Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #86

December 21, 2024 

Welcome to Blog #86 

This has been what I call a stupendous week!

The check arrived for half of the Green Grant money and Chase arrived with his excavator with the chipping claw. He has worked two days and has a giant path almost to the mango trees and pool at the top of the property. The first picture shows the big chopping claw that grabs the branches and shreds them. This is a job I tried to talk Bob into doing but he thought it was impossible. So many years later the “impossible” is happening with a reforesting grant. I love the impossible dream–just to make it happen when someone tells you it cannot be done. That is the adventure I am on.

From there starting on Tuesday he will do more on the path and then work on extending the clearing work  on the edges. Getting this hau out has been a 25 year dream so needless ti say I am over the top thrilled. This was all beautiful pasture land in 1940 when Bob’s father purchased this property along with many other acres. This  property, a part of Koali Ranch, has a lot of very important good and bad history . The bad is the way it was acquired by the man (Drummond) who sold it to Howard and Betty along with a partner. I think they were unsuspecting of the ways Drummond acquired the property from the local families.The story makes a chapter (or more) of outrageous Hawaiian history.

Thank gosh this is the shortest day of the year and the days will now start getting longer.

 There have been a lot of long dark nights cutting into my afternoon gardening time.

We have had an amazingly amount of sunny beautiful days with hardly any rain. Hopefully we get some rain soon.

In last weeks blog when talking about my trip to Oahu I forgot to mention my wonderful hostess Jean who made my stay very comfortable and it was great catching up with her. Although she was a class ahead of me at school we didn’t really know each other until our mutual Holo Holo trip to Cuba. Sunday night’s party was a holo holo group get together. 

Our hostess Jerry Bendetti and Sand Edny

Denby Fawcett, Jean, me

Skip

I have been getting a lot of brown figs and papayas.

Life here is good and wishing all of you happy holidays and the best for 2025.

Don’t forget about your dream-they can be possible as my life adventure proves.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #85

December 14,  2024

Welcome to Blog #85

It has been an amazing two weeks with a lot of excitement and more than I dreamed possible accomplished. For Thanksgiving I cooked a turkey in my new red Hamilton Beach oven and it was delicious. We had a lovely dinner with all the regulars. Sara, my step daughter runs the Da Kine shop is Haiku and since Martha Stewart own part of the corporation Sara sent her a picture of our table and she put it on her blog.

The day after James arrived with chain saws, machetes and ready for bear. Edwin, Silipe and Jim had worked the day before clearing the hay around the tulip tress so they could get in there to make the cuts. One by one we watched 14 invasive tulip trees hit the ground with a crashing sound. The view of the mountains has greatly improved plus just getting such pesky trees down is super big. I am not sure who ever introduced those trees, but it was a big mistake. Sara and I sat and watched while they took down fourteen tulips. The trees in the middle pic were covered with hau which they cleared for cutting on Thanksgiving.

Finally after many months of waiting news to start work on the grant funds arrived on Tuesday so we can proceed with the excavator to chip the trees and do five days of Chase working with his machine on the hau. Hopefully this will happen soon and there will be pictures to follow….

Besides taking down the trees I got lots of little jobs accomplished-all making the place look better. They carried some heavy cedar beams to hold the potatoes back from my new herb garden.

We spent part of a day looking for rare coconuts to add to our gene bank and found some special varieties. Edwin happily found a coconut known for it’s texture and taste that he remembered from growing up on his south sea island.

One morning around coffee we all started brain Storming and sketching possible logos for Koali Niu. When the job is finalized I will be having some T shirts made up.

Right after the gang left on Sunday afternoon’s plane Connie my Wave Woman book editor and friend arrive for three days. We discussed a possible article about land here in Hana. Maybe I will just be writing about it here on my blog as I plan on being pretty busy with several projects below.

Connie with my masseus John and Mana

We are also in process of getting our 501 C3. We have our small board formed along with bylaws so that will all be happening very soon.

I finally finished my article with Robin Rohr for Mid Week’s Chasing the Light weekly article. It should appear first of the year. After it is published I will share it in my blog.

