Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #118

Welcome to Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #118

January 17, 2026

Well, I have really let the weeks slip by without writing my weekly (now twice a month) blog. There has been so many distractions like the holidays, land maintenance, trying to get organized  have taken all my time and  have caught me up. And, besides all that I have been waiting for some “big” stuff to happen rather than just writing about the mundane day to day life here. There are so many projects here and there are just not enough hours in the day. 

Before Christmas I made a quick trip to Oahu and soaked up some holiday cheer plus some appointments. Finally made it to Michaels after years of trying to get there and enjoyed a Waikiki sunset before dinner with friends.

My hanai daughter Sarah went with me and we enjoyed a 36th floor dinner and view.

The holidays were quiet, but very nice.  Sarah came out for a few days and that was fun.

We cooked a small turkey and got my new Ninja ice cream maker going. We also drove the mule down the street to a neighborʻs birthday party right after. The next day we drove it out to Kipahulu to visit a friend.

So, one of my dreams actualized this last week when I our non profit, Koali Niu received two large private donations. SO EXCITING!!! People who are interested in our work, believe in us and our mission, and contributed in a big way. These funds make it so we can now move ahead with some long overdue projects which will start this next week. We also need a tractor so I will also be applying for a MEO (Maui Economic Opportunity) grant which is due in a few weeks.

There are so many projects here. We have had some rain in the last weeks which turns the back yard into a partial mud hole. To solve the problem I am moving pavers from a side yard and relaying them in the back. So far it seems to have solved the problem.

Another project has been laying weed mat on the hill for a new squash crop to be planted. We have had a lot of wind which keeps blowing the cloth up so the third pinning happened this last week and now waiting for the squash sprouts to be big enough to plant. We put in some extra large pins this time so hopefully it stays put.

Squash seedlings are planted at the top so they grow down over the weed barrier with a minimum of weeding.

The papaya crop is booming! These crops seem to love it here. A friend brought up three new varieties of taro and they are now in the ground. Potatoes also love the hill.

I just made my daily glass of coconut water for hydration.

Gotta run now

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Here is one eyed Willie with his feral friend.

Thanks for tuning in.