Lava Heading Our Way!

I fully intended to give a more detailed account of our experience with Hurricane Iselle, downgraded to Tropical Storm status as she moved ashore and wreaked her havoc on our part of the island...

BUT our focus has shifted from that now faraway storm to another natural disaster happening in our Puna district of Hawaii Island (aka the Big Island) - LAVA!

Sure, lava flows almost continuously somewhere on the island, but it's not everyday you get lava aiming right for your town, let alone your home. This is what's happening now. It's flowing just above Pahoa, and if it continues on its current path, will likely flow right close by to our house. Yikes!

This one is called the June 27th Flow because that's when it started. It's been making its way downhill ever since. Folks closer to the flow front are moving themselves and their livestock before the official evacuation order goes out. That's a good idea as it's been quite voggy and smoky as sulphur dioxide is emitted and trees burn up in the flow. The smoke plume is just above Pahoa, lurking there and looking ominous.

If the lava hits the highway--and it will if it keeps flowing--this end of lower Puna will be completely cut off from the rest of the island. There is only one road in or out from here, and no port, only one measly little boat ramp at Pohoiki. Needless to say, this is a BIG DEAL!

There is talk of opening some of the older roads that have been allowed to fall into disrepair - something that should have been done ages ago. Another option is reopening Chain of Craters Road that once connected Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the little town of Kalapana... before lava overtook the entire area and buried that town 20 feet deep. That was back in 1986-1990, not so long ago. It would sure be a long drive to Hilo that way, but better than nothing.

Maps are being issued every few days and I bet the USGS status update site has never gotten so many hits. There are community Civil Defense meetings held in Pahoa two or three times a week, with larger and larger crowds attending to find out just what is going on and what, if anything, we can do about it. Be prepared comes to mind. Plan for the big What If.

Earth crack at Volcanoes Nat Park.

Fortunately, lava moves fairly slowly on this side of the island due to terrain and topography. It's a long gentle slope to the sea, chopped up with giant earth cracks and jumbled with hard lava from previous flows. Pu'u O'o, the source of all this lava, tends to ooze rather than explode all at once like Mount St Helens did. This gives us plenty of time to see exactly where Madame Pele will wander this time and just who she'll choose to visit. This is her island after all.

It's all part of living on the side of a volcano, and after all, it's how these Hawaii Islands were formed. We knew that coming in... in theory. Now for the real life application, the hands-on experience. Maybe... or maybe not. We're in wait and see mode.

We're Okay

The sky at first light, post-hurricane.

I'll do a 'real' hurricane post eventually, but for now I just want to get the word out that we all survived Iselle.

I thought we would lose the screenhouse for sure. Not quite.

We made it through Tropical Storm Iselle, thank goodness, with minimal damage, none to the house, barn, coops, us, or our animals. Our kids, Lori & Dave are fine, too, their home undamaged, though there are many, many more trees down at their place. They brought their freezer goods to put into one of ours for a while since we had a generator.

Mike and I walked up and down our street at first light the morning after to make sure our neighbors were all okay. And so far, no one has been reported as badly hurt. All our friends are okay and their homes undamaged. It's a miracle!

Everyone's been sharing whatever tidbits of news any of us may have gleaned one way or another, and those who can share drinking water, a hot shower, cell phone charging, ice. Donations are starting to come in by the truckload and are being distributed throughout Puna, the district that received the most damage from Iselle. The old stables/Community Center in our neighborhood has become one of the main distribution hubs for ice, water, non-perishable foods, etc, and power for cell phone charging. National Guard trucks rumble by, helicopters circle overhead--all to assess the damage, I guess, though the governor and other officials have been out sight-seeing, too.

Fleets of electric company trucks have been a welcome sight as they work their way through the tangle of downed wires and trees to restore power street by street. Most of the area does not yet have power restored. We are so lucky to live on the same street as our community water system so we got power WAY ahead of most folks. 8000 people are still without electricity and likely will be for quite some time. And we were never without water. Our cable just came back a few minutes ago, so we have internet again, the phone is working, and I suppose the telly works again too, for what that's worth.

It was so weird being so completely out of the loop. Think about it: without power and with all communications down, we had no way of knowing anything we didn't see with our own eyes, or hear with our own ears, or what someone told us face to face. I'm grateful to be able to check emails and get news again. And very thankful for and humbled by all the loving thoughts and prayers from far away.

Our "protein field" looking a bit battered, but it will come back.

Land-warming Party

Last weekend we hosted a big shindig on our new land, inviting good friends and our new neighbors to help us celebrate. My photos didn't turn out all that well, probably because I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pics until it was almost dusk! Fortunately, a couple others shared their photos and allowed me to use them here.

We spent most of the week ahead of time, doing massive party prep. Mike had just finished drilling and pounding the last of the perimeter fence posts in place so our full attention was turned to party preparations. The circle drive was mowed with the tractor, and all the smaller side roads, too, the better for hiking and exploring. More mowing to open up space for the pop-ups, tables, and chairs... and for parking... and the campfire...

