A Big Shout Out to my Girl, Ka'iulani Carr, Miss Waikiki 2014!!!!

It's the last day of the year and so many things have happened so fast and furious! No pun intended....Rest in Peace Paul Walker, you gorgeous surfing kane.

Although there are so many things to comment about, I really want to take the time to Congratulate my dear friend, fellow dancer, and sometimes partner in crime, Miss Ka'iulani Carr for taking home the Miss Waikiki crown on December 29, 2013!! I'm sending you a big "CHEEEEEEWHOOOOOOO!!" (I really don't like it when wahines say that, but I knew you'd appreciate it).

Ka'iulani also won Miss Ala Moana USA earlier this year and came in 3rd place for Miss Hawaii 2013. Huge accomplishments back to back!!

For those of you who don't know her, Ka'iulani is the most beautiful hula and polynesian dancer. She not only has the perfect dancers body with her long and lanky physique, she also has impeccable timing and is truly a "natural" when it comes to dancing. She dances with all of her heart and you can't take your eyes off of her when she is on stage.

In addition to being mad talented, she is also extremely funny, witty, and a great actress. I wish I had a video of every crazy skit we've done impromptu in our dressing rooms because they could have very well been youtube sensations hahaha. And, not only is she a riot, but she is also very intelligent, educated (Kamehameha woot woot!), and knowlegable about everything in general, including Hawaiiana. But what I respect the most about Ka'iulani is her strong MANA (spirit). Meaning no mattter what is going on in her life, she always has a smile on her face, a spring in her step, and a great attitude.

Did I mention she is drop dead gorgeous?! I didn't think I needed to point that out, but the girl has the most amazing skin. She doesn't do much to it to take good care of it and it always looks flawless. This is when you can thank your parents for good genes. Gotta love that Hawaiian and Irish skin.

Congratulations Ka'iulani!!! You're a true Princess and all your hard work is well deserved!!!!

p.s. let me know when your ready to "thread" those caterpillars and "sugar"your underarm vana teehee!!

xoxo
C

Ka'iulani Carr: Miss Waikiki 2014, Miss Ala  Moana USA, & 3rd Runner Up, Miss Hawaii.

Taking a break in a photo booth from a gig at The Blaisdell Center.

Goofing Off

Back stage dressing room at The Hawaii Theatre, downtown Honolulu.

The Gracie Diet

If you live in Hawaii, there are several activities that you will be into. Those activities will include surfing, polynesian dancing, hiking, golfing, fishing, horseback riding, and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a huge sport in Hawaii and most guys (and wahines!) are either training in it or watching it in competitions.

I first learned about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu when I moved to Oahu from Kauai for college. My Kauaiian girlfriends and I had made friends with some Brazilian kanes (men) who lived and trained with Relson Gracie, the founder of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. It was at Relson's home near Kahala that I learned about the special Gracie Diet that he and his students ate to be at their best.

Relson and our friends would make the most delicious and nutritious foods. I remember eating BBQ chicken from the grill and a pumpkin soup that gave us so much energy we swore the cooks had spiked it with something if you know what I mean! We never gave the diet much thought back then because we were young and full of energy anyway, but now I can see the full effects of this special diet having watched Relson and his students live long healthy and active lives throughout the years.

My friend Romolo Barros is a black belt instructor in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and helps Relson with his Academy. Romolo has been practicing jiu-jitsu and the Gracie diet his whole life and rarely ever comes down with an illness. He swears by the diet for optimal health.

I try to follow the diet as much as possible and when I do, I am able to tell the difference in my health.  I digest food faster, have no bloating, and I have more energy throughout the day and night. It really does make a difference!

The Gracie Diet was created by Carlos Gracie, the patriarch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie Family. The Gracie Diet is all about proper food combinations; the objective is to prevent blood acidity and fermentation that could be caused by unhealthy chemical reactions of food within the body.  The Gracie Diet enables your body to use less energy for digestion, freeing your body to have more energy.

The Basic Rules of the Gracie Diet:

• no sugar or syrup
• no vinegar
• no pork
• only day old whole flour bread served toasted or oven warmed

The Diet is divided into several different Food Groups:

• Group A: Animal protein, fats & oils, and vegetables.
• Group B: Cereals.
• Group C: Sweet fruits
• Group D: Acid food (in majority of fruits).

Food combining Guidelines:

• Group A combines with each other and with one of Group B.
• Group C combines with each other and with one of Group B.
• Group B does not combine with each other.
• Group D can only be consumed individually. 
• Banana & Milk are not included in any of the groups since they have chemical combinations of their own. 

