Hawaii Storms

 

Six Weeks Post Knee Surgery

42 days later just look at this happy girl in her garden weeding.

"Blue Nitrile Warriors" 

St. Phil was there to "spot" Lunel going down the stairs, and managed to rustle up her garden bench, her walker, a bucket and her favorite tools and a big glass of iced tea for a sunny day.

Although it was due to hit today, once again, the Big Island of Hawaii was spared a direct hit from hurricane Douglas, thanks in part to our two 13,000+ volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Spending less than one hour, taking great care producing 1/2 bucket of weeds, she went in to rest, massage and ice the knees and is planning NOT to repeat the task tomorrow -- even though the bed was not completely weeded. (Good grief, is she finally learning something about moderation??)

Last week she received an inquiry from the Hilo Medical Center's Bone and Joint Clinic to provide copies of her "Blue Nitrile Warriors" collage. Phil got them printed on Friday and they'll be in the mail Monday. She dedicated this piece to the staff there who took such excellent care of her during her stay.

Meanwhile, we're remaining vigilant about Covid19 precautionary measures, limiting trips to Hilo and keeping friends and neighbors at appropriate distance. As so many slogans indicate, we may be alone (for now) but we ARE "together" -- just in a very different way.

Take care, be safe!

And, here comes Ignacio AND Jimena!!

 Ignacio is shown on the right, headin toward Hawai'i

Tropical Depressions (TD) become tropical storms, become typhoons (over water) then are called hurricanes when they hit land -- like last year's Hurricane Iselle that did so much damage to the Puna District, where we live on the Big Island.

So far this year, partially due to it being an El Nino year for weather patterns, the Pacific Ocean, and in particular, Hawai'i Islands are being surrounded by weather events.  A couple weeks ago, as we reported on the blog, Guillermo was headed at us, but then veered to the right; days later, Hilda was coming in the same direction, but shifted to the left. Now, meet Ignacio.

Hawaii is represented by the GREEN dot (upper left)

Morning coffee lately has been spent at the computer, checking in with storm models via NOAA and WunderMaps.  We watch to see when they become official and are named.  Then we watch to see which ones are headed directly toward the islands, where they could easily hit the Big Island first.  The 5-day forecast has Ignacio arriving Sat/Sun Aug 29/30.  This is mid-hurricane season, and we are already at #12 (or 13?) which means they will keep coming for another few weeks at least.

Saturday - August 29th

8/29 UPDATE:  A couple days after Ignacio became "official," here comes JIMENA...and who knows how many more.  This double storm photo illustrates just how SMALL the islands look in comparison to the storms.  Hawaii.  This is the FIRST TIME EVER that three hurricanes hit the Central Pacific Ocean all at the same time!

9/1 UPDATE:  Whew (again) both Ignacio and Jimena have danced to the north -- we are very glad that they didn't spin in toward Hawaii!

Pau Hana!

Toes (and brain) taking a break from lava and work--
 appreciating a beautiful morning!

Pau Hana!  (done with work)  This week I spent emptying out the 10x20' shade house which typically features beets, lettuce, bok choy, (our corgis' favorite) tomatoes, squash starts,   spinach and lots of pots with small plants. After hurricane Iselle, we had a tree fall on it, bending two of the support poles, and ripping the roof to pieces.

So, before winter, we need to disassemble the beds and replace the roof.  Since we are doing all this rearranging, we decided to also move it out from near the property line, and get weed barrier cloth down on the ground. 

Getting it all done now means I can get a batch of winter vegies in.  PAU!!  (all done)

Rain from Hawaii

Here in the Puna District on the Big Island we were all were relieved that Hurricane Ana slipped on by the islands of Hawaii.  We were happy for the much needed rainfall she brought -- topping off our 10,000 gallon catchment water tank after a late summer heat spell that lasted for about three weeks.

Knowing that the Pacific Northwest needed rain, that is where she's headed next.

ALOHA FROM HAWAII

"Just Hold Still a Minute"

UPDATED 10/17 -(National Weather Service Upate 11am) Hurricane  Ana is located approximately 230 miles south of Hilo and moving west northwest at 14 miles per hour.  Presently the system is showing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour with higher gusts.  In addition to the high winds, high surf and storm surge may be expected as well as heavy rains and thunder showers.  Residents in the shoreline communities of Punaluu in Kau and the Kalapana, Kapoho, and Pohoiki areas of Puna are advised to take precautions and to move to higher ground.  Surf heights of 10 to 20 feet are currently forecast for the southeast facing shores of Hawaii Island.

"JUST HOLD STILL A MINUTE!"