Since there are no amenities on the land as yet, he built an outhouse, and then had to clear a path to access the rustic, but very appreciated, facilities. I left a marking pen inside and our guests had fun creating messages and graffiti. Acacia especially enjoyed having the freedom to draw on the walls. Fun for the child in all of us!

The day finally arrived. I tied surveyor's tape streamers to the front gate to help set the mood and guide folks in. The top end of the center field was party central. We set up horseshoe pits and a campfire circle in the house site clearing across the drive.

Of course, there was a plentiful potluck. Everyone brought something delicious to the table.

Both Spirit Horse, and Blackie-kitty made appearances. Blackie joined a few of us on a long hike, and afterwards she made herself right at home under the potluck table where she was fed bits of hotdog and cheesecake until she literally couldn't eat another bite. She was still right there the next morning when we went back up to gather up stray items! Spirit, on the other hand, is very shy, but he let himself be seen and accepted a few carrots offered at full arm's length.

(photo courtesy of Robin Bush)

Late in the afternoon, an almost vertical stretch of rainbow appeared, reaching up from a gap in the trees where the deep blue ocean can be seen in the distance. At the same time, an unexpected flock of pure white cattle egrets swooped and soared over the far end of the cleared land while King Kamehameha butterflies flitted about in the foreground. I'd say both our land and the gathering were blessed right then, if they weren't already.

(Photo courtesy of Robin Bush)

As dusk approached, people began to migrate toward the campfire.

It is such a calming and primal feeling, gazing into the flames as the dark draws in around us. Voices murmur, laughter bursts forth, faces glow. There were s'mores and stories and eventually the stars came out until the sky was dazzling despite the lack of moon. This was the first time Mike and I had been up on our land this late in the day - and it was deeply satisfying. So quiet, so dark and starry. It felt like being home again. Mike and I have spent the vast majority of our lives in the boonies, so it was indeed comforting to feel this once again.

 

(Acacia's first s'mores - photo courtesy of Lori Meeker)

(photo courtesy of Robin Bush)

I'm not likely to ever forget such a perfect evening spent with good friends on the special piece of the island that will become our new farm. 

Aloha Kerry - a hui hou!

Two years ago, our youngest came to live with us for a while. Two weeks ago, she left for the mainland and the next venture in her life.

I'm glad Kerry got to do some of her favorite things before she left, like getting all dolled up for parties...

... spending time with her sister...

... exploring the volcano, inside and out...

 ... and soaking in the atmosphere of the new land in Kaimu, one of her very favorite spots on the island. (Mine, too!)

She will be missed, but she was ready to move on. All fledglings need to fly some time and the time had come for her to spread her wings again.

So, for a change of pace and to fulfill a lifelong dream, she has headed off to work on a ranch in Colorado. From there, it's likely she'll do the seasonal circuit of ranches and resorts around the country. What a great way to see different regions of the US! And then... why, the whole world awaits!

We were lucky to be able to have her here for a while. And for us, it's Empty Nest - Part Two, much easier than the first round, for sure. For one thing, we're not all alone on this rock in the middle of the ocean. Now we have good friends and even family close by. What a huge difference that makes!

A hui hou, Kerry! And happy trails!

Happy To Be Here!

Our Alaska kids have moved to the island! We couldn't be more pleased to have more family around, and especially to have a grandchild close by! Sorry for not posting about this earlier but, well, I was living in the moment with that little grand-daughter of mine. Priorities, you know.

Kerry bundled up against a cool evening, compared to Lori and Acacia who had just recently arrived when this was taken.

Lori and Dave and Acacia stayed with us for their first three months while looking for their own little piece of paradise. We opened up the dividing door between the guest house side and our own living area, all the easier to combine households somewhat. Lori and I took alternating nights for cooking dinner which we then ate all together. Acacia could come and go between us as she pleased which was totally fun for all involved. This gave Mama a break now and then, and made for some fantastic bonding time with Grammy.

Acacia has adapted well to the tropics, not bothering at all with clothes most of the time, and who can blame her after Alaska all her life? She's taken to the water like it was her long lost element, no matter whether pool or warm pond or ocean. She's even learning to swim just by being in the water so often!

As each new fruit comes into season, it is declared her favorite: banana, lychee, mango, guava...

We've had Easter egg hunts, beach days, several hikes and picnics, shopping days, and just hanging out at home... It's been a real treat for me to see this little girl develop and adapt and learn new things.

 

One of her absolute favorite pastimes is hunting for lizards and geckos, and we've spent many an hour wandering around the yard to see if we could find any of those elusive critters (elusive when a three-year-old is looking for them, anyway). Other often-requested activities include blowing bubbles, kicking balls, playing with blocks and animals. A rousing game of chase or hide and seek are perennial options to pass the time, and, once in a while, she'll even settle down for a book, or three, or six.

 

The kids are now settled into their own lovely home at a slightly higher elevation (think noticeably cooler temperatures). I think they have adapted well to island living. We still get together at least a couple times a week, and I get to babysit as often as I like. Some of you might be a little envious of that, but I definitely put in my time apart and I'm making the most of it!

(The first photo on this post and the one of me reading to Acacia are courtesy of Lori Hubbell Meeker. All others are mine.)