-10-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

I think this speaks for itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErUKlzRMfdA

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UN says hand them over, will you?

2010-09-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Author: cherokeenut

On another site I saw a poll asking what will you do when the blue helmets come to your door asking for your guns. 57% responded "what guns?" 35% responded "go out in blaze of glory". So here's the topic for discussion, realisticly what will you do? Your family is safe and you knew this was coming, do you hand over your weapons thereby opening yourself up to robbery, lie and say you don't have any, or that they were stolen, or pull out the semi-auto from behind your back and give the grunt 5 or 6 rounds?

To post a comment follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=4829

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How to Join The Hawaii Preppers Network

2010-09-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Come learn survival, preparedness and sustainable living with us!

The Preppers networks are all about volunteering our knowledge and skills with each other. We share ideas, tips and basically network with each other to survive any type of disaster whether natural, man made, or economic. Information that you learn and share with others will help everyone learn how to find "Freedom Through Teaching Others Self Reliance."

Joining the Hawaii Preppers Network is simple, and most of all, it's Free! To join, just follow these few steps.

1) Register to become a member of the American Preppers Network www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net The registration page is here: http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

2) Once you have your account, go to the index page of the forum and do your first post by introducing yourself in the new members area. http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/index.php

3) Once you know how to do posts, visit the Hawaii forum and introduce yourself. The Hawaii forum can be found by scrolling to the lower section of the index page where you will find a list of states, or you can go directly by following this URL: www.Hawaii.PreppersNetwork.net

4) After you've visited the Hawaii forum, follow this link to learn how to join the Hawaii Preppers Network group:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=564&t=2738

APN's success depends on your contributions. If you would like to donate to our organization by becoming a Gold Member you can join the APN Gold Members club by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/page.php?p=apn-gold-membership&sid=5b241e92a767cdfbe7a345c54dd55127
Gold Membership is only $5 per month. For a list of Gold Member benefits go here

Thank you for your support!

Just A Note

2010-09-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

Posts will resume at a later date, until I am well enough.
Thank you for your time and patience.

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The Incredible and Versatile Oil of Neem

2010-08-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard of Neem oil I would strongly suggest doing research and learn of this amazing oil and it's multiple uses and applications. With all the preparing that we each do in all categories forever branching out and expanding into infinity and beyond, I've come to learn and use this oil ritually. Neem is a natural plant and tree, it is widely referred to as the "village pharmacy" in India. With a multitude of uses and applications too much to think of even typing, here's 1001 uses of Neem Oil. I've discovered this oil in desperation when heat rash struck my skin like a vengeance. My regular physician I truly trust not because all that I received was a steroid shot, some topical ointment and antibiotic pills, which are all probably synthetic and really heals nothing at all. While doing the regular homepathy treaments on myself I needed something more than just lavender oil or tea tree oil. I needed more than tumeric, cayenne pepper, coconut oil, aloe and I can go on and on here, but I needed something that really packed a punch, a walloping punch to my sensitive skin problem.

While reading of remedies for skin problems across the web I've stumbled upon this particular oil. With nothing to lose and forever in a state of itch I decided to try it out. TheraNeem products are what I am currently using. I needed to find soaps, lotions and anything else that had Neem oil in it, in otherwords I needed to get my hands on this ASAP. Wholefood's was the first place I decided to check to see if they carried anything with this oil in it and fortunately they did. Pricey indeed it was, one bar of soap maximum strength is $9 and the skin and body lotion is $16 8 fl oz. Naturally I made the purchase and have no regrets on money well spent. Recently, I found the same brand products at another health food store much lesser pricewise and various other products under the same brand name, I for one was definitely an even happier camper discovering the lower prices. But not only this but the store was so much closer to where I live, not only was I relieved in my pocketbook but in my travel time as well.

I also have a waterless pet shampoo for cats that has neem oil within it, this one I purchased a while ago and periodically whip it out giving the cats a surprise bath. My cats really don't like it but I just smother and lather each of them in it without their knowledge of it until they're pretty lathered up, it's really funny because I always catch them off guard. It works great on fleas and garden bugs. Fleas is something we also should be aware of while preparing, here's a little bitty past history for you, The Black Death or The Bubonic Plague. Now here's a big bitty current history for you on Bubonic Plague. If anything, prepare for everything plagues and all. Get all the essential oils that will be needed to battle what may come on a physical level as well.

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Telepathic Communication

2010-07-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Now that I've got your attention, I thought that this topic would be well worth looking into. With all the different ways of communication in the world this is definitely the cheapest and you don't need to be lugging around batteries, phones, walkies and every other communication gadgets you can think of. It is another form of communication, a lost and forgotten form of communication. This is the only way communication is expressed in the spiritual realms. Animals and all other life forms communicate in this manner so why don't we? This is an excellent communication tool for preppers all you really need to do is practice and hone your skills. It really isn't as difficult as one might think it to be.

Many, many years ago my younger sister and I decided to practice communicating in this way, at first we ran through a couple of exercises and found it to be quite remarkable and fairly simple. Although we are nine years apart we are close knit and many times we have experiences as if we are twins. To start, we both sat far across one another in the living room each with pen and notepad in hand, I lead the entire process and we both switched roles as in "receiver" and "sender" throughout the entire practice session. We started out by sending each other numbers mentally, we would take turns, at first it would be single digits, then double digits and on to triple digits. I would send her a set of numbers this way and as she would receive them she'd write it down, at the same time I wrote the numbers as well on my notepad and concentrated on sending them her way. She would then write the numbers on her notepad and show me after she got the message, we would do this back and forth with one another. There was a few times though when I was receiving numbers from her her head was full of numbers and mumbo-jumbo. I then stopped and told her that she had to clear her mind in order for her to send me anything. What was happening was that her mind was racing with other junk and she had to empty it out completely in order for this to work. Both participants need to clear their minds in order to focus and concentrate to receive and send properly. The next exercise we decided to draw things on the notepad and send and receive these as well. To our surprise we were both able to achieve this manner of communication going both ways to and from one another. Our exercises were highly successful all numbers were accurate and pictures were all accurate as well.

From there on throughout my life I have been able to communicate in this manner with animals to the point where I could look at a persons photo of their pet and tell them what exactly was going on with them. I've also helped a persons dog come out of it's depressive slump and back to her winning streak in the dog shows here. On many other ocassions I have had several visits from friends and relatives, pets included that have passed on to the other side and the only way that we would communicate would be telepathically. And it would either be in the form of dreams and or in my waking state day or night. It didn't really feel any different only that you would communicate in a slightly different manner, mentally. I feel as though it's so natural for me I suppose and no, I don't read peoples minds because it's probably filled with too much junk besdies you need permission.

This is just another option that might be of interest to others regarding communications and having another form of it free of charge, no batteries needed. But you do need to practice to get good at it like anything else you do and you do need to find others that are willing to practice with you. I believe its a gift and that we all have it and what better way to make use of this gift as part of our preparedness skills.

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It's A Disaster!

2010-07-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

...and what are YOU gonna do about it? I must admit I've read a couple of disaster preparedness books, most are in the pricey range and cover quite a bit of information in a variety of topics but "It's a disaster!...and what are you gonna do about it" by Bill and Janet Liebsch has written and compiled an extensive wealth of information neatly compacted within a paperback book of 268 pages is very impressive to say the least. As far as the cost for this disaster preparedness, prevention and first aid manual those of you who were able to take advantage of the book sale got away with a deal of a lifetime! And if you missed the sale I would highly recommend purchasing this book even so now because at the regular price of $14 it's still a great price. I know because I have paid $25-45 for other disaster preparedness books and this is one of the books that everyone should have in their homes, backpacks, lockers, cars and emergency kits at all times.

This wonderful manual covers family emergency plans, kits and shelters offering tips and suggestions within each section. Another section covers disaster preparedness and prevention and what to DO before a disaster strikes in a multitude of disaster events. Section 3 covers information and tips on basic first aid with a lot of emergency first aid tips. The last section covers emergency contact names and numbers which to me is better to have all in one place in this book instead of thumbing through your phone books in time of need. There's so much more information in this book that is far more valueable to have as a preparedness guide and tool that no one should ever be without. I won't go into further detail because it is quite extensive and besides if you want to learn more about it you're going to have to order one for yourself.

In addition, these books can be used as customizable gifts~see online samples, customizable CD's, downloadable ebooks (in PDF) and there is also fundraiser programs that offer various ways of earning profits for businesses, communities, schools, groups, churches etc. It's a great way to spread the preparedness word in leaps and bounds and it's an even better way to bring together communities and individuals in a common and growing cause of concern in this day and age that we all have to live in.

For more info call Fedhealth Toll-free 1-888-999-4325 or visit http://www.itsadisaster.net/

And remember...BE AWARE...BE PREPARED...and HAVE A PLAN! This book may save your life!

Thank you Bill & Janet Liebsch for a much needed contribution in an uncertain world that needs to prepare NOW!
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Happy Birthday America!

2010-07-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Spirit of '76

The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress.

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States. -wikipedia

May the people of this great nation uphold the values and protect what our forefathers fought so hard to keep in tact it's ever abiding foundations that makes America what she is and always should stand for freedom, liberty and justice for all. And to always remember and commemorate this day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. God bless America!

4th of July history video's
101 4th of July
The Declaration and it's importance
Declaration of Independence

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Should I Prepare Organically As Well?

2010-07-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Good question. Taking the organic route just may be the sound way to go these days when it comes to healthier choices regarding produce, dairy and meat products. Although it seems pricey and a little more expensive compared to it's non-organic counterparts but with all the tax hikes taking place on this very day the playing field will level out on all produce, dairy and meat products. Everything is going up. Especially with gas going up and in Hawaii 80-90% of our commodities are shipped or flown in. So, it's unclear how much of an impact by going organic on most of my preps will be. Just recently the hubby has shifted gears into the "organics" when it comes to food in general, this is a good thing. I was hoping he'd shifted gears a long time ago but this is better than nothing I suppose. For the longest time I have always stressed to the hubby the importance of eating healthy and how much of an effect it has on ones physical wellbeing. Having high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels hubby needs to pay careful attention to what he eats. He also needs to take prescription drugs to lower these levels, the good thing though is that he does not literally camp on these medications, he takes them in moderation. With this in mind I make sure he is aware of all the different types of food products that he eats as well as all GMO's.

Preparing organically fully is great but without the funds to continue prepping this way is another story. Like any other prepping endeavor budgeting is a given to balance out the rest of the bills we have. So far so good I've been able to do this incorporating a smooth balanced budget plan towards prepping and everything else and saving a little extra on the side as a "just in case" emergency fund back-up. We regularly shop at Whole Foods probably twice a month but that store gets me so tempted into spending more it's awfully scary other than that we love this store. The regular grocery store we do frequently visit has a limited supply of natural and organically grown foods and products. One of the products it does happen to carry is from the company Organic Valley, organic valley is always organic and farmer owned since 1988 in the USA. Whole foods carries alot more of their products I am so glad! I'd rather support these farmers than any other. I have not found a farmer in my own state yet that I could trust when it comes to their produce and how it is grown and by what standards and pesticides. Interestingly enough, I did happen to come across an article regarding Whole Foods earlier in the year that you'd might want to be aware of when it comes to anything of the "organic" nature, click here and do check out the video on it. When it comes to organic, natural or what ever you still need to delve into research all the way down to the roots and fiber of anything and everything that you use and consume because anybody can say, write or stamp things on products claiming it's certified organic by so and so. The Organic Consumers Association is an excellent website filled with information reagarding organic issues.

I don't advocate going organic all the way preparedness wise because it is foolish, maybe in a perfect world this could happen but our world is far from perfect, nowhere near any horizon of perfection. Then again maybe perfected in it's state of imperfection and chaos that's about it. If and when TEOTWAWKI happens there will be no such thing as "organic" or "naturally grown" much of anything left, let alone none of this will really matter anymore. It will matter to the extent of your health in how well you've kept yourself in shape physically thus far but eventually you will have to use what ever resources you do have available. It is only prudent to have a variety of preps such as canned goods, freeze dried, dehydrated as well as an edible garden. Organic items are always a plus but without any preservatives involved I'm not sure how long these items would last or you'll just have to use them first. I must say, I really do love organic and having grown my own organic vegetable, herbs and fruit garden it's the best way to go healthwise. But, you do have to question anything else outside of your own home garden and you do have to research a little more about any other items you'd like to additionally throw into your preps when it comes to food products and what goes into them to get a better idea of what you're actually ingesting. Below is a list of other companies that may tweek your organic interest.

Nature's Path
Kashi
Bionaturae
Newmans Own Organics
USDA ORGANIC
Organic Prairie

These are just a few of the organic products that I can get here knowing that it's okay because it's not as if I can just go driving and find a farm out of nowhere off of the road selling fresh produce. Although there are a few small fruit and vege stands as you travel to the otherside of the island but I still don't trust them either and I would not travel down and over yonder just for that because I grow my own. In all my preps I have kept up in doing much needed research in everything that I have decided to store long and short term wise especially when it comes to items that we use and consume on a daily basis. This can become time consuming but it needs to be done and being in the "know" of things is always a plus in anything we do on a preparedness level.

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Hurricane Seasons 1st Forming In The Pacific Ocean

2010-06-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

The first hurricane of the season in the Pacific Ocean, Celia, reached maximum sustained winds of 105 mph monday night, according to the National Weather Service. It was reported about 3,400 miles east-southeast of the Big Island. Reported by Star-Advertiser staff and news.

Tropical storm Darby has also formed behind Celia in the Pacific Ocean, for more information go to NOAA and check out the National Hurricane Center.

With the hurricane season going into almost a month now upon us it's a good idea to make sure you have your emergency kits updated and in place. Get in the habit of doing a monthly inventory of what you have and need to replace. Have all important documents updated and sealed in Ziploc bags or any other securing methods that would prevent them from being damaged from hazardous weather conditions. Have several copies of all important documents in the event you lose them and place each set of copies in each emergency kit for every family member. If ever you and or your family are seperated you each will have some form of documentation upon each of you. Photos are another item(s) to also have for insurance purposes, loss of pets, family members, cars, homes etc. Keep several photos alongside your documents and important papers. Do a thorough check inside and outside of your home securing and fixing anything that you may need to repair ahead of any storm. If you discover your home has no hurricane clips do make it a priority to go get some now and not when the hurricane is at your doorstep. Fix and repair all windows and screens and keep an eye out for leaks through wood paneling or sliding glass doors and don't forget the roof. If anything leaks in from the outside of a home especially when it rains get it fixed immediately, don't wait for Mr. Hurricane to come knocking and say "I told you so".

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Thinking of Moving to Hawaii? Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

2010-06-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Upon moving anywhere the first thing one should do is a lot of research. If you're deciding to move to Hawaii I would strongly consider reading the states newspapers and get to know the economy and state governments, learn as much as you can about our taxes because the state of Hawaii has high taxes. Another tip is save every single penny you've got because you will need it and then some. Most of the families here live under one roof and that means grandparents, Moms and Dads, Aunties and Uncles and the children. Some if not most have multiple families living under one roof. Another fact to know is that a lot of people out here have more than one job, this is a great indication of how high the cost of living is to live in Hawaii. A lot of people here end up moving because of better job opportunities elsewhere and the high cost of living just to survive in Hawaii. Just take a look at the classified ads for rental homes or lease and fee simple homes that should give you an idea of how much homes are going for now. Here's a few in Honolulu, Pearl City, and Kaneohe on the island of Oahu. These are just a few but you can look into what ever it is that will suit your budget. Rentals can go anywhere from $1,400 and up and I believe this is the price for a studio, and even this might be higher now. Property and square footage here is very small but the price is outrageously large.

