A Mellow Yellow Tangerine Dream

This weeks colors are Yellow and Orange!

The sweet yellow Saffron Finches are back this winter and Phil feeds them every day.

Outrageous bright yellow mushrooms are showing up in the back yard, while the enormous yellow hibiscus tree in the front yard seems to be picking up extra-terrestrial signals from a a giant yellow super star cluster called Westerlund.


It still amazes us that we can grow fruits and vegetables throughout the year.  We have one small tangerine tree that, despite it's size, gave us a whole branch full of juicy, seedless tangerines!!  And, there are blossoms on the lime and tangelo trees too! 

All in all, we close out 2014
feeling quite MELLOW living our DREAM!

Hau'oli 
Makahiki 
Hou
(Happy New Year)

Keahialaka - Leilani Estates

Keahialaka is at Latitude  19.47/Longitude 154.9

When we first bought our house in the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii, I remember reading that our subdivision had a historical place name of Keahialaka Ahupua’a.  (Ahupua’a is an old Hawaiian term referring to a traditional socio/economic, geographic and climatic area of land.)

Here is some information from hawaiianhistory.org:   The ancient ahupua`a, the basic self-sustaining unit, extended elements of Hawaiian spirituality into the natural landscape. Amidst a belief system that emphasized the interrelationship of elements and beings, the ahupua`a contained those interrelationships in the activities of daily and seasonal life. Shaped by island geography, each ahupua`a was a wedge-shaped area of land running from the uplands to the sea, following the natural boundaries of the watershed. Each ahupua`a contained the resources the human community needed, from fish and salt, to fertile land for farming taro or sweet potato, to koa and other trees growing in upslope areas. Villagers from the coast traded fish for other foods or for wood to build canoes and houses. Specialized knowledge and resources peculiar to a small area were also shared among ahupua`a.

And here is an interesting story about Pele and how she is associated with the place where we live.  This information was taken from Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes, William Drake Westervelt 1916

Lunel's Art -- "Green Flash"

"When Pele came to the island Hawaii, she first stopped at a place called Ke-ahi-a-laka in the district of Puna. From this place she began her inland journey toward the mountains. As she passed on her way there grew within her an intense desire to go at once and see Ai-laau, the god to whom Kilauea belonged, and find a resting-place with him as the end of her journey. She came up, but Ai-laau was not in his house. Of a truth he had made himself thoroughly lost. He had vanished because he knew that this one coming toward him was Pele. He had seen her toiling down by the sea at Ke-ahi-a-laka. Trembling dread and heavy fear overpowered him. He ran away and was entirely lost. When she came to that pit she laid out the plan for her abiding home, beginning at once to dig up the foundations. She dug day and night and found that this place fulfilled all her desires. Therefore, she fastened herself tight to Hawaii for all time." 

WAR IS OVER...

19 CHRISTMAS 14

Many years ago I was gifted a crocheted piece made by my grandma, Carrie Ollmann.  I made a frame for it, and it has had a special place in all the houses I have lived in for over 40 years.  This year, marks its 100^th birthday – 2014.

On December 24, 1914, during WWI, British, German and Canadian soldiers in Belgium, in the middle of the war, simply STOPPED, climbed out of their trenches and entered an area identified as “no man’s land.”  There, they exchanged presents and greetings, and after a few hours returned to their respective sides and the war continued.  Also attached to this keepsake are two tiny gold medallions also dated 1914 which were made by a French Medalist.

Many of us recall John and Yoko's poster from many years ago as well as their rally to "Give Peace a Chance."  Can we?

Solstice in Paradise Puna

Today was winter Solstice in Puna and it was a glorious Big Island 80 degrees with bright blue sky and big fluffy clouds.  We don't spend all our time worrying about the lava; still seems odd to know that lava is flowing just down the road in Pahoa.

To celebrate, we decided to plant a beautiful Bleeding Heart vine like one I saw growing at a friend's house. 

We chose two dead Ohia trees and gave it a trellis to begin its 40 climb up into the branches.  Here is a photo of it on our front porch before placing it in its final location.

Is she done yet? Grrrr!

