Magma Chamber

For those of you visiting, and maybe wondering what is going on with the Haysmers -- no, we have not fallen into the magma chamber that opened only a few days ago spewing lava and cinder. You have probably already seen images on your favorite viewing devices. As we described in previous blogs, we are being treated with true aloha-spirit, housed comfortably with our four corgi dogs a few miles away from what once was our home in Leilani Estates on the Big Island.

What you may not have seen is the beautiful piece that Phil created for the state-wide, juried June exhibit at the Wailoa Center in Hilo. We received notice of his acceptance just a few days after our sudden evacuation, and had to notify the coordinators that, sadly, Pele had already claimed possession.

We received a surprisingly kind response from HIAA (Hawai'i Island Art Alliance) Board that they wanted (with Phil's permission) to enter his piece anyway -- offering to print and frame the piece on his behalf. With tears in our eyes, we said "yes." We thought those of you visiting our blog would enjoy seeing what the actual piece looked like before it became Pele's offering. As for "offerings" we thank all of the many that are coming our way -- each one precious -- each one gratefully received. As we can, we will be sending out more individual "thank yous" to each of you.

Phil was also recently interviewed by our previous Eureka home publications Times-Standard and the Northcoast Journal. He was also amazed that the Lansing State Journal in Michigan where he spent many years also called for an interview. It was there that he received his Master of Fine Arts Degree from Michigan State University and taught sculpture at Lansing Community College for a short time.

If you would like to, there are links below to those articles.

Times-Standard (Eureka CA)
Lansing State Journal (Michigan)
Northcoast Journal (Humboldt County)

All Things Being Equal

Lunel has begun a new journal 

For all our friends and ohana family who are checking in periodically there are just a few things to know about our current situation.

1. Our new family and place where we are staying is safe and comfortable and beyond generous.
2. The internet connection for anything is extremely sporadic so communication may be slow
3. We are both finding ways to "feel normal" without all the things that used to fill those roles.

Evening meal with our new family and old neighbors

(from bottom)
All Things Being Equal
And Change Inevitable
I Choose to Be Her Now!

Years ago, during a major life growth/adjustment/change at age 60, I got my first tattoo -- a symbol that kept coming through in my dreams and art. Since then I have used it on all my art. For me it is represents one of my basic core beliefs: Joy and Sorrow - Life and Death - Light and Dark all are not only necessary elements to existence but also equal.

New family building on just for us!! That's aloha!

And so it is in the be-here-now moment, or as we say here "Be Here Na'au." The loss feels overwhelming and unbearable and yet, somehow it also feels equal to the generous aloha-spirit that is being extended to us. And, that is equal to our discomfort at asking for help or even receiving it. The photos on our previous blog show the destruction and these represent how we are processing the pain and receiving the aloha as we find our way into an unknown future.

Especially to those who have made any kind of contribution we say MAHALO!! our difficulty getting on-line or even staying connected to say "thank you" makes responding a challenge.

The Way We Were

Well, if you remember THAT song, you probably recall the way it began...

"Memories...light the corners of my mind

Misty watercolor memories...of the way we were"

As we can see from this photo, our house was burned but still not covered. because the lava is flowing northeast, away from our house.

Unfortunately, these memories are not very watercolor-like but more like angry Vincent-memories. From reports, our Luana street was #8 of the big fissures opening. Ironically, Lunel was in ICU at Hilo Hospital at the time because 12 hours prior she had a seizure and was taken by ambulance to the emergency room. Phil did the best he could loading up 4 dogs and 7 bags of clothes and one fat emergency envelop, but under emergency evacuation and without his 'office manager' missed some important things.

Well, the above photo is where we would have been ignoring the mandatory evacuation. And, here's where we are now around a lovely table with other refugees in a true aloha home. We will continue to let you know where and how we are, but today we are safe and comfortable and on our way to a better diagnosis of Lunel's health.

Thank you ALL for your thoughts and prayers -- and understanding if we don't get back to you. (Please remember we are not facebookers or tweeters.)  In addition to repairs for Lunel, we have issues with our Versa and reconstructing a bunch of missing contacts, passwords, and other essential documents that were left in such an emergency.