ORIG POST DATE:  10/14 -- I remember my mother saying those words to me -- 'Just hold still a minute' -- and that's what we are saying here in Puna!  The hurricanes, the lava, the earthquakes -- everything is MOVING.  This land where we live is not a "continent" it is a living breathing island entity.  The lava flow is now only 1/2 mile from the transfer station (dump) and not much more than that to Pahoa Village.  And now, we watch the latest approaching storm front -- "Ana" that could become a hurricane as it heads directly toward the Big Island.  Anyone thinking of living here should be aware -- it is a "moving" experience.

And, Kate reminded me, "If it ain't one thing, it's your mother."  (gonna miss ya girlie)

Puna Weather

Most of us have heard the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.”  But nowhere we’ve lived has this been truer than in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Your plans for the day are determined by the weather.  Despite the apparent contradictory logic, we try to plan our long list of Hilo errands when it IS raining – that way we don’t have to do them when the weather is perfect to be outside.

 

Notice the WORDING in the following six-day projection.

• “Periods of sun with showers; mild”
• “Partly cloudy with spotty showers”
• “Variable cloudy with showers”
• “Variable clouds with showers; mild”
• “Clouds and sun with a shower or two”
• “Partly sunny with a shower or two”

In other words, there will always be some sun, some clouds and some rain.  Just imagine having a job as a weather forecaster – you can be wrong half the time, right half the time and still get paid!  Of course we love our charming Guy Hagi with Hawaii News Now – an avid surfer whose weather report ALWAYS include surf advisory, and who sometimes delivers da report in pidgin.  Just before hurricane Iselle hit, his classic pronouncement went viral, “dis one goin hit brah” was memorable simply because in 150 years the height of the volcanoes has saved us from any direct hit.

Ah….da rain just stopped!

Smoke In the Air

USGS webcam looking east (our subdivision is far left)

Since all the windows are open in the house, it is pretty easy to notice the smoke in the air.  Yesterday as we left Pahoa and drove into Hilo (to drop off Lunel's art at Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art for the "Trash Show") there was a plume of smoke visible rising from the new flow area.  Today, the trade winds are minimal and the sun coming up through the trees is casting long feathery rays of light in a eerie elongated fan shapes across the yard.  The photo above was posted this morning by USGS and is a remote view of the lava as it inches its way through the forest.  (** See Update at bottom.)  It is not always visible when it submerges down into cracks and fissures.  Don't let that "tiny" spot of orange fool you.  There's over 16 acres of "visible" lava, and the rest is moving slowing either on the surface or down fissures as this next photo illustrates.

Aerial shot from opposite direction.

Yesterday morning, it was clear and crisp, however, and we found this delightful couple of lovey dove sitting on the rusted wheelbarrow out in the back orchard area.  In the foreground you can see pineapple and behind you can see the edge of the avocado tree.  Behind is typical forest/jungle.

For a while, Phil was tossing out a handful of seed in the morning, but within a few weeks, we were inundated with about three dozen doves who were crowding out many of the other frequent visitors, so we decided to stop the feeding.  The dove population is now back down to less than a dozen.

Sadly, during the hurricane crises, we missed harvesting a few pineapples that got overripe on their stems.  We did, however, save the tops and have them rooting in pots for replanting.  You can see some of the pineapple plants in the foreground with avocado and woods behind.

What an interesting juxtaposition -- the real threat of "what could happen" mixed with today's coffee, dismal world events, and making brownies for tomorrow's Labor Day Party with friends.

(P.S.  By the time I finish this entry and push "Publish Blog" -- the smoke has dissipated some, the dogs are stirring; I leave the unknown and unknowable behind; shall we have pancakes?) 

** Email report in from our terrific Civil Defense Warrior, Darryl, about the ground-level smoke)
"I just got back in from this morning’s over flight. There was s prominent inversion this morning holding the smoke conditions down near the surface and not allowing it to dissipate. The conditions should as was starting to improve with the heating up of the morning sun and the pickup of winds.  As for the flow, it is a very slow moving surface flow and is fairly narrow in width. The burning of vegetation remains limited to only what is being touched by the flow and there is no brush fire or wildland fire threat. The leading edge of the flow is approx. 1.3 miles from the Wao Kele Puna Forest Reserve and no immediate or imminent threat."

Bitter-Sweet

There are many many varieties of passion fruit which is called Lilikoi here in Hawaii.  Until our vine was fruiting, we were buying them by the bag, or getting them free from neighbors with prolific crops.  The bowl is filled with several local kinds.  Each fruit typically produces about a tablespoon of juice; compared to an orange, that may not sound like much, but it is extremely potent flavorful juice -- think lemon juice -- but very flowery.  Our vine is producing the LARGE purple colored on the cutting board, and the ones we just harvested and cut open had nearly 1/4 CUP of delicious juice; we save it, freeze it, and can pop it into fruit drinks or tea.  More ambitious cooks use it in a variety of desserts like cheese cake, pies, turnovers, etc.

