Life and Death on the Big Island

 
                                                                                                                               SEE LAVA

A "Mountain" of Lava - Revisited

 

Haysmers Fun in May 2024

 

Taking the Day Off

 

SUMMER!! Monarchs, Flowers, Lava and Birthdays

 

Five Years Later

 

Projects for a dry winter in Hawaii

Hawaii winter at 3500' elevation where we live, in the small community of Volcano, usually offers us lots of rain, but not this winter -- California got it all for over a month!  But, this dry spell offered a chance to tackle one of the final unfinished projects.

Mauna Loa Eruption

We moved from Eureka, California to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2012 and when the 2018 eruption happened and we lost our home to a fire, we ended up living in a small community called "Volcano" only a couple miles from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Visit the Park Website

Many blog followers were confused about this as it seemed we were moving closer rather than farther away from danger. With the advent of Mauna Loa's current eruption, some folks my be concerned about our safety, but by listening to the following news release, there is little to be concerned about for us.

In several blogs during 2020-2021 we reported that Kilauea is active but that the lava stays within a huge inner caldera. This blog explains Kilauea and us

One of our favorite drives is up Mauna Loa Road where we sometimes go for a hike or pack lunch. Even at a full hours drive up that road, we are not remotely close to the summit where this lava is slowly flowing over a sparce rather lunar like landscape. It does make for a dramatic night-time scene.

News Release about Mauna Loa

INTERESTING -- the dark blue line above reveals just how HUGE Mauna Loa is!

Our young friend, and professional photographer, Marcus Moylan, too this long-lens photo. Hawaii's official state bird is the Nene - these birds make the slopes of Mauna Kea their home. Attempts are all ready in progress to help protect these beautiful birds. Thank you Marcus!

It appears that the daytime photo below was taken on the opposite side from the Nene photo.

ENDINGS and BEGINNINGS

 

Kilauea Iki at Volcanoes National Park

 

....Weather Permitting....

 

What's Under There? (Three years later....)

One of the projects we enjoyed living in Leilani Estates on the Big Island was finding unique features in lava that had flowed over the land in previous decades (called Pahoehoe - pa-hoyhoy) Odd to be doing that again in our new home in Volcano. Here are a few pictures of the work-in-process.  

Inside Kilauea - September 29. 2021

 ooops, date of photo is not 2020, but NOW...

Kilauea Eruption for Christmas!

Aloha from Volcano!  Just in case you're checking in to see how the Haysmers are doing after the surprise eruption last night in the caldera at Kilauea in Volcanoes National Park.  

WE'RE FINE. 

Good Grief! Planets colliding, volcanoes erupting -- what a strange Winter Solstice!

The first thing you need to know is that Kilauea volcano is an "inny" -- a very large hole 1600 feet down in the ground which is unlike many folks' impression of big tall mountain shaped volcanoes. (Of course four out of our five volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii are big tall mountain shapes.)

Many people were concerned that, after losing our home in Leilani Estates during the 2018 eruption, we were crazy to be moving to a small town called Volcano -- only about five miles from Kilauea. 

For insurance purposes Leilani was in zone #1 -- most risky and Volcano is in zone #3 with less risk (generally.)

Here's some photos -- last night's view -- today's view and a map showing our home in Ohia Estates.

The tiny active crater way d-o-w-n inside Kilauea (Kil-ow-way-ah) is called Halema'uma'u (Hah-lay-ma-oo-ma-oo) which means House of Ferns. In addition to the large caldera at 1600 feet down, this smaller active crater is another 1300 feet down (as of 12/31 lava is about 1/2 up the inner crater. With Kilauea itself being 2x3 miles wide active lava flow would have to completely fill the gigantic basin before reaching the top.