Astra at Many Hands Gallery in Eureka has set up a Go-Fund-Me account for those who may want to help in that way: Go Fund Account

Aloha NUI LOA!

Lava Update

Here's the local lava news from today, Sunday, May 6th.

View of another street in Leilani

Here's a LINK what it looked like on Luana where our house burned. 

We just got conformation from two people that our house and everything in it was burned by fire. It may take time for the lava to reach us, but it is inevitable.

Since much of this happened while Lunel was in the hospital. Phil had about 15 minutes to grab a few bags and the dogs, loaded them in the car and left for safety. We are gathered with other neighbors who are in the same situation, giving thanks for all we do have.

(It was one thing to cut all we owned in half to make the move here; it is quit another to acknowledge your possessions now fit into seven grocery bags.)

Mahalo to everyone who has contacted us and for understanding if we don't reply immediately.

We have spent our entire 32 years together creating -- we don't plan to stop now -- it may just take a while and we may go at a slower pace. We also thought this would be our last big adventure --but now that we own a one acre lot of pahoehoe, looks like we are due for yet another one.

Losing the art we have both made and collected along with journals, photographs, books and tools will be the hardest.  In the meantime, we have each other and our dog-kids and an awesome community of neighbors and friends.

Living with Pele PS

May 6, 2018

Aloha Friends

Below is the message we sent yesterday to a group of friends, but now there is a PS: This morning at 5am there was a big outbreak explosion on property next to us. The folks that live behind us just email that their house is gone, so we must assume that ours may soon burn. We do have a friend with a drone who has remained in the most remote section of our division and we have asked him to confirm this loss. Until we see that it is gone there is no way to get our heads or hearts around this new reality; then again, how to do so knowing the reality will not be easy either.  Anyway, thanks for checking in and understanding that responding to everyone's inquiries may be just be impossible right now. For obvious reasons we are not including photos -- you can google that if you want to see.

Here's what we sent yesterday:

Please forgive the “group reply” but we just can’t respond to all the supportive and encouraging messages we have received from so many people in this complicated situation.

Lunel just got out of the hospital because she had a seizure on Wednesday (went into a unconscious state) and had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. She was in a coma in ICU is now on a variety of medications and is still not up to par but improving. The MRI machine was broken at the hospital, where, other than that, we were extremely impressed with the staff and her treatment. She sees her doctor on Monday and will get an MRI as soon as we can.

While she was there, if you follow island news, we had a volcanic incident began near our subdivison. and our whole subdivision was evacuated. Because of connections with our ohana here, we are now staying with a family who has graciously opened their large home to several of us – us with DOGS that is. So, now there is a total of 7 people and 7 dogs! While Lunel was in the hospital Phil did a good job of shuffling a few critical things into the car, but of course a few really important things got forgotten with all that was going on at the same time.

Amazingly enough, we have managed to replace most of the most extremely important things one way or another. Because Lunel was wearing only a shift (that is really ONLY) she was rushed to the hospital wearing only that!  She was due for cataract surgery, but the bifocals didn’t go with her, but a friend staying with this family had an extra pair that will work temporarily. From the hospital we went directly to Target for underwear and “slippas” and no glasses to see, but the staff there was so kind and helpful we left with most all we needed because we could not go back to our house because of the danger of fumes mostly.

There is an outbreak of fire just a couple blocks from us – who knows what direction/s it may go. Tomorrow, some Leilani residents may be able to go back briefly to collect critical things, but again, conditions are very volatile and all the agencies are more concerned about the people being safe.

After Lunel "woke up" she had an amazing dream: In it lava was flowing down the pali and one of our neighbors who is a mason, was helping build a wall to direct the flow (which of course is impossible.) There was a whole crew there including D9’s but they were all working with the lava not just trying to control it. At the front of the flow large diamonds were being spewed out, and in Lunel’s dream she was going up and picking up diamonds the size of her hand. So, as us, as friends and neighbors, sat around the dinner table tonight, we tried to focus on what diamonds we had already discovered – like the helpful woman at Target, or the neighbors who were opening their homes to refugees, or the people who were rescuing animals.