My back was aching today, so I spent some time sun bathing and reading, while Phil was more ambitious and managed to get some weeding done.  Later we decided to take a ride down along the ocean and enjoy gigantic waves crashing while the sun went down.

Afterward, we headed home for a little supper and a repair job on one of the dogs' favorite toys.  Notice how attentive they are as the final stitches are taken.

Lava Comes to Pahoa for Christmas

Sean King, who is a fabulous local photographer, captured this amazing from-the-source photo.  Lava is now flowing toward the Pahoa Marketplace in Pahoa Village, from the back side.  This is the home of  our local Malama Market that, along with many other small local businesses, are evacuating right now.

Lava follows the path of least resistance and as the 12/18 map from USGS shows, the lava has split into two fronts. The upper branch is the one directly behind Malama Market now.  While the lower branch has stalled temporarily, if/when it begins to flow again, it will threaten the very heart of Pahoa Village.

Right now, we are thankful we have had time to prepare as the holidays are just a few days away, and no one know what may be happening next. Looks like we will be getting something black and lumpy in our stockings this year.  :-(

End Fault Zone

On more than one occasion lately -- I have erred, which is distinctly uncomfortable for an ranking member of the Quality Control Squad of the OCD Tribe.  And, it doesn't matter what I did.  What I noticed most was how I felt about that -- "erring."  Is about being perfect, or being "bad?"  "Oh dear" said Eeyore.  What a critical voice; I have to just stop...and find an END to the FAULT ZONE!

Sign at Volcanoes National Park, Big Island Hawaii

About 15 years ago while I was studying and writing Sanskrit as a meditation, I came across a good writing practice.  Each line of the chant began like....Salutations to the Deva who abides in all things in the form of....  And in each case the end word changed; Light, Kindness, Mother, and so forth, on for the traditional 108 rounds.  Some few lines into into the list though, I hit the line Salutations to the Deva who abides in all things in the form of error." Say what?!?  And like lightning striking, for me this was an Epiphany; a life changing teaching was etched permanently in my memory and tattooed on my heart -- as a point of irrevocable certainty. Human = Error = Divine? Reminds me of this quote:

"I say all the perfect and the broken hallelujahs have an equal value.  It's a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way, but with enthusiasm, with emotion.  - Leonard Cohen

Way back in 2011, I wrote about this sign but only recently was I able to get the photo posted near the summit of Kilauea.  What would it mean if we could "end" any Fault Zone -- cultural, political, religious, or personal?

New Hawaii Traditions

Big Island "cloud forest"

One of the most difficult aspects of moving is re-establishing new friends and building a community in your new neighborhood.  We are SO lucky to have been so lovingly adopted by folks here in Leilani.   Living in a new place also includes establishing new traditions and rituals.

For example, this Saturday we are attending an imu-style potluck where foods will be prepared in a pit and where neighbors will bring foods to share and enjoy live music.

Our wreath -- just in time for our 2-year anniversary!

Another long-standing Leilani tradition includes holiday wreath making, which begins with a trek to the slopes of our beloved volcanoes where native plant materials are respectfully gathered.  Last year, because of my knee surgery, I was unable to attend, so I have waited all year in anticipation.  The materials come from what is called the "cloud forest" where mists and low clouds keep the forest moist year round.

The group and their completed holiday wreaths.

This last week we gathered at a friend's home for wreath making and  pupu's (a Hawaiian tradition of sharing small delicious treats ranging from local smoked pig, fruit, veggies, cheese, and of course dessert!)

Mahalo Geraldine for hosting us!

Two Year Anniversary

Two years ago, on 12/12/12, our one-way tickets delivered us to our retirement home in the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii.  We had NO idea that our vacation here in February of 2011 would result in a massive two-year disengagement from Humboldt County.  Early in 2012, when we saw this house we both saw immense creative potential for a warm retirement, but it has also taken us two more years to reach our goals.  Here are a few before and after pictures that gives an overview of the construction projects and land terra-forming.


With our fabulous contractor we designed and built a wood shop/studio for Phil (below) and a one bedroom apartment (top) on the existing cement pad. We have had fun with friends and guests staying in the furnished ohana.

Very little had been done to the one acre, so we began to create beds using lava rock dug out from the property. We are surrounded by beautiful ohia tree forest.

