October 5, 2024
Welcome to BLOG #77
It has been an interesting week getting back in the swing of things. Memories of my trip remind me that besides reuniting with my family I met some new friends along the way that I hope to stay in touch with.
From Maui to Honolulu I met Julie who has a slipper shop in Wailea and the International Market Place.
At the Hotel bar in San Francisco I met Jason who insisted on buying my drink and high 5 ings all the while he told me about his life in Alaska and that I reminded him of his French Huegonate grandmother. He was on his way to Florida to meet his “dearly beloved wife”, but on parting asked me if I needed a man (I think he was thinking of himself). I told him I was not into one night stands and NO I do not need a man AND goodnight. Ha! Ha!
Five hours later with only a few hours of sleep on the plane to Norfolk via Charlotte I sat with an interesting woman, Toni who works for Zoetis the world’s largest producer of animal vaccines and medications. We had a lot to talk about. She is a site manager and on her way to Ireland to check on facilities. She will probably stop by Hana in a few months when she visits with her family on Maui.
From San Diego to Honolulu Lani Girl Kaleiki who literally saved me at the Hawaiian airlines counter when by accident my ticket was for the day before. Lani was in line to check in right behind and told me she could not leave a kapuna in distress. The agent as the counter said she could not help me and I had to go on line and buy a new ticket. My internet was not working and it was panic city. Lani got on the phone with Hawaiian Airlines and made it happen or I might still be back in San Diego. We became fast friends and I am looking forward to seeing her again. She is a Kumu Hula teacher And was in San Diego doing the chant for a Polynesian gathering and then off to Japan to teach for a month.Her mother and aunt from Ilima Hula Studios were just inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of fame. She is a lovely new friend and I was blessed.
Now back to the farm….The day I left here the lawn mower man ran over the hose and we have had pump and water problems since. Poor Katrhleen, my animal sitter had to deal with this and I have been using a garden hose from the pump and tank below and filling buckets for the toilet. VERY humbug to say the least. James says he is coming tomorrow to fix the problem.
Luckily I have two tanks. And, the big tank has to be drained and lowered with an excavator to make all the gutters work properly. I got an above ground small 8’ x 15’ pool to drain the water into. The little pool will be great for cooling off here on hot days and exercise. The pool is scheduled to arrive by UPS to Hasegawa’s this next week.
I finally figured out what to do with my excess of bananas that often go to the cow next door. I got a dehydrator and am in the process of dehydrating now on this very sunny day as it depends on solar. Stay tuned-in about five more hours they should be ready. I just looked down to notice somehow Mana had got a banana, but decided not to eat it. Even at three years she is still a handful, but getting better about jumping up on people.
I had some important visitors a couple of days ago from the Pu’uhonua Society-Maile Meyers and her daughter Emma Broderick along with three other young women. They came out to see our coconut and Kalo project and are showing a historical film this evening at Ala Kukui cultural center here in Hana. Maile and Emma made the front page of the New York Times Arts August 1 edition. Very exciting story that also showed Indrajit and Manu Meyer’s Niu Now Project.
Everyone hiked up through the jungle to the pool and jumped in. They came back very muddy, but blown away by the ancient stone work where we will soon replant kalo.
Enough news for now. Wishing everyone a great week.
Aloha Nui,
Vicky
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