The economy here is not any better than anywhere else, we are in a recession as well. The price of food and fuel is high and it will continue to rise same goes for taxes. Because 80-90 percent of our commodities are shipped or flown in by planes from the mainland everything here is ridiculously priced beyond the stars. To make matters worse hundreds of state government workers have already been laid off and with this a few government services have also been cut. If you are thinking of moving to Hawaii I would advise you to visit this state first and just check it out for yourself and do a little sightseeing and talk to the locals and get to know what it's like from them to live here. Go on a tour and just check out homes all over the island and anything else that would help you to make any sort of descision. In fact check up with a real estate agent and go around with them to get an idea about the homes and areas and what they are going for. Every state has it's negative and positive sides but you really got to know what you want and what you are getting into before hand. If you know someone that's half the battle in making the move, if not you've got a lot of work ahead of you and we've haven't even gotten to the meat and potatoes part of "prepping" yet either. Although most of this is basically preparing for "the" move but like I've said do the homework and then do even more homework.

Another thing, regarding the Hawaiians and the land issues and history dating back to the kings and queens of this land and islands-I can't see any kind of "hawaiian revolution" happening anytime soon or at all for this very fact, they all accept government help in some form or another so go figure. Until they start living in grass shacks and living off the land and building their own canoes to fish for food and hunt for food on a daily basis like their ancestors used to without government assistance then I'd say a probability just may be there but for your sake and mine, it ain't happening-I should know because I am part hawaiian the difference for me is that I don't live off of the government, the government lives off of me. The only revolution I can see in the very near distance is of the people, by the people and for the people and when this happens nothings gonna matter. Whether you're black, white, purple, yellow or brown the only thing people will see and feel is red and that's anger, because we will all be going through what is to come upon us.

The weather here is sunny all year round, rainy as well, hot and humid too. At higher elevations depending on where you live in the islands it gets a bit cold and chilly but nothing compared to the rest of the 49 states in fact no comparison. We do have hurricane season here from June 1st to November and earthquakes we have as well. As a chain of islands situated in the middle of the Pacific ocean we are susceptable to tsunami's and we are also a part of the ring of fire. There are several inactive and or dormant volcanoes on every island, the Big Island has the active one as far as I know but one can never tell if the others will one day just mysteriously awaken-that would not be good at all. This is just a brief but short overview about Hawaii and info regarding moving here there's so much more to be written and said until then keep prepping!
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Food Storage: Herbs and Spices Info

2010-06-03T03:12:00.000-07:00

Herbs and spices are an asset to have in the pantry when it comes to preps. Salt and pepper are the basics but there is so much more besides flavoring our foods when it comes to using herbs and spices which are beneficial to our health and wellbeing. They not only make the foods that we eat taste better but they have multifunctional properties and uses. Herbs and spices are used holistically and can be used for multiple purposes. Cayenne pepper is the active ingredient in pepper spray for protection and self-defense and can also be used in the garden to ward off unwanted pests. Cayenne pepper may also be used as a medicinal herb but do check with your physician or doctor to make sure you're not allergic or have any other ailments that may negatively affect you before use. The same caution goes for all herbs and spices because some people may be adversely affected compared to others, so to be on the safe side of any usage of herbs and spices other than for cooking check with your doctor first. Also, do a lot of research and reading on all spices and herbs to be aware of the pro's and con's of each one. Tumeric happens to be one of my favorite's in my spice and herbs collection I've used it not only in my cooking and meals but also in my teas. I just love it in a curried chicken salad sandwich and you can basically add just about anything else you'd like in this sandwich recipe which makes it an even hardier sandwich, it's so yummy! I love adding apples it's so good, giving it a hint of crisp sweetness.

Annies Remedy has a really great list of herbs and spices including it's properties and uses with loads of information as well do check it out. Click here for another informative site on herbs and spices and learn more about where they all came from. When it comes to storing herbs and spices its always best to keep them in cupboards and pantries that are always closed, cool and dark away from light and heat to help keep them fresh and extend its usage, for more info go here and also check the Herbs & Spices guide. To learn more about methods for long term stock piling herbs and spices here's a good article written by Lynne Smythe.

It's a good idea to have a book or several books regarding herbs and spices chock full of information so that when you need help and advice or recipes and tips you have a guide in hand as part of your preps. I have quite a few to refer to and a couple in my BOB's, You could also put some herbs and spices in your BOB's but don't forget to periodically check on them and rotate and or replenish.

With all the herbs and spices out there I have a pretty good collection stocked in my pantry but I'm continually finding spices to use and using it on a daily basis is a plus. And by constantly using them you learn how it affects your health with its medicinal properties and you also learn to incorporate them in all of your food storage recipes which will help your food taste not only good but beneficial for you in the long run.

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Mental Preparedness

2010-05-31T05:03:00.000-07:00

The mentality of ones own mind brings to the open an awareness of great capacity to be attuned to every aspect of each of our lives. It is not just mentally thinking or having thoughts of your every waking busy daily lives but it goes beyond speaking that having an acute attunement to be able to challenge the mind in ways beyond ones ability is and by far an on going process. Our mental aptitude is greatly challenged when we enter into the realms of grade schooling and then from there onto the levels we excel into higher education passing high school and then onto college. Academically, we prepare for the fields that we choose to enter in to and make a part of our lives in hopes of better serving those around and within us by providing others with much needed services. We are all connected despite our duties and jobs in life, there cannot be one without another, nor can one be greater than another. If Walmart had no employee's nationwide there would be no Walmart and therefore you would not be able to access any of there low price items either. If farmers no longer existed all your produce would more than likely come from other nations 100%, we do still use other countries for commodities and produce is one of them. If there were no other jobs how would state or federal government jobs exist without the taxpayers paying them as well so you see the connection and dominoe effects here? How in the world would someone on welfare receive any welfare checks? Indiana Preppers Network has an excellent post that I thought the whole world should check out it's titled Stupid People Scare Me the latest post Erniej has written which I gladly give a shout-out to her and her site ten-fold. The disturbing video inbedded in that post is a riot and depression twisted into how amazingly uneducated people truly are at the least it's a sad indication of what's out there in our nation.

Now that I've got your undivided mental attention and started to work on the wheels of the mind have you ever thought about mentally preparing for the unexpected? Such as an unexpected pregnancy? Or how about coming home to only find out that the entire house is engulfed in flames because of an electrical shortage that was suppose to be repaired but you kept letting it slide because of other things going on? Here's a better one, your bills are piling up and the credit cards have all been maxed out beyond its limits and the collectors are knocking at your front door and as you open the door you come to discover that much that you have are all about to be confiscated, which by the way isn't much to be taken to begin with but its all that you have materialistically that you happen to cling to with your dear life?. And what happens when you find out for the very first time that a family member is involved with drugs or worse a murder? Your mind will be blown away and much of you will be taken aback and more than likely in deep shock, you won't know where to begin to think. These are only small instances among the millions of things, issues, circumstances or what ever you want to call them that happen to people everyday. The effects mentally are by far mind boggling, no one is ever prepared mentally when the unexpected happens to them.

When you think about it we are each mentally challeged daily, we are programmed to be mentally alert in all that we do and think whether you are studying for an exam or just waking up in the morning and thinking of all the tasks ahead of the day for you. Your emotional state of balance is also interconnected here as well but that's a another post I will tackle next. Everyone is different and unique in there own ways and no two lives are identical and in knowing this our paths vary usually along the lines of our learning processes throughout our lives. Our mental state of being is dependent largely on the environment that we are surrounded by it thrives and pierces the very fibers of the minds of men and women constantly. We live in a world that demands a great deal of our time, money and efforts be it mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. The question here is how does one mentally prepare for anything?

In the event of a disaster the mental aspect of a person will be tremendously challenged and put to the test. The mind will exceedingly have to be in collaboration with the other aspects of the self. You will have to be executing descisions instantaneously whether you like it or not and some of the choices will be "do with or without" or worse yet a matter of "do or die" case scenarios. None of us will truly know the answers to these questions until "that" something ever does happen until then educating the mind in these areas to a greater extent would be a good idea. Fear will play a big role in how well we fare in a disaster event but that's all part of it but if you are properly prepared mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially you'll be able to balance everything else and do what is needed to be done by focusing on the situation at hand allowing you to move through trying times with strength and agility. I'm not eliminating the difficulties that we each may encounter because it will all be there magnified but at least you will have a somewhat good handle on things I am hoping and praying. No one prepared me for my marriage I did, no one prepared me for the deaths and loss that ocurred in my family I did and I continually do so as each loved family member passes through the years, no one prepared me for the economic down turn that our nation is currently facing I prepare myself for these things constantly. I have never lived beyond my means, I have shopped at Savers, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores for years and have saved quite a bit of money in doing so. I was never one for trends or going out to get my nails done on a weekly basis. I cut my own hair, cook my own meals, garden my own produce and eat it too, I find others who grow fruits or vege's in their yards and ask if they have extra or if they want to get rid of or trade and barter. When I do go to the grocery store its not much I do purchase just the basics bread, milk, eggs, sambazon drinks, chicken, fish that's about it. I guess you could call me the frugal shopper and with good reason. So, in light of all this I prepare myself mentally so I don't end up with sticker shock from rising prices and in doing the things that I do and how I do them I am better able to deal with the coming calamities. I don't need a lot of make-up either to mask what I truly look like. I used to wear a lot only because I used to sing and perform many moons ago but as the years rolled on I wore less and less to the point of not much at all which I am glad I prefer the natural unclogged face look. Besides, if "SHTF" who's gonna care what you look like or how much money you may have had or that expensive trendy bag you're toutin' on your shoulder? Who's even gonna care if you're a CEO of some big company? What's gonna really matter is how well you endure and your ability to survive mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It's all up to you and how well you prepared on all fronts. Your survival skills will be dependent on all areas including food, water, medical, shelter and adapting, these will be the only commodities that will be scarce and the only trend that will be in vogue is survival.

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Physical Preparedness

2010-05-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

Exercise is extremely important especially if you're gonna have to hike some major mileage using the trusty old "footmobile". You'll also want to be fit and fuel your body with the proper nutrients that it will need to endure and have tremendous stamina when you'll need to hike it to your bug-out fort. Take into consideration all the preps that you'll have to carry and lug with you along the way, you'll need quite a bit of energy to take you to where you're heading to and you'll probably have no car by then. When you think about it the United States is one of the unhealthiest nations around. Seems obesity is rampant, diseases of every kind in just about everyone which is evident by all the medication that is prescribed annually to millions of people. Our society is so fixated on quick fixes, fast foods, medications, sugar and fatty foods that really do the body no good at all. I'm certainly aware of "moderation" but is everyone else? Now, when you have an illness that needs medications that truely do not heal you but keep you only dependant upon them how is it that you will ever get better? If ever SHTF tomorrow how many would survive and be able to physically run to the hills without killing over? How would one continue to get medicine for diabetes? And if you're obese and have not even tried to do some form of exercise will you be able to hike the miles that one needs to GOOD? It will be quite a challenge and if you're out of shape you just won't make it because your body will probably revolt and go into shock because of the abrupt nature it has to adapt to in an instance.

Having exercised from my early twenty's physical fitness comes naturally for me. I have incorporated it into my life for years and continue to do so. I pay close attention to what the body needs by eating lots of fruits and vegetables and watching all sugar and salt intake every step of the way. I drink more water than anything else out there on the market because I know everything else is nothing but pure sugar and I don't need to be another diabetic statistic. I gave up drinking sodas almost twenty years ago cause I don't need it. My sugar intake is minimal relying heavily on sugar provided by the fruits that I do eat. Although I'll have an ocassional candy bar or bubble gum here and there but nothing where I'll gorge myself into oblivion. Put it this way, I can buy a carton of ice cream and let it sit in my freezer for the longest time to only find out when I do want to eat it it's all gone because the hubby ate it all over the short duration that I did have it in the freezer becasue he ate it. Salt has a tendency to make you thirsty and sugar seemingly makes you want to eat something salty. I do drink tons of herbal teas in the mornings and evenings, I also love the loose tea's as well and they are all non-sugar teas that's the only way that I'll drink it. Arizona tea's all have sugar in them.
There's another drink that I enjoy though it's the Sambazon drinks, it's really yummy with lots of acai berries which are really healthy for you. I drink a bottle of this everyday sometimes two in a day it's that good I even make smoothies with it, so good! It's like a gatorade for me except without the unhealthy sugar involved.

Keeping fit and healthy as best as possible will ultimately take you a great distance especially if you need to travel by foot up and down hills and mountains and long distances which you'll never know how far you may have to go or travel to get to safety in a hurry and if you can run it's a plus but you need to have endurance and stamina on your side as well. My advice would be to condition yourself physically and prepare your body top to bottom. Don't forget to invest in a good pair of shoes or several pairs of shoes, take care of your feet because they will take you where you will need to go. Every night my feet gets the spa treatment in my tub from myself by way of foot scrubbing, massaging and brushing and trimming of the nails. My feet takes me everywhere and I need to take care of it properly because if ever the time will arise for me to sprint, run or walk I will know that I conditioned and prepared it for that moment and beyond and everything else physically will align and fall into place allowing me to be fully prepared physically with the endurance and stamina that I have taken the time to condition myself for. The rest of my body gets a MAJOR workout at the place where I work and I just love the thought of working out and getting paid for it.

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Preparedness Training in First Aid and CPR

2010-05-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

Part of being prepared also includes training and educating oneself in various areas encompassing your preparedness efforts. In doing so you will be enhancing and empowering your knowledge and abilities to become better prepared and of much needed value and assistance to those around you in the event of a disaster where others may lack the skills and knowledge that you may have acquired to save someone's life.
This very same skill and knowledge may also be direly needed if all emergency service responders are nowhere to be found after 72 hours. Ready or not natural disasters and man made disasters are gonna happen and have been happening more frequently than usual it is imperative to always be prepared.

By participating in first aid and CPR training courses you will learn to provide relief and help to victims of disaster and become better equipped to respond to emergencies whether it is in the home, at work or where ever you may be when an emergency or disaster occurs. Having proper training in these areas will allow you to also assist family members as well as your neighbors if ever the need arises. This past Saturday I was able to attend the Red Cross training course and became certified in first aid and CPR. In this class we learned how to recognize and respond to emergencies that are often signaled by unusual sights, appearances or behaviors, odors, and noises that are often not easy to see or identify. We also learned how to avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids by using protective barriers and following standard precautions. Having knowledge about the Good Samaritan Laws provides legal protection to people who willingly give emergency care to an ill or injured person without accepting anything in return. These laws differ from state to state, and usually protect citizens who act the same way that a "reasonable and prudent person" would if that person were in the same situation. Here's the Hawaii Good Samaritan Act.

A great deal of information was delivered in this class in the areas of breathing and choking emergencies, rescue breathing, cardiac emergencies, CPR and unconscious choking, AED, soft tissue injury, injuries to the muscles, bones and joints, sudden illness, heat and cold related emergencies, and first aid application exercises in emergency action steps and first aid procedures and CPR as well as AED. In having the basic knowledge, skills and training in these areas an individual will be able to to give immediate care to an ill or injured person until more advanced medical care arrives. This is an excellent preparedness tool to have under one's belt at all times because anything can happen when you least expect it.

