Island of Fire and Snow!!

WOW -- talk about extreme weather -- Just two blogs ago we were extolling the beauty of lava as it flowed down from Mauna Loa (current flow now over) and here's that latest extreme -- SNOW! As we pull out of our driveway the view of our other giant, active volcano Mauna Kea, greets us for each errand we run. How lucky to have this view on the Winter Solstice.  WISHING YOU AND YOURS A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

Celebrate With Us!!!

This week we celebrated Father's Day, Summer Solstice and Phil's (big 80th) birthday! It also happens to be the one-year anniversary of Lunel's bilateral knee replacements.

So, what could be more perfect than a day at our favorite beach. It may not be the beach most people think of -- white sands, palm trees and gentle rolling waves.  No...  We live on the more rugged east side of the Big Island of Hawaii where our path to the water is formed from beautiful swirls of ancient lava called pahoehoe and the beach is black sand and smooth black pebbles. 

Driving there we go from 3500 elevation a couple miles from Kilauea Volcanoes National Park down to about 35 feet! There's no sign for it on the highway and it is a half mile walk...but what a lovely walk.

The area is steeped in cultural history and well tended. Going on a weekday means there's likely to be only a few people -- only the strongest swimmers and surfers -- brave the ocean. But the tide pools are a delight.

This year marks our 10th year of island-love -- it has been quite the adventure!

Winter Solstice

"Na Anela" by Dietric Varez 2002

We're keeping it simple this year for the holidays. 20 months later from the life-changing events of Kilauea's lava eruption that altered the lives of so many Puna residents and those we love in Leilani Estates, frankly we are still recovering. 2018 was a hard year, and 2019 was spent accomplishing a lot of necessary and beautiful construction of our new home. We have no particular plans for 2020 other than to limit the news we consume and focus on our respective artistic endeavors.

As both our interests include history, cultural anthropology and archaeology our reflections at this time of year include the ideas embraced by many world cultures long before the birth of Jesus. If you are interested in learning more about SOLSTICE -- here's a link to a short article:  ABOUT SOLSTICE

We're not sending out cards or even a year-end email; we figured that anyone interested in our lives would take an occasional peek at our blog which has been up-and-running for over seven years now. Here is our "card" -- a lovely art piece by Dietric Varez, a local Volcano, Hawaii artist who died on Lunel's birthday last year. (Na Anela is the next street north from ours, and means the angels). Take care, enjoy life, and may the angels be with you!

Solstice Surprises

When it came time to think about a seasonal holiday tree, we actually went out and topped five feet off one of our pine-like ironwood trees - it seemed a simple solution to  over-priced imported trees.

Then, as close to 30 Monarch caterpillars (from our aviary) transformed into 24k gold decorated jade ornaments, and we transferred them to two bare branches, we realized we would actually have a rather unique "Chrysalis Tree." ("click"on photos to enlarge)

Wings finally dry -- ready for first flight

"Rooms For Rent" - by Lunel Haysmer

Over the past week, we have witnessed nearly 20 Monarch butterflies emerge and take flight, and, there still about 6-8 remaining that will fly off by Christmas. It has been such an unexpected joy. And, by carefully transferring chrysalis to tree branches, we have shared some with friends and classrooms. WATCH: Caterpillar to Chrysalis


With all of our chrysalis "hung up with care,"  Phil also found a perfect small cut pine tree that we have loaded up with lights, and all of our favorite traditional decorations. So, we are blessed this year with several trees!

Above are a few pictures taken in this last week. As the butterflies come out of their cocoons, their wings take a little time to dry. Then, we carefully carefully take them out to some of their favorite places in the garden for their first flight.

The last image is an artfully adapted photograph I took of one of the "chrysalis trees" after all the monarchs had hatched.

caterpillar dreams

of wings and sweet nectar

while munching tough leaves

david de la croes

Colorful Hawaii Holiday Traditions

There's a whole generation of folks our age who remember when getting an orange in our Christmas stocking was a treat, along with a new box of color crayons, or a roll of Life Savers.  This morning (Christmas Eve Day) the dogs watched lazily while I went out to our little orchard to harvest a crop of fruit to make fresh juice.  We have been experimenting with using lemons, oranges, tangerines, limes, lilikoi and ginger. The lilikoi and ginger offer a real snap that needs just a touch of local lehua blossom honey.

