Five Years Later

 

ENDINGS and BEGINNINGS

 

Fissure 8 - Official Hawaiian Naming

We are happy to report that Fissue 8 (that opened in our front property) has now received its official Hawaiian name. Ahu 'Aila'au. This has been a long process since May of 2018 when lava first broke out in Leilani Estates in the Puna District of the Big Island of Hawaii. Names were considered from the public including input from long-time residents, elders and kupuna many of whom could trace their family (ohana) lineage back many generations. AHU means shrine/mound/altar/cairn. 'AILA'AU eater of forests.

In the summer of 2019 Hilo's Wailoa Gallery had a powerful exhibition featuring artists work inspired by the lava flow. While some people were talking about Pele, as an artist, Phil felt more connected to the legendary, former resident of Kilauea -- a personage named 'Aila'au....the forest eater. At that time he entered his artistic interpretation which was recently purchased by a neighbor.

The above photos show where our home was in relation to the remaining cone of cinder and lava. The photo below simply provides another perspective of size. 

If you are interested you can listen to some testimony explaining the Hawaiian name:  Ai La'au 'Olelo (Naming Story)

Holy Holes!!

Lunel's WISH HOLES

Now that we are settling into our new home in Volcano, and the art studio is complete, we can turn some of our attention to the landscaping. In our previous life (BL before lava) WE dug holes, WE broke up lava, WE built walls -- with pick axes and heavy steel o'o bar, literally moving hundreds of pounds to create beds for our beautiful garden in Leilani Estates.



That was nearly eight years ago, and honestly, neither of us has the heart (or body) to begin that process all over again. This time around, there will be less "flower beds" to weed, and more flowering shrubs and trees. I decided to lay out a plan for what I called my "wish holes."  ?? "Wish holes??

Remember we live on an island made of LAVA!  So, when you start digging down -- you don't know what is just below the surface. If it is hard lava -- you have to find a new spot. So above is my funny drawing of  "wish holes."  Lucky for us we've moved into a neighborhood full of capable professionals, like our contractors! We hired one excavator to come and dig holes for shrubs and trees -- now the yard looks like a scene from Jurassic Park!

One of two new carports 

Now that the studio is done, work has begun on one carport and da-DAH the new lanai where our hot tub will be -- just outside our back door!

We keep meeting new neighbors on our street. We went to a garage sale on our block where Phil bought a couple of steel tool drawers -- and met a young man who can help regularly with some of the yard work.

Starting over from nothing has been hard on every level -- we continue to be thankful for each new day, for all the blessings that have come our way!

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!!

TIS THE SEASON....

...yes, 'tis the season...in many traditions, for family, friends, gift giving and celebration. For many years we have had a special place in our home for a statue of Ganesh – beloved elephant deity of many people, but most particularly people of the Hindu faith. And, of course this particular event coincides with other religious and cultural celebrations at this time of year -- dating back centuries and millennia. 

Our (previous) home altar

Are we Hindu?  No, but the teachings of Lord Ganesh go far beyond a spiritual practice and include adaptations and relevant components of philosophy, psychology and thoughtful heart/mind wisdom.  Some people only know of Ganesh as the “remover of obstacles” – but he is also Lord of Word and Light.

Pancha Ganapati is a modern Hindu festival of the Five-Faced version of Ganesh (pancha means “five”.) This festival lasts for five days – from December 21 through 25. Pancha Ganapati is a Hindu season of worship, gift giving and celebration much like many other faiths and traditions: Christian, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and more. 

Another typical altar for this seasonal event

The idea is that family members work together, in forgiveness and good spirit, and bring Lord Ganesh’s blessings of joy and harmony into five realms of their lives, welcoming in a wider circle of their lives each day: family, friends, associations, culture, and religion. The family creates a shrine in the living room, decorated for the occasion.

This BLUE is the color
 of our new sapphire rings

In learning and using Sanskrit chants in meditation practice for many years, perhaps the most important teaching I have learned is that in all actuality “I” am the biggest obstacle I will ever meet.  You don’t have to ascribe to a Hindu belief system to appreciate that “getting out of our own way” is a valuable life teaching.