Our house is the WHITE dot and shows our relation to possible flows.

In other bitter-sweet news, we are headed to a town hall meeting this coming Monday to hear the latest reports about Kilauea continued volcanic flow through the Pu'u O'o crater.  Earlier this year, the flow from Pu'u O'o changed directions.  For nearly 30 years it has been flowing to the south and out to the ocean -- making for spectacular views from air land and sea.  However, a few months ago, it changed directions and began to flow north.  Since this island is relatively new (in geologic terms), there are many underground vents and lava tubes so the flows are not always visible from the air.  In January the above map was constructed to illustrate where the flow might go -- based on the topography of the island.  "We don't know" is the bitter-sweet reality.  As with any natural disaster, all you can do is be prepared for the worst, but on the heels of hurricane Iselle, we'd prefer a little SWEET with our bitters!

Iselle Clean Up

During and after the storm people have been posting images that reflect both the fierce power of the hurricane itself, the extensive damage to many communities, homes and perhaps most moving, the aloha spirit you could see as neighbors climbed mounds of debris to be sure neighbors were safe.  Rescue operations, and maintenance crews, National Guard, volunteers, CERT, Red Cross, United Way county workers, electric staff, state and county employees and TONS of neighborhood volunteers have made the best of a bad situation.  (There are over 40 different agencies coordinating efforts to provide food, water, medical assistance, etc.)  Power on our street came on yesterday (for Lunel's birthday), but other streets in our subdivision do not have power, and there are subdivisions that are more heavily impacted that we were, by far.  Some of the progress has been slow because there were not enough power poles, wire and transformers.  These had to come both from other islands and some from the mainland.  When you observe these photos -- send prayers for families.

Post Hurricane

This is the "lighter side" of the hurricane, and we certainly deserve to  enjoy it, now that Iselle is gone.  But the sad thing are the houses along the shorelines that wave larger than this broke over -- leaving many homes in shambles. 

Additionally, there are thousands of homes here in the Puna District that are without power -- and will probably be so for many weeks.  Dozens of transformers in many subdivisions blew up as Iselle passed over and hundreds of power poles lie along the roads strangled by downed trees and electrical lines.  We have heard that there are not nearly enough power poles or lines, or transformers to address this emergency.

We continue to send out aloha and support to people without power or water -- and are very grateful for those who are willing and able to provide much needed help.  We are fortunate that we have a 10,000 gallon tank of purified rain water for our use and a BIG ass generator that keeps the freezer and refrigerator functioning just fine.  We have two solar panels on the roof that operate the pump that circulates our water through the filtration system as well. 

Having survived this, and realizing the holes in our own preparedness, we have spoken to our contractor about installing a sub-panel off our electrical box that will have just enough switches on it so that in any future power outage, we can simply switch essential appliances over to the generator and avoid the cords now running through the house for computer, phone re-charge, and TV.

About 16 people showed up for our Tiki Party on Friday night and we all gathered out on the new lanai (not quite finished).  Of course the Super Moon was stunning, and it was really nice to have a little diversion and moral support for continuing clean up and repairs after the storm.

NEW CORGIS IN LEILANI -- Driving around our neighborhood for a few days was like traversing a maze -- trees and power lines down in many places.  Driving down one street we recalled there were people living there who we heard had corgi dogs.  Sure enough they were out at their front gate so we got to meet their owners and have a quick peek at their tribe.  SIX corgis live at this house, and we were happy to find other folks who were equally entranced by this charming breed. 

Severe Storm Warning

It is always wise to take storm warning seriously whether they be tsunamis, hurricanes, or flood warnings.  Hawaii is currently in the path of TWO back to back hurricane storm centers, Iselle and Julio.  To that end, we address the checklist of items including:  Food, tools, critical documents, water, flashlights and candles and making sure things like building supplies, yard equipment, and such are secured.  Our storm-side windows will be boarded up as well.

Look at how small Hawaii looks in the storm path.

Usually, hurricanes are distracted from the Big Island by the shear volume and height of both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea -- at 14,000 feet.  The severity of Iselle has been upgraded today. because it is different than most hurricanes which have loose long swirling "arms. "  It is now "very tight," and in a centrally strong formation that may not be easily dissuade by our powerful and protective volcanoes.  And Julio is close on the heels of Iselle. 

Usually, he worst place to be is Kauai -- North West of us.

That being said,  we have a TIKI PARTY lined up for Friday.  When we went into Hilo to pick up some extra wine and a few party supplies, LINES of people were backed up 30+ minutes to check out -- carts filled with emergency water cases, propane, bags of rice etc.   Everyone tries to keep a sense of humor about it as well.  The standard joke is:   Buy a case of beer, and take the BBQ down to the beach to watch the storm and tsunami come in!  (Yes, of course there are those who do exactly that.)