Birds of a Feather

Living in the ohia tree forest of Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii we are blessed with an abundance of birds native, endemic and species from other places as well. We do miss the wonderful complicated song of the Chinese Laughing Thrush in our former Leilani Estates home, but the native 'Apapane has a lovely song as well:

   'Apapane Song.   

Here's a page we created using most of the birds we see every day, and a couple who mostly live four miles away around Kilauea crater in Volcano National Park. 

A couple days ago, we went for a fun drive (holoholo) and as we reached the sign inside the park reading "Nene Crossing" (pronounced nay-nay) we noticed there were two sitting at a turnout area reserved for them. 

Phil took the camera, got out of the car and ended up with a very close up encounter. They began to follow him back to the car where we shared a granola bar with them before heading down through the amazing Ka'u (Caw oo) desert and on to Na'alehu for lunch a visit to a Tibetan Monastery and a leisurely walk along the shoreline.

(hopefully I can get these pictures arranged well, but with the changes to this program, I doubt it) ENJOY

Whittington Park and Fish Ponds

Wood Valley Monestary

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

End Fault Zone

On more than one occasion lately -- I have erred, which is distinctly uncomfortable for an ranking member of the Quality Control Squad of the OCD Tribe.  And, it doesn't matter what I did.  What I noticed most was how I felt about that -- "erring."  Is about being perfect, or being "bad?"  "Oh dear" said Eeyore.  What a critical voice; I have to just stop...and find an END to the FAULT ZONE!

Sign at Volcanoes National Park, Big Island Hawaii

About 15 years ago while I was studying and writing Sanskrit as a meditation, I came across a good writing practice.  Each line of the chant began like....Salutations to the Deva who abides in all things in the form of....  And in each case the end word changed; Light, Kindness, Mother, and so forth, on for the traditional 108 rounds.  Some few lines into into the list though, I hit the line Salutations to the Deva who abides in all things in the form of error." Say what?!?  And like lightning striking, for me this was an Epiphany; a life changing teaching was etched permanently in my memory and tattooed on my heart -- as a point of irrevocable certainty. Human = Error = Divine? Reminds me of this quote:

"I say all the perfect and the broken hallelujahs have an equal value.  It's a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way, but with enthusiasm, with emotion.  - Leonard Cohen

Way back in 2011, I wrote about this sign but only recently was I able to get the photo posted near the summit of Kilauea.  What would it mean if we could "end" any Fault Zone -- cultural, political, religious, or personal?

Lava Flow Heading Our Way!

Bird's Eye View in relation to our Subdivision

Last night we attended a packed-to-overflowing community meeting in Pahoa where Civil Defense Administrator, Hawaii Volcano Scientist and the Mayor lead a discussion about the current new surge of lava from Pu'u O'o vent.  If you look at the map it appears to be heading directly toward us.  Right now it is only two miles from Kaohe Homesteads subdivision, and traveling at the rate of 100-300 feet per day.  Our subdivision (Leilani Estates) is only about another 2-3 miles due east from Kaohe Homesteads

Lava flowing through a crack/fissure.

For anyone unfamiliar with this, Kilauea is one of our five volcanoes on the Big Island.  Lava has not come directly out of Kilauea in Volcano National Park for a long time.  However, lava from Kilauea flowed underground up and out through the Pu'u O'o vent in the early 1980's and flowed south (see grey area above) for over 30 years.  That flow stopped a few months ago, and began to flow in a new direction -- north and east.


Unfortunately, it is not like a river flooding – where you have some idea of what it will do or where it will go.  This new geological island is riddled with fissures, cracks, tubes and subterranean puzzles, so most predictions do not allay fears simply because of the unpredictable nature of this kind of flow.  We just ordered a detailed topo map which may offer more information.  We hear and see the helicopters flying over a couple times each day to take up to date photos.

Red shows lava, lava lake; Black shows our subdivision

If elevation were the only consideration, it would allow us some measure of peace, since it would have to technically climb uphill to reach us. You can see our subdivision is highlighted so you get a feeling for the elevation. Officials state there is "no imminent threat" -- but we are considering our own safety and some measures of response...just in case.    http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maps/
 

There is no imminent threat, but it could develop into a threat fairly quickly,” he said.
Scientists have been monitoring very closely the June 27 flow — named for the date when it first emerged — as it moves to the northeast of its vent on the flank of Pu‘u O‘o on Kilauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone.
The flow has been active on two fronts, one to the north, and a more worrisome one to the south. As of 1 p.m., that flow had continued moving eastward within a large crack, leading it to within about 2 miles of Kaohe Homesteads.
- See more at: http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/lava-flow-within-2-miles-subdivision-officials-say-no-imminent-threat#sthash.TI5k3VUR.dpuf

Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira, as he spoke - See more at: http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/lava-flow-within-2-miles-subdivision-officials-say-no-imminent-threat#sthash.TI5k3VUR.dpuf

Volcano News

A couple people from Humboldt Country recently asked about some of the news they were hearing about new volcanic activity on the Big Island -- and how that relates to us and where we live.  The map below shows our Leilani subdivision over at the far right.

Bright Pink at top is from 2014, RED at center indicates June flow.

Living on the Big Island means living on the edge - on some of the newest land on the planet.  We walk on land that is about 200 years new and beaches that are half our age!  Yes, the drive up to Volcano National Park (not shown on this map) takes us about an hour...it is about 45 miles away, however, the eruptions that began in the early 1980's and have flowed into the ocean for nearly 30 years were from a vent much closer to home -- called Pu'u O'o.

(To answer your possible question:  Yes, we knew all about this activity when we bought our house early in 2012.  If you were to examine a detailed topographic map, you could more clearly see why don't panic about this.)



If you were lucky enough to visit the Big Island between 1983 and 2013, you were afforded an aerial view by helicopter or a sea view by charter boat to witness the spectacular vision of red hot lava pouring into the crashing waves of the coast.  However, the flows into the ocean stopped at the end of 2013.  Since 2014 the flow in a more easterly direction.

The amazing photo to the right was taken in January this year, when the flow was moving in a more easterly direction

Map shows flows through 2002

This map provides a historic view of all the flows that began in 1983, but does not show the more recent ones.  Thanks to the USGS for such excellent coverage and photography.

If you would like to read some older history about Pu'u O'o, click on this link:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds-80/album.html

(Note:  We would have never posted this information while Phil's mom, Margaret was still alive; poor dear, it would have been too disturbing.)


Recently we attended a stunning two hour film "Dancing with the Goddess" VolcanoScapes at Imiloa that was breathtaking.  Click on this link for a peek. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECkKHvDs-o