Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #122

Welcome to Adventure Blog #122

This is going to be a short one, but want to let you know we survived two horrendous Weeks of storms and a very challenging time. Today is sunny and beautiful and things are drying out thankfully.Such a relief when it seemed like it would never stop raining.

Most of Hana was out of electricity for six days or more. The two markets were closed and the Hana road was also closed to tourist. Being off grid I was fine in that way. I just had to start the generator from time to time to keep everything going.

My neighbor Karen had a French visitor, Marilyn, and they were having candle light dinner parties for us-the storm orphans as she called us. Dr Krista, our vet, had a lot of food that was defrosting and Marilyn made some delicious dinners and we had a good time in spite of things.

Here at Koali Niu Only three coconut trees were laid on their sides and had to be replanted. I was very lucky as some parts of Hana were devastated with many trees and small buildings ripped apart and trees uprooted.

Most all of my banana trees survived and we harvested a big bunch this week.

The floor is now down in the tent and the beds are set up-finally.Now I am thinking about the landscaping and the final touches. This is the fun part….

I am in the middle of refinishing a trunk so am going to close to work on that project.

We continue working on the web site Koaliniu.org. It will be a continual work in progress as we tell more stories about the coconut-the tree of life.

Thanks for tuning in and wishing everyone a great week ahead. This red bull walks around the neighborhood and crashes through peopleʻs gates to eat their ti leaves. Luckily he doesnʻt come down this far.

This is a foster cat that loves the mule.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #121

March 15, 2026

Welcome to Adventure Blog #121

It has been a wild few days with this big Kona storm. There has been lots of rain and wind and things were pretty miserable here for three days. My friend and neighbor said it is a once in 50 year storm. I sure hope so and will be glad when it finally blows over. Friday night was scary with pouring rain, listening to the sound of water and rocks making their way down the mountain and just hoping the water would find itʻs way without any mud and we would see daylight here. This tropical storm is supposedly lasting until Sunday noon and I can hardly wait for calm and sun.

Last Sunday someone who has been near and dear to my heart since age 16 passed away and I have been fighting sadness all week….It has been a struggle.

On a positive note the last few weeks has seen some big progress here. After a year of patiently and so patiently My tentalo is finally erected and looks so great. The beautiful old growth cedar planks make attractive benches and railings. It is tucked in the perfect place and will house temporary workers, scientists, friends and hopefully some family. It has stayed perfectly dry and cozy during this past storm. This next week the flooring will go down and I will set up the beds. The bed frames came from Amazon with many parts and I was able to get it all together last weekend-so proud of myself.

The new driveway got poured Wednesday just ahead of the storm. Now, any car came make it up without all drive or four wheel drive. This makes getting here a lot more pleasant. Un until now a regular car had to park at the bottom and guests had to walk up. With our 4 wheel and all drive vehicles we have bounced up over the rocks and holes. Those were two big projects that are complete and great to have behind us. The pour took six men as they hand mixed all the concrete. A BIG job.

Last Saturday I had a lesson from Grant Senner on making a jade flower lei. There is no place to buy lei out here and I am hoping to learn some different methods that the locals pride themselves on making.

The Taro Festival is in April and Indrajit will be coming over to do a work shop and we will be finding new coconut varieties for the gene bank. Luckily all the coconut trees survived the storm. Many big trees were uprooted and the roads have been closed. For the last three days everyone in Hana is out of power and they say it will be 1-2 weeks before it is fixed. I am off grid and my solar is working just fine although the generator had to go on yesterday for a few hours.

The papayas have been cranking and they are the BEST. I take them to my friend Dimitri who sells them as fast as he gets them.

Well it is now Sunday evening and I better get this out. Thank you for tuning in and wishing everyone a sunny and dry week.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #120

Welcome to Adventure Blog #120

February 28, 2026

Thanks for tuning in. And, to think it is the last day of February! The days are flying by faster and faster.