Group A combines with Group B

Relson Gracie being promoted to Grandmaster (red belt) on April 7, 2013. 

Romolo Barros (black belt) still looking young and fit.

Romolo with Hawaii's Governor Abercrombie.

Romolo sending me a peace out pic as he flys off to Rio De Janeiro for the holidays.

Guava Leaves for Skin Problems

In Hawaii, we are so lucky to have an abundance of tropical fruits and flowers right in our backyards. Many of these fruits are not only a good source of food, but also a great resource for medical conditions. 

In Hawaii, it is also very normal to live with extended family members. I was lucky to grow up around my maternal grandparents on the same property. My grandmother was an avid holistic practitioner, which she learned from her family growing up in Southeast Asia. For example, my great grandmother was a midwife and would massage the bellies of pregnant mothers with coconut oil (which I will have to blog about later). However, being that my mother was a nurse and practiced  primarily western medical practices I often did not take the holistic approach as seriously as I should have, until recently. 

About a year ago my mother suffered from a rash under her foot and on different parts of her body. We went to the dermatologist twice and she applied the prescription topical ointments like she was supposed to, but it didn't get any better. We waited a couple months to give the medicines enough time to work and it just seemed to prolong the problem with little significant progress.

Taken at Dr. Stella Matsuda's office at Kuakini Physician's Center

I finally told my mom that we should try my late grandmother's home remedies of soaking skin problems in guava leaf tea (she would have us kids soak in a bathtub of warm guava leaf tea for rashes, chicken pox, etc.). So, we cut down a bunch of branches from our yard and boiled a large pot of guava leaves with water until the water turned brown like tea. Then my mom soaked her foot in the pot while she watched t.v. When she was done she noticed that her foot did not have an itching sensation anymore and the next day it literally healed by 50%. By the end of a week it had completely cleared up. I was amazed and became a total believer. And, to think of all the money and time spent on medication and doctor trips and agonizing prolonged pain!

If you are suffering from skin issues, guava leaves are a great way to naturally rid yourself of all types of skin rashes and irritants.  Give it a try!

Ingredients:
-Fresh guava leaves (a lot!)
-a pot big enough for your ailment or bathtub.
-hot water

Recipe:
-boil the guava leaves in a pot with water or fill your bathtub with hot water and soak the leaves until it turns brown like tea. 

Instructions:
-soak your body part with the rash in the guava tea for at least 30-45 minutes a day until gone. 

*Guava leaf tea is also beneficial when you drink it. It's effective for weight control and reducing body fat because it inhibits the absorption of glucose into the body and the conversion of glucose to body fat. 

Guava Tree

Guavas & Guava Leaves

All Natural "Sugaring" Hair Removal

Body sugaring is an ancient Egyptian method of hair removal using a 100% natural paste of sugar, lemon and water. 

Technicians will apply the sugar paste by hand against your hair growth so that when the hair is removed in a flicking motion it’s pulled out by the follicle in the direction of hair growth. This drastically reduces the occurrence of hair breakage, unnecessary discomfort, irritation and ingrown hairs while exfoliating dry skin cells. Sugaring also removes smaller, harder to grab hairs.

Sugar paste is safe for all skin types, even the most sensitive! Since the sugar never adheres to live skin cells, only the dead cells will be removed acting as a gentle exfoliation. 

The Benefits of Sugaring compared to Waxing:
-Sugar is all natural whereas wax is made primarily of resins and contain artificial fragrances, dyes, chemicals, and preservatives.
-Sugar paste is lukewarm, therefore, it will not burn the skin. 
-Sugar paste removes dead skin cells; wax adheres to live skin cells increasing the risk of tearing and redness.
-Sugaring paste is water soluble, meaning you can wash it off with water; wax needs to be taken off with a special wax remover, baby oil or petroleum jelly.
-Bacteria does not breed or survive in sugar; bacteria breeds in wax.

Please contact me at hawaiianbeautydiaries@gmail.com or text me at 808.381.1052 if you are interested in body sugaring services. We provide services in the Koloa area of Kauai. 

Glutathione: The Anti-Aging Antioxidant in our Body

GLUTATHIONE.     Where do I begin?      I LOVE IT.

Glutathione is a master antioxidant in our body. As we get older, glutathione decreases in our body, making us more susceptible to inflammation and aging.  As we age, we are exposed to toxic things in the environment, including the lack of an abundance of nutritious foods that are needed to support our cells for optimal health. 