This USGS video shows the two fissures that opened along the walls.  Inside Halema'uma'u

Giving Thanks (over and over)

Photo taken by our friend Marcus (with photoshop adaptations)

"Once Upon A Time" TWO YEARS AGO the 2018 Kilauea eruption in Puna on the Big Island found us homeless and filing what we thought might well be a useless lawsuit against Lloyd s of London. However, two years ago, just a few days before Thanksgiving we had (through amazing circumstances) both a home and a check with which to begin our lives over. There's ample reason for giving thanks...and here are just a few more.

Phil is continuing to discover new techniques with his wood carving and painting and here's his latest piece entitled "Good Omen" -- maybe an unconscious prayer given the current situation of our world.

The bird featured in the carving is a Koa 'E'kea -- common name is Tropicbird (yes, spelled that way.)

Other images are a new group of fledgling doves who are permanent residents in our yard -- along with numerous other native and endemic species (watch for new blog about them.)

An unexpected bunch of buds on our Marc Chagall rose and a BIG surprise -- three pineapples we never expected to produce. We'd had several dozen coveted "white" pineapples on our previous property -- we'll have to wait and see if they mature -- through the upcoming cooler winter here in Volcano town.

I am continuing to be frustrated with this format --

which doesn't allow for customary maneuvering of photos.

Wishing everyone a safe, thankful Thanksgiving --

we are "together" despite the circumstances. ALOHA

Election Distraction

What's under there?

When we moved into our new home in Volcano town on the Big Island of Hawaii, there was no access to the back property line -- until we began to clear out accumulated debris and weeds. After spending weeks on this project, we began to ask ourselves just what WAS under all there.  Apparently when the forest was cleared to build this house, a lot of raw material (LAVA) was simply pushed back and piled up. Over the decades since, debris, soil and weeds just piled up deeper and deeper.  Here's a couple of in-process photos -- keep your eyes on the two very large chunks.

Oh! That's what's under there stones shaped
like Hawaii and California!

During the last week of the election we decided we needed a distraction, so began to work on beautifying the outflow from our 10,000 gallon water tank, like we had done with our home in Leilani Estates prior to the lava flow in 2018.  We began by removing the existing sod and digging out at large hole. We managed to do some ourselves, but allowed our young strong yard guy to finish it down to 16" where he found a layer of pahoehoe lava (Pa HoyHoy) -- a solid continuous shelf that runs under our property -- after all the whole island is made of lava!

All of the beautiful stones we used came from along that back property line area. We had help from a friend to place two very special ones on the far left side of our waterfall feature, now completed just before winter rains hit. 

These photos show progress we managed ourselves artfully using the o'o bar and sturdy dolly to move and relocate heavy lava stones. The final two can be seen in the photo above, one shaped like California (on the right) and one like Hawaii. After thorough cleaning, both were moved into place by a good friend and neighbor.

Plantings will feature a color pallet of purple, yellow and lime green. The  amount of overflow rain water that comes out during the winter is huge -- so no fish, probably no water lilies either. 

After cleaning -- "California" and "Hawaii" lava stones were placed at far LEFT.

Oh dear!  So, we thought it was done...then more beautiful lava chunks were found, again, along the newly reclaimed back property.  Notice the addition to the RIGHT side...now we ARE done !

Haysmer Hale Le'a Update

Besides the knees there IS actually other news. The garden Lunel worked on so lovingly in early spring is responding well to our comfortable summer 70-75 degrees. Although we loved our former home in Leilani Estates before the 2018 lava flow, it was too hot much of the days in summer time. So much has changed -- not only our home, the weather, there's Covid19 to contend with. The state of Hawaii now has over 300 cases -- and before you think that is small potatoes, our count is up 50% like many other states.

Lunel in the dog-yard. Dogs from left: Tuxedo Tudor, Uncle Poko, mommy Lani

But now, onto the KNEES!  Today marks one-month anniversary of Lunel's bilateral knee replacements. An interesting point is that although the total knee joint was replaced, she still has her original knee caps! Anyway, stitches are out, bandages are off and today she went down the stairs (with Phil spotting her carefully) to meander out to the close-by dog yard. We have an physical therapy office here in Volcano where she will begin a professionally guided recovery program.