The Red Cross CPR and AED certification is valid for one year, and First Aid certification is valid for 3 years. A thought has crossed my mind regarding certification validity which is, what would happen if on a global scale disaster wise how and or just maybe would one be able to certify again? Especially in a SHTF scenario, civility, laws and paperwork and so forth will all become void in a chaotic state. Having things up to date will no longer matter, what will matter is what you know and the skills that you have acquired before hand. All updating on documents, certificates, bank accounts and the like need to be done prior and before hand and likely so on a continuous basis just to be ahead of the game and somewhat prepared.

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Flash Flood Watch for O'ahu, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau

2010-05-02T03:16:00.000-07:00

A flash flood watch has been issued for the islands of O'ahu, Kaua'i, and Ni'ihau, effective tonight at midnight and continuing through Sunday by the National Weather Service. Heavy rainfall is expected throughout the islands take extra precautions to be prepared for heavy flooding. A flash flood watch means that flash flooding is possible but not immenent in the watch area. Residents are advised to monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to act should a flash flood warning be issued.

The Saturday evening news weather report stated that the rains should begin sometime after midnight but would reach the island of O'ahu sometime tomorrow Sunday afternoon. This is an excellent time to go over your emergency supplies and see if eveything is in working order. Make sure you have an ample supply of batteries, have all vehicles fueled, if you need to recharge the cell phone or any other electrical supply or tool do it now while there is still electricity, don't forget to also recharge the camera battery and have extra memory sticks in the event that you'll need to use a camera. Do an inventory on your water supply and food storage if you find that you have a few items that need restocking do them now before the heavy rains begin.
Do a quick check on your first-aid kit making sure that all you need is there and updated, get rid of anything expired and replace those items.

If you live in a house do spot checking in and outside looking for weak spots that may leak, double check the roofing as well to avoid any leakage coming from above. Check all windows making sure the seals are solid and secure that would prevent water from coming into the house. If you live in low lying areas do take the extra time and precautions that is needed to safely secure your property and alleviate heavy damage from excess water. Apartment and Condo's will probably need to fasten and secure furniture and items on balconies. If the electricity goes out depending where you live on the island you just might not be able to have the elevator to take you up to the 15th floor that you happen to live on in a condominium. And if you have fish tanks that rely on electrical pumps without back-up you'll probably lose your aquatic pets. A generator comes in real handy when electricty goes out completely but make sure you also stocked up on gasoline for that generator and you know how to run and operate it safely and properly. Hazardous weather conditions can create problems where and when we least expect them. Always be alert to changes in the weather broadcasts and be prepared to take action if conditions worsen.

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Hazardous Effects of Vog In The Hawaiian Islands

2010-04-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Honolulu Advertiser's Sunday newspaper has this very important article on the front page about volcanic vog that has a multitude of hazards that we face here in the hawaiian islands. On a preparedness level I strongly felt that it should shared with all of you. For the full article click here.

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Stranded and Ill Prepared

2010-04-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

Imagine being stranded and ill prepared. Just the thought alone is an unsettling nightmare well, that's exactly what thousands of people are going through in Europe. About a week ago Iceland's volcanic eruption created such a plume filling the air with volcanic ash that literally stretched across the region. The domino effect took place immediately airlines cancelled flights due to the ash affecting the engines of the planes creating an astronomical financial loss to the travel industry. In turn this affected all passengers scrambling to find flights back home. 40,000 Americans stranded most of these stranded people did not prepare on spending more money just to survive comfortably in an uncomfortable situation. In fact people were running out of their meds. Imagine if you will living off of credit cards. This is probably the scenario that the majority of passengers are having to do and I am sure each and everyone of them are completely strapped for cash in this instance alone.

What about sanitary conditions? How does one take a shower in a situation like this? I'm positive the restrooms are a complete mess to say the least and the lines that you'd have to wait and stand in just to use the toilet, it would be prudent to have an extra roll of toilet paper tucked away in your bag for times like these. If you have children or even babies how does one even grasp the magnitude of sanity in those conditions? Travelling with a pet? How will the pet be fed and watered as well as relieved and don't forget about your pet's stress level because they do stress out as well. People aren't the only ones that experience stress in times of trouble and uncertainty. Now, where will you get food from? And how much will that be? With the current situation at hand food supplies will and definitely be affected as well. The effects will take place in the shipping process to the trucking process as well as the growing process, do you see the domino effect here? Mother nature once again slaps some hard facts and situations to deafening ears and ill prepared people. The frequency of these disasters are hard not to pay attention to sadly no one listens nor pays attentative attention.

Just because we go on vacations or travel across the globe from time to time does not mean that we have to let our guard down, preparedness NEVER goes on a vacation always remember that. What it does mean is that we have to be even more vigilant preparedness wise. Nowhere in the world any human being is safe from any and all disasters natural or man made that's just how it is folks. You can always prepare especially when you go on trips. Take that extra step to have a decent amount of preps with you "just in case". It's always better to be safe than sorry and a "happy camper" instead of a "miserable camper" along with thousands of other campers. An idea of preparedness would be is to have a friend or many in every place that you travel to or visit so that in the event of an emergency you'll have that back-up plan and friends will be there to help you and you can do the same for them when they travel to your neck of the woods if something happens. Keep those connections tight and strong so that you'll never have to end up stranded and ill prepared.

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Expanding Your Preparedness Efforts

2010-04-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

Preparedness in general can be overwhelming due to the many facets involved in preparing. You not only have to be in constance with your food storage program but you also have to be aware and knowledgeable of what and how you store items. The Shelf life of differing food items coincide with climate and temperatures according to where you live in the United States, the colder it is the longer the shelf life. Living in Hawaii we have a shorter shelf life for many food storage items because of the climate, since we live in the tropics it's pretty hot and sunny all year round and we have to deal with the humidity and moisture as well. Homes here do not come equipped with basements unless you have built one within the home from the start. Having knowledge in storing dehydrated, freezedried, canned and fresh foods is one of the most important things to understand and know when it comes to storing up food. There is a great deal of books and online info out there that can overwhelm you just as well and then theres always the trial and error effect where you get the hands on learning skills which I think most of us can account for. Knowledge is power and every step of the way we are learning and growing in the much needed skills of preparing.

Gardening and farming is another area that not only expands beyond the moon and stars its just plain endless like the sky. Theres so much that goes into gardening I'm tired just thinking about it, from Non-Hybrid Seeds to hybrid seeds, soil, mulch, composting, Beneficial Insects, raised gardens, rain barrels etc. need I say more.
And farming is even tougher its hard work. You not only have a variety of animals to feed but you also have to know how to care and feed them and raise and butcher them and defend and protect them from other wildlife critters that want to eat them as well. I don't know didley squat about farming but I'm sure it is extremely labour intensive work and I admire and appreciate those who do have farms and homesteads who are able to do these things because you have a great deal of knowledge and know-how, to me you have an edge above urban and suburbanites. Therefore I shall always seek your wisdom and knowledge regarding many prepper topics and issues.

Having a first-aid kit is a must for every household but what also should be implemented with it is some basic skills of administering first-aid when an emergency arises. Taking a basic training course in First-Aid from the Red Cross would be very helpful in the event you find yourself facing an unpredictable emergency it may just save someones life or all it may take is a bandaid and some ointment, what ever the case may be you will be prepared to spring into action if need be. You can also take a course in the training program called CERT Community Emergency Response Team, the class is FREE, you learn how to respond to emergencies and disasters within your community helping neighbors and family members as well as at work. In the event emergency reponders are spread thin and they won't reach people after 72-hours have passed. An ideal class and course for neighborhood communities, churches, schools, families, employers, employees, and EVERYONE.

I have not even begun to scratch the surface on every single prepapredness topic that there is to scratch but this just gives you an idea of how much each entails and within each one there are gazillions of research and knowledge that can be learned expanding evermore into the abyss of the world of preparedness. Theres so much to learn and grow from here that I don't think I'll even learn it all before I leave this planet for good. But what can also be done in addition to this never ending "prepper" adventure and discovery is the ability to teach others and share the wisdom and knowledge that you have gained throughout this journey. Never think you aren't good enough or that you don't have what it takes to inspire and help others with what you know. We all have gifts, although some of us may not hold official college degrees in our hands but we each do have skills in other areas that can help implement others that are lacking in different areas where a need is seeked out by another. That's the beauty of teaching and learning. And when you're stumped for a guest speaker for your churches preparedness functions or fairs utilize the members that have the know-how in each category when it comes to emergency preparedness events. I believe you would be empowering one another and strengthening the "prepper" connections. As time goes on you will have expanded your preparedness efforts by leaps and bounds just by planting one seed and watching it grow infinitely.

2010 Hawaii Tax Day Tea Party

2010-04-07T05:42:00.000-07:00

The government has gotten bloated at our expense and as they continue to misrepresent us and repeatedly refuse to hear our voices they keep raising taxes to fatten their wallets, ways and power. It is up to we the people to voice our concerns and raise some issues towards the government and to let them know that they shall be held accountable. By attending this protest rally you are making your voice heard and making a difference. Strength is in numbers so tell all to attend. It is our right as law abiding citizens to voice our opinions especially when it comes to our livelyhoods. Let them know that their days are numbered in office and we shall not forget come November! As a reminder our politicians and legislators are preparing to tax the living daylights out of every single citizen in Hawaii in the months and years ahead, in knowing this do make it a point to attend this important rally. I will see you all there April 15th 2010!
Click here for more info!

Urban & Suburban: Living Off A Small Parcel of Land

2010-03-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

Urban and suburban living does afford one the opportunity to live off the land or shall I say your portion of property despite the small size. If you have grown flowers and others plants landscaping the surroundings of your home you can always transform them into edible gardens. If your home or apartment is surrounded by concrete landscapes you can also have and grow a potted garden indoors as well as outdoors or on your balcony. You could also try a hanging vegetable garden as well. At Gardening Know How you can find many great tips and articles regarding urban and suburban gardening. Learn to make the most out of your property and begin to save lots of money just by growing your own vegetables and fruits and in doing so you free up much needed income that can be used for other preps.

Another great saving tip are coupons, in several states its possible to purchase a mountain of groceries totalling in the hundreds of dollars and just by using a multitude of coupons you end up paying maybe 30-40 dollars. Well, that's not quite the case for residents that live in the state of Hawaii. Here you are only allowed to use one coupon per item, either the store coupon itself or the newspaper inserted ads coupon. How in the world can one truly save here in the islands by such pathetic restrictions on coupons? Most of the time the coupons are for worthless items, there's only so much hair dye one can have besides you can't eat that nor would I want to store it. I may find another use for it in the future but for now I don't think so.
We also can't use internet generated coupons even if they are from the official companies website, I've tried that one and the stores excuse was they did not want to take it because of fraud even though I explained the validity of the company. Coupons are a good source of savings but frankly I don't rely on them much here in Hawaii. What I do rely on is the sales and keeping up on them on a weekly basis. I also rely on a sound garden that will always ensure harvests year after year.

PRIVACY ALERT!

2010-03-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

Spokeo.com is an intrusive website that I have just learned about from the dare to prepare website in an article. In the search bar I typed my husbands name and everything came up including a nice big color photo of the front of our house! Some if not most of the other information placed there was pretty inaccurate but the point is where and when did these people happen to come to my house and take this picture? And the photo looked quite recent. They also had our address, p.o. box address, phone number and a whole list of other information about the both of us! I even looked into family members and my husbands co-workers and let me tell you it was VERY disturbing to find this stuff floating around out on the web for EVERYONE to see.

Do go to the article listed above in the dare to prepare link because it tells you how to also remove all your info. I did write them an angry letter tactfully, so you also might want to add a letter of your own in disgust as I did. This is real scary to see this much info about yourself out there. Always keep vigilant and never stop preparing!

Prepared and Ready

2010-03-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Nothing comes as a surprise to me in these times that we are living in. From another assault on our Constitution by the Pelosi strategy to the California budget crisis where 22,000 teachers could lose their jobs this year. And talk about a police state the Feds are already on Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn and Twitter is this an infringement on our privacy or what?! States may hold onto tax returns for months and in the state of Hawaii that's well beyond July of this year. Also, is the US anticipating something in the middle east that we should all know about? Obama surrenders gulf oil to Moscow? What the hell is he thinking and why? This is really reassuring when it comes to "jobs growth" but not for you and I or the rest of America more along the lines of ensuring government growth under the guise of available jobs. Nothings a secret anymore when it comes to government, the Penatgon has added Wikileaks an online source of information and documents that governments and corporations around the world would prefer to keep secret. This makes one wonder if they are throwing a line out to see what kind of fish they are going to catch. And finally, only now they've come to the conclusion that US kids are fatter than believed?

Well, just to let you know people and preppers we sure got our work cut out for us and it never stops churning and spewing out at us each and everyday. With the way the world is going we each have to navigate ourselves accordingly, we also need to be alert and aware of so many mind boggling issues that directly affect us. Do not lose sight of what is taking place and what needs to be done on a preparedness level. Focus on where you are at in preparing and reinforce what needs to be stepped up a bit more. Start that garden or add to it even moreso, spend where it is needed and not wanted in order to balance the budget when it comes to your preps items, do weekly or monthly inventory checks on all food storage items and don't forget to rotate and replenish what you used. Keep all cars in working order with a full tank of gas at all times, don't forget the pets emergency supplies and kits need to be updated and in order as well, have your water storage systems or bottled water, rain barrels thoroughly checked, replaced and maintained as well. Do a routine check on all storage items from clothing, medical supplies, toiletries, and anything else that is needed. Because when everything else fails around you, you'll be ready and prepared!

Preparing to Vote

2010-03-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

We the People of the United States of America have endured quite a whirlwind of roller coaster rides through the years of endless deceptions and lies from our own governmental branches. I need not explain myself when it comes to republican and democrats and the congress. It is of great importance that we each must pay attention more so than ever now because of all the charades being played out in the political field. With eight and a half months to go before we all are set to vote all eyes are on every politician. It is impossible to forget the ignorance and arrogance portrayed by the very ones that are supposed to represent us and do the peoples will of America. But I must remind you my fellow brothers and sisters there is nothing more scarier than individuals voting for those who paint a pretty picture and lace it with "sweet nothings" who claim they will do what the people want then turn around and do the complete opposite, exhibit A. our current president.

The people of America are on a path of revolution as I see it and this will continue and probably worsen sooner than later. Our nation has been asleep at the wheel for as long as I could remember and only recently we have all been waking up. It is important to keep up with past, present and current economic issues because it affects us all on some level or another. It is also important to keep watch on global issues, forgetting not of other countries as well because we are connected there to. The United States Constitution is something we should all get into the habit of memorizing, especially the Bill of Rights, get to know these and empower yourselves because we are all being under attack from all angles. Do not let the government take away your rights or spin it the way they deem fit, if you do you will be very sorry.

