Malama o ka 'Aina

Pohoiki is 4 miles (as crows fly) - but the meander through mango trees, papaya fields and organic farms takes 15 min

Life on the 'wild side' on the Big Island -- no high rise condos, no fancy hotels or 4-lane highways. In fact getting down to the ocean is part one-way because no one will be cutting down an old mango tree! We think we are the luckiest folks.

We are fortunate also for great activities in our local association facilities and that a lovely local educator offers weekly classes in Hawaiian language and culture here in our small subdivision called Leilani Estates.

We have long been interested in indigenous cultures and traditions, and it was important to us that we learn about the values of traditional Hawaiians. A few words specifically address some of the depth of the Hawaiian language..

kuleana - responsibility and commitment
malama - caring for 
'aina - the land (not as "land ownership" 
but in relationship with all aspects of the environment

Some of our nearby friends and neighbors have lived here for 25-30 years and we feel very lucky to have found them and be included in our Leilani Ohana (extended family.) Phil joins other volunteers with weed whacker and rakes to join a group of local citizens who care for our local park and swimming area. By doing regular weed whacking along the park, they are helping to eliminate the use of pesticides along our local shoreline.

Even an I write this blog entry on 6/27 we had two small earthquakes last night just off the coast in this area -- once again a reminder that our adventure here is at the grace of mighty forces -- it is a vital, living land like no other we have ever encountered.

Please enjoy watching  this very short video. The first section is of of the area where the volunteers work, and near the end (about a 1/2 mile) is of our favorite swimming spots. Both are only a few minutes from our house. -- 
Video of Pohoiki Bay

Phil's Koa Root

Ancestor Root of Koa - P. J. Haysmer

Photo by Kim Kornbacher (kimkornbacherphotography.com)

Part of fun of the art process Phil and I share is seeing the before and after -- for this one I really regret not having a "before" photo to show how Phil brought out the beauty of this gnarled koa tree root.  The Koa tree here on the Big Island is held in high esteem culturally.  


In the Hawaiian language (one of the two "official languages of Hawai'i) KOA has many meanings, but the first is brave, bold, fearless, valiant with the second meaning of soldier, warrior, and the third meaning being the largest of native forest trees...formerly used for canoes, surfboards and calabashes.

Ke Mole o Koa

A familiar story: Trees in Trouble -- For 22 years we lived in Humboldt County, the land of the giant Redwood trees that helped built major cities all along the West Coast.  Decades of clear-cut logging created a significant decline in the number of ancient giants with lives spanning 2,000 years and more. Here in Hawai'i 10% of the original Koa forest ecosystem is still intact.




The ancient Hawaiian delicate ecosystems evolved without any grazing mammals. Therefore, the native plants developed no natural system to resist the development of grazing lands for cattle in the 1800's. Since Koa is a legume and is a nitrogen fixing species, it is highly desirable to non-native grazing animals such as pigs, cattle, goats and sheep.  Deforested cattle grazing areas also impacted many bird species whose ground nest building was negatively impacted as well.

There is a Hawaiian proverb that says:  I ulu no ka lala i ke kumu which translated says, "The branches grow because of the trunk."  It is part of the consciousness we have found here in Hawai'i that honors heritage, lineage, and the malama o ka 'aina. the care of the land.

(Phil's piece is for sale:  $800)



  

Earth Moving!

Earth Move Under My Feet!               

http://earthquaketrack.com/r/hawaii-hawaii/recent

Here on the "Island of Puna" our lives just now are impacted daily by what is happening across the surface of the land. While lava is still flowing (with fits and starts) it IS flowing and while our focus is on what’s happening above ground, there’s also a lot of action happening just below ground too.  Earthquakes happen in Hawaii all the time, and rather than being deeply submerged at the base of tectonic plates, most of them are related to Pele’s constant movement. (Most are only 2-4 km below the surface.) 

Lilikoi Fruit and Red Potatoes

Yesterday, we had another kind of below-ground experience as we dug up our first potatoes!!  It was an experiment that my grandmother would have approved of; as a mid-west farmer in the early 1900’s the land supplied all their needs from cows to chickens, from fruits to vegetables and her daily life began at 4am and re-defines our notion of a 24/7 work week!

So I think of her as we begin to harvest from our own garden.  Yesterday we also picked another batch of lilikoi fruit from our fast-growing vine, and pulled up a small but handsome batch of potatoes.  Oddly enough, they were the same blush of color.  Yesterday I also trimmed the branches of our maple-leaf hibiscus – a deep crimson color, so our table is blessed with these beautiful hues for our fall harvest.  Malalo!  Malama ka ‘Aina!