The Past Meets the Present with Presents!

from my art journal

Ernest and Maybell

We're almost at "ten months later," with insurance money in hand, in a new lovely home in a great neighborhood. There's food in the fridge and three dogs in the yard -- so our future is looking brighter since our Leilani Estates home was lost back in May last year

One of the more painful processes we faced was actually listing everything that we lost, room by room. But just who makes a list of their treasured library, collected over a lifetime? Yeah, that was a tough one. Also gone were all the amazing art treasures from around the world.  But perhaps some of the hardest losses to embrace were our wedding photographs (from mid 1980's) and our wedding rings -- Phil's was his dad's and mine was a sweet rose gold ring that was my great grandmothers!!

Santa Cruz wedding in our back yard
(My dress was covered in Hawaiian style Hibiscus)

When we past our 32 anniversary last year (in the same month we lost our home) Phil gave me was a beautiful birds' nest he had found, and with it came the his promise that we WOULD find our new nest eventually.

One of our dearest friends back in California sent Phil her mother's wedding band to give to me, along with a photograph of Ernest and Maybell. She also had one of our wedding photos -- one we didn't even remember giving to her!

Cosmologists and astrophysicists tell us that time is relative and can be "folded" - so in this blog entry we are folding time -- taking a tuck from the last century and the last year, folding it into our new present, with the understanding that that was then -- this is now -- and we are living in the moment of NOW!

Niuhi-Shark and Kamehameha the Great

This week we had the privilege of being invited to attend a panel discussion about the history that prompted the telling of this story of conflict between regional family groups. We were both impressed by the (kupuna) elders who spoke as they attempted to deal with and accept all parts of the story -- political power, death and loss and the unification of the islands. The word in Hawaiian is "ho'okuleana" - taking responsibility.

Another word that was frequently used during the discussion (which included thoughtful audience participation) was "pono"."  The word means  living with a conscious decision to do the right thing in relationship with self, others and the environment further suggesting  that by living with moral character, people will find happiness.  

Of particular poignancy was the goal of teaching the keiki (children) -- how to accept the past without judgment, and how to move into the present, learning from the past. Reading from another book about King Kamehameha (The Lonely One) by the same author (Eyre) an entire lesson plan is offered for young students.  LINK: Keiki Lesson Plan

EXHIBIT: NIUHI-SHARK: Honoring Kamehameha the Great in Paint and Prose

Volcano Art Center is proud to announce the next fine art exhibition to be displayed at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in  Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park from February 16th – March 24th, 2019.  The exhibition titled NIUHI-SHARK honors Kamehameha The Great in both paint and prose with original paintings created by Carl F.K. Pao paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by Kāwika Eyre.  

The exhibit in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of King Kamehameha’s death will open on Saturday, February 16th with artist and author present at an opening reception from 5 to 7pm. The public is also welcome to attend a panel discussion the day before on Friday, February 15th at 5:30pm at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

(If, in our ignorance, we have inadvertently misstated something, please let us know)
AND...To read more about this story follow this link: Learn More

Life Goes on -- Day by Day

Dogs holding planning meetings

This week marks the nine month anniversary of when our lives changed so dramatically in early May of 2018, first with Lunel's seizure and coma incident followed closely by our home burning to the ground, and days later being covered by lava.  AND, life goes on, day by day.

Sometimes our days feel like they are full of simple, small things.  Maybe that's just as well since we are both still getting our bearings in our new home and neighborhood -- and recovering from 2018.

.... while Phil puts up temporary dog fence

So the small things include getting a fence set up for our beloved Corgyn -- Poko, Tudor and I'Lani who seem to feel that their contribution to all the tasks at hand can be managed from one of their favorite spots -- the king sized bed!! (Just call us at mealtime.)

REAL "Executive Time"

Since we have lived in four (FOUR) places during this event, just imagine if you can, trying to go through the list of utilities, suppliers, doctors, subscriptions, banks, AAA, AARP, Medicare, and other services that need to have address changes  for the 3rd time.  Or, worse yet, since included in our complete home loss were the many passwords we had to use for everyday things like -- anything ordered on line, Apple, Google, email, automatic payments to insurance, etc. As we all know,  PASSWORDS are needed to do anything these days This has been a task that has given Lunel a major headache.

Some of the birds

We do take time for fun -- trips to the beach, watching the birds which include: several kinds of house finches, cardinals, saffron finch, 'Io (Hawaiian Hawk),  Kalij pheasant, manikins, Apapane, Myna, doves.

We are also learning about the variety kine fruits and veggies  that grow well here at 3500 feet elevation in the town of Volcano,  like one of Phil's favorites - Rhubarb!!

Great greens and rhubarb

Handsome Kalij Pheasants

It took over two years to create the lovely accommodations we had in Leilani Estates, including a big wood working shop for Phil, carport, ohana/rental, and most especially our gorgeous lanai -- complete with hot-tub. We are now creating plans for some of these features, knowing it will take time.

Rhubarb Pie for Phil

In our most recent temporary home (a 6-acre ranch with appropriate farm animals) Phil had a wood working "spot" beneath a 5000 gallon redwood water tank, but we are currently enclosing our existing carport to accommodate his projects, so he can continue providing pieces to his galleries.

Yes, life goes on -- day by day and so do we, thankful every day for all the blessings, love and support we have received.