When we lost our Leilani Estates home in May (fire/lava) several of our friends, knowing our appreciation for this charming deity, gave us Ganesh statues -- all of which will be thoughtfully placed in our new home. Maybe while Ganesh could not save our home  he DID (along with the help of our attorneys) manage to "move" Lloyds' of London to pay up!! And here we are, today, bruised but not broken, moving into a house the same color as one of the most famous statues of Ganesh!

12-12 HO HO HO!

What's in the PINK BOX??

In December of 2012, when we bought our one-way tickets to The Big Island, we thought it would be cool to arrive at our new home on 12-12-12! We arrived just as it was getting darK. For some reason, NONE of the keys we were given opened the front or side or back doors!!  Lunel actually had to crawl in the bathroom window to open the house!  We just figured that it might be the first of many tests (we were warned) that Pele might offer to see if we really had what it takes to live here and join the "Punatics' Clan"** We survived Hurricane Iselle and the lava of 2014. Now, after losing literally everything we sure hope we FINALLY past all her tests!!   Welina Tu-Tu Pele!

CK's "Little Pink" --W&J's  Hale Akala 

While the year may be different, this week is a RADICAL12/12 too! We signed our insurance check from Lloyds' AND all the processes involved were completed today on our new fully furnished rental home in Volcano!  If you read our Nov 22 blog entry, we gave you a sort-of hint -- it was in the PINK box in the photo.)
And here's the rest of the story.

Once Upon A Time...

Cozy living room with fireplace

...we had NO IDEA how our lawsuit against Lloyds' of London would turn out when we signed on with our amazing attorneys, but we felt we had nothing to loose, and we couldn't stay in 400 sf studio with three corgi dogs for a year while we waited it out.  So, we began to think about renting a furnished home here in Volcano to see if this is where we'd might eventually like to live. Then, the day before Thanksgiving, imagine our surprise when our attorney called --Lloyds' was honoring our claim IN FULL!!

While it is sufficient to buy a house, we immediately realized that neither of us is ready to do that -- emotionally or psychologically, and we really did fall in love with this very cute, fully furnished two bedroom house. (Even the idea of buying furnishings for a whole empty house right now would be too much.)

In the middle of an Ohia forest
(Mauna Kea in back)

We have enjoyed it here in Volcano at 3500 ft elevation, more than we expected, particularly as there are lots of retirees here and even more artists. When we got here in August and the months that followed, I was delighted to spend hours a day beautifying the already stunning gardens -- even this last week. Yes, it's chilly in the winter, but ta DAH - we have a fireplace!

One of the two bedrooms

So, here's a few of photos of our new place. It is in "Ohia Estates" a very tiny (two street) subdivision on a street named Nahelenani (beautiful forest)...and so it is. Two thirds of an acre surrounded by ohia trees. Even though you can't see it, there's lots of room in the back yard area. Phil is drawing up plans for a wood shop (with the owners OK) and Lunel will have a greenhouse!

We got bananas! and soon a greenhouse.

We have met the sellers who have been very kind and helpful and we already know several neighbors and have even been included in holiday festivities! We could hardly wish for a better closing of this most peculiar year, moving in on 29th and 30th -- Happy New Year to us!
We wish everyone a particularly wonderful holiday season.

(PS Remember that our address book with birthdays and such is gone....it may take a while to reconstruct all that information.)

** We are STILL "Punatics" because the district of PUNA extends all they way up here to Volcano.

Rainbows and Flags Over Leilani

For those of you who have been following our blog, you already know the story. Newcomers to our blog are welcome to browse back weeks or months -- especially to know more about the fire and then Kilauea lava flow that went through Puna's Leilani Subdivision in May.

First is a photo that appeared on our local blog forum and with permission, we are including it. The "hill" you see is the cone of Fissure 8. The other day we got an email that someone had placed a Hawaiian flag on top of #8 near our property in Leilani Estates (on Luana.)


