What's in a Name?

Nahelenani Street

It was during our 2011 vacation to the Big Island that we first got the idea to retire here. Many of the necessary logistics such as divesting a lot of our "stuff," finding a buyer for our 22-year old gallery, and selling our 1860's Victorian were just plain work. But one of the FUN things was discovering the richness of the Hawaiian language.

Some of the first words we learned were typical vocabulary like 'aina, mahalo, and aloha, or learning the different kinds of lava formation like pahoehoe or a'a. When we made the offer on our first home in Leilani Estates and found out that our street name was LUANA -- of course we looked up that word too: Luana: to be at leisure, to enjoy pleasant surroundings and associates and to enjoy oneself. 

Luana -2012 - Healthy Trees

At that time our lovely one acre of land was thick with Hawaii's native 'Ohi'a trees, but in less than two years most of the trees were dying from a fungus that was spreading rapidly - hence the name "Rapid Ohia Death" or ROD. The photos here show the difference in about 18 months' time.

Luana - 2013-14 - dead trees

That is just one of the reasons we are so delighted with our new street name of Nahelenani, because it means nahele (forest) nani (beautiful.) Once again, we are blessed to be safely snuggled into forest of beautiful 'ohi'a trees that are now bursting with lehua (lay-HOO-a) blossoms.

We loved "Leilani Estates" and are heart-broken over the lost of our home in May 2018. Leilani was a larger subdivision with dozens of streets -- all with beautiful Hawaiian names like Moku (island) or Hapu'u (fern), etc.. Our new subdivision of "Ohia Estates" however, only has two street which makes it easier to get acquainted with our new neighbors.

Trees on our new property

If you are interested in learning 
more about the ROD "Rapid 'Ohi'a Death" 
you can click on this link:

  ROD - great photos and explanation

Spring Into Spring

Today, standing near where our home was

This week celestial events gave us the drama of a SUPER MOON and the first day of SPRING. Also this week we were invited to do a TV interview about the devastating experience of losing our home last year, the trauma of evacuation, the anxiety of dealing with the insurance claim, the stress of living in four places in less than nine months, and our focus on recovery and starting over -- from scratch.

Given this conjunction of events, we decided to mark our "spring" as a personal "new beginning" by visiting Fissure #8, now a prominent and permanent 200 foot landmark in Leilani Estates.. Of the many lessons we have learned throughout this past year perhaps the most important is to look fear directly in the face, or as Pema Chodron reminds us -- to invite in what scares us.

Lunel placing our offering

Art by Jessica Taruni
Originally created for The Volcano Inn 1999

Standing at the base of the cone, we offered ho'okupu (offering) with a flower lei Lunel had made with orchids from our home. She sang an oli (chant) of gratitude for all we have learned and received. It was our first time visiting the place where our home stood, but we both felt ready.

After the loss of our home, many people asked whether we were going to leave Hawaii -- but honestly that thought never occurred to us as we both feel deeply connected to the 'aina - a Hawaiian word that means not only "the land" itself, but a relationship with the whole island-environment, itself a symbol of destruction and creation. Recently we even bought a beautiful, large stained glass window to place in our new home.

Please listen to this talk by Auntie Pua. It is short but packed with power -- about the changing of seasons, a celebration of the SUN, and our place in this world of reciprocal cycles.

 Auntie Pua --

 The Intense Breath of  the Sun

A Place for Artists!

Coral with pale green trim

Everyone who knows us, knows we are artists who need a place to play. Friends and blog followers also realize that we each lost amazing art-spaces when our home was destroyed in May last year.

Phil had the space of a two-car garage for all his stacks of Hawaiian hardwoods like koa, mango, monkeypod, silkoak, milo -- and, of course all his tools. Lunel had a large art studio with big windows and cupboards and drawers filled with her art journals and supplies.


Our charming new coral-colored home in Volcano was a perfect choice except for the fact that it did not have adequate art spaces. We have been blessed to meet several local builders who are now creating that space where our creativity can bloom again. All three men live aloha and live right here in Volcano. One lives on our street, one actually built our house in 2006 and another has had projects right here on our street too. Talk about good luck!!

Color Names:  HAVEN, RAVISHING CORAL
and QUIET CORAL --- HENNA

Phil sketched the elevation and floor plan, and in just three weeks, the project is well under way. Next came the fun part of selecting colors. We wanted the new building to complement the house, so here's what we came up with. The colors will be reversed: pale green for the outside walls and corals as the trim and deck in rich henna.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of our loss, it will be exciting for us to watch this get built. Phil's space will be in one half and Lunel's will be in the other half. There will also be a large, covered front porch/deck area.

What a great way to celebrate the arrival of SPRING!!

Hawaiian Crow

COME-BACK-CROW!! From extinction in 2002 to a return to its native habitat. One of the wonderful perks about living in Volcano is we are only a couple miles from so many wonderful activities, cultural, scientific, and ecological. Click on links below to learn more:

Info about Volcano Art Center
Volcano National Park Info

Last week we attended a presentation about the reintroduction efforts to return the Hawaiian Crow 'Alala to its original habitat.

Tool User

The ʻAlalā Project with the San Diego Zoo (who introduced their own captive breeding stock} have been working with this unique species. The 'Alala is a highly intelligent bird that is integral to native Hawaiian ecosystems and culture. There are over 100 crows currently being raised in captivity, and over two dozen now living in the forests being monitored to track their territory, feeding habits and interaction.

During the presentation we learned that of the most recent releases to the wild, two pair of male and female birds have begun to defend their territories -- which project members hope means nesting. If this happens, it will be the first crow chicks in a very long time. Article - Return from Extinction