Sunday May 19, 2024
Below the kitchen gazebo, there are two rock lined gardens – three including the one at the edge of the lanai. In two of these, I had placed some cucumber seeds. They have sprouted.
Above the garden where the cucumber seeds have sprouted, is another tier of garden that has an orchid plant with a plumeria.
The plumeria has struggled since I planted it there a few trips ago, but now it is sprouting leaves! Yeah!
On the lanai, there is a pot – maybe two gallons size – I tried to plant citrus seeds here but got no results. I planted a tomato that had gone squishy and I didn’t want to eat in the pot and now it has sprouted and there is a good sized tomato plant there.
The tomato is large enough that it needs to be tied up to some sort of support, so I tied it to the handrail of the lanai. There are eight little green tomatoes on it.
Over at Ahi, I put together the drain lines for the toilet in the bathroom
Now I can finish pouring the concrete floor.
I poured concrete in the footing forms for the kitchen gazebo extension at Holowai.
Monday May 20, 2024
I stripped the form from the concrete footings for the gazebo extension.
I think that these are a good start! Now I need to remove the old tree stump and do some leveling before pouring a concrete floor, and some steps.
Today, the weather is very overcast. The view of the ocean from Holowai is clouded over.
The view is not any better at Ahi.
So, I decided to go see what the weather was like down at Honuapo at the ocean’s edge.
It is just as cloudy and overcast here as it is up the hill at the property. Sometimes it will be rainy at the property but sunny here at the ocean. I guess the 800 foot elevation change makes a difference.
The rainy weather has caused the tide pools up on the lava to be full.
The rainy weather has extended all the way down the coast towards Kilauea.
Tuesday May 21, 2024
I stayed around the Holowai property today and layed a bit more block.
I am in no hurry. It is still overcast today, but at least I can see the ocean from here.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
It probably isn’t the best day for this, but when IS the best day for doing laundry?
I guess the best day is when you have run out of clean socks and underwear!
The wheelbarrow was half full of clean rainwater, so I added some laundry detergent and started with socks, and underwear.
I grabbed a couple of buckets and filled them with water to rinse in.
After washing the socks and underwear, I dumped the wash water into some empty bottles to use when mixing concrete (when you haul water, you use it to the best advantage). Then I used the rinse water as my wash water and added it to the wheelbarrow with some more laundry detergent. Then I washed my tee shirts.
Repeating the process of changing the water, I then washed my levis and shorts. I tied some ropes between some trees as my clothesline. They may have to stay there for a few days to truly get dry, and if it rains while they are there, it will just rinse them a bit more!
Saturday May 25, 2024
I got up with the sunrise because I had decided to go to Kona today and do some grocery shopping. Also, just a chance to get away for the day and have an adventure. I wanted to try going on the bus and learning about the possibilities. I’ve ridden the bus many times before, but never tried to do a round trip to Kona and back in the same day!
I drove into Naalehu and parked my truck in the parking lot across the street from the hardware store, and caught the 8:29 am bus. This should get me in to Kona around 10:30 am.
The bus is actually quite comfortable.
The ride is much less stressful even though it makes many stops. There are scheduled stops. but if nobody is at the bus stop, the bus does not always stop there. Also, if you flag the bus down as it is approaaching you, it will stop and pick you up wherever there is somewhere for the bus to safely stop. The best part is, . . . it is free!
There are a few options on the schedule. One that goes through Naalehu around 3:00 am, one around 6:00 am, this one at 8:30 am, and one at 12:45 pm. The return trip has a bus around 10:00 am. one at 12:30 pm, one at 3:00 pm, one at 4:30 pm and one at 6:00 pm. I hope to catch the one at 12:45.
The highway follows the coast for the most part, and you can see the ocean as you go along. Taking pictures through the bus window is difficult, and not always successful!
There is a famous bay called Kealakekua Bay where Captain Cook ws killed by the natives.
When he first arrived, they thought he and all the white men were gods and showered them with gifts and honors and huge feasts. When one of the sailors got sick and died, they realized their mistake and Captain Cook and the rest of the crew barely escaped with their lives.
They headed up the coast, but realized they were low on water and provisions, so they returned to the bay in hopes of replenishing their supplies, but were met by large groups of warriors and a battle ensued. killing Captain Cook and several other members of his crew.
There is a while obelisk type monument erected on one side of the bay at the location where he was killed.
At least . . . that’s the story I’ve heard!
You cannot get to the monument in a car, but there is a rather long and strenuous hike down to it. Or, you can rent a kayak on one side of the bay and paddle over to it, or you can sign up for one of the many snorkeling tours that go into the bay. This is one of the favorite snorkeling places on the island.
While in Kona, I saw the local revenue agents shoring up the local government’s finances (police stopping a car)
After doing my shopping I found out that there is no 12:45 return bus, so I had to wait for the one at 3 pm!
I returned to the property a little before 6pm. A long day, but I learned that it is possible for me to go into Kona and return all in one day!
TTFN
TropicalCastaway 