It has been a few weeks since my last blog so I want to catch you up on all the happenings. What comes to mind as a biggie is finally my tentalo is erected. It has been such a long wait involving so much patience. The patio benches and back rests are made from the old growth beautiful cedar timbers that I bought from Bruce Johnson when he sold his house on Lanai. Last week I ordered the beds and other things to get set up. A larger tarp will cover the front patio which is on order and bamboo poles will replace the 2 x 4s holding up the existing tarp. Then next week I will landscape the garden around the tentalo which I am looking forward to doing.

Last Saturday night we had a thunder and lightening storm like nothing I had ever experienced-very scary

To say the least. It went on for hours with pouring rain. Sunday morning the water was coming out through the rock walls like a hose was turned on. Luckily it all flowed away from the building and down through the yard.

We got the squash starts planted just in time to get a heavy watering. Now we just need some sun to encourage their growth.

Week before last there was an accident on the Hana Hwy. which stopped traffic for several hours. A box truck hit a van and there were some injuries. I was on the road coming home from Kahalui. Rather than waiting for the helicopter, Ambulance and road clearing crew I decided to turn around and come home the back way. This was a long trip.

We have been working on the web site and it is slowly taking shape. Koaliniu.org

Check it out when you have time. The site will focus on education about the Hawaiian coconut with coming blogs to be added so stay tuned. 

I went to Oahu and out to Makaha for the 49th Buffalo Surfing meet. The waves were not wonderful and my Hana friends didn’t place in the four man canoe event, but it was a fun get together. Jit even showed up with his daughter Oui.

My pal Jericho flew in from Long Beach and we had fun going to Downing Surf shop, the Outrigger canoe Club and meeting Yana and Joey Cabel.

The cats are doing pretty well and they have survived to rainy weather. Better get going now as it is nearing feeding time and I have some gardening to do.

It was sad to see the situation with the coconuts on the West side. This is one in our yard that is netted to try and save it from the beetle.

Thanks for tuning in with all the craziness in the world right now I feel so thankful to be here with the coconuts in this little community.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #119

February 8, 2026

Welcome to Blog #119

We have been having beautiful weather and are probably a tad spoiled. But, it is now a miserable dark, cold, windy and rainy day or I would be outside planting. We knew this storm was coming so I was able to get out yesterday and plant some squash plants for this next season. The storm is good for the aina, but miserable for the cats trying to stay dry.

The big news is the web site is finally up. Check it out………. Koaliniu.org

We still have minor changes and will be adding more pictures as we go along. Also we plan to tell more stories about the different coconuts so it will be an on going project.

We are finally able to share taro with the community. Isaac and his friend came here for leaves to make their lau laus last week. 

The platform to hold the tentalo is finally completed and tomorrow was scheduled to do tree trimming before Assembling the tent. Looks like there might be another wait on this plan, however. Last week was slowed down because Waihua hurt his back on the jet ski. My patience continues to be tested on a daily basis.

I am anxious to get this tent up so they can start on the concrete tracks for the driveway next. 

I had some company this week which was a nice change-Jennifer and her friend Char came out for a day and night. They were most infatuated with the Monarch butter flies which are in the backyard in full force. The butterflies love the crown flower tree and the adjoining pasture is full of milk weed.

The papaya trees are prolific and producing the best papayas ever.

Need to close this up and do some PT. The last few weeks have been extra busy as I have been working on a MEO grant for $25,000. for farm equipment. We are hoping to get the grant for a four wheel drive mower to mow hill and reduce weed eating time. We should hear by March 15.

Thanks for tuning in. Wishing everyone a great week and happy Valentines.

Aloha Nui.

Vicky

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.

Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #117

Welcome to Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #117

December 14, 2025

Thanks for tuning in. I have been remiss in doing a weekly blog and think I will change it to every other week as there is so much to do around here it is hard to find the time for writing.

I am in the process of redoing my Koali Niu web site with a strategic marketer and she suggested I start a You Tube channel to document our work here and the tree growth. That will give more of a visual which might work out well.