Remember every single politician come November and do not let any of them spin a different web around your already dizzying thoughts. Yes, they will toss to the media more lies and deceptions about one another when the time nears for voting but don't let that sway your heart mind and spirit. Search deep within yourself and weigh things out for yourself, don't let mudslinging influence your decisions go with your gut feelings because normally that's the right one to follow. Way before the presidential elections I already had a bad gut feeling about Barack Obama therefore I voted for another. I realized how easily swayed people become into voting and now I am sure most regret voting for the "annointed one". By no means I am saying to vote for one party or another because in my mind, heart and spirit they are all from the same tree just different branches. It is you who will decide to vote for who ever it is that you think is the right candidate for the position that will represent us, the people well. Choose cautiously and wisely.

And for those of you who do not vote, I would strongly urge you to get involved because this also affects you too whether you realize it or not. If for a second you do not think that your vote will not make a difference look what happen when the people voted for Barack Obama, they voted for "hope and change" which they surely got indeed. By voting you are making your voice and opinions heard. Not voting ensures that your views won't matter to elected officials. Think about it and make an effort for your country. If you think that all candidates are bad do some research on them and where they stand on many issues, there are also third party or independent candidates to choose from if neither major party candidate interests you. Always remember nothing gets a politicians attention more than votes. Also remember, Congress affects every aspect of our daily lives and often more directly by state and local government. Here's a tidbit to remind you that all the roads you drive on, air that you breathe, water that you drink, food that you eat, schools that teach your children, parks that you visit, and the freedom that you enjoy-are all a function of government. We live in a democracy, with a government that is by and for the people. We are the government, as long as we vote.

Preparing Starts with You

2010-03-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

The earthquake that viciously struck Chile is a tremendous indication and sign of more things to come in the near future. Before this was the earthquake of Haiti leaving thousands of people dead, missing and homeless. Let us also not forget the earthquake that struck Japan as well just about a day before Chile. What I have found that was so strikingly chilling is that how the governments of these countries seemingly went MIA leaving the people out to fend for themselves and taking so long in restoring law and order. Looting would take precedence over anything else after such a devasting disaster occured. Governments from across the globe should take notice of how ill prepared the people as well as their own governments were in the aftermath of such destructive forces mother nature had thrown down upon them.

From the governments down to the people, each and every individual should learn to become more responsible in handling disasterous situations such as these. And what I mean by this is that teach one another the how's, why's and what's to do in the event of any type of disaster. Empower one another to pick up the pieces and join forces together in restoring things from a different level, don't wait for help to arrive. Look how long it took help to arrive to these devastated areas. If ever there was a nation or country that could do this they would be an awesome country I believe. Channel the stress into helping one another on a grand scale which just may defray all the looting that takes place to begin with. Furthermore, it's quite evident that looting has become an immediate response to any and every natural disaster that does take place. Knowing this governments should immediately implement police officials, national guards, etc to protect business and properties as well. In doing this maybe they could alleviate all the looting by finding a way to distribute what ever food and emergency supplies that they have on hand from these stores in a more civil manner before help from other countries actually do arrive.

Delegating people that are fit to help in many ways should also be utilized almost immediately, in doing so you channel much needed energy to help the mass population on a larger scale. To me this is the only way a country will be able to survive in using there own resources and abilities to help one another. Everyone is well equipped with skills and what better time to spring into action and use them is when disasters strike. Another thing I have noticed is that everyone ends up feeling sorry for themselves, and I keep hearing "no one's helping us, where's the help?" Well, how's about helping yourselves first of all then helping those around you with what you know. From these few observations alone people around the globe are definitely ill prepared. It is each and everyone of our responsibility to prepare whether they say "you can never prepare enough for....". Nope, I just don't buy it. We have all the resources, ways and means of preparing for any and everything. If there's a will there is definitely a way. As diverse as each of us are we all have that opportunity to prepare whether its on a small or large scale no matter where we live in the world. If your government don't teach you this take the intiative and be a beacon to others

On the other hand governments can only go so far and teach you so much about preparedness, the rest is up to you. Frankly, I'd rather not rely on government because they have a terrible proven track record in helping others, example...hurricane Katrina. The importance of self-reliance could never be stressed more so now than ever because the type of climate that we are all living in is just too unstable and unpredictable. Here's a few reminders, job loss in the millions, foreclosures of homes, natural disasters occurring almost on a monthly basis, rising taxes, food shortages, crop failures due to extreme weather the list goes on and on, I would think at least by now something would click in the minds of people in general but then again that's wishful thinking on my part I guess. To put things in a nutshell and wrap up this post prepare, prepare, prepare and don't wait for someone else because ultimately it's going to come down to you, it's going to start with you and it's going to end with you.

Hawaii Dodged a Bullet...Again

2010-03-01T00:58:00.000-08:00

Indeed it is true, the state of Hawaii has dodged yet another bullet when it comes to natural disasters. But I would not for a second think that things will be hunky dory here sitting out in the middle of the Pacific after missing what would have been devastating for our state. There are more disasters to come I feel nationwide and we are definitely not exempt from our share of natural disasters here in Hawaii. With each near miss disaster that our state has experienced I tend to observe how the people here react and exactly how they prepare or not. And from my observations on a scale from 0-10 I'd say the majority level of preparedness residents here fall into is half of zero to maybe a quarter of one. I find this rather disturbing, the state and city and county of honolulu may be prepared to the fullest extent by leaps and bounds but on an individual level, per person I'd give everyone an "F".

Maybe I have not come across very much of any preppers here, but I am sure they exist but from what I see and know only a handful or less are preppers, a greater majority of them reside in the mormon churches which I am so glad and happy for! If there were more prepared people I think I would have heard from them by now. Despite the low numbers I will continue carrying the message out and informing the mass as much as possible about the importance of preparing in all aspects. There are just too many disasters happening all over the world to not become aware of and prepared for. And what makes matters more serious now is that they are happening more frequently than they ever have. So with this in mind it's a good habit to form by being prepared for anything and everything always.

Tsunami State Warning for Hawaii Updated

2010-02-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

Listen to all civil defense officials and obey all warning and evacuation updates. Stay away from all shores and coastal areas and start heading to higher ground way ahead of time to avoid traffic and congestion throughout the island.

Tsunami Warning ETA:

Hilo 11:05a
Maui 11:26a
Oahu 11:37a
Kauai 11:42a

These are just rough estimates in time arrival for the tsunami, keep in mind that this can change at any time due to the unpredictability of tsunami's and always stay posted on updates from your local TV broadcasts and radio. As a reminder tsunami waves come in successions, meaning one wave after another. Which this in turn varies on the length and size as well as how often and by the time intervals that each wave will be arriving one after another. The first wave could be small or large following with larger or smaller waves continuing one after another in this manner. Which ever the case this is a very dangerous and hazardous situation to be aware and alert to at all times. From the updates alone they are saying that it could go on for hours after the first intial impact so do NOT let your guard down nor return to your homes until it is safe to do so and the civil defense has issued an OK to return.

If you have not prepared and stocked up by now it is urged to do so. Keep in mind that you alongside the gazillions of others that have not prepared will be with you as well. Prepare to evacuate if you live in flood zones. Read your telephone book, in the very few front pages there you will find the flood zoned areas and who will need to evacuate if need be. Please keep 911 calls to a limit and only use them if it is an emergency, do NOT tie up emergency lines. Things to have as a preparedness kit would be:

5-7 days food per person
5-7 days water per person
All important documents in ziploc bags
Water for sanitation and pets
Pet food, travel kennels, collars and leashes, etc.
Medications
Sanitation and toilettrie items
Gas for cars
Baby food and items
And anything else that you and your family may need

This Tsunami is a very serious disaster and I hope and pray that everyone here takes this very seriously and do prepare and be ready for the unpredictable. For more info and updates click here.

Tsunami Warning in Effect for Hawaii

2010-02-27T03:48:00.000-08:00

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake has struck South America's west coast friday night. The quake struck about 8:30 pm Hawaii time. For more information click here. The article states that most of the Pacific region is under a tsunami warning after a destructive earthquake struck the central coast of Chile measuring 8.8. Chile was also known to have the most powerful earthquake on record dating back to May 22nd 1960 having a 9.5 magnitude quake. That very same earthquake generated a tsunami that hit Hilo, Hawaii causing 61 deaths, destroying Hilo downtown with damages estimating in the millions.

People living on the coastlines here in Hawaii should be prepared and ready to move to higher grounds. Have a family plan and listen to all news and radio broadcasts and keep updated and informed of what is going on at all times with earthquakes becoming more frequent in and around the world the Pacific region is especially vulnerable to these kinds of disasters. Be alert and be prepared!

Compost Nature's Fertilizer

2010-02-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

Here's my compost pile enclosed in galvanized wire fencing

filled with green and brown waste. Surrounding the base I

planted flowers, catnip and a few pineapple plants to give it a

pleasant visual effect. It is also beneficial to have flowers and

plants that will attract the right type of bugs and insects that

can boost a better compost pile.

Composting is an excellent way to recycle your green and brown waste, as a wonderful fertilizer compost has a lot of nutrients that plants and soil thrive on to help your garden grow healthy and vibrant plants. Some of the beneficial qualities compost has is it adds organic matter back into the soil which improves the way water interacts with the soil. Compost also protects plants against drought, in sandy soils it acts as a sponge to help retain water in the soil that would drain down below the reach of plant roots. Compost also inoculates the soil with vast numbers of beneficial bacteria, fungi better known as microbes and the habitat that microbes need to thrive and live in.

Air, water and food is needed to maintain a compost pile so make sure that your compost has adequate aeration for your pile and microbes by thoroughly breaking up and mixing in any ingredients that may mat down and exclude air. Your pile should be moist to fit the needs of the compost microbes, at the moisture level there should be a thin film of water coating every particle in the pile, making it very easy for the microbes to live and disperse themselves throughout the compost pile. Fruits and vegetable wastes have plenty of moisture as well as fresh green grass clippings and garden thinnings. Composting microbes need two kinds of food, "browns" are dry and dead plant materials such as straw, dry brown weeds, autumn leaves, and wood chips or sawdust. "Greens" are are fresh and often green plant materials such as green weeds from the garden, kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps, green leaves, coffee grounds, and tea bags. Compared to browns, greens have more nitrogen in them. Nitrogen is a critcal element in amino acids and proteins, and can be a protein source for billions of multiplying microbes.

Another good thing to know about composting is what NOT to compost. Avoid chemically-treated wood products and sawdust that contain arsenic, a highly toxic ingredient because it can be leached into the soil which is bad for compost. Diseased plants should also be avoided to eliminate reinfecting next year's garden. Human wastes can contain disease organisms that will make people very sick, avoid this one like the plague. Meat, bones and fatty foods waste materials are very attractive to pests, in an urban setting this could mean rats. Pernicious weeds such as morning glory/bindweed, sheep sorrel, ivy, and several kinds of grasses. Pet wastes, NEVER use dog and cat feces because they may carry diseases that can infect humans. For more Info on composting click here.

Food Storage Replenishing Idea's

2010-02-05T04:36:00.000-08:00

A simple task can become overwhelming when it comes to food storage replenishing what you use can also be a chore to continue, yet it always needs to be done. I find that whenever I don't restock items to my food storage supplies on a continuous basis within a timely manner I end up playing catch-up. And it always trickles down into other items that I need to restock making it a weak link in my supplies and the way that I manage my FS plan. With this in mind, I have created an inventory list to remind me each week of what items need to be replaced and how much of it. I set a simple list of say 5-10 items for the first week of the month continuing this list for the entire month with various items for each week.

The first week I may list items from each categorical group for example:

Canned: Week 1

Soups
Vegetables
Fruits
Meats
Beans

Paper Goods: Week 2

Toilet paper
Paper plates
Paper towels
Napkins
Kleenix tissue

Keeping in mind of your budget and watching the sales ads in the newspaper and using coupons. I have a very small kitchen, so this reminds me of organizing along the way of replenishing my preps and utilizing other areas around and within the home. All of these factors run through my head as I'm building and rebuilding my food storage supplies as well as rotating on a regular basis. It is tideous and brings a whole new meaning to multitasking, makes me really appreciate how squirrels store food for the winter in a gigantic way.

Another thing I have to factor in is the hubby, he's not too keen on my food storage plan or the idea of having preps at all. Which does make things a bit difficult at times but definitely not impossible to work around. I end up doing most if not all of my preps shopping without the hubby simply because he can become a road block and just flat out thwart my efforts in preparing period. And I'm not about to stop my FS plans because he thinks it's silly or a waste, because the day will come and it will when something major will hit us all and he will be very grateful that I as a squirrel did stock-up and store food and much needed items beforehand.

Your Barter Connections

2010-02-04T04:03:00.000-08:00

Bartering has been around for centuries and it has proven time and time again an excellent way of trading or swapping services in exchange for unwanted goods or other services such as fixing cars or cleaning homes. Typically you can barter just about anything of value or use to another that you no longer need or have use for. I have noticed that bartering has been picking up some steam lately with bartering groups on the internet as well as companies that have a certain level of bartering incorporated in their businesses. Our newspapers in our state has ads in the classifieds that offer people to trade things and or give away for free.

Family and friends are a great way to start out bartering with and as you build your bartering connections you will begin to see it expand. Co-workers are another avenue that can be utilized and the company that you work for might find some interest in bartering on a larger scale with other companies in general. Your own community and neighbors gives you another extention creating bridges that can go above and beyond a major networking system based on bartering alone.

Facebook is also another wonderful way to start a barter group with friends because the friends part of facebook is endless and literally infinite. I can just see the barter effect take off on facebook alone. So, with that said I put the bug in the ears of others on my FB and I have gotten a few interested. I have done my first trade with a co-worker, I created a craft item in exchange for something she created and in doing this I am very excited for what the future will hold when it comes to bartering. And with this in mind, bartering will be the trend and widely spread given the nature and condition of our nations economy.

Tomato Virus In The Islands

2010-01-30T02:53:00.000-08:00

There is a plant disease going around the hawaiian islands attacking growing tomato plants. In my garden I have four tomato plants growing in the ground and one in the topsy turvy planter. Unfortunately one of my plants have succumbed to the disease I believe, but before it took ahold of the tomato plant I was able to harvest many times over. This tomato disease stunts the growth of the leaves and then the leaves start to turn yellow and as the flowers bloom it's as if they just shrivel. I'm not sure what I'm going to do here but I am keeping an eye on my other four plants. I don't even think anyone knows where the disease came from either. Tomato disease attacks Oahu crops click here

Hawaii Veteran's Letter To Obama

2010-01-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

This WWII veteran says it all in a nut shell and then some in his Letter to Obama. People have a nasty tendency to forget about the past and where we have come from, but I'll tell you what our veteran's know way to better because they were the ones on the front line fighting for our freedom. If it was not for them our country would not be a free one and everyone better thank their lucky stars that America remains that way!

How Prepared is The State of Hawaii, Really

2010-01-18T04:44:00.000-08:00

As a chain of hawaiian islands and the 50th state we are definitely no stranger to natural disasters. Over the years we have had our fair share but no where near what the other 49 states had endured in extremities and by the numbers across the board. The state of Hawaii is vulnerable to certain kinds of natuaral disasters, such as tsunami's, hurricanes, flooding, life-threatening lava flows, earthquakes, and thunderstorms.

Hawaii is the state at greatest risk for a tsunami. On the morning of April 1st 1946, with a magnitude of 7.8 reported occured in the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska. About five hours later, around 7 a.m, the largest and most destructive tsunami waves in reported history struck Hawaii, killing 159 people. Property damage approximately totalled $26 million. Tsunami's are associated and generated by earthquakes in coastal regions. At that time there was no tsunami warning system in place and many of the people on the Big Island which is also known as Hawaii was unaware of what was to come. Here are a few more tsunami events that occured in the state of Hawaii.