This week I had a zoom meeting with a documentary filmmaker about doing a film on Wave Woman. He just finished the Shape of Things about the brilliant surf board shaper Dick Brewer. My friend Jericho who started the women’s professional organization with Real Sunn and won three world titles is coming over and we are going to start work in January. I am really looking forward to this project….

It is now December 13, and I am still working on this. Blog. I wet to Oahu last weekend and never could never settle long enough to get this out. Although I never want to leave when the time comes It was a very busy and fun three days w ith lovely and special evenings included a Sunday night party with the Holo holo traveling group. Monday night my new friend Lani girl took me to one of my favorite places the Halekulani Hotel for sunset and Hawaiian music. Lani is a famous hula teacher and was called to dance by musician Doug Tolentino. It was a night to remember!

I finally received the formal notice to proceed on my Green Grant so hopefully we will be moving up the hill with cutting and chipping this next week. I also ordered my new Kawasaki Mule vehicle for farm work.

Mana is recovering from her surgery and the suitcase scene I was trying to fit in above.

I am tired of struggling with this wordpress which is acting up so am going to leave for now.Thank you for tuning in and wishing everyone a happy holiday season.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #84

November 23, 2024

Welcome to Wave Woman Adventure Blog

Hard to believe this is #84 and I must have lost a lot of people along the way?

I am starting to loose myself actually…….but the next weeks are going to be exciting with the next step of clearing hau and planting coconuts. Three big helpers arrive on Wednesday for the weekend of work.

This week has not been without excitement!

Sunday morning I was shaking out a bed spread that had been drying over my stationary bike and out jumped a huge brown centipede. Before I could do anything it ran under my bed. EAKS! I knew I had to do whatever to get it out. This meant moving everything to the side of the room so I could move the bed out far enough to get under the rug. After moving the bed to the side of the room I took a deep  breath and got the upright vacuum cleaner and a big knife. I turned the vacuum on and slowly started lifting the rug up and there it was to cut a slice thru and quickly vacuum up. That was the end of that little episode, but it created a lot of extra work before company’s arrival.

We now have a Hana vet! This was my biggest worry about coming to such a remote place without proper vet care. So like everything else that has fallen into place (not without effort of coarse) it is so exciting to finally have a young capable vet right here. Dr. Krista Scimeca with Infinity Vet. Dr. Krista’s dream is to be mobile but she moved into a house here a few days ago right after our old long time vet Dr. Malcom died. Last week I finally had a small bump on my dog Haumana checked out. Krista drew fluid and said it did not look good-a possible melanoma. Early Monday morning we out the back road to Makawao Vet for the procedure. She stayed there till Thursday and is now home confined to a smallest area to heal. She had a very uncomfortable cone which I finally found the right T shirt for her advertising Hasegawa General Store. I take her out for walks and she seems to be doing good.

 I started my back patio this week. 400 capstones are estimated to complete the job plus many bags of sand. I did one forth and will continue this next week. Ossipoff used these as pavers on some of his patios and they are just right for me to handle, but it is not an easy job. Lifting and bending makes for a lot of soreness, but it is very rewarding work and I am looking forward to finishing the job. The cats are happy.

Wishing everyone a lovely holiday weekend. I am cooking a turkey in my red Hamilton Beach portable oven. Probably will skip next week’s blog with all the company and work plans.

Trying to keep this little guy from getting munched by my four leggeds.

The evening skies have been amazing.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #83

Welcome to Blog #83

November 16, 2024

It has been a rather quiet, but good week. I don’t have many pictures. Ben finished the rock wall and it looks beautiful. I am planting herbs between the wall and where the potatoes start. One BIG problem is that the potatoes are like Jack in the beanstalk plants with a fierce growth rate. Next week when help arrives I am planning on putting some of the wood beams in place behind the herbs, but in front of the potatoes and then the potatoes can more easily be trimmed as they peak over the wood to try and take over.

Finally the first native gardenia flower appeared. So mini but the wonderful smell is there. Gardenias love Hana and I love gardenias.

I had a trip to the “other side” on Thursday. The trip is always long, but spectacular. We have had lots of rain and the rivers were raging. The yellow ginger is still in bloom.

I am starting on the back patio floor this next week. I just ordered the cap stones and sand. Looking forward to this project.

Am loving my pool…

Jungle helpers are coming for Thanksgiving weekend and we are going to take on clearing more of the hill.  I am also going to cook a turkey so it should be a big step forward.

