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

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 !

Disappearing Garden Shed

 Aloha from Volcano! Waaaay back in August, Phil suggested that we needed (she needed) a garden shed so we began thinking about how to do it so that it would blend into the beautiful Forest Garden in front of the house. It is 8x8', has windows on all sides and a charming front and back doors and porches. The most important thing was that we wanted it to blend into the forest of ohia trees so choosing the right colors of paint was a priority.

Front door - dogs in the shadows

Here are photos of how we selected those colors, and views -- looking at it from the house, front and back doors....and finally, one of the "disappearing garden shed." It has a long working table, shelves for seedlings and a fold up table-cum-lounging bench. Enjoy....

This is the view of the shed from the house

P.S. (10/23) Phil has decided it needs a better name than "shed" -- so he has named it "Toll House" but all Lunel can think of is cookies.  Our propane delivery man even tried to give us a 25-cent coin. When we looked up an Hawaiian word for shed we found kamala, but we can't do that!

Back porch -- railing to be added

From all sides it really does blend into the forest!

It's OCTOBER?!?!

It shouldn't come as a surprise anymore - but it does. Dark so early and the sun...coming up in the wrong place but creating  that lovely 'certain slant' across our world. The other day we had four inches of rain in just a few hours and today it was a gorgeous 76 degrees. We are using these beautiful warm days to finish up several new garden beds - getting small plants in the ground to get a good start before winter comes.

Knees are continue to heal under vigorous hydro-therapy in the hot tub and careful exercises. Phil's been making more beautiful wood art and Lunel's done some new collage pieces as well.  (Again, as mentioned in the previous blog -- we're not happy with the changes in the blogspot format and are trying to begin a new blog -- til then...pictures as follows:

BLOG DISAPPOINTMENT

So the blogger program we have used for YEARS got "upgraded" -- at least that's the word they are using, despite dozens of complaints about the problems with the new program. For years we've added to our blog regularly as an easy way for our friends to catch up on the latest HAYSMER happenings...  It was quick, easy to use and even easier to add photos and make adjustments for photographs and format.  NOT SO NOW

• What follows are a few pictures -- but little explanation because it's so difficult to use.
• Photo of Lunel working in the garden on the 3-month anniversary of knee surgery
• Phil - harvesting bananas from our yard
• Beginning construction of a garden shed in the "Forest Garden" (directly in front of our house)
• Garden feature using large lava stones from our yard to create a Haysmer-version of the celestial navigational stones on the slopes of Mauna Loa.