We don’t know what is next, but if you want to follow the event – just google Pahoa Lava or Leilani Lava to get photos and updates. We’ll try to send another email in a few days once we know more. Mahalo for all your love, prayers and support. We have a bed to sleep in, a pot to pee in, each other, our four dogs, and the amazing friendships and aloha we are experiencing during this traumatic experience.

Aloha and Mahalo

Phil and Lunel

Earthquakes in Puna

Last two days we have had nearly non-stop seismic activity, and by that I do mean "non-stop" as the attached Hawaii Volcano Observatory map shows. But Phil has a very accurate earthquake monitoring system that registers AUDIBLE earthquake activity!

Phil's marble collection registers every small quake

The reason for all this activity is that there has been a collapse of part of the structure of the Pu'u O'o vent where lava has been flowing from Kilauea for over 30 years. All of a sudden, because of this collapse, lava has stopped flowing from this location....which means it is going somewhere new!! And, at this point, no one is able to predict just where all that molten lava will be coming out next -- but it will eventually.

So, living on the edge of this living land means that rather than watching the latest ridiculous T-Tweet, all of us Punatics are following reports by HVO, and fly-overs of the area. We have a very active Civil Defense network that keeps us all advised of changes in the situation like the message below.

In the meantime, life goes on -- Phil is making sawdust and I am headed out to the garden for a little weeding.

 This is a Civil Defense message for Tuesday afternoon, May 1, 2018 at 4.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory reports increased shallow earthquake activity for Kilauea Volcano below Pu’u O’o in Puna District.
This means an outbreak of lava in a new location could occur. While it is not possible to predict where an outbreak could occur, the area east of Pu’u O’o is a possible location.
Due to the increased seismic activity, the following are issued:

• Department of Parks and Recreation has shut down the lava viewing area in Kalapana due to the proximity to the increased hazardous activity.
• Lower Puna area residents are advised to stay informed by listening to the radio, Civil Defense text alerts and social media sites.
• For up to date scientific information, go to active links on our Civil Defense website and the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory website.

Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatories and your Hawaii County Civil Defense will continuing to monitor the situation throughout the night. You will be informed as conditions change. Thank you for listening.
This is your Hawai’i County Civil Defense Agency. 

A Rose By Any Other Name

Close up of "flower"

Bloom is now 7.5 feet high!

Amazing as it may seem, we have a few neighbors here in the Land of Puna (on the Big Island of Hawaii) who do grow roses -- but where we live, with 140+ inches of rain, it ain't easy.

Even in Humboldt County my luck with roses was minimal, so I prefer a different kind of "rose" -- bromeliads!!

CLICK on any photo for a closer look-see.
 

Pools of water in the center -- tiny tiny blossoms

New growth on our Cardboard Palm

"That which we call a rose by any other name..."  Many people will recognize this quote from Shakespeare -- and the "roses" we grow in our garden are somewhat other worldly.

A couple of posts ago we were excited to share some images of blooms we have waited 3-4 years to see, such as our giant bromeliads pictured up at the top.

Here are just a few other photos of some of these strange plants.  No, I don't know most of their official names because many are cuttings shared with us from friends and neighbors.

I have also included a photo of our Cardboard Palm because it too is so unusual and has such gorgeous new growth coming out right now.

"Hokule'a" - A small vessel on a very big mission.

We cannot begin to tell the whole amazing story of the voyaging vessel the Hokule'a here in this small space, but we will provide you with a link so you can learn more about this incredible story, not only of Hawai'i culture but linking all of Polynesia with the world!! Story of Hokule'a .

Here's a teaser from the above article:

  Hōkūleʻa, our Star of Gladness, began as a dream of reviving the legacy of exploration, courage, and ingenuity that brought the first Polynesians to the archipelago of Hawaiʻi. The canoes that brought the first Hawaiians to their island home had disappeared from earth. Cultural extinction felt dangerously close to many Hawaiians when artist Herb Kane dreamed of rebuilding a double-hulled sailing canoe similar to the ones that his ancestors sailed. 