Going to cut this short as I have a very dirty house that needs cleaning.

Thanks for tuning in. Happy week to everyone.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #82

November 10, 2024

Welcome to Blog #82

I am a day late again…..I spent all day yesterday supervising work and cooking for a dinner last night.

It has been another interesting week with beautiful sunset pink skies. The first part of the week was spent working on writing a weekly article in Mid Week called Chasing The Light. Robin Rohr is a therapist and author and puts out a weekly inspirational article. She must have run across my book and contacted me several months ago for a story on my mother.  My story will appear around the first of the year. It was a lot of work with many rewrites, but I think resulting in a beautiful tribute. I will let everyone know when it is published. Once published I will include it in a blog post.

The bottom of the driveway was getting quite muddy with overhanging trees keeping the sunlight at bay. The trees got trimmed and Laka brought up fo aur tons of gravel to solve that problem. We are also figuring ways to deal with possible heavy winter rains.

I now have one more parking space at the bottom of the driveway which gives room for possibly selling a product. The taro at the very first lo’i already has one leaf and that is going to be spectacular for all the cars passing by.

We continue working on the yard and it is looking gorgeous. Ben finished the back yard rock wall yesterday. I am hoping to keep the potatoes back far enough to plant herbs along the inside edge. I harvested lots of turmeric and might put some of that in also.

At the Farmers Market on Friday we came across Randy who was selling a shot of turmeric juice that he makes with honey, lime juice and coconut. It was delicious and I am going to start experimenting to make the healthy concoction.

My friend and author Susan Purvis (Go Find It) arrived and we went to the Makahiki celebration ceremony on Friday morning at The Kahanu Botanical Garden. The Garden is part of the National Tropical Garden and the home to the largest heiau in the South Pacific-The Pi’ilanihale Heiau. The ceremony was performed at the base of the heiau as it probably has taken place for hundreds of years. The Makahiki season is the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival in honor of the god Lono. Makahiki usually begins in Mid-November and ends in late January or February aligning with the rainy season. It is a time set aside for tribute, harvest, sport, and play. The four month period was a time of peace and plenty, relaxation, games. It was a time to honor the god Lono which a replica is pictured below. All the Hana School students were there and it was pretty chicken skin. Since it was also a time for surfing and when the surfing contests took place I wrote about it in my book.

After the celebration a Hawaiian lunch was served in a bamboo plate and games were played.

In my little spare time I have been reading Bob’s mother’s letters that he had transcribed and put in a binder. The letters are copies that were written to her family and talk about life in Hawaii during the war and the Liljestrand family. I am finding it very interesting reading.

Caruso cat loves the frog.

The neighbors dogs drop by every once in a while because they are not being fed at home. I fell in love with the little black oneput some food out, but Mana decided to bring the dish back which she did without spilling a drop.

It is a beautiful day and I am going to turn the pump on for the pool and maybe jump in before some planting.

Have a beautiful week.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #81

November 3, 2024

Welcome to Adventure Blog 81

The BIG event of this last week was getting my above ground pool set up and filled with water. This all happened yesterday and that’s why the blog is a day late. Nothing is easy here and the preparation for the pool followed suit. But, I am thrilled to have this therapy pool and a cold bath of water for hot days here. I had my first “swim” this morning and it is so great to have.

Filling the pool drained the big tank so that is ready for moving which will hopefully happen next weekend as I am now using a garden hose from the bottom tank for kitchen and bathroom water.

Ben came and made more of the rock wall in the back yard. Said he was coming today, but no sign of him.

This will be short because I just spent a lot of time making the flight reservations for three friend/workers to arrive on Thanksgiving weekend. This will be a big help to make the next leap on clearing a bigger path to the pool above and getting some invasive trees cut down. It will also allow more coconuts and kalo to be planted.

Unexpectedly on Halloween I ended up at the Ranch House Restaurant. That was the “IN Place” for singles. I found out Halloween is big in Hana-especially for singles. After dinner we entertained ourselves watching a group of people putting down a dance floor. The floor squares were put down, taken up, put down and replaced.

I now have a cover for my car. This took all day last Sunday and should have been a little larger, but helps with bird poops and the sun.