Card Art by Thor - "Spambiance" 

So while thinking about old family traditions, I also remembered SPAM!!  Our working family made do; mom was very thrifty (although at the time I didn't fully appreciate that.)  I remember her slicing SPAM (spiced-ham) soooo thin one can fed our family of five.

According to the SPAM website, the island's love affair with Spam began in World War II, when GIs were served the salty luncheon meat because it didn't require refrigeration and had a long shelf life. The Hormel Corporation, which manufactures Spam, provided 15 million cans to Allied troops every week. Between 1941 and 1945, Hormel had shipped over 100 million pounds overseas.

Snow?  While snow may fall on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, at our elevation of 750 feet, we have to settle for our annual blooming "Snow Bush" which is covered with tiny little white flowers -- a member of the Poinsettia family.

Speaking of our local volcanoes, each year members of our tribe respectfully gather natural materials from the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa for wreath making.  We all meet at someone's home, bring pupus and gather for munching and "talk-story" as we create our wreaths.  Finally, each season (Equinox and Solstice) we decorate our family altar with appropriate symbolic reminders of our connection to friends, family and our nearly 30 years together.

Happy Holidays EVERYONE!!

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.

Happy Solstice Birthday Phil & Paul

Waiuli Park on Hilo Bay

Happy Birthday Paul and Phil!

Friends gathered along Hilo Bay today to celebrate Phil and Paul's birthdays!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

We met Paul and his wife Jan looking for a claw foot bathtub last year when we built the ohana.  They had one -- only a few blocks from our house.  Since then we've enjoyed many meals together, great concerts and have become good friends.   Paul is a professional framer as was Phil many years ago.

About a dozen people showed up for good potluck and talk story.  There were a few wet T-shirts from water balloons, a good chorus of  "Happy Birthday" and great cake!

Sun Path

When we bought our house in the Puna District and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii, we expected more sunshine.  And of course, when we bought our house in Leilani Estates, we had our compass in hand so we could see how the sun would arc across the property. (Here's a photo I took at Winter Solstice.)

What we have discovered after a full year, is a rather interesting phenomena; during the winter and summer solstice, the sun rise actually aligns with the physical corners of our property.  At the back of our land, there are two trees that have been marked by the surveyor.  During the summer solstice, the sun rises directly behind one tree, and on the winter solstice, it rises behind the tree  at the opposite corner.

This observation is undeniable!  Why?  Because as the sun rises, it comes directly through the house -- and shines in our windows -- crossing over our respective pillows.  That means in the winter, you can actually SEE the sun coming in one side of the house, and in summer, coming in from the other side.  It is like the sun's path makes a big X right through our house!  To a LEO, these things matter!

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

(mahalo to annalobello for her tarot image at deviantart.com)

Graditude and Latitude

It is quiet this morning; our friends and carpenters, Steve and Rob have finished our new deck, and we are enjoying a cuppa Haysmer Mud (coffee so thick and rich it has been classified as its own food group.)

Yesterday, while answering an email from a new artist and friend in Fiji, I noticed the first Lehua blossom on the Ohia trees just outside the window of the office area in our open house floor plan.  I was caught by surprise when my eyes teared up; what?!  Look-see-inside:  I realize it marks the anniversary of our first year.

And, overnight a second blossom has appeared and I am aware of new rhythms here on this new land.  On the summer solstice, I awake to find the morning sunlight streaming from the southeast counterpane across my bed, blessed warmth on my face. I woke early this morning to see the sun peak up, nearly half a year later, on the northeast side of the grandmother Ohia.  The light comes now at a different slant, crisscrossing it's earlier path to form an invisible "X" across the land and our hale.

There are new rhythms here (nu riddims) that only time will reveal, perhaps more subtle than higher latitudes, but waiting to be discovered by open hearts and open eyes. There is only gratitude - Ho'omaika'i.