And speaking of trees the niu planted on the hill are growing at record speed. Some of the seedings planted in April  2024 are now ten feet tall or higher. This is because the earth was covered with Hou for over fifty years and is very fertile. This is the first tree we planted on the edge of the sheer forty foot drop off to the road below. Indrajit thinks it is the revered Niu Hiwa, a tree that faces significant conservation challenges today. “The tree is historically esteemed and is a distinctive, identifiable coconut variety with unique cultural practices tied to it and the loss would have significant implications for Native Hawaiian culture today.” (Gunasakara)

Pretty exciting stuff….

It seems like a wintery day here with a cold wind coming in off the channel between here and the big island.

I guess this is nice for the holiday spirit.

Since my squash crop was so successful I have decided to continue farming squash with three varieties for my next venture. Last week Isaac and Cleo cleared the remains of the last crop, weed eated and laid weed barrier cloth for the next planting.

I am hoping to get the new plants in the ground tomorrow as they are ready to plant. Unfortunately there were not enough pins to adequately tie down the weed barrier cloth and the wind has blown sections around. My plan is to plant the squash just above the cloth and then it grows down over the cloth.

I had a quick trip to Honolulu this last week for a medical appointment. My hana daughter Sarah went with me and we had some fun. Also had a nice dinner at Michaels with some old and new friends. I arrived first and saw a gorgeous sunset.

Bedsides going to the gym and pool the Christmas decorations were out and it was very festive. We also met up with Pierre Grill the piano player.

Hana Ho Magazine on Hawaiian Airlines has a story about the niu which highlights Niu Nowʻs work and the CRB beetle.

Lots of jobs are waiting so am going to close for now. In case I don’t make it back next week I want to wish everyone happy holidays. Thanks for tuning in.

Aloha Nui Loa,

Vicky

Vicky Durandʻs Adventure Blog #116

BLOG #116

November 23, 2025

Thanks for tuning in. The days and weeks have been racing by and I am behind on blogging due to many distractions. There has been so much going on that I want to tell you about. Last week it was a choice between working in the garden and writing a blog, and I was on a roll and couldnʻt resist continuing a long awaited project.

Several weekends ago we had a big push forward here. My helper friends, Edwin, Silipei and Indrajit, came over from Oahu for four solid work days. They did work that would have taken months for others to do. They cleared  away years of a banana tree debris where the dead stumps and leaves had just been dropped on the ground making a big mess. They cut some overlapping breadfruit trees to make room for the Outstanding tentalo that is going to be put up soon. The vegetation on the hill was encroaching on some of the coconut trees and that all got cut away. These were just a few of the things they did to make things better around here. The Kawasaki mule came in very handy.

Indrajit came with his new assistant and planted three new coconut trees so we now have eight varieties and 27 trees in our gene bank. We will be sharing the off spring of these trees and the related knowledge. They worked on the hill clearing around each of the planted trees making space so the weed eating does not reach and damage the trees. Ten of the coconut seedlings were dug up and donated to Waihee Hawaii Land Trust niu nursery. They also dug up all the remaining taro and replanted on the restored rock walls. Lots of forward movement…

My neighbor Karen gave me two Hawaiian breadfruit keikes so we got those planted. In a few more weeks I will be selling papayas as the trees are full of fruit-the really good orange variety.

We all took turns cooking and we had some great meals. Edwin cooked breadfruit and he and Silipei ate that practically every meal for four days.

I am thrilled with my squash crop which has totaled about 500 pounds of harvested and sold squash. Just yesterday I delivered another 100 pounds to an upscale produce shop in Kula. I figure each of the 5 planted seeds yielded 100 pounds of squash. I also gifted a lot of squash and will continue to do this as it is so rewarding. I am now planning on getting the ground ready for the next crops and will branch out to butternut and Honey Boat Delicate. Pretty exciting for me!!! A squash farmer at this ripe old age.

