In Living Color!

What a busy month! We've received a few emails checking in on us since we have not created a new blog entry lately -- so here's the scoop!  We've been busy!

Work on the art studio is progressing very well, sheet rock going up this week, railings will be done, and beautiful "Lehua Doors" will be going up soon too.

Lehua Blossom (Lay HU ah)

OK, you say, what are "Lehua Doors" -- well early this year we were surprised by the COLOR of the ohia blossoms as they were such a deep orange/red and were visible from every window in the house.



Phil is making art out of left over scraps of wood from the building project, and has just finished one of Poliahu -- one of Pele's sisters who is associated with the snow on the volcanoes.

Lunel continues to work in her art journals filled with drawings, illustrations, poems
and quotes. She continues to learn about and work with the effects of on-going PTSD symptoms. Working in a densely packed 4' space for over a year, she's thrilled to know the new art studio will be completed soon.

About the knees, since friends are asking: The plan, for now, is prolotherapy injections that admittedly may or may not work. The MRI images for both knees were graphic and depressingly honest, so surgery may be an eventuality. After the year we have been through, it is understandable that another 6-month "recovery" would not be anyone's first choice.

Designing a new lanai (again) that will be adjacent to the house -- when what we had was so beautiful is a challenge, especially remembering all the amazing art that we had placed so strategically.

Phil is getting bids on installing whole-house solar which will include the latest Tesla storage batteries.

Giant Rhubarb

Younger selves in Santa Cruz CA

Lunel is getting information on replacing the wonderful cedar hot tub that we both will be glad to have again.

And then there's Rhubarb for one of Phil's favorite treats -- grows amazing here at 3500 in Volcano

Both of us have experienced a slowing-down we have to acknowledge and honor. The last year of various kinds of trauma and recovery has taken its toll, and although we are enjoying our new home,  it is still NEW as are all the things we are slowly replacing from wedding rings to underwear, from books to art -- as we also acclimate to new cooler weather, new neighborhood and new colorful opportunities.

This week we also celebrated our 33rd anniversary -- goodness 1986 seems like a LONG time ago -- we were a LOT younger!

May Day - Lei Day!

We are coming up on some significant anniversaries in May, as most of our friends and blog readers realize. (coma, fire, Leilani lava, homeless, legal fight and slow recovery, AND our 33rd anniversary!)

However TODAY is  Lei Day in Hawaii - Lei Day is a statewide celebration in all of Hawaii. The celebration begins in the morning of May first every year and continues throughout the entire day and even continues onto the next day. Lei day was established as a holiday in the year of 1929 and continues to this day.

This past week we attended a premier showing of a 1-hour documentary created by Hawaii News Now that featured interviews with local Puna residents about their experience. Our story was included and Lunel's interview came up early in the film. 

This LINK will take you to a very short recorded segment and a longer written description. Hawaii News Now - Haysmer Interview

(And, here's a LINK to the FULL version of the film:
  "Pele's Path" - full length story

The room was filled with hundreds of people who, like we, were looking back at last May, but also supporting each other in the present as we move into the future.

Close-up of the Leis we received

After the viewing, we decided to go out for a little lunch. While we were eating, two women we did not know, came over to our table and presented us with gorgeous leis -- saying that they recognized us from the film and wanted to show their aloha and support by presenting us with their own leis! We were a little surprised, but also find that our story has reached a pretty wide audience here in Hawaii.

Phil's latest --  a carving of Pele

"Remember then: there is only one time that is important - NOW! It is the most important time because it is the only time we have any power."  Leo Tolstoy

A year later we both feel we have "aged" -- we are both hoping that like good cheese or fine wine,  we will get better over time. We are also keenly aware that during the whole year, we have been loved and supported along the way by friends, neighbors and even strangers!

Blessed LEI DAY!!