Navigational stones - "Maka o Hule" Heiau (Tom Bentley)

Hokule'a recently returned to Hawai'i after a outrageous and exciting three-year adventure around the world. Even before we moved here, we unexpectedly discovered ancient navigational stones while on a hike on the north west side of the island and we began to learn about this inspiring cultural renaissance.

This vessel navigates ONLY using ancient traditional methods, following the stars, wave patterns, wind and knowledge of sailing dating back to ancient Polynesians.

Ho'okupu (blessing/offering) lei that Lunel made for
Holuke'a with orchids and yellow ohia from our yard

This week we had a wonderful close-up-and personal visit while Hokule'a was moored in Hilo. We joined excited school kids, locals and tourists dockside listening to stories about every facet of life aboard a wa'a (double hulled canoe.)

Standing along side I was struck by both how small and large she seemed. A small world traveling over vast oceans, carrying, feeding, protecting and guiding all the souls in her care. And, yet how very big her heart -- carrying the spirit of all Hawai'i with her on her long journey.

Happy Birthday :"Reba-Bo-Beba"

Lady of leisure on her birthday

One pancake for each dog

"Hey dad -- ??more?"

Everyone who know us at all knows how crazy we are about our FOUR corgyn (plural for corgi.)

Today was a special day because it was Reba's 10th birthday. She, like us, has been on glucosamine for a couple years, and thankfully, she seems to be doing well. 

Waiting very patiently while they cool

Today, her two kids, Poko and I'i Lani, and grandson Tudor joined the celebration with special (gluten free) sour dough pancakes, made with our own daily-fresh kefir. 
Tudor (with the black tuxedo) is only nine months old. Hopefully he'll still be around for his 10th and my 80th birthday!

Just because they had theirs doesn't mean they didn't want more!

Heiau (shrine) for our Corgyn

But, on a sad note, all of us share the sadness of the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth's beloved "Willow" who is the last of a long line of corgi dogs in the Royal Family. While our family/ohana is not royal, we lovingly remember all of our corgi family too: Chauncy, Abbey, Dexter and Paka.  Queen Elizabeth's "Willow"

Visitation by the Bees

Never a dull moment here in the rural district of Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii. Choosing to retire in such a different place than California's northern (northern) Humboldt County meant learning a new way of living -- culturally and environmentally. So, our learning curve has included cesspools, water storage and treatment, 140" of rain a year, completely different growing patterns and seasons, etc..

However this week we got to experience a swarm of bees! We had seen hand made signs posted around on trees along the side of the road that offered bee relocation. And, all it took was a shout out to our local collection of friends and we had the answer we needed -- "The Bee Whisperer" of course! We made a phone call, got a reply back and a visit scheduled.

We first noticed a very large distraught collection of bees (several hundred) on a walk through the garden yesterday. They were focused on the branch of a bush back near the pineapple patch and the compost pile.

The queen had moved herself from one place to another, taking most of her hive with her, but in the last 48 hours, the torrential rains had confused some of the hive. Yesterday's mass of several hundred had diminished by today to only a few dozen.

It was amazing to watch our bee caretaker (whose family has over 90 hives)  gently probe the remaining clutch of bees with his bare hand as he examined them. He was able to determine that a queen had been there, had marked the branch for temporary shelter, and that most of the bees had already followed her. With only a few breaks break in the weather and some sun, the remaining bees have had a chance to dry out and head on out. Tonight only a few stragglers remain and, since it is (again) raining, they may delay their final departure until tomorrow. (We're all too familiar with flight lay overs, right?).

Thanks to the folks at Paradise Nectar here in Puna!
Support local businesses!  
Check out their website: Paradise Nectar in Puna

Four Years and Counting

Fragrant Pua Kinikini

Red blooms of Hawaiian Ti

We began to buy plants for our undeveloped acre long before the container of our personal possessions arrived at the port of Hilo on the Big Island.

As is true in life, some things don't grant you the delight of instant gratification like the familiar annuals (or even perennials) of  The Continent.