In the last week we have had plenty of rain-actually too much as parts of the yard are mud. Mana runs around gets her feet muddy and into the house. I will have to get some bricks for the back yard as soon as possible. I have also had run ins with 3 centipedes in the last two days. Eaks!!

Cleo is back and we finally got all five of the white gutter pipes painted chocolate brown. They donʻt stand out as an eye sore now. We have also completed the oiling of the wooden beams for the tentalo. Now anxiously awaiting the tent construction.

Everybody seems pretty happy. Frida is pictured in her new favorite place this morning. She has come a long way since I found her on the side of the road dumped by some heartless person. My friend Kathleen who is a vet teck helped me save her from near death.

Better run for now.

“Where coconuts grow humanity flourishes.”

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #114

November 2, 2025

Welcome to Blog #114

Thanks for tuning in. I was on Oahu last week dealing with medical appointments so missed doing a blog.  My friend Susan went with me and we had some fun in between meetings. Because of knee surgery, and then hip I hadn’t been to the dentist in over a year so that was a tortuous experience that I do not want to repeat. My Watchman check must have been fine as I have not heard anything to the contrary. After flying back to Maui I spent the afternoon shopping and doing errands so I don’t have to return for the next month.

I am still working on getting organized and putting things away. Actually I am doing a general reorganization-always trying to make things look and work better.

Before getting on the plane On Wednesday I delivered 200 pounds of squash I grew. This is so exciting to be actually producing a food crop. This week I sold another 90 pounds to our local Hana Ranch Market.

Squash loves this hill so I am going to try some other varieties-acorn, cords, and watermelon.

We are finally moving forward…..Yesterday James came to cut the big tree that needs to be removed for coconut planting next weekend. I hate hate cutting good trees, but it was necessary as we need the space.

Before cutting we harvested another big bunch of squash. I bought a magazine full of only squash recipes and am looking forward to trying them. Also instagram has featured some good looking dishes with squash. I made a pasta recipe that was delicious. It is a tad difficult to cut up, but worth it. The dogs are even pretty Ok with it.

Part of the yard is covered with cut branches and I am waiting for the crew to come and clear it out. Some of the bigger chunks will be turned into bowls and the rest milled.

This whole thing with our abundance of food is so interesting with the absence of food and all the possible program cuts in the news. I have also been over run with bananas. Yesterday I made a big bunch to dehydrate. I am also going to be having a bumper crop of papayas in a month or so. Luckily I have found a company that will buy all this extra food growing here. The only problem is taking it to Kahalui.

I just received a text that some people in Kipahulu have killed a bull and they are giving free meat to anyone who shows up at 12. Don’t know if I will go for that. There is a big beautiful black bull in the pasture next door. I give him bananas and ti leaves and can’t bear the thought of what the neighbors will eventually do with him. Wish I could rescue him….

Another free bee is every other week Hasegawas market distributes two packages of ground venison per family. I get it when the timing is right and use it for different recipes and for the dogs. Deer have invaded so this is one companies solution.

I finally drove my Kawasaki mule to the top of the property bouncing off big rocks. I was giving Susan a tour and we both were amazed at the beauty. Those papaya trees are full of fruit. That was where Bob’s parents wanted to build a weekend house.

They knew how to pick the most gorgeous places as there is a view of all four Big Island volcanoes. Also a great place to watch the sunset.

Well, better get going for now. Friday the gang is coming and we will have another coconut planting day and move ahead with other projects. 

Thanks for tuning in and wishing everyone a glorious coming week.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #113

October 19, 2025

Welcome to Adventure Blog #113

It has been a very fun social week with company for a few nights and three dinners out with friends. Two of my grandson Rhodes’ friends, Taylor and Charlie, were on the other side of Maui for a wedding and came to visit me here in Hana. Being surfers from Southern California they were blown away with life and the natural beauty at the jungle’s edge. They helped me with a couple of projects, I showed them some of the sights in the area, and we had some nice meals and nightly fires. They loved it so much and want to return as cat and farm helpers. They both slept in the front room under mosquito netting.