We found it interesting that this event coincided with Hawaiian Independence Day, November 28th, about which you can read below. Like many issues, there are multiple points of view, but we found this well written short article instructive -- especially if you didn't know that Hawaii HAD an Independence Day -  or WHY!

Photo taken by Aerial Visions (our friend Clive Cardozo -  Mauna Loa in background).
Everything we owned is under that mountain of lava!! 200 feet high

 Hawaiian Independence Day!!

WATCH CLIVE VIDEO BELOW!!

The flag is there with our respect for the original people of this area who called it Keahialaka.

Aerial Visions LLC VIDEO of FISSURE 8

Phil and Lunel Haysmer (former residents of Luana)

After Seven Months -- Some GOOD NEWS!

LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES!!!

"Home Owners WILL Be Covered"
"Lloyds Will Pay"

Well in our last post we hinted at one surprise, but now it's pretty much gone viral: Lloyds of London has capitulated, reversing their decision to deny our the fire insurance claim we filed in May this year.

Our names and faces have been in the news so much in the last few months, every place we go people recognize us -- kinda odd. We've been in "neutral" for seven long stressful months - so, it's particularly wonderful to receive this news the day before Thanksgiving.

There are still friends and neighbors fighting for coverage -- for homes that are either inaccessible, or still standing physically but totally uninhabitable due to infusions of toxic gasses, or irreparable damages of other kinds. Hopefully this will also get the wheels of justice turning in a good direction for them as well.

Anyway rather than belaboring the whole story, for now, please enjoy reading the two news blurbs that ran in today's news. We continue to be very grateful for the outpouring of love in many forms through this crazy adventure. Whether it was with emails, notes, gifts, Go-Fund, wood, tools, clothes, jewelry -- it has all been a blessing!

There's more, but we're still in shock, and enjoying our cozy electric blanket and three corgi dogs during these crisp cool Volcano Hawaii nights.  Now, we have the security we need to find a rental house that will suit us.

NEVER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THIS FOR THANKS GIVING!
Home Owners WILL be Covered!    ---  
Lloyds Will Pay

Art Is Where You See It

Main building is nearly 100 years old (before permits)

Redwood water tanks collect rain water

Of course we are deeply saddened not only at the loss of our home to fire and 99% of contents, we have been dealing with the loss of our ART SPACES. ***

Anyone who visited our home or followed our blog knows about Phil's beautiful wood working shop and his amazing collection of tools. We also shared a huge bright space upstairs as well that was full of our art supplies, journals and completed art.

BUT WE ARE BOTH ARTISTS so we tend to see the world, through artists eyes -- even the mundane and ordinary has depth, color and composition as illustrated by these images. We have expansive views of trees and sky and barnyard, but a couple that Phil took are somewhat more abstract views of what we can also see from our lanai; Lunel did her 'magic' to draw out the interesting perspectives.

Recently a dear friend gave us back a gift we had given to her -- a golden paper star that was identical to the one we had in our Leilani home for so many years. We were able to find just the perfect artistic place for it in our east facing window.

The mundane can bring out both the worst and best in artistic expression as the two images below illustrate. We were dismayed the other day when Phil pulled into a parking space and lightly touched the bumper stop. "Bumper shredder" might be more appropriate as even that little nudge managed to literally shred the cheap plastic bumper out of its cheap plastic "snaps" (not even screwed together.)

In any case, after several trips to the hardware store and a pair of borrowed wheel ramps we managed to reattached the bumper. The space beneath was too small for Phil to maneuver under but he handed screws, washers, drills and screwdrivers to Lunel, who was very annoyed at the quality of this 2016 versa that seemed expressly designed to cause the owner unnecessary expense because of cheap materials. What ever happened to METAL?

Anyway, as she normally does, she created ART from her perspective -- that of being under the car for the repairs.

And life goes on, as does ART, when you have the eyes to see it.

"Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed." Kahlil Gibran



*** We again wish to acknowledge the generous gifts from friends, neighbors and even strangers who contributed funds (and art supplies) that have enabled us to continue producing art.  Phil is producing art and has three galleries now!

Phil's Birthday -- Juxtaposition

Photo by our fellow evacuee, The Great Clive Cardozo, Hawaii Aerial Visions LLC, Licensed Drone Pilot

What a strange life we are living!

It's Phil's Birthday this week and while he's glad to have some tools to begin making some art, the reality of this New Life is continuing to shake us to the core.

On the one hand we have an amazing geological Lava Event -- a process of destruction and creation. And in the other hand, we are attempting to re-create our own lives after the mind-blowing obliteration of our retirement/investment dream.

Phil with his new purchases (with generous donations)

First stage: Rough Cut new fish

The photo above shows where we are living. We are living about 15 miles from Luana street in Leilani Estates, where Fissure #8 (current source of all the flowing lave) is spewing huge fountains out of  what was formerly our front yard. This is the view from where we live -- taken by our friend and fellow evacuee, Clive Cardozo with his high-tech drone. The plume on the far left is from lava (flowing at 15-25 mph) into a wide swath of ocean front. The inland plume is from Fissure #8. Watch for the "Night shot" coming soon...."

Just a sample of over 25 finished Hawaiian Reef Fish  ($30 + shipping)

More on the creative side of this equation, Phil was able to buy some necessary tools through a fellow artist from One Gallery in Hilo (where Phil's art is being sold.) He is moving back to California and was selling his good quality used tools.

See Phil's Art - Click HERE

Phil has now managed to gather enough pieces of equipment and tools (also through generous gifts) to continue making his beautiful Hawaiian reef fish again -- sawdust being in his veins from  his Grandpa Dorr Scott, who was a builder and worked with wood.

(PS - Phil is not overly sure about turning 77, but since he is now living here with a 96 year old WW2 decorated bomber pilot named Walter who is teaching him TiChi, he is a bit more encouraged.)

Pretty "Biblical" huh!?! We won't be following this pillar of fire to the promised land -- that's for sure!
(Clive Cardozo, Hawaii Aerial Visions LLC, Licensed Drone Pilot)

Practicing Normality

Our healing view of ocean from yesterday's outting

In the midst of the obvious chaos of our lives, the last couple of days we have tried to focus on "practicing normality." Attending to the business of medical tests, making doctors appointments for Lunel's health and well being, getting insurance forms completed, working with inspectors, adjusters and -- buying underwear and a toaster oven...life has been a bit crazy.

Our new Hawaiian host family have been unbelievable gracious in letting us share their kitchen for group meals and we have been taking turns with prep and clean up. Phil bought a dog pooper-scooper and walks the 3/4 acre property doing doggy-duty -- for a total of seven furry family members. They have nearly completed an additional 300 sf of screened in space that allows us to have some fresh air in our tiny room -- so we six (us and corgyn) are not all so tightly packed.

Yesterday, our Exercise In Normality was to drive down to the ocean -- NOT an area where lava is involved and set up chairs and just b-r-e-a-t-h-e in the fresh sea breeze. The dogs are used to a full one acre area to romp in, but here, we are taking them out every couple hours for a walk around the grounds which include a small hydroponic garden, small orchard and surprising sprays of orchids.

Lunel in bottom left -- surrounded by all her girlfriends

If you are visiting our BLOG for the first time -- the latest images of the corner of Leilani and Luana (where our house was - scroll down a few entries...) is now a 20 foot deep lake of lava. (we are not putting those on this blog entry again) In the last few days 200' foot high fountains of molten lava have been shooting up right at what was our corner of Luana and Leilani. Lava continues to follow its own course covering acres and homes on the way to the ocean.
Link #1 to our corner of Luana and Leilani 
Link.  #2 what was our corner Luana & Leilani.