Hurricane Iwa hit the islands of Niihau, Kauai and Oahu on November 23rd 1982. It was a category 1. Iwa was the first major hurricane to hit Hawaii since statehood in 1959. Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to strike Hawaii in recorded history. The eye of the hurricane passed over the island of Kauai on September 11th 1992, as a category 4 hurricane causing six deaths and $1.8 billion in damages.
With this hurricane looming and strengthening the people of Kauai started their preparations the day before and the day of, right before the hurricane made land fall.

In March 2006, more than 30 days of torrential rains resulted in major damage from flooding, as well as serious public health issues. On Kauai, it caused a dam break killing 7 people. On Oahu, the rain caused Waikiki's sewer system to overflow, resulting in a sewage spill that polluted parts of the island's south shore for several days. Heavy rain in Hawaii can be difficult to forecast and may come suddenly. In addition a great deal of the island of oahu was heavily flooded creating saturation and mudslides, peoples homes were ruined by this torrential down pour. Low lying areas were affected greatly by damage of heavy flooding due to this torrential rains.

Between 1983 and 1993, lava flows erupted at Kilauea volcano on th Big Island of Hawaii, destroying nearly 200 houses and severing the coastal highway along the volcanos south flank. There are currently 7 volcanoes on the Big Island, 3 of them are active and one of them just may erupt again within this century.
Volcanoes also emit gases during eruptions. Sulfur dioxide gas combined with water droplets in the atmosphere creates acid rain, adversely affecting vegetation and causing corrosion. Also This very same gas can and has been drifting across the state affecting each island. This also affects the health of the people here especially those that have respiratory ailments.

Earthquakes happen often in Hawaii, the majority of them are too small to be felt. The last one happened on the Big Island of Hawaii on October 15th 2006, and could also be felt on the island of Oahu and Maui with a magnitude of 6.7 causing property damage, injuries, land slides, wide spread power outages and airport delays and closures. The most severe damage occured on the Big Island of Hawaii. Heavy damage was also reported on the island of Maui and minor damage spread all the way out to the island of Oahu.

Thunderstorms are quite rare here in Hawaii but if and when we get one it is usually memorable, like the one we had on December 26th 2008. This was Black Friday in paradise. The power outage occured as a result of a severe thunderstorm we had on the island of Oahu. The outage snarled traffic every where as motorists had to cope with driving without traffic, highway or street lights. Shutting down businesses on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. People were scurrying to find flashlights and generators and what ever else they may need in this emergency situation. Lightening was the main culprit in this severe thunderstorm, I should know because I have never seen so much of it blanketing the skies that night and I also witnessed it hitting the transformer box just a few feet from my home. I watched several strikes come down into my neighbors yards, it was pretty hairy I'd say. My home also sits high upon a mountain and so the lightening strikes were extremely close in my vicinity.

As I have gone through the many natural disasters that the state of Hawaii has faced at some point or another, it really says very little at how much people of Hawaii really are prepared. Hurricane Iniki, people started preparing the day before and the day of right before it struck. The torrential rains caught the entire island off guard because this rain never stopped past 30 days, no one was prepared for this. After the 1946 tsunami event the pacific tsunami system was created and put into place but to what extent people prepared for future tsunami's that came I do not know. My guess is probably not much. Kilauea's volcanic eruptions are ongoing and the Big Island is one of the youngest islands out of all and is still growing hence the lava flows continually. Earthquakes do occur here in the islands but majority of them we cannot feel, except for the one on October 15th 2006.

We all felt that one, in fact at the time, I was sitting on my couch in the living room with my cat. All of a sudden he flew in the air and like a bullet shot right under my bed in a matter of seconds, for a split second I thought that was odd then came the earthquake my entire house was shaking. I stood up and walked a bit and was swaying it was pretty strange to experience an earthquake. On top of this electricity was out all over. Was anyone prepared for this? I believe the answer is no. And last but not least the black friday thunderstorm of 2008, again no one was prepared because it was evident at how the public would scurry here and or there just to find flashlights and generators after the fact that the power went out.

That is why I always say Hawaii is in the saddest state of all when it comes to preparing for any kind of emergency disaster, the people here will never make it if and when ever something major and more severe and extreme will hit this state. The people of Hawaii will not be prepared to endure a full blown disaster.
If by chance a few residents of this state may happen upon this post, please take the heed and warnings of past disasters and be prepared ahead of time always.

Do yourself, family and friends a favor and start that food storage plan, take that red cross class or take the C.E.R.T training program, have a plan for your family and do practice runs in the event of a disaster and become prepared, become knowledgeable in what to do and how to react to emergency situations, have something under your belt because when emergency responders aren't gonna respond to you after 72 hours with all their services spread thin what are you gonna do? Who are you gonna rely on then? What sort of skills will you have in those times of stress to help others let alone help yourself? Do you at least know your neighbors? That way you can each help one another and set up your community to assist in an emergency situation that is statewide where you just may not recieve any help from any where else.

These are the important things that everyone should be really thinking about and working on in this day and age I don't need to tell you why, I think the past has a track record of explaining and the future is creating a devastating outcome. Always remember when the real need arises, the time to prepare has passed and remember the three P's Preparedness Prevents Panic!

In Appreciation of The American Preppers Network

2010-01-12T08:38:00.000-08:00

To my fellow preppers and those that make the American Preppers Network burn with an undulating passion of undistinquishable patriotic spirit with a self-reliant fire in preparedness. All the hard work and effort that you all do goes without saying, we are the strength and backbone of America! In appreciation of what each and everyone of you represent and stand for I salute and thank you all. God bless America!

I have never been so proud of something as great as the American Preppers Network, and to think that I am a part of it just leaves me speechless with no other words to describe what I am feeling. We each come from different backgrounds, nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures and states, yet we are united as one. Our ways of life for some are identical and then again for others worlds apart. Many states are fortunate to have vast land to rurally live as the pioneers once lived enabling those to carry on a way of life that is hard, laborous and rewarding and quite frankly to me, ahead of the game.

I have a deep and profound respect for a multitude of you all and the way of life that you know and live so well. Unfortunately, suburban and urban lifestyles takes away the very core and understanding of appreciation in ways of old and the how's and why's of the greatness of our past ancestors and how they once lived, they lived with tremendous purpose and value and a great majority of you carry on this legacy. Growth is good but not at the expense of greed, nor at the expense of a lost art in living off the land which always benefits everyone.

Some of us have not been as fortunate to have been raised in such a rich and rewarding environment and way of life by living off the land and having skills and knowledge and the know-how to run your own homestead and be able to raise animals for food. Then again, we do the best that we can with the tools, skills and opportunities that we do have to live and survive as best as possible. I find that it is here where I learn the most at APN. The way of the world and society in general has lost touch with their grassroots humble beginnings all in the name of progress and technology. I cannot help but feel a greater sense of loss for humanity as a whole.

Past mistakes are recycled and currently are in vogue, nothing has been learned nor retained from our ancestors history up to our own. The history that the world is making now I'd rather not remember, nor be proud to speak of except for the APN. The children of tomorrow does not look promising, especially when you see a lot of them focusing more hard and intent on handheld video games, ipods, itouch, iphones and computer games. There are no values, respect or appreciation instilled in a GREAT majority of these children and in turn they are a reflection of their parents. This generation of children are called the (i) generation because everything is about them and nobody else, leaching and taking, (gimme) is the type of blood that runs through their veins. Knowing and seeing this gives a whole new meaning to "2012" and beyond. A scary thought indeed of having these type of bubble heads run our country in the future.

Respect and appreciation I will always have for my brothers and sisters whom I value and cherish at the American Preppers Network.

P.S. I'm just tickled and excited about the national radio shows Tom and ErniesJourney are on now!

Be Prepared And Know Your Labels

2010-01-11T00:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a blog I posted a while back on another blog of mine, I was such the newbie to blogging I accidently created another blog site. Also, in addition to this blog I cook for my dogs a healthy chicken vegetable soup recipe that is made and stored in a large size pot that lasts for a week. I could make more and freeze it. I also bake their cookie bisquits, found a recipe for dog cookies with only the healthiest ingredients, I could eat it myself but I don't because I feel guilty of eating their stash treats.

Be Prepared And Know Your Labels

Hawaii Lawmakers Suggesting County 5% Sales Tax

2010-01-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

People Of Hawaii you best be wide awake this year and with good reason to be alert to every inch these lawmakers are trying to squeeze out of our already empty wallets. People of Hawaii you best be getting involved in what's going on here economically and financially and when it comes time to vote, you sign up and vote out every single politician that has not done what the people wanted and needed to be done. Start making a difference, if not for yourself at least for your family and all those that you do care about.

Don't believe a single politician in what they say because they all lie and say what you want to hear and then do the complete opposite. If any to all politicians were ever truly outright good and trustworthy our nation and states for that matter would not be in the mess that it is in and has been in for centuries. That's a BIG clue right there, bingo!

Prices in Hawaii are already high and they are and have been climbing steadily if you haven't noticed by now.
This should more than ever prompt you to start preparing any and every way that you can. Haven't you noticed how little your money can buy nowadays? I know I sure have. Does the thought of you losing your job make you REALLY think? Do you ever wonder if you lost your job how will you pay your bills? Do you even have a plan or money saved up for hard times?

People start PREPARING in LEAPS & BOUNDS, the year 2010 IS the year of the PREPPER it is also the year of rude awakenings at the expense of our ignorance being thrown and forced at warp speed to go along with higher taxes making lesser money ultimately squeezing the living daylights out of the very fibers that keep together what little we do have left out of our livelyhood. And don't think that all these wonderful things can never happen to you because it's coming sooner than you think. Hawaii Lawmakers Suggest County Sales Tax

Hawaii's Volcanic Vog

2010-01-05T23:56:00.000-08:00

Hawaii is a state comprised of 8 islands, each unique and different in itself. Each island also has several volcanoes. The only island that has an active volcano is the Big Island as far as we all know. Kilau'ea volcano's ongoing eruptions began in 1983, creating a constant flow of lava and gases. The vog created by Kilauea's volcano continues to disperse sulfur dioxide into the air creating hazardous conditions to one's health.

Safety precautions should always be taken to avoid breathing such toxic air. Using a mask will help to some degree and staying indoors air-conditioned will help aleviate breathing vog air. The vog is downright nasty and this volcanic air pollution stretches for miles blowing across the rest of the islands depending on the wind patterns. It is with good reason and prudent to always be prepared for this type of emergency especially if you have respiratory problems such as asthma. Visit your doctor so that he/ she may advise you in what to do and what extra precautions to take as well as medicine that they may be able to prescribe for you before the vog gets worse. The best advice would be to leave the area entirely.

Vog also damages crops and creates acid rain which affects water quality. A lot of the residents on the island of Hawaii uses rooftop water catchment systems for drinking water. With acid rain involved this creates a health hazard because the water then becomes contaminated. On the island of Oahu we feel the effects of the vog as well and today the weather forecast predicted thicker vog for this evening and tomorrow.

Here's 2 snapshots of the Vog that I took this morning around 6:30a and 7:05a it really looked thick.

Hawaii REALLY Needs To Prepare More So Now Than Ever

2010-01-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable! The state of Hawaii City and State officials have proven themselves time and time again a huge embarrassment to the people of the state continuously by proposing to name parks, holidays and anything else they deem fit by placing the current president's name on. Yesterday's Honolulu Advertiser article REALLY took the cake. First of all this current president has not accomplished any productive feats nationwide, let alone for the state of Hawaii period. From what I see, the only thing he has accomplished was becoming the first African American president and that's about it. It's not about race, religion or cultural background. To me this is more about producing results, productive and positive results. Ever since he has taken office the results were catastrophic, damaging and irreversible.

Our state and city officials are using this as a platform to boost their own selfish means, That is what government is all about selfishness. I shook my head in disbelief as I read this article.

I really wonder how Hawaii's state and city officials actually got elected. There is a saying which is so true "sometimes smart people are so smart they are dumb" and "the dumb people are so dumb they are smart". Unbelievable!

Happy New Year! Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

2010-01-01T03:16:00.000-08:00

It's hours well into the New Year around the nation and around the globe. Wishing you all the best year ahead of us all.

New Year's Eve Hawaiian Style

2009-12-30T23:36:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve in Hawaii turns into the most polluted night of the year. Fireworks here in the islands are legal except for the aerial rocket bombs which are illegal, yet it seems as though everyone has a brother or cousin or father who can always get these illegal rockets smuggled in through the shipyard docks in containers coming from China of course. If Aerials were truly illegal you'd think we'd be hearing any by now? Besides, I know the police here know too well about them and I'm so sure that they themselves are probably in on acquiring and blowing a few for themselves as well.

Aside from a polluted night, this is the only night out of the year that my home as well as the rest of the states homes are chokingly filled with smoke. Every single New Years Eve in Hawaii there has never ever been rain nor winds so this place turns into a nightmarish environment for anyone who has respiratory ailments. Peoples pets need to be tranquilized with a sleepy pill from their Veterinary because if you're an animal here it is sheer hell on this one smoky, continuous mega bomb sounding night. The best thing you could do for your pet is admit him/her to the vet overnight where they'll be sheltered in a building that is solid and the loud bomb noises will not be heard as much or as bad.

I must admit, if you have not been to Hawaii on New Years Eve you'd never believe all the fireworks being blown off throughout the entire state by kids and adults. And as the New Year approaches and families are counting down to the minutes you can literally see all the aerials blanketing the skies of Oahu, it's quite a spectacular site to see. Living high up on the mountains I am fortunate to see all the fireworks from across several parts of the state as well as within my own neighborhood.

Residents are required to purchase permits for every 5000 fireworks and if you intend to blow more that's that many more permits that you need to purchase at $25 each. Frankly, I'd rather just roll a wad of dollars and light it up in flames. People here are so lame to buy permits to blow fireworks, they don't even realize that they are being ripped off. There are probably gazillions of other people out here without any permits blowing fireworks. Immediately after thanksgiving people start blowing and as it gets closer to New Years Eve fireworks are blown even more frequently. Residents here do need to apply for a permit to blow fireworks.

My brother blows aerials every single year, he has never missed a year, he is also a stevedore.

I have only witnessed his fireworks spectacle show once in my life and it sure is something to watch. He would line his street with all the aerials and light them all one after another, literally putting on a show for his neighborhood because they would all come out to see and watch. Put it this way, it's like having a Disneyland fireworks show right outside your door. Unfortunately, I can't go to his house this year, I have pets to watch and my house to watch as well, I can't have my house burning down while I'm away, especially with many irresponsible people out here blowing fireworks that lack respect for others property. I'll also miss the onolicious foods that he will be serving up, sigh...this breaks my tummies little heart!

Sashimi is a big hit on New Years Eve it's even bigger than champagne and people in Hawaii love to eat so they go out and buy a great deal of foods and they prepare a lot of good eats. I always look forward to the last three remaining holidays of the year because of the food. Hawaiian food is yummy and Chinese food is yum as well so every family differs in what they serve on New Years Eve and New Years Day. Holidays are always festive and fun and you also get to catch up with the family that you rarely see the entire year. It's funny we all live on the same island yet we really never see each other until the holidays or funerals,weddings, graduations etc.