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I harvested tumerick last week and am trying to figure out how to use so much. The market wanted 40 pounds and I don’t quite have that. Maybe I will do a tumerick bed for the next round.

Ben showed up and I need to go and find rocks for the wall.

Thanks for tuning in.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #80

October 26,2024

Welcome to Blog #80

WOW! This feels like a momentous number and it has been a very special week besides being Aloha Week here in Hana. Yesterday was the lei contest and Kupuna Lunch at the hotel. The leis were amazing and the lunch was a special event with so so Hawaiian food and great music-all done in very local style. I met some new people and had a lovely time. Tonight is a big event at the bay with food, music, dancing and a concert. AND it is now pouring.

Sunday I stayed home from a classmates celebration of life to work on two big hunks of Canadian old  growth hunks of cedar that were thrown in when I bought the cedar beams. When I first laid eyes on them I pictured the perfect benches. I have been trying to get them moved into the best place and refinished for two years. I finally got them leveled and moved into place several months ago. On Saturday evening and Sunday l sanded them down and painted some cleat sealer to protect the wood and bring out the beautiful color.

Indrajit, Jesse, Malo and Jit’s new assistant Kehau arrived Monday afternoon. They did a coconut workshop in Waihehe over the weekend and then drove out. The four of them were a whirlwind of forward movement. They planted eight new trees and Jit made a paper map so I know what varieties are planted where. During the time they were here they were always doing something. Jesse harvested taro and replanted in some new places. The one I am the most excited about is right behind the first wall at the driveway entrance. In about three weeks it will be a beautiful site for all the cars that drive past. They also planted a big ape right at the address sign on Hana Highway which will be a great landmark.

The two pictures below show the driveway entrance twenty five years ago and the present.

There have been two tulip trees I have been eager to get cut down, but knew I needed a crew on the road to cut the branches and throw over the side. Early Tuesday morning Chris came and cut the trees and the gang had them off the road in minutes. All these advances take a lot of planning and coordinating, but little by little big things are happening.

It was great having them all here and we had some great meals. Monday ehu forvening they took over the kitchw and miscellaneous other ingredients. While preparing he was calling his wife on Oahu for directions. Jit barbecued shrimp and made rice and I cooked some meat. While they were here they were always doing something. Jesse was making awa drinking cups out of small coconuts. Malo was preparing husks for Jit to make coconut twine.

I woke up this morning to very hard rain and we have been under a flood watch all day. This was the day to set up my above ground pool. Maybe tomorrow they say…..

It is a good day for paperwork, but my desk is a tad conjested.

Thanks for tuning in and wishing a great week.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #79

October 19, 2024

Welcome to Adventure Blog #79

It has been another good week for progress. Besides the outside stuff I have spent some time in the kitchen dehydrating bananas and experimenting with papaya and making breadfruit soup. I got a nine drawer Excalibur dehydrator. Because of being off grid I didn’t think it would work, but I just run it during the sunny part of the day and then wait overnight and start in again the next day. So far so good and they are really tasty.

It is the beginning of Aloha Week here in Hana and it started yesterday with the Farmer’s Market local produce breadfruit, taro and poke cookoff. The week is full of wonderful local events including a lei making contest followed by a kapuna luncheon at the hotel. It is all very “old Hawaii“ style and things just come to a stop giving way to the week long celebration. I know this first hand as several years ago this week I was trying to get things moved out here and Patrick informed me not possible during Aloha Week as he had school events for his children, a talent show and he was playing music at several other events.

It took me some time to figure how it all works… The entrants make their dishes at home and bring them in little test cups. With the $5 purchase of the Aloha Week Ribbon they pay another $5 to buy what looked like 20 plus food samples of all the entrants cooking. There are awards for first through third place in each category which is announced with prizes. Everyone seemed really into it sitting at tables, testing, talking and judging. Meanwhile there was a stage with loud Hawaiian music and the usual Farmers Market Vendors set up under their tents selling their goods. I got there late and did not do a testing, but next year. And, there is talk about a special coconut cook off and hopefully Jit can come and prepare one of his best dishes.

