2021 Merrie Monarch - Big Island of Hawaii

The 57th  Merrie Monarch Festival

Volcano's own Halau will be presenting this year1

The Merrie Monarch Festival is dedicated to the memory of King David La‘amea Kalākaua, known as the “Merrie Monarch” for his flamboyant and fun-loving ways. Kalākaua was elected king of the Hawaiian Nation in 1874, and reigned until his passing in 1891. He was a patron of the arts, especially music and dance. (Shared from MerrieMonarch.com)

The central purpose of the Festival is perpetuating the traditional culture of the Hawaiian people; Developing and augmenting a living knowledge of Hawaiian arts and crafts through workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and performances of the highest quality and authenticity; and enriching the future lives of all of Hawaiʻi’s children.

Our local Volcano Halau (school) is associated with the winds (makani) of Mauna Loa, we include the following LINK to see them perform:  Volcano Halau and a few photos of Mauna Loa.

WORLD COLLAGE DAY!

World Collage Day in 2020 was lonely because of Covid and much of my collage was related to the epidemic - the confusion, fear, loneliness and isolation including my personal responses. Later  KOLAJ Magazine featured some of my art. Here's a small grouping of images during that time.

Here's a link to see more Covid-related images in 2020:   April/May 2020 Covid Art

This year, feeling safer (immunized) and ready for more socialization the day was spent in the Haysmers' studio in Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii --  "Hale Le'a" (house of joy.)

AND, NOW FOR

WORLD COLLAGE DAY 2021...

World Collage Day - May 9, 2021

In anticipation of World Collage Day, (sponsored by KOLAJ Magazine (May 9th) I am posting just a few samples of recent work, and when I complete my World Collage Day piece this weekend, I will post it separately.

In the first pair I am using similar color/texture palettes to create two different collage styles.

Using small 'studies' to experiment with a variety of collage techniques, producing if not great art pieces, at least interesting new ways to enhance collage. Here's a few examples.

 

For EARTH DAY I made this one entitled "What In The World"

Phil's Newest Bas Relief Art

Michael Jayme Gallery in Honaka'a features a lovely exhibit of Phil's bas relief art. If you visit the Big Island, be sure to visit. (Phone 520-270-7462)

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)

Footprints in the Ka'u Desert

 As our Valentines Day treat we decided to take a hike on the Ka'u (Caw-oo) desert trail, a part of the Volcanoes National Park. The first section (which we did) is a bit less than two miles round trip. It is a hike most people would not want to do in summer as it is very hot, the terrain is composed of lava and lava ash/sand from Kilauea volcano. The short version of the story of these footprints involves King Kamehameha and his cousins fighting over control of the Big Island. The battles between armies of the cousins was during the 1780's. The treks and battles  included traversing this huge desert area between Hilo and South Point.

You can read more of this story here: Ka'u Desert Footprints  

Here are some photos we took along the hike. It is not a desert in the usual sense of the word, but the ground is composed of layers and layers of volcanic ash, which, when mixed with rain water become hardened. Those people involved in the cousins' battles were not just warriors, but included their extended families and livestock. It was during one of the battles that Kilauea blew out a tremendous volume of hot ash, killing many people unable to escape. There are over 1700 recorded footprints through the area some of which sadly have been vandalized. The photo here is of an impression of an adult and child.

The area has a stark beauty with a backdrop of Mauna Loa. While we are familiar with the beautiful Ohia trees in our cloud-forest area of Volcano, the tortured Ohia trees that grow in the desert area have struggled to survive and are as contorted as the Sierra bristle cone pines!

By the way, this is the first big hike Lunel has taken with her new knees on the 8-month anniversary of her bilateral knee replacement. The next day the knees were tender, but her regular walks in our neighborhood are over 1.5 miles and she's improving weekly.

MAKE ART - In response to...

As our blog followers have known ART has helped me respond to PTSD after my coma in May 2018 and the lost of our home. After creating over 400 small collage images in four journals, I lept (lele) out of the small 5x9 format in 2020 to create another 50+ collages in larger sizes.

The most recent stress of covid, isolation, and politics has triggered PTSD-related 'stuff'  and I was able to more creatively respond with three brand new big 18x24 images. The first was done at NY -- the second in response to the "threat" in our nation's capital felt so keenly by so many. Finally, an image that reflects general sadness about the general threat, fear and impotence felt by me and others.

Created on New Years -working title was 'silent night'

"Threat"

"Sad Song" (for humanity)

Covid, Crisis & Connections

The Covid pandemic has effectively changed the whole world. In many cases it has brought denial, fear, panic, grief, death and, sadly, misinformation. It has separated people both physically and emotionally. And, in some strange ways it has brought many people closer together - reconnecting. Many people including us have found a renewed appreciation for the small things -- bringing a sense of wonder and joy to a dark time.

Last week Phil came into the house and said, "come see!" whereupon we both went out to discover a rare sight -- a King Kamehameha Butterfly, an endemic species (in decline) also known as "Pulelehua" (Pu lay lay hooah). We currently have a variety of milkweed plants for our Monarchs, so a quick search provided us with the name of this butterfly's favorite plant -- the endemic Mamaki revered by Hawaiian people.

When their wings are folded they are hard to spot because of their olive green camouflage - and just look at the color of that chrysalis. 

Consequently, on our trip to town yesterday, Mamaki plants were on our shopping list. Walking into the plant area at the local store coincidentally Mamaki plants were JUST!! being offloaded and we came home with three. 

Today, however they were planted in a sunny spot in honor of a re-connection with a much loved friend Erik whom we had lost touch with over 20 years ago!

35 Years of Collaboration

(again, having trouble with formatting -- had to revice this silly thing 3 times -- sorry)

In 1986 when Phil and Lunel met in Santa Cruz they were both artists - Phil was a creative graphic designer and developing a line of lighthouse paintings; Lunel was crafting reproductions of ancient museum artifacts that ultimately lead to a contract with DeYoung Museum. 

"We haven't stopped collaborating -- whether it was opening Many Hands Gallery in Eureka in 1990, or the retirement move to the Big Island of Hawaii!" We have always inspired and encouraged each others' art and process.  

Lunel helped compose the image by using Photo-shop, and Phil worked his magic in the most recent carved and painted piece. While other artworks of Phil's are selling in two galleries, this one is going to remain in our house!! The background is of the hills (pu'u) in the mesmerizing district of Ka'u just south of where we live.

Most recently on a road trip we ended up taking two photographs that were instrumental in another collaboration. Lunel helped compose the image by using Photo-shop, and Phil worked his magic in the most recent carved and painted piece.

 We are currently reading several books about Ka'u -- on the family relationships, cultural history, and geographic land-use as well as contemporary threat to centuries of cultural indigenous traditions. 

Learning never stops!

Kilauea Lava New Year Update

If you want words and explanations about this image -- check the previous blog. This lava lake seen here is about 2300' below ground level with the Halema'uma'u inner crater. That black "island" in the middle IS an island of lava (lighter consistency) afloat on magma. Powerful art-inducing image!.

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

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