New Years Eve in Hawaii is a very big thing filled with fireworks, tons of foods, a lot of parties, a lot of professional fireworks displays shows going on around the state as well. If I am not mistaken our state is the only state to have legalized blowing fireworks when it comes to the public individually for New Years Eve. Other states have only public display shows done by professionals. They have also been trying to ban fireworks here for years but they really can't because there is a lot of money involved. It's gonna take something drastic and tragic for this state to ever pass a bill banning fireworks in Hawaii and even if so I still don't believe that it will ever happen. In hawaiian we say,

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!

2010 The Year Of The Tiger

2009-12-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

As a new year approaches, the old about to be shed with much pilfer except in infinite amounts and vast quantities that boggles the mind beyond disbelief. 2009 is the year of detrimental economic collapse unravelling and the unfolding of many tremendous lies and deception bestowed upon the people of the United States of America. 2009 will ultimately set the stage for the following year and the year after. All of the turmoil just didn't happen over night or in a year or two, this was a gradual step in the wrong and distrustful direction. The only difference now is that it is all on a steam rolling process and coming to a head. People are still unaware and asleep at the wheel as I write this but that's not my problem, we are all created equal to some degree or another and we can educate ourselves properly or improperly the choice is ours and ours alone. With this in mind preparedness has never been more prevalent than it is today among survivalists, preppers, homesteaders and on the horizon newcomers.

With much hope and faith 2010 will bring even more challenges and changes ahead of us all, and this coming new year may present even greater obstacles to overcome. I say these things because of the track record each year has delivered in unforgettable trials and tribulations and with each year rolling by nothing evidently has ever gotten better, like they say with time. The time we live in is much different than before, I can feel and sense a great urgency, an even greater urgency to prepare at all levels and all angles and in all areas of our lives. The need to prepare mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally and yes let's not forget financially. I feel as though we are running out of time, precious time that is whipping by, maybe some of you can sense some of these odd feelings but I'll tell you one thing it sure ain't a good feeling.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the year of 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, February 14th begins the year of the tiger on the Chinese calendar. The tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, and it is a sign of bravery. This courageous and fiery fighter is admired by the ancient Chinese as the sign that keeps away the three main tragedies of a household. These are fire, thieves and ghosts. Tigers are also self-reliant.

These are only a few of the characteristics of the Tiger year attributes, and I am sure a lot of people can identify with these qualities on a preparedness level. Being part Chinese I am aware of the twelve signs and what each brings to their respective years past, present and future.

I am the Year of the Rabbit which will be in 2011. As I continue to prepare my efforts will be magnified more so this coming new year than ever, expecting the unexpected and hoping for the best. I have finally gotten a food dehydrator and have been processing dried fruits but I have been eating most of them because they turned out so well. My garden of fruits and vegetables have been coming along quite well too. My food storage continues to grow and my pet storage is growing as well making sure I have all items that are needed for my pets in all areas of their lives. Currently, I am bracing for soaring food prices and food shortages that are expected to arrive sometime within 2010. I have spoken to a few key family members of this important issue, hopefully they will listen and take heed to prepare more so than ever now especially if they have not done so at my request time and time again.

I see all the prepper networks as Tigers and this coming year is no different than any other, just for one exception, we will be in great demand. As I continue to prepare in leaps and bounds my hopes and prayers are with you all in the efforts of preparedness. I would also like to wish each and everyone of you a happy and prosperous new year!

Call Out To Preparedness In The Islands

2009-12-17T16:36:00.000-08:00

A big thank you out to Matt for another great show on the Prepper Podcast! The prepper podcast helps to keep preppers connected and aware of the many areas in preparedness nationwide with weekly guest interviews, do check it out.

Regarding Hawaii preparedness in my opinion there needs to be more done on a more broader scale. For myself it is a constant state of being prepared knowing that we live on an island approximately close to 3000 miles away from any other major state. With this in mind it is vital to always be prepared. As a state situated in the middle of the Pacific ocean this creates concerns especially if we are faced with natural disasters as in hurricanes, floods, tsunami's and thunder storms or man made disasters such as job loss or terrorism.

I need not remind everyone in the state of Hawaii especially those on the island of Oahu who experienced last years day after Christmas blackout where the entire Island was completely out of power. Or a few years back when everyone thought that the stevedores were all going on strike at the shipyards prompting a whole slew of people to rush out to stores and buy out toilet paper, water and rice. If you start to prepare gradually and according to your budgets you won't have to be one of those last minute people running around frantically trying to find much needed items. This in itself tells you to always prepare and have a good supply on hand at all times in the event of any type of emergency.

Living on the island of Oahu I am sure there are many of you here who do prepare to one extent or another. The remaining islands I am positive there that many of you do prepare as well, if so let's hear from you be it Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, Lanai and Molokai. Hawaii Preppers Network would like to extend the aloha out to all other islands to get involved and share some of your tips and advice and just how you are preparing for anything and everything when it comes to disasters be it natural or man made.

Emergency Preparedness For Pets

2009-12-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

As a reminder part of being prepared is also including the family pets. Having an emergency plan should always include an emergency plan for the family pet(s). They too are a great part of your family and pets offer the greatest comfort and peace of mind in stressful times, so don't forget to take care of them and have a pet emergency kit.

Keep photo's of all pets in the event they happen to bolt out of the house through a broken window or open door when a disaster has occurred. Make sure they have an identification tag on as well as a collar. Have current records of pet vaccinations filed in a waterproof container or Ziploc bag. Inspect and keep clean and ready to go all pet travel kennels, if the travel kennel is worn to the point of lost screws or missing gate door as well as cracked replace them and purchase a new travel kennel. The last thing you want to be worrying about is having to try and secure a missing gated door with just anything you can find because you won't have any time to be doing repairs in an emergency or evacuation.

Always have a First Aid Kit For Pets as well as a pet first aid book on hand, if you don't have these you can always make them yourself or purchase them online, you can also find First Aid Tips For Pet Owners here. Having a Pet Safety Vest is a really great idea in keeping track of your pet in a disaster. Don't forget to also have pet food on hand and most importantly water.

Dogs drink at least 1 gallon of water per day, cats drink about 1 pint of water per day. A good habit of getting into is keeping notes on the amount of water your pets drink daily because in doing so it will help you to calculate that much more water for you to store for them on top of your own water storage for you and your family. The same can also be done with the pet food whether it's dry or canned food, in doing so you will be better aware of exactly how much food and water that needs to be stored for your pets as well as the amount you would need to store for a month to a year and so on. With multiple pets you would basically multiply the amounts depending on each pets eating and drinking habits.

Pet toys and treats should also be added to their emergency kit because pets will definitely become stressed when disasters occur that upset their natural surroundings that will also create changes that they will not be accustomed to especially if the changes happen too quickly for them to adjust. Their comfort zone will be completely out of whack and as pet owners you will need to keep them as comfortable and calm as much as possible. You will also need to reassure your pets security and safety if at all possible, he/she will be looking to you to help them in their darkest and scariest hours of their lives-where you've always relied on them from the joy and comfort that they have freely given you-they rely on you just the same but even more so.

Keep a good supply of towels, blankets and extra newspaper just for the pets only. Stock up and store kitty litter and lots of it too. Have a litter box that has a cover in the event you need to evacuate all you need to do is cover the litter box grab it and go without having to deal with odors and don't forget to grab kitty too. Since I have 5 cats I use two oversized storage containers that came with covers, they are about 6 1/2 inches in height, 2 ft in length and 1 ft 6 inches in width these storage containers work perfectly for my furry kids and is quite spacious with room to move around in, each one takes one 10 1/2 lbs bag of kitty litter. If kitty or doggie takes meds make sure you have a good supply of their medication as well. The key here is keeping your pet safe, secure, calm and happy and having all the pet supplies that are needed in an emergency for your pets will definitely alleviate at least some of the stress for your pet and you.

Herbal Teas As Part Of Your Food Storage

2009-12-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

Whether You're a Coffee drinker or prefer teas it's always good to have a well stocked supply of these items on hand. My preference is herbal teas, they are not only healthy for you but go well cold or hot which ever way you prefer. There is a wide variety out there to match anyone's pickiness. Fruit teas are a wonderful variety, flower or herb teas are another and you can eaily make these on your own by drying the herbs and flowers with a food dehydrator.

If it is the decaffeinated that you choose there are many teas that have no caffeine in them but at the same time there are caffeinated teas as well, the choice is yours. Another tea is green tea, the highest quality green teas can only be found in Japan, all other countries mass produce them like China but the quality is less superior than the ones you'll find from Japan all due to the way it is grown, produced and manufactured. Matcha green tea from Japan is used for the cultural activity called Japanese tea ceremony it centers on the preparation, serving and drinking of matcha. It is a variety of finely powdered green tea. Matcha tea is also used to flavour and dye foods. It is used in baking, soba noodles, mochi, green tea ice cream and a wide variety of Japanese confectionery.

This by far is my most favorite tea because not only does it offer a variety of uses it also carries a great deal of health benefits. Uji, Kyoto, Nishio, and Aichi are the most famous matcha producing regions in all of Japan. Being completely natural it carries up to 10-17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries and 5-7 times higher than dark chocolate. And up to 7-9 times the beta-carotene found in spinach. Since the quality of this green tea is higher than any other teas it is a bit on the expensive side and you may have to go out of your way in finding it. Matcha green tea can be found on several online sites and or you may have an Asian or oriental store or market somewhere in your state. Fortunately, the state of Hawaii has several oriental and Asian markets that do carry a variety of green teas here and Matcha being one of them but it is pricey and well worth it for me.

Having been to Japan a few years back for six months I was fortunate enough to appreciate a different culture, way of life, language and food. Everything has been and will always be memorable in that point and time when I travelled there. I was also able to learn the language as well and communicate with the local people there. But the food, candies, baked goods and just everything left me with an everlasting impression to hopefully go back there one day again.

C.E.R.T: Community Emergency Response Team

2009-11-21T03:26:00.000-08:00

Last week Sunday I completed the CERT training program. Realizing the importance of self-reliance and preparedness I took it upon myself to enroll in this course given by the City & County of Honolulu and federally funded by the government. This program educates people about disaster preparedness hazards and trains you in the basic disaster response skills. As a CERT member you are able to assist others in your neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

The program is offered free to anyone and everyone and I have suggested to many people here to enroll in this very important course. It is also an excellent course to take with the entire family. On the last day our class reported to Diamond head crater for the exercises. The building there I believe was world war II bunkers, to be more specific it was the Battery Harlow Complex. Very nostalgic, a bit creepy yet it gave you a sense of a time long ago when we were at war, a different kind of war. Overall, I really thought it was cool. This particular area was off limits to the public and it was gated and locked, we had to travel in about a quarter mile. The link that I have provided above to the bunkers shows the area where we had our training exercises, little did I know they used this site in a movie.

Before starting our exercises we were each given a heavy duty backpack full of emergency supplies which we also used and got to keep as well, I was quite surprised and thankful because I was thinking we had to go out and purchase these from somewhere. I learned a great deal in the CERT program and it also provided me with some ideas of my own to incorporate it into helping and teaching others in becoming aware of disasters. Ideally, I would like to have my entire family enroll in this class and then hopefully my neighbors but for this I will have to approach my community board with the idea of preparedness which I believe is the best thing the board could ever do for it's community.

3Steps is a family and neighborhood emergency preparedness plan, it is a neighborhood organizing neighbors to help each other get prepared for any emergency, this program paves the way to build communities and bring people together for a common cause such as preparedness.

Utah is the front runner in this amazing program.

Take Advantage Of Disadvantages

2009-11-16T15:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, I've been busy catching up on other things regarding preps.
Now, for those of us whose companies we work for are either downsizing or cutting costs by reducing hours due to the downturn of economy. I find that it is prudent to take advantage of the disadvantages that we each face at a time such as this. Although my hours at work has been cut tremendously I do find the time to be able to pick up a few hours here and there when the occasion arises and I am needed. But, overall I have learned to take advantage of other areas and services when it comes to my downtime when I am off and not working.

To me this is a perfect time to organize the food storage pantry, making lists, getting the house in order altogether also up keeping the garden which by the way are all free and mostly takes time, energy and effort. But I have also been able to look into other areas of service which have also been free of charge. In September I took the Hawaii Basic Hunters Education Course, it was a two day class free of charge by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, passing this class I became certified. This class had many preparedness aspects to it.

This month I was able to take the C.E.R.T training program, another free course provided by the City and County of Honolulu it is part of the Department of Emergency management services EOC. I will be posting a separate post of my C.E.R.T training very soon. Upon passing this class I am now certified, also we were each given a C.E.R.T heavy duty backpack with so much emergency supplies included in the bag for free. The services provided here will provide each of us who took the class and passed information regarding all natural disasters and terrorism. We learned what to do and what not to do in each disaster. I will go into greater detail in another post regarding the C.E.R.T program. Just to give you an idea of a few services out there that can be utilized free of charge but with much needed prep info to help you as well as others as a supplemental tool to add on to being prepared.

The Hawaii Red Cross here charges a fee for certain classes, which I may look into. But for now I will continue to search and find similar courses with the "preparedness" tone to it at no charge or a small charge. There are many programs out there to venture into for preparedness and they just might be free, so take advantage of these programs while you can because my thinking is for all I know they just might get rid of these programs sometime later down the line due to lack of funds to run it. Each state may be different but this is just my point of view from my own state. Take advantage of all your disadvantages and learn what you can while you can.

Planting Pineapples

2009-11-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

I never thought That I would ever be planting Pineapples in my garden. But, I figured I'd give this fruit a try, besides the climate here is perfect for this particular fruit. Since my mother grew one in her yard, I thought maybe I'll grow a few of them. Pineapples are grown all over the world depending on climate and weather. I believe warmer conditions are much better for the growth of these fruits.

What I did was gather quite a few of the crowns from each pineapple and from there I peeled off from the very bottom the leaves up to about an inch and a half to two inches. I placed each one in water for about a week and a half to let the roots grow out and then from there I placed them in the ground, I also put grass clippings around each one.

They are growing well, but the only thing here is that I will have to wait about 1-2 years for the fruit to finally come out. I really don't mind waiting just to see what they will all turn out like, besides by the time they do come out I can give them away as Christmas gifts for next year.

As the fruit begins to peep out I will update this post and let you all know how my pineapple plants are growing.

FYI: Costco Prices In Hawaii

2009-10-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd give you folks a looksy at what a few items are going for here in Hawaii at Costco's. These prices are current as of today. I'll have to price around at other retail grocers and give you all another update sometime later. But prices have been steadily climbing here in the islands. Keeping an eye on the rise in cost of food here should signal urgency to food storage preparedness by leaps and bounds to everyone in Hawaii, unfortunately that's not the case here.

Last week I was fortunate to find 72-hour survival kits at Costco's for $9.97 each on sale, the original price was $14 and some odd cents close to $15. I was able to scoop up a good amount for my Christmas gifts before they all disappeared. A member purchased 22 of them.

Here's a rundown of a few of the items.