Hybrid Bromeliad
 (Reba for size perspective)

That being said, we had no idea that we might have to wait not two or three years, but four or five years for some of our first one-gallon purchases to bloom.

Newly planted bed outside
our front gate (bromeliads)

One of many Heliconia varieties

Ta DAH....well, this is that year, and we are delighted with some significant and crazy blooms.

While these may appear to be exotic, here in the rainy jungle-forest area the Puna District, they show up frequently in gardens we have visited.

On our visit to the Botanical Gardens above Hilo, we were stunned by the outrageous blooms of both Heliconia and Bromeliads, and of course the huge variety of colorful Ti plants, so these are featured in our landscaping. In addition to the flowers, our fruit trees have been loaded with both blossoms and fruit. Like many of our friends and neighbors, we have a couple trees each of oranges, tangerines, limes and lemons, a couple dozen pineapple plants, passion fruit (Liliko'i), papayans -- and eatable.

WE WILL UPDATE THIS POST WITH A PHOTO OF THE HYBRID BROMELIAD WHEN IT BLOOMS (PICTURED ABOVE AS JUST A 'STOCK') SHOULD BE STUNNING. 

Moss & Artful Companions

Here in Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii, February was a wet month with over 30 inches of rain at our house although some elevations got a lot more. Here in the Puna District, however, our wealth is, in part, measured by how much water is in our 10,000 gallon catchment tank (artfully disguised with beautiful plantings.) This is our only source of water for our household and apartment.

The other day there was a break in the rain that allowed us to resume some of our outside yard projects, and we both were amazed at how many little surprises we found in the yard -- mosses, lichen and mushrooms in particular. We each took turns with the camera trying to catch the magic that then inspired some additional art and poetry! So, here's some of what we found and a little poem I wrote.

"MOSS SONG" by lunel

when the light is low

and shadows long

the mosses sing

the best slow songs

notes in a minor key

with altos strong

It seems like nearly everyone we know finds a way to create art, even our multi-talented yard helper, Marcus. Just this morning we ran into him at our local Leilani Estates Garage Sale where he had a few of his paintings for sale. I found one that I loved and he was willing to part with. The link below is a delightful time-lapse U-Tube video of Marcus painting it. Please check it out -- I hope you enjoy: Marcus painting: "Grasses"

Got no pot!

Months after moving in -- our neighbor's gift of cuttings

When we first retired and moved to the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii, we bought a newly constructed house on one acre. Half the lot was a forest of ohia trees (80% of  died quickly from a horrible infection/fungus that is slowing killing thousands and thousands of the island's ohia trees.) Those trees were surrounded by huge mounds of invasive bushes and vines.

Outside nursery --  pots

Pots in the greenhouse

Overflow - more pots

Waiting for pots

The other half of the lot was nearly bare -- nothing  but red cinder on the "ground" -- the ground being lava. Our gracious next door neighbor was kind enough to take us around his property with his machete whacking off lots of cuttings to get us started.


He also gave us a couple dozen one-gallon pots.Since then we have bought many plants, but retained all the pots to propagate cuttings -- so easy to do in this climate. There have been times when nearly all the pots are stacked neatly in the greenhouse -- literally hundreds of then, and I wonder if I should reduce the stacks and recycle some.

Potted plants waiting to be planted

This week, after pruning I decided to pot up a few cuttings -- and WHAT!!! where are all the pots?? And, I realized they were nearly all in use! Hard to believe, and I'm the master gardener around here. It seemed so funny (at least to me) I decided just to take a series of photos of all the pots (in use) with rooted cutting, bulbs, seeds and such -- just waiting to be incorporated into the landscaping.

How, you may wonder, can anyone use all those plants? Well, when's the last time you paced off a full one-acre lot? We have nearly 30 landscaping beds on our expanding acre, and there are still "bald" spaces !! Oh, no! And, for further silly creativity, all the beds have names, such as:  "Moon Bed," "Poliahu's White Bed," "Monarch Bed," "Sam's Hill," "Dark Goddesses Bed," "Kate's Bed," oh, and the "Once Ugly Bed." ("And," Phil added, "she does all this for fun!!)