Although we are at home 95% of the time, we are friends with many of our nearby neighbors and enjoy safe conversations along the driveways or from the front porches. We are so happy not only with our sweet "Hale Le'a" -- house of gladness, we are equally happy to have a real neighborhood of friends here in Ohia Estates, as well as old pals from the old neighborhood.

STAY SAFE, 
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS

ALOHA FROM PHIL AND LUNEL

Banana-Fana-Fo-Fana

Island boy with bananas

Big red flower and
baby banana blossom

One of the many things we enjoyed in our previous Big Island home in Leilani Estates (BL before lava) was growing our own fruits and vegies. We had solar, constant water supply, big freezer and a 2-month supply of food.  While not off-grid, we felt very pleased with accomplishing our original goal.

That was 2012-18, and a photo of "Banana Boy" with a fresh harvest.


Finding our new home in Ohia Estates in Volcano, we were delighted the previous owners also had bananas, and we've harvested three bunches in just the last year. The photos on this page were taken last week as we watched the blossom open, flower-lets open and teeny tiny bananas begin to form.

Like many things on the island, they grow in spirals, and the photos here show the original blood-red blossom. As the blossom opens (in a spiral fashion) small white flowers come on with tiny baby bananas that look almost like bean sprouts. If you have enough bananas to spare, the tender 'sprouts' can be used in a tasty salad.

You can even see the "spiral" as they ripen

As the  red blossom leaves spiral open, more "hands" of bananas are revealed. It's convenient that they ripen as they grow -- in a spiral, so you always have some green and yellow like the bunch on our kitchen counter.

I'm sorry not to have been more frequent with posts but I've been extremely excited about a group of interesting collages.  PROMISE: I'll soon post a few of themas well as some new art from PHIL.  Take Care! LUNEL

20-20 Vision for 2020

In 2011, when we first discussed retiring in Hawaii on the Big Island, we knew it would be a life changing event - we just didn't know in what ways. We knew about lava, knew the islands were created by lava, knew about the stories, mythology and the geological history of lava and its destructive and creative power.

Close-up of olivine

We even interview many locals about their experiences and thoughts about potential eruptions in the Puna District; the most consistent comment was "not in my lifetime." Our decisions were further fortified by events from previous lava eruptions when elected officials, real estate agents and insurance agents claimed that "lava loss would fall under the category of "fire" and therefore covered by insurance." Live and learn, right?!

As we have shared before, while in a coma and prior to the fire that destroyed our home (before it was covered by lava) Lunel had two vision/dreams the hospital. In each she found diamonds at the leading edges of lava flows. In some way that subtle message from her unconscious awareness continued to help us focus on the "gems" we have found through this past two years. This blog is about GEMS!!

Lunel's birthstone is PERIDOT pictured above. What we didn't realize until the eruption was that lava contains OLIVINE (a lower grade of peridot) which is brought to the surface in lava! and is also found in metorites!

Beautiful lava formations we uncovered (previous home)

Lava with olivine

One of the many things we enjoyed about our previous home in Leilani Estates was the beautiful lava formations, many of them we uncovered from overgrown jungle and invasive vines and plants. Moving into our new home in Volcano, no such formations were visible -- that is until Lunel began to excavate and remove soil!

Lava that Lunel uncovered as a 'feature' in our yard

Under several inches of top-soil, she found and meticulously uncovered lava forms of pahoehoe. Of course, since the whole island was formed from lava, it is not surprising, but we wanted to re-connect with that power. Here's a photo of one of the large areas she resurrected and turned into a lovely fire-pit gathering area in our yard.

Wheelbarrows of dirt removed to uncover lava

Lava "blister" (with olivine) we found

During the work, we found some formations we had not seen before filled with olivine, and a "blister" also pictured.

Neither of us are "Polyanas" but we both know that how we look at life is a strong determiner of how we experience life. For this coming new year of 2020 -- we want our "vision" to be 20-20 as we continue to focus on the "gems" that life has blessed us with.

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!