18oz. Blueberries 10.99
12oz. Raspberries 4.79
3lbs. Cottage Cheese 5.99
1gal. Milk 3.76-4.12
Eggs (18 per carton) 2.99
Infant Formula 2pak 19.79
Diapers (ct. 135) 40.00
Paper Plates (150) 13.99
Paper Towels 23.99 Bounty 12 mega rolls
Toilet Paper 20.49 Kirkland brand 36 rolls
Tide Liquid Detergent 22.49 110 loads
Regular Gas 3.02 Premium 3.22

We also have a recycling fee tacked on to every bottled or canned beverage you purchase here whether its metal, glass or plastic. Certain grocery stores here such as Safeway has newspaper inserts with coupons, but the catch there is that you have to purchase a minimum amount of groceries to get that coupon dollar amount off for that specific item. I've also noticed that not all stores here take Internet coupons either. Every Sunday I make it a point to cut out all the coupons that I need and use for my grocery shopping because every little bit helps. We also have a weekly paper called MidWeek delivered to all residents free. In this paper there are articles, advertisements and grocery store inserts to all the main grocers here on the islands advertising their sales with coupons to each store.

Locally grown produce here cost just as much or even more than their mainland competitors. Breakfast cereals, the one you eat with milk like Fruitloops or Special K run about $6 to $7 a box. The prices here are so ridiculous, if you're not growing some edibles in your yard you're gonna pay a pretty price at the grocery stores. Everyone I talk to about food storage agrees with having a stock on hand but yet no one really does actually do it. It makes sense to them, but evidently not enough to the point of having a food storage plan in the event of any type of disaster. People here wait till the last minute. In knowing this, the time to prepare will be gone when disaster strikes.

Give The Gift Of Preparedness

2009-10-26T02:39:00.000-07:00

With the holidays rolling just around the corner it's a good time to start whipping out the Christmas list again. Sometimes it's difficult to figure out what type of gifts to give and other times its so simple. Through the years I've figured out a creative way of giving gifts to family and friends. Family members seem to need a little more thought when deciding on what sort of gift to give, with this in mind every year I go by themes. One year I gave them all comforter sets, another year they each received books pertaining to each persons interests.

I'll never forget the very first year that I started my theme gift giving to my family members. For my sister I went out to all these companies collecting job applications. I placed them all in a box and wrapped it and gave it to her. Evidently, she was not to happy about this but the whole family had a good laugh. My younger brother received a set of toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste, the family rolled on the floor laughing even more. I forget what I got for everyone else but it was along the lines of things they needed to do with their lives. But those two were the most memorable. And that was the beginning of my themes regarding Christmas gifts.

After that year everyone in the family was starting to worry because they would not know what each year would bring them when it came to my gift giving antics. One year they all received bibles and I told each of them that they really needed this and to start reading it on a regular basis cause they need all the help they can get and I was serious. The following year I gave them recycling shopping tote bags with a pajama set in each one and some candy as filler. The next year it was a Costco case of toilet paper and a Dare to Prepare book for each of them.

Other years I created gifts for each of them and made baked goods as well. This year they will each receive a 72-hour survival kit and an emergency preparedness folder that I will compile and make with information on food storage, water, medical and shelter. I will also add any other information pertaining to preparedness and self-reliance living as well to the folder. I really think this is the best gift that I will have ever given them out of all the years combined. When I think about it, I don't think I can top this one for next year but I'm sure I'll try my best to come up with something much needed that they will each need.

Newspaper Not Just For Reading

2009-10-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

Newspaper happens to be a good source of not only news but resourceful uses as well. Instead of throwing it out in the recycle bin I have managed to save stacks of it. There are many ways of putting old newspaper to good use in the home. When I clean my windows, mirrors and glass tabletops I use newspaper to wipe it clean and dry. Newspaper also leaves no streaks, leaving the surface with a clear and clean look. Lining the litter box helps to absorb odors as well as lining the trash can with newspaper. Newspaper can also be broken down and used as mulch for the garden.

I have also found it very useful in absorbing old cooking oil from the pan because its not a good idea to toss that oil down the kitchen sink. Spills are another thing that newspaper comes in handy for as well, but you have to be careful of where the spills are in using newspaper because you wouldn't want the imprint of the news on white carpet or anything light in color for that matter. I have also used newspaper as a place mat when I eat, because if I spill anything it goes directly onto the paper. Another good use would be wrapping paper, especially the comic section. You could also line your pet travel kennel while travelling in the vehicle just in case puppy or kitty decides to relieve themselves. When we moved I wrapped many glass and delicate items in newspaper to keep it from breaking, insulating it with more paper. You could also roll up paper into smash balls for kitty to play with as a toy which they really love.

There are so many uses that you can use when it comes to newspaper and I'm sure many of you have other ideas as well, but these are just a few of the things that I have found to be of good use when it comes to old newspaper.

H1N1: What They Don't Want You To Know

2009-10-17T05:04:00.000-07:00

There is a disturbing mad dash nationally to vaccinate everyone at warp speed without the proper tests and precautions regarding the health and well being of humanity as a whole. All information dispensed across the airwaves of radio and television reassures the public of it's safety regarding taking the H1N1 flu shot. Fortunately, the public are beginning to realize that all the hype about "pandemicdom" is not what its cracked up to be.

Beneath all this fear and scare tactics herding the public like cattle into an unknown toxic concoction only makes one wonder "what's the rush?" and why? Pharma's out to make a killing, no pun intended but so are others. The choice ultimately is up to you if you decide to or not take the flu shot but do yourself and your family a favor and do all the research you can and investigate this in depth.

Don't stop at national death toll numbers and definitely don't stop at learning about all the toxic ingredients involved in these vaccines, go beyond this as far as finding out who will benefit financially at the expense of millions of peoples health without any repercussions. Do your homework and choose wisely because what they don't want you to know will harm you. I leave you with an article. Hawaii Legislators Question H1N1 Vaccines

Establish A Code

2009-10-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

A few nights back I was blog-YouTube surfing, one of the bloggers made an excellent point regarding survival tips. With all the different ways of communications such as HAM radio, CB's, cell etc. It would be a good idea to have code messaging among the group of various prepper and survival parties that would only be known within the groups. In the event of bugout's or bug-in's I really don't think anyone would want any unwanted guests or officials for that matter to find out your locations where ever you may be situated.

What ever mode of code it would have to probably be one that can be modified or changed if an outsider was ever to decode the original code. Also, you most likely would not want to write any of this stuff down in the event that it mysteriously came into the wrong hands. This would be a bit of a tricky system but as a safety precautionary this just might be an important part of survival skills to have.

Everyone has a basic understanding of Morse code, but for this time and age the codes must be uncrackable. I'm not sure if anyone has ever thought of any method of coding but it's a good idea to start developing one now and start practicing and implementing it as part of our preparations.

Another thing, I don't think it's even a good idea to discuss the method of code online either instead it would be better spoken at group meet-up's this way it would be remote and far removed from unwanted ears.

Regarding The FTC And Bloggers

2009-10-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

Bloggers beware. It is unclear how all of this fits into our informational networks that we provide free of charge from great knowledge that we share in preparedness and self-reliant living.

From what I have read it seems that there are many loopholes in the FTC Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Although the guides were last updated in 1980, this looks and smells like to me another sneaky little invasion and infringement on our rights. Please someone tell me I am reading into this whole thing as a misunderstanding cause I just might be.

Oh yeah, BTW-FTC I'm not getting didly-squat for my time, energy and effort to provide preparedness info in greater depth, something our own government should be doing on a higher level. For the people, by the people and of the people-your employers.

Only Clutter To Have Is Food Storage

2009-10-03T03:19:00.000-07:00

Everyone has clutter in the home to some degree or another. Through the years we've collected some odd and precious keepsakes that have become part of the furniture in our homes. Permanent fixtures that we don't even think of as clutter until we are faced with much needed space. Start thinking food storage and from there decide what to keep and what to toss. Space happens to be the greatest issue but you can find creative ways to store items just about anywhere in the home. Food storage made easy has wonderful storage ideas and tips with mega info on food storage.

Keep in mind and focus on the many areas where canned food items can be stored also remember to calculate the temperature of where you'll decide to store certain items. Heat has a tendency to rise to the top, therefore store canned goods and non-perishable food items at lower level elevation areas such as basements, under beds, lower cabinet shelves. Attics can be used to store paper goods, toilet paper and other emergency items that heat will not affect. Plan and utilize space according to it's functionality and how well it will work with you and your own food storage plans. Think of ways to convert rooms and spaces into categorical food storage areas be creative.

Shelf Reliance company has a limited special going on at Costco's $799.00 after $200 OFF 1-year supply dehydrated and freeze dried food I believe it's a pretty good deal and from where I'm at this is a deal that I just cannot pass up. Just a little tidbit I needed to add.

Hawaii Basic Hunters Education Course

2009-09-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

Great news! The hubby and I passed the Hawaii Basic hunters education course. It was a two day crash course, and it was the most my butt could handle planted in a chair for two days. The videos we endured were really outdated, I believe from the 70's. The class was beyond full capacity, normally there's 40 registered and 10 standby students. From the looks of things about 10 or less registered students showed up and the rest were all standbys, hubby and I were way below the standby list. Hubby tends to have a pessimistic view when it comes to hope but I on the other hand simply said "you never know, we still got a chance just wait and see if we can get in". Sure enough, we got in and registered. Normally it takes a good six months or more to actually get in and be registered if you miss the registration you just got to show up and pray for a spot and wait as a standby. Basically you have to register six months to a year in advance for a guaranteed spot in the class. This class had 62 students, well above the required amount 40.

I walked away from this class with a greater understanding of hunters, conservation, preservation, the different animals hunted, endangered, native, endemic and indigenous animals.
I also learned the great importance of ethics and character, sportsmanship and the laws and regulations and the management of how everything is structured and put together as a whole and just how everything functions in its proper manner and the importance of survival skills.

Safety and responsibility was stressed more than ever throughout the entire class. I learned about the many different guns, parts, the inner functions and the many types of ammo and how they function within each type of gun. We were also taught about the cross bows and the different types of bows and arrows. This class was packed with so much information I'm pooped and I think my head exploded at the end of my written test. I'm so glad it's over, the class I mean. My score was 90 out of 100, hubby had 83. Passing score was 75 if you did not get 75 or higher you'd have to take the class all over again, just that thought alone made me more than ever determined not to come back.

Now I must wait for the paperwork to be mailed and then I can start to pursue my gun licensing permit, it's a pretty lengthy process here but thank goodness I passed the course. The course is required in the state of Hawaii in order to get a licensed permit and own and operate a gun. The class really was an eye opener for me and the instructors were exceptional professionals and true experienced hunters with a wide scope in their fields of education.

I got a sense of the belligerent hunters that we had in our class, they stick out like a sore thumb on a donkey's ass. They are the pig hunters here, ignorance just exudes from them.
These hunters I know probably would not last in the states hunting in the wilderness for elk or anything else for that matter.

I'm not sure if I will pursue hunting because I'll probably starve before I make a dent in my very first kill. But I do know that this is an important option for me to have and maybe someday hone and hopefully become skilled at it. Besides, I'm gonna have to start concentrating on learning how to handle and shoot a gun first before anything else and practice, practice ,practice.

Endless Supply Of Information

2009-09-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

With a wide array of information and resources available floating around on the Internet you can practically find anything and everything regarding preparedness information online for free. http://www.standeyo.com/ is a really good site filled with emergency preparedness info, I purchased Stan and Holly Deyo's book Dare to Prepare a few years ago and liked it so much, the following year everyone in my family got one for Christmas. I was skimming across the web the other night and came across this blog http://www.incaseofemergencyblog.com I found it to be quite packed with tons of things, I haven't really gotten to read it's entirety but I did email the guy and mentioned to him to check us out at http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.com I also thought it would be good to have him as a guest speaker on the Preppers Podcast Show.

E-books are very convenient and a wonderful option to have but I prefer a hard copy in hand versus a floating copy on the PC, although you have the option to print the book you will be using quite a bit of ink and paper with this in mind if there is ever a power outage it will be impossible to access the e-book. You also can't grab and go with an e-book in the event of an evacuation.

With a lot of free information available on the Internet it's easy to print copies and secure them in sheet protectors then place the pages in 3-ring binders creating a grab and go file in folder of all your preparedness resources and information. You might also want to make a few folders of different preparedness resources by topics the sky is the limit.

Another good place to find Prepper info is in bookstores and libraries. Garage sales are good to check out you'll never know what you might find that you could use as part of your prepper plan. And don't forget http://www.savers.com they do have books and everything else that you may be able to use for anything. Here's a few more sites that may interest you http://www.motherearthnews.com/ has do it yourself topics, organic gardening, homesteading, etc.

http://www.herbcompanion.com everything on herbs. http://www.citizencorps.gov/ also known as C.E.R.T you can learn and train to be apart of the community emergency response team, I think every neighborhood and community should enroll in this.

Don't forget the http://www.americanredcross.org they always have much needed info for everyone. The American Veterinary Medical Association http://www.avma.org has disaster preparedness info and printable material for pets and animals in general. There are currently 35 states that have animal disaster plans available you should check it out, unfortunately Hawaii is not one of them.

Here's a good one as well http://www.organicgardentips.com lots of tips organically speaking. I found this to be interesting average temperatures and rainfall in US cities http://www.countrystudies.us/. Here's another cool site I came across http://www.instructables.com instructions to a wide variety of things from organic to solar to recipes and more. This may also interest you http://www.fao.org/ it's a global information and early warning system on food and agriculture website. http://www.trackmyfoodstorage.com/ I found also to be interesting and provides you with ideas that you can utilize creating your own food storage plans. http://www.simplylivingsmart.com/ is simply building your self reliance. Enjoy the endless supply of info and do pass it on.

Reflections On Survival Within

2009-09-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

Today, I have finally managed to hit another milestone, instead of sabotaging myself with thoughts of becoming a year older I productively look back at the past years and how much of an impact I have made upon others in positive and constructive ways. The things that I have learned and taught and how it all has moved and inspired me in building strength, wisdom, character and compassion with a deep sense of understanding and patience in life and for all of life.

As I look ahead in fulfilling another year of life's lessons, missions impossible to missions possible I thank the Lord for blessing me with the life to bless others in making a difference one day at a time. What I do with my life is a gift to the one that granted me life.

When we prepare we are in a constant state of preparation in this thing that we all call life.

A lot of times we run out of patience and we fall short of understanding, then there's the great lack of compassion and somehow wisdom can never be found with not much character or strength on hand to keep one going just to survive our daily tasks mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. If we are lacking in these departments our cupboards are bare and need some major stocking up to do. I try my best to stockpile in these areas just because I feel the need here and intuitively it is a good need for me to have. I guess I would call this a prepared balance of survival from within.

Always Remember

2009-09-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

I will always remember and honor the lives that were lost on September 11th 2001.
The firefighters that bravely went in and risked their own lives to save others.
Complete strangers helping one another in the wake of such a horrendous disaster.
The courageous heroes on Flight 93 that refused to go down without a fight.
Honoring those who also continue to keep us safe in our armed forces.
And also remembering what our country stands for,
Freedom, Justice and Liberty for all.

The Way Of Self-Reliance

2009-09-06T02:13:00.000-07:00

Research and education is a combined effort towards preparing and making preparations in order to build upon a self-reliant way or lifestyle. Understanding and knowing the facts helps to point the way in which direction one needs to take when preparing for basically anything in life.

Being a prepper, a lot of research goes into observing and weighing a multitude of options that are available at least for now while we still have them. Knowing food prices will soar to even greater heights having a food storage plan is the smart choice. Evidence of food shortages around the globe only magnifies this choice tenfold. Droughts across the nation are another warning sign to our crops and foods that have been directly hit with major losses. Water is another precious commodity that we cannot take for granted and within this all the dire connections cannot be overlooked, without one there is not the other.