Today there is a parade with four buses of Kamehameha School band members, horse back riders, old cars, motor cycles, and not sure what else.  It meant going to town early to get a parking space, waiting in the sun, etc and I decided to stay here and get some things done. Ashlie my helper was supposedly coming at 10:00, but she  is having trouble with her washing machine and it is now several hours later, but it is all good.

Indrajit, Kehau his assistant, Jesse and another man are coming on Monday after a Sunday coconut workshop in town. We will plant more trees and kalo besides meeting people, visiting a farm and looking for new varieties.

My paper work for the Green Grant finally is all in and it should be just a few more weeks till we can start more clearing. The pads are also ready to set up the pool, drain the water tank into the pool and move the tank.

I took Mana into Petco for grooming on Thursday in my new white Toyota Rave  4and what a difference that car makes. It hugs the road so well I have to be careful not to go too fast for the corners. And, what a joy to have air after driving the old truck for two years.

Laka came for the last excavator work-finalizing the water tank pad, reshaping the shed entrance driveway, and taking this big piece of concrete out of the back yard down to where the pool will be located. I am now working on landscaping the back yard.

I almost forgot to mention I sold 65 pounds of my chayote squash this week. And, I just harvested asparagus for dinner. Also the cherry tomatoes are giving some everyday and life is abundant here in more ways than one.

I am now turning water gardens into anthurium  plant gardens as I am afraid of the dogs going after the toads. For weeks I have been fishing them out of the pond and relocating, but frogs just keep reappearing. I would love them around as they eat centipedes, but cannot take a chance with the dogs.

After the market I went up the hill to join friends at the Ranch Restaurant where the market can be seen and the music heard. This is where the kids have a great time sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard.

Everybody is pretty comfy and hanging in.

Thanks for tuning in and wishing everyone a great week.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’S Adventure Blog #78

Blog #78

October 12, 2024

It has been a great week for action and moving forward. Can’t remember if I mentioned but my original builder (Chris T.)  left a lot to be desired as far as communication, doing things right, and finishing a job. The big water tank was not placed low enough for the gutters to properly work in catching water. Thank goodness I am now working with some capable professionals. They are all about forty four years old and Hana High School classmates-Kane the electrician, James the builder par exultance, and Laka the excavator genius. Laka arrived on Tuesday with his excavator to dig and prepare the new pad. Unfortunately some of the small breadfruit trees had to first be cleared by Chris G and Ben. It was quite a job but they carved out a path of trees and roots for the excavator to get in.

I have been wanting a small above ground fifteen feet round therapy pool and job #2 was to prepare a level pad for the pool. After we found the most level place there was still a lot of excavator work. And then Laka hauled in two loads of sand and gavel to place on each pad. It is now ready to set up the pool.

After finishing clearing made a beautiful little rock wall.

The view down to Wailua Cove is getting better and better. I will soon put a viewing bench for the spectacular site. Those lines must be for telephone as there is no power from here on out. Wish i knew how to take them out with photo shop.

For twenty five years I have been envisioning two small level possible places to plant taro and/or also park on the entry lo’i. There have been some big bumps of washed in soil preventing this. Finally Laka used his amazing excavator skill to perfectly level out the second spot. As he dug out grass he replaced it on a lower spot in perfect shape so it appears as if it has been growing there for years. I sat on a rock with Mana at my side watching the whole operation. Now, I have room for six cars and we might even start a small stand.

And, this is thwe way the entrance looked when Bob nd I first started our work here many years ago.

Last Saturday night I went to a wonderful local event at the Ala Kukui retreat center. Maile Meyer and her daughter Emma were in town (I pictured them visiting me here last week’s blog) to have a showing of Joyce Linden’s thirty year photography that documents fishponds and Taro in Hana which the Pu’uhonua Society is raising money to have digitized. Kai and Patrick played music and the food was some of the best Hawaiian food I have ever had. Kava was served as the drink of choice.

Food is getting plentiful here with avocado, pumpkin, papaya, limes, taro, u’ala, spinach and eggplant to name a few.

There have been some gorgeous days and sunsets to enjoy.

Life continues to be an adventure here with tidbits unfolding every day. Finally this week I was able to get the last required Green Grant papers turned in so will be moving ahead soon with more clearing and planting.

Thanks for tuning in and wishing everyone well in the coming weeks ahead.

Aloha Nui,

Vicky

Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #77

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