We planted fruit trees, gardens, raised beds, and enhanced the area around our rain water catchment tank.  We also have a "shade house" where we grow many vegies.

We turned a "spare room" into a light and airy art studio where Phil added book cases.  This is only one-half of this spacious room -- Lunel's art space is the other half, featuring a large hammock, another set of book cases, large art table, pantry, and double bed for short term guests -- an an unobstructed view of acres of forest -- no neighbors in sight!

Although we are very proud of our 10,000 catchment water-wealth, we also felt it needed some beautification. Other completed projects include the addition of the carport with 24x24' deck on top, and the beautiful lanai where we enjoy our cedar hot tub with a 180-view or the surrounding forest.

Happy 2-Years!!

Winter Reading

Winter diversion -- taking a break from Science Ficion

Many people who know me also know of my life-long addition to outstanding Science Fiction; that I carefully packed and moved about 700 SF paperback to Hawaii, tidily alphabetized by author, is no longer an embarrassment.  It has been interesting to re-read some SF books that I read 35-40 years ago – to note the folded pages or scribbled annotations.  These many years later, it is easy to see how my early conversion to the genre influenced my choice to pursue cultural anthropology.  It is also noteworthy that, decades later, we can now point to black holes, and other wildly crazy cosmological phenomena as “facts” – ideas that were merely playful outlines of what “might be” when I was 25 years old.

On occasion I intuitively gravitate toward a batch of non-SF, never selected because they are “best sellers” but often because they are at someone’s garage sale, or a friend offers a personal recommendation.  Fortunate for me I have a couple friends who know me almost too well and have a preternatural ability to select books that are spot-on. Those include Ocean at the end of the Lane, and The Maddaddam Trilogy by Atwood (special mahalo to Cheryl.) If you are near the end of your favorite book, or find yourself in a state of book dearth, you may want to do a search of these or any of the following titles. 

• The Forest Lover is now tenderly battered from my third reading and from sharing with others; The Wave was an intense ride around the world learning about 100-foot waves and the water-world on which we live and depend; Cutting for Stone I found impossible to put down – a gripping story of twin brothers born in India.  (From a search about the author I discovered this book was #1 on President Obama’s summer reading list.)  Finally is Flight Behavior, an intensely personal journey of self-discovery and how the most delicate of behaviors, like the Monarch butterfly, can teach us about ourselves and our world.

Lava for Christmas?

Hawaii 24/7 Photo (go see more!)

Some of the urgency has diminished if not the flow itself.  It's not exciting enough for national news just now, but lava is still flowing toward Pahoa, toward Hwy 130, and toward the ocean.

I cannot begin to give the full story here -- the kind of coverage,  like detailed coverage at  "Hawaii 24/7."  On the other hand I also know that people who love us and regularly read this blog will want to know "what the lava is doing."  And, that dear ohana is the hard part to explain -- unless you are HERE, living with this fascinating, palpable  energy on a moment-by-moment basis.  It is always changing.

This is NEW to us --and yet, we both feel so strongly connected to this place there is a peace in our lives.  There is also a distinct "not knowing" here and that has to be OK with you or you leave.  There is a day-by-day "living acceptance" being Lava Zone #1 -- both the newest patch of land on the planet, and maybe the most UN-insurable.

Blue circles our Pahoa Village - arrow is to our house.

For really good details and a short video, please check out this link to HAWAII 24/7.  Hopefully the photos well encourage you to learn more.

http://www.hawaii247.com/2014/12/01/lavatalk-december-1-2014-update-on-kilaueas-lava-flow/

"This morning’s helicopter assessment shows that the breakouts remain active and the furthest downslope breakout has become the new flow front. The active flow is located approximately 2.9 miles upslope of the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection. The flow had advanced approximately 400 yards since yesterday." Hawaii 24/7

The map shows the flow in red with yellow circling Pahoa Village Road on the "bottom side road" and Highway #130 on the outer side heading south toward our subdivision.  Notice the "place name" circled in black?  Well that is the ancient Hawaiian name for where we live:  KEAHIALAKA   (But that is for another blog entry so stay tuned.)