Our weather patterns have changed dramatically over the years and the seasons have been out of sync. Everything affects all living creatures upon this earth from the tiniest bug to plants and the animal kingdom all the way up to humanity. We are linked to one another whether we realize it or not. The day that we lose the honey bee's completely will be a devastating day for all of us, once they're gone we'll be in danger http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/. I just cannot imagine a world without honey bees, I love these little guys and I appreciate them more than anyone could ever know.

The ocean has been over fished and polluted time and time again. Mercury has been found in so many fish and to think we eat that very same fish. Humans are pretty much killing off all their sources of food to survive in the name of greed. Observing the world in such tail spinning effects naturally leads a prepper to be a prepper and an excellent one at it as well. A preppers instincts naturally kicks in and adapts to all situations from all angles. We are all preppers to some extent, but the full throttle preppers know who they are and why they do what they do.

Everyday I am given the opportunity to speak to a person on the prepper subjects. I find a great deal of wealth in the knowledge that I have learned just gushing out of me stressing the importance of preparing and sharing what I have and know with others. I must admit it is an uphill climb but just having others become aware is so important to me. I hand out food storage info and water storage info as well as global and current event periodicals that I print out from my computer and give them to people that are open minded and want to know more. I help direct them to what they need and want to know in an ever changing world at warp speed seemingly.

From there I let the world speak for itself, as global events take center stage people begin to awaken from the depths of their slumber and it is here with great clarity slowly they see beyond what is truly there. As a prepper it is my duty to help and inform others as best as I am able to without intruding or preaching unnecessarily, I know my limits and boundaries when it comes to speaking with others about prepper subjects. After a while they begin to approach you asking for more info and from there I expand on what ever they want to know.

I have been fortunate enough to find a few preppers here, but there has got to be more out here I just have not crossed paths yet with others that do prep. I strongly believe there are preppers here but finding them is a different story.

The Importance Of Self-Reliance And Being Prepared

2009-08-30T23:53:00.000-07:00

I have found that it is quite challenging convincing others about the importance of being self-reliant and prepared. It really doesn't take very much to get started in having a preparedness plan for any type of disaster be it natural or man made. I believe the greatest challenge is the mindset of people, a great majority of them think that nothing really serious or bad would ever happen to them or our state is exempt from all that goes on in the world.

This is one of the infinite deceptions that so many have seemingly bought into and believe until something really does happen and they become directly involved, by the time this occurs it is already too late to prepare. Sometimes things can be so simple and yet become so difficult. A little planning is really all it takes and you really don't need tons of money to begin properly preparing for any type of disaster.

A food storage plan should be done on a gradual basis by purchasing items on sale when the occasion arises. Always purchase the limit on items you would normally eat and prepare for you and your family, a lot of grocery stores in Hawaii tend to have limits on sale items. This is when you can stock up on canned goods and toiletries. You don't have to buy everything on your food storage list in one day, a gradual process of planning in this way helps you to better budget and spend only on the things that you need, it also allows you to pace yourself because we do have other bills to pay, this teaches us budget and discipline in the areas that we each need it the most.

We must always remember that natural disasters aren't the only things that we must prepare for. Having a food storage plan will definitely come in handy in the event of job loss, thousands of people are losing jobs at an alarming rate never knowing if and when they'll ever find another job nor where their next meal will come from or how they will pay for their bills. This is a very important reason why preparing is so vital to our survival of living day to day. When you save for a rainy day it should be saving for forty days and forty nights of rainy days because you never know when that rain is gonna let up. And when you do save make sure savings is done in all areas of your life, balance the strength of survival.

Don't live life oblivious to the obvious this will be your greatest downfall and with dire consequences. Everyone has got to come out of their caves and investigate and educate themselves, there are too many signs in the world that obviously points us in the direction to prepare and become self-reliant.

Having a prepared mindset and self-reliant lifestyle benefits the senses and gives one a peace of mind and a secure feeling knowing that you have gathered your acorns before the winter has set in.

A new month is already upon us and hurricane season has three months to go and before you know it a new year will be arriving. From what each year has brought us we should have at least some knowledge of our economy from how it was to how it has turned. Statewide governmental issues should open the eyes of young and old and keep your eyes on the target here. Federal government issues on a national and global scale should by now convince you that we sure better get some kind of plan going for ourselves and our families survival as a whole.

I would strongly suggest taking a look at the natural world of plants, insects and animals they instinctively survive in a changing world alongside of us on a daily basis. These master creatures already have it in them, they intuitively know the importance of self-reliance and being prepared.
The human race has a lot of catching up to do.

Self-Reliance: The Educated Path To Follow

2009-08-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not surprised to find that most people I speak with at work are out of touch with current and global events. Unfortunately, many are too busy tending to daily living in a world of their own. A great part of self-reliance helps one to prepare from all angles. Understanding and being aware of global and current events allows each of us to better navigate and chart a sound preparedness plan and be willing and able to do all that is necessary for our survival in a volatile world. As a "Prepper" many things are second nature or automatic, our senses are geared to survive relevant to what ever happens in our lives. If certain conditions would present itself at the drop of a hat we each will know what we must do and how to do it it's all part of being a Prepper.

A close eye is kept on all global and current events, whether it's another country or our own, all the way down to the state level. Everything is connected whether we like it or not. Educating ourselves and others plays an important role in going beyond just what the media tells us. Knowing your constitutional rights can never be stressed now more than ever, understanding how our forefathers came to the conclusions that they had in determining what was just and right for the people, by the people and of the people.

Understanding governments role regarding it's placement and limitations in the greater scope of our nations people where justice, liberty and freedom was fought for a very long time ago with it's people's future and well being in mind that our forefathers foresaw and clearly understood should not be forgotten. They knew the dangers of a government set up such as ours today but they did not know how great the extremities encompassing corruption and deception would be. The very foundation they have created has fallen from grace.

The many facets of our government are broken and is in deep need of re-structuring, each governmental branch state or federal is like a virus, it keeps spreading with no sign of a cure infecting us all on many levels of our lives. If our own government truly cared about it's people's well being our country would not be in the shape it is today. It would be a good idea to revisit the Declaration of Independence. What would also help is researching and understanding politics and all of it's antics in an array of disguises. Politicians are good at telling the people what they want to hear until they reach office and doing the complete opposite once in power. The people must understand that we have the power to throw them out of office, until they take that right away from us if we let them. Frankly, I'd rather see a "joe-blow" from off the streets in office with the way things are currently going now, I really would like to see a lot of them in office because I would trust them more than what I see now in our government officials. If an ant farm knows how to govern their own species why can't we?

History teaches us many things about the past, of the present and the outcomes that the future may or may not bring, instilling values that we may each hold near and dear to our hearts bringing forward a better way of life not just for one but for all. All nations can be great and magnificent, the United States of America should be the first to set the example and be consistent and true to it's nature. We must all have a better understanding and appreciation of the bigger picture and scheme of things. In a perfect world we could live harmoniously with peace and justice in it's highest form, this to me is the greatest nation to come. Until then self-reliance and preparedness is the educated path to follow.

Preparing To Be Self-Reliant

2009-08-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Hawaii Preppers Network are united with the other 49 states preppers network. Our goal is to teach and learn self-reliance in the areas of preparedness. Within this vast ocean of preparing we each have a wide array of information and resources that everyone can draw from. Education and planning is the key, utilizing the resources that you have and expanding on them will help you greatly as one embarks on the journey of preparedness.

Awareness is of great importance, knowing what lies ahead of us should direct each and everyone of us to start planning and preparing for any and everything that could and just may come our way in the not too distant future. The economic future of each state hangs in the balance. The ways that we live and have been living has abruptly changed, it is evident by the weak dollar. Job loss has soared and our own government have shown us by leaps and bounds that we just cannot rely on them no more.

Hurricane Katrina was an astronomical reminder for those of you who are blind and still sleeping. If anything, that disaster said to me no one's going to help us but ourselves and if anyone else did not get that "memo" I think it's time to start planning with your family.

If lives can be abruptly rearranged by a storm of that magnitude, lives can also be productively arranged to better prepare and better arm themselves for what ever type of storm comes.

The people of Hawaii must realize the importance of preparation, all it takes is dock workers to go on strike, a major debilitating hurricane or nuclear war or a global pandemic to paralyze this state completely. Where would you be? And how prepared are you to be able to comfortably survive for months or maybe years without the shipment of food or supplies arriving on ships at all? Do you have a edible garden? Do you have enough food and water to sustain your family for 2 weeks, a month or even a year? Do you have skills that will benefit your family and neighbor if needed for survival? Do you know how to protect yourself and property if ever the occasion arises? These are a few of the questions that we each should be asking ourselves. Remember we live on an island out in the middle of the ocean. Right there in itself is a red flag. Becoming self-reliant is being prepared and being prepared is becoming self-reliant.

Honestly ask yourself these questions and look at your answers, the answers will be quite revealing on how well you and your family really are prepared in the event a disaster strikes. Will you be one of those who will be standing in a wrap-around-the-store-line to buy goods after the disaster struck? Not knowing whether there will be anything left on the shelf when it comes your turn to be allowed in the store? I refuse to be part of the hugely unprepared crowd and I urge everyone to do the same. Do your part and prepare, do it for yourself, family and neighbors build a community learn from each other and teach self-reliance.

East Oahu, Hanauma Bay, Koko head crater

2009-08-14T01:55:00.001-07:00

The island of Oahu

Island Preparedness

2009-08-13T01:07:00.000-07:00

Living on a small island out in the middle of the pacific gives a whole new meaning to preparedness. Surrounded by water anything made of metal has a tendency to rust over time from the salt in the air. There's a lot of moisture here and we've got a pretty good dosage of humidity as well. Majority of the year it's sunny and hot. There's rain and thunder showers too, overall the weather isn't that bad. The weather conditions here though do make it somewhat difficult for food storage. Temperature's rarely drop below sixty degrees and that's depending on the elevation in where you live on the island. Usually its between the seventies and high eighties with occasional 91 or 92 degrees in the summer.

The state of Hawaii is made up of eight small islands, each island has a slightly different way of living. Food and supplies are shipped from the mainland to each island. In the event of a major strike or disaster we just might not receive shipments to the islands. There is agriculture farming here but it is and has been dwindling through the years. Mom and Pop's stores have become extinct. The population as of 2008 is at 1,288,198. Homes are so close to each other you can hear your neighbor fart fortunately you can't smell it.

Our lot sits on .1281 acreage of land, 5580 sf. Total living area 936 sf. We purchased this 3 bedroom fee simple home at $385,000 five years ago and saw it's value soar within a matter of months. It's value leaped to $100,000 more and kept climbing. Our home is located in the mountains on the leeward side of the island thus so it has spectacular views of several parts of the island. Our mortgage runs about $2000 a month and the property tax is $1750 a year which will be rising very soon.

My husband is a well seasoned trucker, he is also an experienced heavy equipment operator.
Trucking jobs here are quite different from the other states all due to the fact that places and corners here are tighter and trickier to maneuver an 18 wheeler or low-boy, slip-in as well as a flatbed depending on the job specs and where the job is located on the island.

The men that he works with have other trades under their belts in the event that jobs are scarce and few or have rained out. He has taken it upon himself to be versatile in many areas of construction so that he has options when it comes to making money and surviving. Knowing these few things I am very blessed and fortunate to have him as my partner in life.

I on the other hand, have made a decent living singing professionally locally and internationally for 20 years. I sing rarely now and made a slight change in my path, done some college going into commercial arts but nothing panned out there for me. I have a creative streak and craft things to sell. Currently I am employed by a big box company. My main focus at this time are in other areas of my life. We have no children except for pets.

Food storage and preparation is a constant ongoing process for me which has become a part of life. The shelf life on food items here vary because of the weather that we live by. I need to be knowledgeable of the temperatures, humidity and moisture here when it comes to storing foods and how to store them. If we had much colder weather here food wood have a longer shelf life, also homes built here do not have basements. If there is, I really don't know. As far as I know there is none.

Mormon's are the only one's that I know of that prepare and have food storage plans here in the islands.

Preparing is an important part of living especially in the times that we live in now. I am hoping to get others involved here in the islands by word of mouth, posting on other sites, as well as this site. I can only hope and pray for the best and inform others to the best of my abilities.

It's All About Preparation

2009-08-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

I would like to extend an invitation to all Hawaiian islands residence to get involved in preparations. Hurricane season is at the halfway point and it's not over yet. With Hurricane Felicia looming and heading our way it's a good idea to get in gear and start preparing all around.

Whether or not this one hits we still should all be prepared and on our toes, eye's wide open and ears percolating. Better to have a plan than no plan at all. Don't wait till the last minute either you'll be very sorry if you do. Yesterday, I heard that Longs stores ran out of water. As the Hurricane approaches hopefully it will downgrade into a tropical depression which will leave us with quite a bit of rain. This coming weekend ahead of us will be a cautious one, stores are beginning to see an upswing in sales of emergency supplies and the like.

What ever the outcome, stay informed, prepared and aware of what is going on not only in our state but other states as well. Until then, be safe.

Hawaii Preppers Network
Aloha2U

CQ CQ CQ HIPN CQ CQ W4DMH CALLING CQ QRZ

2009-06-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

OK now I have done it in true DX fashion for all you HAM'S out there.
I know others that read this will be real confused now but I would really like to hear from you HAM'S out there so I figured I would write in a language you would understand. We need to get HAM'S involved here so we can try to get a net going to help with off the grid communication among the prepper networks. I know there are many Ham's already involved in the prepper network and many more that read so please come forward and help us with getting this going. Now that all the people that read this (that are not HAM'S) are confused let me add one more slang that only the HAM'S will understand.

73 de W4DMH

PS Please email me so we can get to work on this. wvsantaclaus@aol.com
_________________
God Bless all from the Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
Santa

*****UPDATE******

From W4DMH Dave aka Santa

To everyone that has showed an interest in the HAM radio net

Just to let everyone know Bob KI4HEE from South Carolina and myself Dave W4DMH held a test run Thursday night on 40 meters at 9:00 PM Eastern Time or 0100 UTC time.

I am sorry that I did not get this info out but this all came about by email at the spur of the moment. It was a success even though I do not have the proper antenna in the air for 40 meter. I will cure that this weekend however. Bob will be posting the results on the South Carolina Page on Saturday June 20 2009. I invite you all to read that to see how the impromptu net turned out. For a spur of the moment thing, I think it was great. This little test run proved to me that if we try we can make this work.

I will let you know when this all gets worked out for sure but for now I believe we will try this on Thursday Nights from 9 pm to 10 pm Eastern time or 0100 to 0200 UTC on the frequency of 7.245 or there about for any that wish to come join in or just to listen.

Thank you all for your interest in the American Preppers Network Ham Radio Net. Hope to hear you soon.

73 All
W4DMH
Dave aka Santa

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Preparedness Information

2009-03-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

In any survival or emergency situation, food and water are a priority. Here are some links with valuable information to assist you in your preparedness efforts.

Food Storage Facts

Water Treatment and Storage

Food Storage Inventory Sheet

Safe Home Food Storage

Herbs and Their Uses

Storage Guidelines for Oils and Fats

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

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2009-01-01T01:32:00.000-08:00

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2009-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

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