FOR NOW: Although we are homeless, living out of a few bags and boxes, we have been the recipients of amazing generosity -- clothes, gift cards to Home Depot and Amazon and the Go-Fund-Me account that was set up for us by Astra (present owner of Many Hands in Eureka.) Lunel was gifted with a small box of jewelry which she wore on Tuesday night to her "Girlie Girl" night -- a tremendous support network for her.

A New Nest

Yesterday we marked 32 years together, and considering the rather grim previous post, we just wanted to update our blog with something special and positive. Phil took my hand and told me that he had sometime to show me, so we walked out of our cozy small apartment onto the lawn along a row of palms. 

He pointed to a fallen palm frond and there was a bird nest. With all our jewelry -- Phil's dad's ring, my grandma's engagement ring -- our wedding rings to mark mark our 32nd anniversary all buried now under lava, it is especially lovely to find this symbolic gift. Now, together we will find a way to build ourselves a new nest.

Right now we are floating in a sea of ambiguity -- health, housing, insurance, trying to see the way through to a new reality. We have filed our insurance claim, and for now that is all we can do. After 32 years of creativity and problem solving -- some of the answers will just have to come in time. Thanks for your love, prayers and support.  

Bamboo Babes

Artists: Lunel, Jane and Jennifer

We began the background  using the wall of our house

Our friend Jane had the brilliant idea of creating a free-hanging canvas/mural for Thanksgiving. She and her  partner Doug, are currently in the process of  building their house (The "Jungelo") just down the road from us here in Leilani Estates.

While they are building their house, they have small out buildings they use for a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping. Part of the house has a roof, parts are covered with canvas, so the entertainment area is open to the beautiful surrounding jungle and forest. Our April 26, 2017 blog talks about "two friends who live near a crater" - that's Jane and Doug!  Life on the Edge

Hanging from bamboo pole

Jane's inspiration was to enhance that outdoor experience with a mural to hang in the front open area of their structure. She wanted an impressionistic look -- of bamboo and foliage.

"Bamboo Babes" done painting

The first use was for Thanksgiving dinner. Jane and a local chef have developed -- a "Jungle to Table Supper Club" that will present monthly epicurean  feasts serving local produce. For this gathering the mural will hang in the entry way and serve as a "wall" for their house -- which currently does not have walls.

To learn more about the Supper Club: Info on Jungle-To-Table-Supper-Club  
You can also check them out on Facebook.   Facebook: Jungle-to-Table

Beautiful view from driveway after dinner

Our local ohana (family) for Thanksgiving

This week's HAPPY colors!

I am a color junkie. I suffer sensory overload in a fabric store and have been known to steal paint chips. I always thought I would like a job naming paint colors. Well, this week's colors are....

Pantone 585U, 381U, 386U, 345U... huh?
Don't you think they need appropriate NAMES!

Amazing bananas and avocados abound, and orchid cactus are blooming and even compliment the billowy fabric ceiling in the lanai.

A friend asked for help in painting a 9x12' fabric mural to hang up for Thanksgiving, and we also had fun painting tables and benches --- in some of the same colors.

Phil harvesting limes

We had a relatively dry summer and were considerably under normal rainfall, but in the last three weeks have had some flashy storms and good long rains -- the garden is loving it. And, there's every shade of GREEN imaginable n

Leilani Estates is a very quiet neighborhood, occasional dogs, lawn mower, or toot-toot of the UPS truck. I don't use music - just the birds. Working with the land I am able to just turn off my thoughts; it is so peaceful, rejuvenating and healing. Just this week I've planted trees, flowers, ground covers, dozens of colorful ti plants.


Politically, in contrast to this vibrancy, this year looks and feels like some kind of really awful, sickly unnameable color! Trying to read and understand current events in America and throughout the world has been difficult. It has been a challenge to not clinch up in anger, frustration or fear, and I have spent an extra number of hours beautifying nearly the whole acre. We are so THANKFUL for this blessed home; has become a sanctuary - a healing place for soul and spirit. This 'aina is truly a living land!

Wishing you and yours 
a whole WEEK of giving thanks!