Think of yourself as a sliced apple. The inside of the apple begins to oxidize once it is exposed to the environment; it starts to turn brown and decay, much like the aging process. Now think of glutathione as the lemon juice that is squeezed onto the apple slice; this process stops the apple from oxidizing (hence anti-oxidant) and keeps it fresh and white for many hours after the receiving the lemon. This is why Glutathione is considered a master antioxidant and is beneficial for anti-aging.

Please see my video post on Dr. Robert Keller, who goes more into depth about glutathione. Dr. Keller created MaxGXL, a glutathione accelerator supplement. Dr. Keller served on the scientific review panels for the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Recognized as one of America's "Top Physicians in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 in the fields of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Hematology" by The Consumers' Research Council. I started to use it after seeing the amazing results that my friends were having. I mean these guys were lean and body rocking! They had lost at least 30 lbs. or more and looked fantastic. I am not promoting MaxGXL in any way. I am merely sharing that I did  notice that my body was detoxing, I had more energy than before, and my skin was radiant. 

Good to know:
-There aren't any foods you can eat to give you glutathione.
-You can't take a supplement claiming to give you glutathione because it will be broken up and destroyed in the stomach from your stomach acids making it ineffective. 
-You can take supplements that accelerate the glutathione that you already have in your body to produce more glutathione. 
-Glutathione helps you detox, decreases inflammation, and gives your more energy. 
-A side effect for glutathione is it lightens your skin. 

Glutathione may be relatively new to the United States, but in Asia it has been known and used for beauty products for many many years. One of the main reasons is because it lightens your skin as a side effect and white skin in Asia is a symbol of beauty. My cousin Ani from the Philippines is a famous model there and she (like many women in the Philippines do), takes glutathione shots even though she was already born fair skinned. 

You can find glutathione injections on the Internet, mostly from Asian websites. I have never tried any of them and I am not promoting that you do. Any info on my site is subject to your own research and at your own risk. [www.flawlessbeautyandskinph.com]

I recently found a naturopathic doctor here on Kauai who provides glutathione and vitamin IV's. This means that you can get glutathione intravenously administered straight into your veins bypassing the stomach altogether. [www.drcarriebrennan.com]

My beautiful cousin Ani with no makeup

Ani modeling for Avenue Montaigne

Dr. Robert Keller talks about Glutathione

The Aloha Spirit

Many people around the world are familiar by now with the term "Aloha Spirit." For many tourist or malihini (transplants) The Aloha Spirit means the car bumper sticker that annoyingly says "Live Aloha" or someone allowing you to take a left turn in heavy traffic. Yes, we have traffic in Hawaii!! But, this is just the surface of what Aloha really means. In fact, many people in Hawaii, including locals, tend to use The Aloha Spirit in the complete opposite way of what it really truly means. Often times it is used in a condescending or scolding manner or even as a sense of entitlement. Growing up on Kauai, I was blessed to be raised among Hawaiians who really exuded The Aloha Spirit and it was through their role modeling that I learned what the essense of Aloha really was and meant from an early age. This doesn't imply that I have "aloha" everyday because there are days when it is very difficult, but at least I know the difference and that's half the battle! 

Many people are also unaware that The Aloha Spirit is an existing law in Hawaii since 1986. It is to me one of the best explanations of The Aloha Spirit. The law states that all citizens and government officials of Hawai`i are obligated by law to conduct themselves in accordance with this law, while performing their duties and obligations, as well as in their day-to-day living. Likewise, those visiting our fair islands are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with this Hawaiian law. 

The Aloha Spirit Law, 1986, Hawai`i Revised Statutes (5.7-5)

	[§5-7.5]  "Aloha Spirit"  (a)  "Aloha Spirit" is the coordination of mind and heart within each person.  It brings each person to the self.  Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.  In the contemplation and presence of the life force, "Aloha", the following unuhi laula loa (free translation) may be used: Akahai, [ah kah hai'], meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;      Lōkahi, [LOH' kah hee], meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony; `Olu`olu, [oh' loo oh' loo], meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness; Ha`aha`a, [hah' ah hah' ah], meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty; Ahonui, [ah hoh nui'], meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance. These are traits of character that express the charm, warmth and sincerity of Hawaii's people.  It was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii.  "Aloha" is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation.  "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return.  "Aloha" is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.  "Aloha" means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.  (b)  In exercising their power on behalf of the people and in fulfillment of their responsibilities, obligations and service to the people, the legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, executive officers of each department, the chief justice, associate justices, and judges of the appellate, circuit, and district courts may contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the "Aloha Spirit". [L 1986, c 202, §1] The yellow hibiscus: the official state flower of Hawaii