On Thursday My friend Niketa, a chef, and made a wonderful Indian dinner that we took up to a mutual friend Laura’s house for dinner. Besides a great dinner the company was super and this house is at the top of the world above the Hana airport which is always a treat to visit.

Friday was James and Moie’s fifth wedding anniversary and they had a gathering of friends and family to celebrate. James had picked taro from here and pounded poi as one of the many items served. There was lots of lively conversation including the Molokai to Oahu canoe race that took place last Sunday. Hana had a crew that paddled in a koa canoe. The crew paddled the canoe from Maui to Molokai on Thursday, rested for a couple of days and then the race on Sunday which took six hours. There were some very fun stories…..

In between all of that on Friday I managed to lock myself out of my car. Since I was planning on going out I left my purse in the car on the front seat with the extra, unknowingly with the extra set of keys. This is not a place that the Auto Club services in a friendly way so luckily James came with his daughter and with some devices and managed to fish out the extra set of keys that were sitting in m y purse. Getting the keys out through the small opening in the car door was an interesting challenge that took both of us, but finally possible. Yikes!!! That was scarey…. And, the rains have finally come so it was pouring rain during much of the process.

We have been harvesting big batches of squash. This squash is delicious and besides baking I made a pasta sauceI sold some on the road and am taking more in to the Maui Hub on Wednesday. That has been a very successful crop and great ground cover. With my mobility still slightly hampered I need help picked them as walking on the steep hill with all the vines is rather challenging. I have a new helper, Isaac who is a big help for this project.

We are getting ready for the next big coconut planting in early November. Indrajit is currently in Japan learning how to extract DNA from coconuts. I am sure this information will be helpful in the cataloging of the many different varieties of coconuts which is part of his future work. You can see the coconuts are growing.

I better end this as there are lots of jobs waiting for me: washing now that we have rain water, painting the downspouts, oiling the timbers for the Outstanding tent soon to be erected, and planting.

Thanks for tuning in. Remember “when coconuts grow, humanity flourishes.”

Wishing a great coming week for everyone.

Aloha Niu,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #112

Welcome to BLOG #112

October 12, 20025

 I missed last week’s blog as I had a stomach bug and was just missing the urge for words.

During the last two weeks we continue work on restoring the old walls and it is getting to be a gorgeous sight looking up the hill and seeing them so perfectly being reshaped. Thanks to a generous donor Ben comes once a week and is making great head way. 

The Outstanding tentalo was finally delivered this last week and it lays under cover until James can build a platform for it to sit on. After that the tent should go up in two days. Some bush clearing needs to be done and I am going to try and oil the wooden support poles. Having the tent is going to give me a lot more flexibility with farm help plus other things.

My hanai daughter Sarah came out for a few days this week and we had two great mornings at the beach before the crowds arrived.  The water at Hamoa is crystal clear and so beautiful this time of year. Sarah also helped rake up some leaves and made a big beautiful fire for the full moon night. I always look forward to her visits.

We have hardly any rain so still watching the water use. The waterfall at the top of the property is still trickling however.

The hill is full of squash and we are harvesting them by the bucket loads. Also the banana trees are full of bunches and I need to find a market for the produce asap.

I took time out from writing this to watch the men’s Molokai to Oahu race. Was hoping to see our Hana team in one of the four koa canoes in the race. Unfortunately the TV coverage just stopped and they are still out there hopefully soon to land. I can’t seem to find coverage so am going to wind this up so I can go on to other projects.

During the past two weeks I have gotten to a lot of projects that had to wait for my recovery. I am now doing my own PT at home and walking better every day. It is a long and slow process, but happening. And, it is great getting back to the many projects around here.

Yesterday was weeding and trimming ti leaves down below and Mana helped me.

Thanks for tuning in and wishing everyone a super week in the midst of world choas.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky