And Into December

December 3, 2025

Yesterday, I went into OceanView and did some laundry.

The wet clothes sat in the back seat of the truck until this morning when I hung them out to dry on some ropes strung up between the trees!

As I was making breakfast, the little green birds were coming and going, past me. Probably trying to get my attention so I would put something in the bird feeder.

Instead, I tried to coax them to come eat out of my hand!

The above is a video. You may need to click on the picture two or three times to get it to play!

The same is for the following videos as well.

Close, but not up on my hand

They continued to fly around, but refused to come any closer! so, I gave in and put the food in the feeder!

One little guy came close. I tried to video him/her in the picture above.

But this is as close as any of them would come.

I shouldn’t spend all day with the birds. I need to work on salvaging more pallet material!

December 4, 2025

The birds are regularly using the fountain to get drinks or to take a bath!

The plumeria is blossoming very nicely. the other branches look like they too will blossom . . . most likely, when I am not here!

After cutting off all the dead branches, my tomatoes are making a come back. Unfortunately, it will be too little, too late, as by the time they grow and start producing tomatoes again I will be back in Arizona!

Since I have added more boards on the roof, I have made it impossible to cimb up from the floor, so I had to move the ladder. I fastened a 2 x 3 to the ends of a few rafters to lean the ladder against.

The overhang on the makai side ( the side towards the ocean) is ready for me to cut the rafter tails all the correct angle for installing the fascia! They are all the original square cut and need to be a plumb cut so that the fascia is not on an angle! Also, they are not the same distance out from the wall and need to be so the fascia is straight up and down! This will make it easier to install gutters.

The roof sheathing is getting finished, slowly, but surely!

The side towards the street and mountain (the mauka side) needs the most work.

The view from on top of the roof is fabulous!

I notice the full moon over where downtown Na’alehu would be!

How about a slow panoramic view from on top of the roof?

It ight take two or three times clicking on the picture to get the video to play!

December 6, 2025

Another e-mail from the USGS leads to another road trip! So, off I go. Past the town of Na’alehu, and down to the overlook at the ocean. As I look towards Kilauea, I think I can see the smoke from the eruption – – – of course, it might just be my imagination!

Ten miles down the road is the turn off to the Punaluu Black Sand Beach, where there are almost always large turtles sleeping on the beach! The turtles are on the beach . . . not at the turn off!

One of the differences between the road to Kona and the road to Hilo is the fact that the road to Kona is full of lots of twisting, turning curves; where the road to Hilo is pretty much a straight shot most all the way!

A few miles past the Punaluu Black Sand Beach, is the turn off to the town of Pahala.

This is an old plantation town left from the days when this area was a huge sugar cane plantation! The only grocery store here has milk at $12.99 per gallon – the exact same carton of milk that you can get at WalMart in Kona or Hilo for $6.99 and for $2.99 in Phoenix, Arizona!

Outside of Pahala, are large macadamia nut orchards.

As the road goes on past the mac nut orchards, the landscape becomes more sparse and rocky, There are lots of  ʻōhiʻa lehua trees- a native tree that only grows here. (or so they say) Along the road, there are lots of guava trees/bushes. I get my first real view of the smoke from the volcano eruption.

Looking away from the ocean and the volcano, I get a rare look at Mauna Loa with few clouds obscuring the top!

And of course, the road closures. You can always count on there being at least one area where one lane of the two lane highway (one in each direction) is closed due to highway maintenance, utility work, or tree trimming!

I get lucky today and come across three places where there is a lane closure and we need to pass through by a flagman!

As I drive past the entrance sign telling us that we are entering the National Park, I can see the cloud of smoke coming from the volcano.

After passing the entrance sign to the National Park, the black column becomes more prominant as I get closer.

It looks like there is a huge fire burning over there!

And I was right. There is a large fire burning over there! From inside the park, it looks more like a massive forest fire or a wild fire!

Parking inside the park is always a hassle!

This time, the flaming geyser of lava is shooting off at an angle.

I’m not the only one here to look at the eruption. And we are well rewarded for our efforts. Besides the columns of lava, there is a huge column of smoke and particles climbing up into the sky above us!

As I watch, the geysers of lava grow shorter, and shorter, and shorter. I guess that Pele is done for the day.

The geysers quit and there is just a little bubbling of lava for a few minutes, and then she comes back again!

It looks like there are two geysers erupting. One that is shooting off to the left and then a shorter one that is going straight up.

As I look closer, there are actually three!

I follow the path along the side of the caldera to other lookout spots. There are also places here where people have made their own path through the bushes to get a closer look at the edge of the caldera. The park service has posted warning signs for safety.

For me, those warnng signs are more of an invitation!

At another lookout further along the path, I get closer to the geysers of lava. . . along with another group of people doing the same thing!

I came. I saw, and I left. I need to get back to Na’alehu and get back to work!

December 7, 2025

More pallets to tear apart! A never ending chore!

I picked these up from the bakery as well as from the harware store. The bakery gives them away, but the hardware store charges a dollar for each one!

I’m faced with another challenge. There is beginning to be some fallout from the volcano.

Everything is covered with a very fine black powder. It is even supended in the air, but I do not feel any effects when I breathe, But it irritates my skin. Each little, fine grain has sharp edges and feels like it cuts into my skin. The boards on the roof are covered with it as well and so I am wearing long jeans and a long sleeved shirt when I work up there!

The plants on the lanai have a fine dusting on their leaves, and everything in the gazebo/kitchen is also covered in it. This forces me to wash any plate, pot, pan, glass, or piece of silverware before using it!

December 8, 2025

It hasn’t seemed to affect the little birds.

December 9, 2025

I was concerned about being able to cut the ends of the rafters. I tried to think of a way to do it from below, but everything I thought of seemed too complicated. So I resorted to the old adage – KISS! Keep It Simple Stupid, and just did it while sitting on top of the roof. Using the battery powered skillsaw, which is relatively light, I found this worked rather well. I would run a string from end to end on top and then mark a plumb cut on each rafter from this string line.

Success!

December 10, 2025

With the rafter tails cut with a plumb cut and all at the same length, my next stwp is to figute out how to install the 2 x 6 fascia. How do I hold it up against the ends of the rafter tails while trying to attach it with long screws? I don’t seem to have enough hands to hold up the board, as well as hold the screw and the drill!

I cut a slot in a piece of plywood. Then I screwed the piece of plywood to the side of two of the rafter tails so that these plywood pieces could act like extra hands to hold up the fascia.

This held the fascia up in place so I could mark it for the correct length.

I made enough of these “plywood hands” to hold up the fascia along one side of the building so I could line them all up straight and level, and attach them to the rafter tails.

Another success! Doing this made it much simpler that my imagination!

Deember 12, 2025

aMore pallets taken apart, more boards cut to width.

More flowers on the plumeria.

With the fascia on, I can finish the 1 x boards. The next step is to install 1/2″ OSB plywood over these boards. This will provide lateral support to the roof to resist the force of the wind!

But yet, how do I get 4′ x 8′ sheets of OSB up on the roof?

Probably not the safest way, but it works!

Adding a bit of “pre-treat” to the pallet boards used as sheathing may not exact;y stop the bugs, but it is worth the effort! I even spray a bit on the OSB before placing it and screwing it down.

December 13, 2025

Gotta have another taste of coonut before leaving the island.

And a few more guavas.

I finished the additional layer of OSB over the 1 by sheathing on the section of the roof facing the driveway..

December 14, 2025

It didn’t take very long to install shingles on this section of the roof.

And to finish the 1 x sheathing on the long section facing the street.

Now I need to get the shingles up on the roof. Each bundle of shingles weighs 80 lbs. Add that to my weight and the maximum 220 pound carrying capcity of the lader is exceeded. Oh, well!

December 15, 2025

I need more metal roof edge in order to install shingles on the other end of the roof, so it is off to Kona again!

Hualalai volcano is visible this morning! Usually it is covered with clouds and the top is not easily visible.

I picked up some more pieces of metal edge, some 2 x 6’s and some more pallets.

It didn’t take long to install the OSB on this section of roof facing the gazebo. It is ready for shingles tomorrow!

December 16, 2025

Shingles are quickly installed on the triangle at the gazebo end.

December 17, 2025

On my last trip, I had installed a street sign here! Two wooden signs attached to a metal pole, imbedded in concrete with large rocks. Someone has stolen the whole thing! I wonder why?

December 18, 2025

I built doors for the storage shed. No time to hang them on hinges – didn’t have the hinges anyway – so I simply stood them up and screwed them in place.

After getting a ride from my neighbor to the bus stop, I saw this truck with this license plate – Hmmm- I wonder if that really works . . . or if this is only available to the relatives of the police!?!?!?

I wasn’t the only one waiting for the bus.

While I was sitting on the wooden bench outside the store where the bus stops, this guy landed on the bench next to me!

There were the typical clouds surrounding the top of Hualalai volcano.

My first flight took me to Maui. We gar a good view of Haleakala as we approached the island.

I have a seven hour layover here in Maui, so I decided to go for a walk. (Who booked this crazy schedule?) I walked out to the entrance of the airport and back.

At 9:00 PM, I took off from Maui and landed in Phoenix at 6:30 AM the next day!

TTFN

A Roadtrip Diversion

November 19, 2025

I am noticing more guavas around the property at Holowai. There are more than I can eat.

And, they are good sized also.

The siding on the back wall of the tool shed has been completed and the corner and joint trim has been installed. I feel like it is more of a finished project – except for the doors on the front! The gutter I have installed on the roof at the back is collecting water and it is successfully being filtered via the bucket and barrel system. I have the downspout emptying into a bucket that sits on top of the 40 gallon storage barrel. Then from the bucket, it flows into the barrell. The bucket catches the debris from the roof before it goes into the barrel! A passive filtration system.

Now, I have to figure out how to use this water in the bathroom.

November 20, 2025

I drove in to Kona for some building supplies. I did a little sightseeing as well, and went down to the waterfront.

November 21, 2025

One of the things I went to Kona to get were framing anchor nails! These anchors are called H2.5’s They are hurricane ties. I have the ties, but I did not buy enough nails when I bought the ties. I could buy the nails from the local hardware store for $36.00 per box, or $26.00 at the big box store in Kona! These need to be installed in a difficult to reach place. Basically, I either need a 16 foot tall ladder that I need to fight with on uneven ground, or I hang over from above, trying not to fall off the roof 18 feet above this same uneven, rocky ground! Another example of being like the turtle – slow and steady!

November 24, 2025

Most of the day was spent installing these H2.5 anchors.

I took time out for another coconut break!

November 25, 2026

I received an email from the USGS telling me that it is time for a road trip. So, I head down highway 11 out of Na’alehu.

Past the turn off for Punaluu Black Sand Beach.

To the Volcanoes National Park.

Not too long after I pass the rock sign a the entrance to the park, I can see the volcano spewing smoke and fumes.

From here, I can see just a little bit of the lava spouts coming out of the caldera!

A little further down the road gives me a little better view!

The entrance to the visitor’s center is not as crowded as I expected, and I get right in without much of a wait. My National Park Senior Lifetime pass is helpful!

Just past the guard booth at the entrance off the highway, there is a roundabout. Now I need to make a decision! Which side of the caldera do I want to do? When I as here in August, I went straight ahead. Today, I think I’ll go off to the left!

As I get closer to the overlook, there are cars parked on both sides of the road.

I probably need to be more serious about finding a place to park!

Once I park the car, I join the crowd of people walking down a side road that looks like it has been closed to traffic for quite a while. I can see the glow of the lava up ahead of me on the left. Further on, the road takes a turn to the left, so that the caldera is now on the right.

The clouds and the sky reflect the setting sun as it glows through the stuff tossed up into the air from the volcano. It almost looks like the sky is on fire as well!

Then I see the lava fountain off to my right, through the trees.

Once past the trees, there is an open area with the lava fountain beyond. I head off the road and across a flat, level area, that does not look to be appealing to vegetation as the ground is covered with ash and small chunks of lava from many past eruptions.

But the main attraction is still further down the road.

Most everyone else is continuing on down the road, so I follow!

The Park Rangers have cordoned off an area for the tourists to stay in “not just for your safety, but for the safety of all those around you”!

Most obey, but there are those who take that as a challenge!

And go wandering off to areas that are “unsafe” but offer different views of the eruption!

click on the picture to see the video

But not me! I always obey all the rules, and stay behind the barriers!

We are at 4300 foot elevation above sea level, and there is a steady breeze blowing.

It is interesting to observe the different attire of the tourists. Some are wearing long sleeved jackets and coats, while others are in shorts and tee shirts! I guess it’s a matter of prior planning, and the area of the country/world they are from. Those from Minnesota would find this weather as a nice summer day, while those of us from Arizona find it a bit cold!

click on the picture to see the video – you might need to click two or three times

As I pan the camera (my phone) from the erupting geyser down along the caldera, I see the red hot lava flooding out onto the floor of the crater. There are white/grey clouds of steam and smoke that are comng out of cracks between the rocks. I cannot help but wonder, “What would happen if the volcano were to erupt through all these smoking cracks around us?”

Just a few more videos of the lava.

After the sun goes down, the flowing lava on the caldera floor becomes more visible.

And the clouds above become a glowing mass of red and orange!

click on the middle of the picture to watch a video

This episode – the 37th episode of the current eruption – has been going on since early this morning. Most of the past episodes have lasted abour 12 hours. It is getting close to the time that this one will end as well, and I have a half hour’s walk back to the truck, and an hour’s drive back home. Time for me to be heading out!

As I walk away from the caldera, I can still see it between the trees as I look back.

I get a different view from a different lookout viewpoint closer to the entrance to the visitor center.

Here is a video from this viewpoint:

As I drive along the highway from the park entrance, headed back to Na’alehu, I can still see the clouds and flames of the geyser!

A last video of this roadtrip – but probably not my last video of this volcano!

click on the picture to see this video

November 27, 2025

On my lanai (patio/porch) I have a few pots with plants growing in them. One pot has a mango tree that started from a seed I had thrown into the mulch pile. I went to add to the mulch pile and saw the sprouted seed, so I planted it in the pot. This was a few months ago. Now it is almost two feet tall!

In the other pots, I have bell peppers growing from the seeds of bell peppers I have eaten. I put the seeds into one pot before going back to Arizona and when I returned, the pot was very crowded. So, I transplanted the seedlings into four other pots. I had also placed some seeds into a couple of other pots. These have grown to almost two feet tall, and now have blossoms and small peppers growing on them.

Also, the plumeria tree has what appears to me to be the beginnings of flowers!

My neighbors up the road have invited me to share Thanksgiving with them.

November 28, 2025

This morning, the flowers on the plumeria have opened up.

I go back into the pallet disassembly mode.

This is a pile of pallets that I brought back from Kona, the last time I was there!

November 29, 2025

The plumeria flowers are just getting better and better!

As I continue installing roof boards on the roof, I am “painting myself into a corner” so to speak! I have one ladder from the ground to get up on the floor deck. From there, I have another ladder leaning against the outside wall to climb up through the roof to get on top. I can see that one of these times, I will install roof bords so that I cannot get to the ladder to get off the roof. So, I need to make some changes in my methods.

Also, I have worried about the rafter tails being all the same height so that when I cut them off and install the fascia, they will all fit together. I used some 2 x 4’s to check that the short rafters at the corners will lne up correctly. Now would be the time to make any adjustments in the way they are attached to the hip rafter and to the exterior walls.

I am treated to a relatively nice sunset as the sun sets on the other side of the hills.

The roof is looking more finished as I continue installing boards.

The end facing the driveway is completed down to where I can mark the ends of the rafters and cut them all evenly. I’m not sure, exactly, how I’m going to do this yet! As there is nothing for me to stand on, I cannot do it from below, so I will need to do this from above. How do I hang over the edge of the roof and cut the rafter tails without falling off the roof?

I’ll have to think about that some more. But for now, I need to finish the roof sheathing boards on all four sides down to within a foot of the end of the roof. This last foot will give me room to use the skilsaw to cut the rafters – as opposed to a hand saw!

TTFN

Another Go-Around

November 6, 2025

Like Dr Seuss’ Marvin K Mooney,

The time had come so David went!

Unlike the suggestions offered by Dr Seuss, I simply choose the method preferred by Peter, Paul & Mary, and I went by jetplane!

Well, maybe I’ll be leavin’ on a jetplane . . . but unlike Peter. Paul, & Mary, I do know wnen I will be back again. I’ll be coming back to Arizona on December 18.

As I look towards the front of the plane, there doesn’t seem to be many passengers on the first leg of my flight out of Phoenix to Sacramento.

Not many sitting in the seats behind me either!

The flight out of Sacramento, heading to Kona was a little different, but still not a full plane.

Right on time, we were able to see the tops of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea as they peeked through the clouds. Another 30 minutes, and we will be on the ground in Kona!

After the two hour bus ride from Kona to Waiohinu, I arrive at the property. I hook up the batteries so I will have lights in the shed tonight.

Then it is time to take stock of the plants. My tomatoes look like they produced lots of fruit while I was gone, but unfortunately, there was nobody here to tend to them.

The tire garden is pretty much bare.

But the onions are doing good!

November 7, 2025

In the morning, I set up the solar panels on the roof of the shed to power the batteries.

I tried to bring some of the more expensive foods with me. For instance, I can get eggs in Arizona for around two dollars a dozen, but here, they are $6. Unfortunately, I did not pack these sufficiently, and it looks like two got cracked on the way here! I’ll have to do a better packing job next time! Meanwhie, it is scrambled eggs for breakfast!

My pond/fountain has water in it. Dirty water, but still, it is water!

So I get out the solar powered pumps and stick them into the water. Maybe some circulaton will clean it up!

The next item was to open the tool shed by removing the plywood I had screwed over the opening.

I noticed there were some good sized guavas on the guava plants nearby.

Then up on the roof of the gazebo to turn over the solar panels. Not sure if this is even neessary, but when I leave, I like to turn the panels over so they are not making electricity that goes nowhere! I seem to think that this might damage, or wear out the solar cells. . . . and maybe I’m just crazy!

I bring the refrigerator and the solar power station out of the tool shed and plug them in.

I got some crackers and crushed them for the bird feeder.

And it wasn’t too long before I had my first visitor – a red headed cardinal!

I went over to the Ahi property to check it out. The grass on the road is a bit tall.

The driveway is not too bad, but it could use a bit of trimming!

as well as the “front yard” area.

So, I got out the weed eater and the lawn mower and went to work.

It didn’t take long to have the grass on Ahi road all mowed!

November 8, 2025

A bit of a treat – fresh guavas!

I’ve been away for about three weeks, but the grass along Holowai Road isn’t as tall as I would expect.

It is a bit shaggy in both directions, but still tolerable and not what I would term as “abandoned” and overgrown!

Down at the corner, around the signpost is a bit different.

A few minutes with the lawn mower,

from the neighbor’s driveway and all the way to the corner, on both sides of the road. This used to take me three or four days when I did it by hand!

Now, it looks like someone actually cares!

But yet, there is trouble in the storage shed! Time to set a few rat traps!

November 9, 2025

Gotta be careful with those traps though, I don’t want to catch those “rats with wings”!

For some reason, I decided to do some work around the corner rock wall.

November 10, 2025

Once I got started with cutting out the tall grass and removing the “bean type” trees I do not like, I got involved with stacking up the rocks to continue the rock wall along the front of the properties!

A trip into town with one bladder in the truck and I filled the bladder in the driveway.

Then I got busy with the table saw cleaning up the edges of the pallet material.

I group the boards together into their different widths to use on the roof.

Before leaving Arizona, I ordered some new, larger solar panels. They were supposed to arrive on the 7th – the day after I arrived. I received a text that told me my order had been delayed. Then I read about a UPS plane that had crashed on takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky. According to the “tracking” of my pakage, it was coming through Louisville!

I wondered if I would ever get them!

Well, they arrived today

and the packaging looks like they have been through a plane crash!

November 12, 2025

Work on installing roof sheathing boards continues. This is a slow process – re-using pallet material takes considerable time disassembling the pallets in such a manner that there is actually material to salvage. Sometimes, the boards are split so I use glue and clamps to put them back together. I even save the nails. Initially, I was putting the nails into the large plastic jars that my screws are shipped in simply to keep them from falling into the driveway and causing flat tires! I realized that many of these nails are exactly the right size for installing the roof sheathing. Most are a little bent and require a bit of straightening – some are really bent and require a lot of straightening. And some are simply not viable. But sorting and straightening the nails takes time!

I get tired of working on the pallets, the boards, and the roof; so I spend some time out in the road digging a shallow trench and burying the neighbor’s waterline. out of sight-out of mind!

That’s enough digging in the dirt – back to working in the sky

It is actualy looking better and better!

November 13, 2025

At the bakery in Na’alehu, they receive all their ingredients and packaging on pallets.

The pallets that they cannot or do not ruse, are stacked in a pile in the back of the parking lot on a first come- first served basis. At a price I like – free!

November 14, 2025

I had taken the seeds from a grapefruit, some from a few tangerines, and a bunch from some oranges and planted them into seperate pots. Each of the four pots had two or three citrus plants sprout. When they got to be about four inches tall, I took them to Ahi and planted them in four spots near the outhouse at the property edge. Unfortunately, I did not keep track of which ones were which. So it goes!

The grass in this area has grown faster than the citrus plants, so I used the weed eater and chopped down the tall grass.

Then I had a coconut break!

November 15, 2025

The yellow birds are back!

November 16, 2025

Progressing slowly, but nicely on the roof. As Confucious says, “It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop!”

November 17, 2025

With the two ends having roof sheathing down to the walls, the two long sides are nearing this milestone as well.

Looking at the roof from above is like looking at a patchwork quilt.

The different colors and shades of the pallet lumber make the top side “prettier” than the underneath side.

It seems a shame to have to cover it up with shingles!

A bit of spaghetti for dinner.

TTFN

October

October 1, 2025

The rip fence for the table saw was a mickey mouse piece of . . . stuff! I had made two metal brackets that were attached to the ends of a board. One of the metal brackets had a nut welded to it and I had a block of wood with a threaded rod imbedded in the block that screwed into the nut and as I screwed it in, it pressed against the edge of the table saw. At the other end of the board, the metal bracket was bent to press against the back edge of the table saw.

Tightening the block with the threaded rod into the nut would hold the board in place as a rip fence. Since the block of wood was thicker than the board, it got in the way when trying to rip something, so I added another board to the side. This worked for a while. Eventually, I ended up using a clamp at each end to clamp this in place.

I’m not sure where I picked up an old rip fence from a different brand of table saw but I have had it laying around for quite a while. It was quite rusted and the lever would not work to operate the clamping mechanism. I covered every inch with some old used motor oil in hopes this would soak through the rust. One day, I tried to take it apart by removing the nuts on the bolts that hold it together. No amount of banging on the nuts would loosen them, but I found that I could get the lever to move just a little bit. I kept at it and this little bit grew a little bit more, then a bit more. So I added more motor oil, and worked the lever up and down, and I got it to work.

Unfortunatly, the brackets at the end of the rip fence did not correspond with my table saw so I had to do a bit of modifying. I had to add board to the end where the lever is located. The rip fence is a little longer than my table saw is, so I added a board to the back side of the table saw.

Dad always used to say, “poor men have poor ways”. I think he was describing me.

I prefer to think of it as making due with what you have, and using your brain instead of your wallet!

Anyway, I have been able to clean up the boards I have salvaged from the pallets by running them through the table saw at one width, then moving the rip fence over a tiny bit and running them through again – this second time cutting the other side of the board- I end up with straight boards. I am using these as the sheathing on the roof.

October 2, 2025

This morning, I got out the lawn mower and mowed the grass next to the road at the Holowai property. I mowed all the way down to the corner where my steet sign is.

Standing in the driveway and looking north east towards Mauna Loa volcano and Hilo beyond.

Standing in the driveway looking south west towards the Kona side of the island.

After mowing the grass at the road, I cut and fit some boards on the Kona end of the building roof.

October 3, 2025

This is the door for the bathroom. It looks pretty good for being a discarded bifold coset door. A bit of recycling!

October 4, 2025

I have been working on the roof boards. This is the end of the roof at the driveway. I almost have the sheathing boards in place to the wall. A bit more recycling.

The roof at the gazebo end is not quite as far along as the other end. It all takes time, and this is very time consuming to dismantle pallets and clean up the 1x boards for use as roof sheathing.

October 5, 2025

I was able to harvest a few tomatoes from my tomato plants. Now that I am preparing to leave and go back to the mainland, they are starting to produce. As Jim Croce said, “Isn’t that the way they say it goes?”

My mango seed has really grown into a very nice plant. I only hope it survives until I return.

I have both ends of the roof with 1x sheathing in place all the way down from the peak to the walls.

October 7, 2025

Now it is time to start on the long sides. I began with the “mauka” or mountain facing side.

I have a full moon tonight, peeking out from between the clouds!

October 9, 2025

The bottom of the driveway is one of the places I have designated as a pallet disassembly factory. I have hung up an old tarp between the tool shed and the house construction to provide shade. It has so many holes in it, that it doesn’t do much for keeping off the rain.

October 11, 2025

I have boards on the mauka side, about half way down to the wall. So, I started on the makai side, or the side towards the ocean.

With the different colors of the wood, the roof looks prettier from above than from below.

October 12, 2025

I have two piles of pallets under the floor. I had used these as my scaffolding when I built the floor. Again, poor men have poor ways. I prefer to call it ingenius engineering! As I tear them apart to use as roof sheathing, the piles get smaller.

October 13, 2025

My tomato planter is overflowing with tomato bushes.

And there are still quite a few tomatoes growing on the vines.

Even after I harvested another dozen or so.

One last look at the house before I pack up and head back to the mainland tomorrow.

October 14, 2025

There are always dark clouds hovering over the Hualalai volcano outside of Kona.

My ride back to Arizona.

TTFN

Life Goes On

September 16, 2025

Watered the plants at Holowai

Took apart three more pallets

Finished installing the blocks between the rafters on the makai side of the roof and started on the driveway side

September 17, 2025

Unloaded the pallets and the lumber from the truck. Disassembled 2 pallets. Took the bathrom door over to the neighbor’s property to use his electriciy and palm sander to sand the door. Returned to property and used 2 cans of spray paint to paint the door. Not enough for 1 side – need at least 4 more cans.

Put water bladder and some one gallon jugs into the truck and went in to town. Bought 2 bell peppers and a papaya at the farmers market and stopped at the transfer station for water. On the way back, I stopped at Ahi and watered the plants there. At Holowai, I drained the bladder into the other bladder that is in the driveway.

In the afternoon, I worked on the header framing on the opening at the driveway side.

September 18, 2025

Worked on the header framing over the opening at the gazbo end.

Watered the plants at Holowai and Ahi.

Experienced a great sunset.

September 19, 2025

When I tried to cook breakfast this morning, the stove would not light. The propane tank was empty. So I removed the propane tank and put it in the back of the truck. While I was there, I threw the empty water bottles (close to 100 of them) into the back of the truck along wth a garden hose. Then I removed the propane tank from the generator. It feels like it is about 1/4 full. I attached this to the stove and made breakfast.

Before beginning to work on the roof, I checked my email. I had a message from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) about Kilauea – episode 33 of the ongoing eruption began at 3:15 AM with lava plumes up to 500 feet in height.

It is now 10:30 AM. Most episodes last between 7 and 13 hours. Do I take everything out of the truck and go? – No – I decide to install blocks in the roof and then fill my water bottles and the propane tank first.

At noon, I try to check the webcams at the volcano (they have three cameras constantly monitoring the eruption that can be accessed through their website) but I cannot sign on to the internet. I have no phone service! I want to check that the episode is still going on before I drive over there.

I drive down town Na’alehu – still no phone service. I get propane and water – still no phone service. I return to the property – still no service. It is 2:30 PM. I unload the truck and take a shower. The water is warm, not hot, and not a lot of pressure. It still smells like PVC glue, but I have a good shower none the less!

At 3 PM I have phone and internet service. I open the web site and view the webcams. There are no plumes. It is just smoke coming out of the vent! It is not worth going. I missed another episode!

September 20, 2025

It is totally overcast this morning, and it lightly sprinkled rain on and off all morning. No phone service again this morning.

Started the generator and worked on the headers over the three door openings on the mauka side (the side away from the ocean, or the side facing the mountain).

I completed the installation of the blocking over the two side doors on this wall as well as the outer portion of the header framing on all three openings.

By 3 PM the rain had stopped and the clouds slowly moved off.

Two yellow birds showed up at the feeder around 11 AM and again around 5 PM. These little birds are not intimidated by the other birds.

They even hold their ground in the face of the threats by the Northern Red Cardinals which are twice their size.

September 21, 2025

I spent the day working at the Ahi property. Mowed the grass on the road in front of the property and in front of the next two properties. Used the weed eater to cut the grass around the waterlines at the top of the propeerty next to the road.

Using the long handled clippers, I cut the tall, heavy grass for about 30 feet southeast of the outhouse.

Up on the road, and at the northwest corner of the property, I located the property pin – a metal pipe – and moved the rocks next to the pipe to create a hole. I filled this hole with concrete and imbedded rocks in the concrete. Then I stacked rocks up on top to create a rock column that is just inside the property lines. This will help to identify this corner of the property.

I started to pile up rocks behind the wall of block wall of the bathroom to create a level area. Here, I will place some water containers like barrels, or maybe a water bladder to hold the run off from the roof to be used in the bathroom for flushing the toilet. . . maybe even for the shower, if I add a filter and a pump.

September 22, 2025

Sifted the last of the sand/gravel next to the road at Holowai.

Worked on the corner rock column at Ahi. It is now 18 to 24″ tall

Grouted four cells in the mauka (the side towards the mountain) bathroom wall.

Located the opposite property corner pin – another 3/4 inch pipe – at the north east corner of the property – the corner closest to the driveway. And excavated to create a foundation for a corner column. This one is a bit more challenging as it is on more of a slope than the other corner.

Used the last of my sand/gravel from Holowai to mix concrete for this foundation.

Back at Holowai, I sprayed some termite treatment chemicals called borate, on the inside portion of the walls under the floor. Also coated the outside of the four columns under the floor level as well. Then I sprayed the outside of the west end of the front wall (the wall facing the street) from the floor to the roof.

Then I sprayed both sides of two sheets of plywood and cut and installed them on this corner of the structure!

September 23, 2025

The birds have started frequenting the waterfall/fountain. I have seen them using it as a birdbath, Cool!

When Alanah was here, she commented on how difficult it was to carry water to the front side yard to water the three coconut palms there. There was a large limb at the edge of the gazebo extension that you needed to manouver around. I removed this limb.

Also, there is a large pile of big rocks at the edge of the gazebo that were difficult to walk on. I straightened them and fit them together better to make it a little easier and flatter.

Sprayed more borax solution onto the exterior walls and plywood and installed it on the front wall.

I have needed to trim some branches in order to install the plywood. I have stacked these branches down by the chipper.

September 24, 2025

My neighbor Scott has lost his cell phone at his property. I spent the morning helping him look for it. I try calling it, but it goes directly to voicemail so there is no chance to listen for it ringing!

Went downtown to the post office, Picked up a package with two containers of screws and a letter from Alanah with two N-85 masks for me to use when spraying the borate chemicals.

Worked on miscellaneous blocking and straightening of the framing.

September 25, 2025

Again, I spent the morning trying to find the neighbor’s cellphone. If he lost it outside, it has most likely gotten rained on and is full of water now.

The little blue ribbon is tied to the survey marker for the property corner.

More work done on the rock column at the north east corner of the Ahi property – the corner near the driveway.

Poured two batches of concrete – mixed in the wheel barrow- on the corner rock column.

September 26, 2025

Beautiful sunrise this morning.

Cloudy all day with a few sprinkles. Almost 2 inches of rain yesterday and last night.

I use the tall extension ladder to go over the plywood I have installed and put the necessary screws in place – 6″ on the edges and 8″ in the middle of each sheet.

The yellow birds take over the bird feeder whenever they come by, which is not very often. But they do not let any other birds in the feeder while they are there.

September 27, 2025

It has been overcast the last few days, so the soar systems have not had enough sunlight to recharge. The one in the shed has 11.6 volts this morning and last night at 6 PM it got down to 10 volts, so I shut off the small refrigerator. As long as I do not open the door, the refrigerator will stay cold overnight. I only hope to get some sunlight to increase the voltage in the system so I can turn it back on sometime this morning.

The system in the gazebo was down to 11% when I got up this morning. When the refrigerator thee in the azbo cycled on, it pulled out so much power that it shut off the system. So, I cranked up the propane generator and plugged in the solar generator to recharge it.

While I had the generator running, I cut my plywood for the exterior walls. I am one sheet short!

Scott told me that he had found his cell phone. It was in his wooden hot tub, under the wood burning eater! e put it into a bag of rice to try to dry it out! I think it is too late for that, and a waste of rice!

September 28, 2026

I worked on installing an extra row of blocking that lays flat on the top plate of the walls between the rafters. Then the rafters are screwed to these blocks. This is an additional hurricane hold down, in addition to the H25 framing anchors I am installing. I finished the side facing the street and the end by the gazebo when it started to rain. So at 2 PM, I left for Kona. I went grocery shopping, picked up five more sheets of plywood, more borate termite chemicals, black spray paint for the bathroom door, and two wax rings for the toilet – one standard size and one thicker. I also picked up four more pallets.

September 29, 2025

As I disassemble the pallets, I just throw the boards into a pile. Kind a helter-skelter!

I spent some time sorting these boards and stacking them according to size. I made two piles. One that has boards that are at least 5 1/2″ wide, and another that is at least 3 1/2″ wide. OK, I actually made three piles. The third pile is those that are not 3 1/2″ wide.

In the pile that is 5 1/2″ wide, there are about a dozen that are almost 6″ wide. I separated these into a fourth pile. Then I ran them through the table saw, cleaning up one edge of each board. Then I moved the rip fence on the table saw over the thickness of the saw blade and pushed them through again, cutting off the other edge. Now I have boards that are the same width and are smooth on both edges. Using these boards, I began installing them on the roof as sheathing. I started on the side closest to the driveway – one of the two smaller parts.

I repeated this process with the rest of the 5 1/2″ boards, running them through the table saw twice. Each board has to be cut for length or cut on an angle to fit the hip. I use my cordless skillsaw for this. . . it is light and portable and has no cord to get tangled. Except – it is not running properly. When I pull the trigger, sometimes it runs, and sometimes it does not. If I shake it, or tap on the side, most times it runs. This makes me think there is a loose connection inside the saw. I can either take it apart and try to fix it, or just “bite the bullet” and buy a new one.

Even with the saw not working properly all the time, I was able to install boards about 1/2 the way from the peak to the wall.

September 30, 2025

The northeast corner of the two Holowai properties has turned into quite a project. Initially, I was just going to make a square pile of rocks 18″ to 2 foot tall to mark the corner. I have ended up building a double sided rock wall with concete in between, along the front of the property for about twenty feet, and down the side of the property for about thirty! Today I spent time stacking more rocks on the thirty foot section.

Since the skilsaw isn’t running properly, I decided to work on the oven walls. I have cut the block to fit around the counter, and mixed mortar and layed three courses of block.

This is the height I want for the oven. Next step is to install some stone on the inside as a heat barrier and complete the top.

It started to rain, so I covered the table saw.

And September comes to a close. See you in October!

TTFN

Alanah Arrives

September 11, 2025

No work today on any projects. I’m going to Kona to pick up Alanah from the airport. She arrives at 1PM via Las Vegas.

After picking her up, we stop for gasoline – $3.79 instead of $4.69 in Na’alehu – and at the lumber yard for more 2 x 6 rafters and some 2 x 4’s to make doors.

Then off to the grocery store before heading back to the property. We arrive at Holowai about 5 PM.

September 12, 2025

Continued to work on the roof rafters. All the larger rafters are cut and in place. The short ones in the corners that do not rest on the exterior walls are the only ones left.

Went to the post office – nothing there.

Worked on the header framing above one of the openings.

September 13, 2025

Continued working on the framing for the headers above the three openings on the makai side.

Went to the neighbors’ house (Randy and Lorna Jones) for a social lunch!

After returning from lunch, I put plywood sheathing on the columns on the makai side and near the center opening.

Click on the picture below for a short video.

I’m not as agile as I used to be!

September 14, 2025

Ran the propane powered generator to provide power for the table saw. When cutting the rafters, I cut the tails (the part that extends past the walls) to be 4 1/2″. So, I need to cut some 2 x 6 material to the 4 1/2″ width to be used as blocking between the rafters.

Today, I have cut and installed blocking in 3/4 of the makai side (the side toward the ocean).

It was overcast yesterday, so the power generator was at 0% this morning.. At 4 Pm it is only up to 39%, so I ran the generator to charge it to 90%.

I removed the door from the bathroom and laid it on top of a pile of pallets. Alanah used an artist’s paintbrush to apply glue to each end of each louver (angled slat) in the door. Some of them were falling out.

September 15, 2025

Watered the plants at Holowai, and then at Ahi.

Went downtown to the post office, and Alanah bought three loaves of apple cinnamon bread from the bakery to take home with her.

Went down to Honuapo to the ocean for Alanah.

Drove to Kona to take Alanah to the airport so she could return to Arizona.

Went to the lumberyard and picked up 20 – 2 x 4’s and five sheets of plywood. Then picked up 8 free pallets. Did a little grocery shopping, and drove back to Na’alehu.

Arrived at Holowai around 9:30 PM

Alanah texted to me that on her flight to Honolulu, everyone had a row to themselves. But her flight from Honolulu to Phoenix was totally full. You gotta take the world as you find it!

Having someone to help has been a real blessing, not to mention having someone to take pictures. It’s great to have company too!

I’m alone again!

TTFN

September Arrives

September 1, 2025

Installed rebar in the form for the concrete conter in the gazebo. Drilled into the columns at the side to anchor the rebar. Added a bit of fencing as the wire mesh reinforcing. Installed support braces under the forms. It is ready to pour.

At the corner of Palaoa Road and Amepela Road, I started a project yesterday to install a street sign similar to the one I created near the property at the end of Holowai Street. I had cut back the vegetation and dug a footing hole. Then I placed rocks around the top of the hole as a form for concrete to create a base for the sign post. Today, I loaded some sand and gravel into my truck along with some cement and my wheelbarrow and shovel. I drove over to this intersection and found that someone had taken all my rocks! There were a dozen or so ranging from the size of a grapefruit up to the size of a basketball – they were large rocks. Why would someone take these?

HMMMM –

So, I looked around and found other rocks to use and proceeded to mix my concrete and pour the base for the sign post with a metal pole embedded in the base.

Back at the property, I sorted the boards I had salvaged from the pallets into appropriate sizes. Then I used two broken pieces of 1 x and painted street signs for my street sign project.

September 2, 2025

I installed the street signs I had painted for the sign post at Palaoa road and Amepela Road.

I screened a large pile of the sand and gravel at the gate of the driveway and mixed concrete to grout the cells of the wall and the oven base at the gazebo.

And, I poured another step at the walkway to the entrance of the gazebo.

I added some brown color to the mix for this slab. Maybe a little too much brown color.

September 3, 2025

Swimming pool at Honuapo

Went downtown this afternoon for propane, and to stop at the post office. I had ordered some canned food and potato chips. It is less expensive than buying these at the stores here. Then I went down to Honuapo and went swimming in the swimming pool in the lava.

The last three days have been overcast with light rain, consequently, my solar panels have not been able to keep the solar generator fully charged. It s below 50% today, so I take three 2 x 4’s over to the neighbor’s and use his electricity from his much larger system to rip these boards into three pieces. Two days ago, I had plugged my angle grinder in to my system to cut the rebar for the concrete counter. I did not pay attention to the power level when I did this and drained the system. Yesterday morning when I got up, the refrigerator in the gazebo was shut off and the system was at 0% It only got up to 29% all morning so I ran the propane powered generator to bring it up to 80%. Last night, I shut the system off before going to bed, and then got up at 4 AM to turn it on and run the refrigerator. Tonight it is at 66%.

September 4, 2025

Worked on the framing for the roof of the hose. Installed the ridge pole with a few rafters. The 2 x 4’s that I ripped yesterday were used to create two trusses – one at each end of the ridge pole. These two trusses support the ridge pole.

It was sunny this morning, but overcast all afternoon so the solar system is not up to 100%.

September 5, 2025

Work on roof – All the rafters in the center section are in place. I have cut the four hip rafters and installed them in place. It is beginning to look like a roof!

It was hot and sunny most of the day today. . . good for the solar systems.

September 6, 2025

Worked in the storage shed in the morning building dawers. I used the plastic soda trays I picked up at the convenience store the other day as the drawers, and I built shelves to accomodate them.

Took a shower at 12:30 PM. I had hot water from my PVC radiator system, but it still smells like PVC glue, and not a lot of pressure!

Filled the truck with empty water bottles and headed to downtown Na’alehu. I wanted to catch the 1 PM bus in to Kona and then return on the 5 PM bus. As I was pulling in to the parking lot across the street from the hardware store (an informal “park-n-ride” location), the bus drove past. Missed it by THAT much! I could drive to Oceanview and park at the park-n-ride location there, but I don’t trust that location! There might not be tires on the tuck when I returned. And maybe I’m just paranoid!

Drove to the trash transfer station in Waiohinu and filled my water bottles before returning to the property.

I took the concrete mixer out to the road where the sand/gravel piles are, and started the old generator (on the first pull) and mixed concrete for the counter in the kitchen gazebo. I used the sand/gravel that I had sifted the other day.

September 7, 2025

Woke up late – 9:30.

Woke up at 1:30 AM with leg cramps that lasted for at least for fifteen minutes that seemed like hours! Went back to sleep a little after 2 AM, but again woke up at 3:30 AM – don’t know why! Went back to sleep around 4 AM and woke up again at 5:30 AM. Went back to sleep around 6 AM and woke up at 9:30 AM. Strange night!

Gathered up my dirty clothes, removed blankets from bed and hung them on ropes tied between some trees to air out, removed sheets and changed pillowcases.. Took sheets, pillowcases, and dirty clothes to the laundromat in OceanView.

While I was there, a Samoan family brought their clothes in to be washed. They filled four $7.50 machines twice, and three $5.50 machines twice also. I would estimate that they spent over a hundred dollars doing laundry.

Another family came in with lots of clothes to wash. There was one $5.50 machine available. After filling this machine, they walked up and down the 3 rows of machines looking like vultures circling a dying man in the desert. I wonder what they expected the laundromat attendant to do, but they asked her to find them a machine. At this time, I was using only one machine, and the laundry lady pointed at it and asked, “Is that your machine?” I answered, “No. It’s your machine. I’m just using it for a while!”

Yeah, I’m a smart a$$! But it made her smile!

After the laundromat, I stopped at the grocery store. 3 two liter bottles of soda, 1 gallon of milk, and 1 pound of bacon – $38.00!

Back at the property, I took the blankets off the ropes between the trees and hung up the wet clothes. The cost of the driers at the landromat makes me just hang my clothes up to dry.

Then I cut two rafters – one for the center of each end of the roof. I removed the forms from the step I had poured the other day and reset them for another section.

September 8, 2025

Work on the roof structure continues with the cutting of the rafters to intersect the hip rafters. Using my cordless saw is slow – it bogs down because it has low power, and the batteries run out of power after a couple of cuts. I started up the generator (took two pulls this time) to use my mini saw. It barely cuts through 1 1/2″ material when making a straight cut, and does not reach all the way through when making a 45 degree angle cut. Also, the blade is a bit dull.

I go down to Na’alehu to the hardware store to buy a new blade for this saw. They do not have one this size (5 1/2″) so I buy a 7 1/2″ one to put on Scott’s worm drive skill saw. Stop off at the transfer station to fill water bottles. Tonight, there was a full moon.

September 9, 2025

I borrowed my neighbor Scott’s worm drive skilsaw. The cord is being held together with about six rolls of black electical tape. There is not an inch of this cord that is not wrapped in electrical tape. So, the other day when I was getting water at the tansfer station, I went in to the area where they collect the old, and broken, discaded appliances and removed the cord from an old washing machine.

I spent the morning replacing the cord on the skilsaw. As usual the screws were difficult to remove and two would not come out at all. But the handle came apart and the plastic posts inside where these two screws thread in are broken. So, I replaced the screws with stove bolts that go all the way through. Also, there is a lot of grease covering the wires from the switch and going into the motor. After replacing the cord, the saw shorted out on the second cut. It turned out that the grease on the wires was not grease, but melted insulation. I cleaned of the melted goop and wrapped the wires with black electrical tape. Eventually, these wires will need to be replaced, but that will require totally disassembling the saw. Got it put back together and cut four more rafters.

I poured another section of the sidewalk leading to the gazebo – the section I had set up the forms for the other day.

This time I did not add as much brown color.

The weather forecast is for a hurricane/tropical storm for yesterday, today and tomorrow. It has been mostly sunny today with a few scattered clouds – no rain. no wind. The full moon has passed and it is a bit smaller tonight, but it is still a big, bright moon in a clear, cloudless sky – with lots of stars!

September 10, 2025

The rain I was missing yesterday showed up today. Everything ws wet this morning, so it probably rained overnight. The sky is dark and overcast, and around 9 AM it started to rain – lightly – more than a mist or even a light sprinkle – but not a heavy downpour, just a slow, steady light rain. I tried to work in the rain, and I actually cut and installed three more rafters, but the rain was just too much.

I gathered up the empty water bottles – I always seem to have some empty ones around that didn’t get filled the last trip, or I have emptied since – and put them in the back of the truck for a trip to town.

i’m going in to Kona tomorrow, so I stopped at the gas station and got some gas in the truck and stopped at the post office.

Much to my surprise, the 2 1/2″ screws that I ordered the other day arrived. I didn’t expect then until the 18th. I could buy these at the local hardware store for $23, or at the lumber store in Kona for $22, but I order them online for $15. After filling the water bottles, I returned to the property.

After taking the water bottles out of the truck, I cut and installed two more rafters. Slow and steady wins the race!

TTFN

The Adventure Continues

August 20, 2025

6:00 AM flight out of Phoenix.

Not many passengers in the rows in front of me.

Not many passengers in the rows behind me.

I had ten rows all to myself.

Arrived in San Diego about 7:30 AM

11:30 am flight out of San Diego – Not as lucky. Had to share my row with another passenger. Had a window seat on the right side of the plane,

As Dumas observed, “One must take the world as one finds it”

First glimpse of Maui.

View of Maui as we fly between Maui on the right side of the plane where I am sitting, and Hawai’i island on the left.

The pilot cuts across the top corner of the big island and I catch an aerial view of Hawi!

We land at 2:30 pm in Kona. I catch the 3:20 pm bus to Kona and do a little grocery shopping before catching the 4:30 bus to Waiohinu.

Arrive at Waiohinu at 6:20 PM. Neighbor comes and picks me up.

Arrive at property at 6:45 PM and open the storage shed. Set up the solar generator and the refrigerator in the gazebo. Hook up the batteries in the sleeping shed, and turn on the little refrigerator. Move my solar panels to the shed roof and hook them up to the battery system. I have a rat problem, so I set some traps.

August 21, 2025

I remove two dead rats from the traps I set last night. Then I reposition the solar panels on the roof of the gazebo. I restack the tire stack I use for my compost pile and pick out what little compost there is for use in the tire garden. I have five used tires stacked atop one another to create a container of sorts for my composting. Into this, I place my kitchen scraps, cardboard cartons, along with some odd grass and tree clippings. This ad hoc container was completely full when I left a month ago, but now, the contents have reduced in size considerably.

My planter with the onions looks like it could use some water – but the onions are still alive.

The tomatoes in the tires are not much more than dry sticks.

My tomatoes in the tomato planter are a slight bit better. . . but not much.

They all seem to be immitating the lost soul crawling across the burning sands of the desert while crying out, “water, . . . water . . .”

I answer their cries with lots of water, and tie up the branches to support them, while cutting off the dead ones.

I install metal edges to the bathroom roof and cover the entire roof with another coat of elastomeric roof coating – sealing the metal roof edges into place.

I have brought three 8 x 8 glass block with me in my luggage. I unpack them, and remove the styrophoam from the shower walls. Then I slide the glass block into the holes left from the removal of the styrophoam. Nice fit – just like it was planned that way!

The storage shed smells of rat, and they have eaten a hole in a cardboard box containing some food stuffs. I throw out the entire cardboard box and contents – dried soups, instant potatoes, a few granola bars, all opened and chewed on – , and set two rat traps in the storage shed,

Then I drive over to Ahi.

I get out the lawn mower and mow the entire Ahi road all the way to the corner of Palaoa Road, past the other five lots of my neighbors. Then I use the weed whacker and cut the tall grass around the water lines, at the top of the hill at the front of the property, and the flat area next to the driveway.

The solar panels are placed on the roof and hooked up with the batteries.

August 22, 2025

This morning, I read an email from the USGS, that in the early hours of the day, Kilauea began emitting lava fountaining into the air quite dramatically – over a thousand feet into the air, but fully contained within the caldera. I resolve to take the opportunity to observe this in person . . . but not today! I have too many chores to complete.

After breakfast, I again water my tomatoes, the onions, the two plumeria trees, my three coconut trees and the lone citrus along the side fence in the front yard area.

I attempt to seal the waterfall/fountain,pond, whatever – with some elastomeric paint.

I dispose of one dead rat from a trap in the storage shed, and add two mouse traps, while resetting the one trap.

I watch as a female northern red cardinal makes her way to the feeder. She is a variety of light brown colors, so I assume that this bird must be a female. Not long after she arrives there is a fully dark red male cardinal on the handrail of the lanai, intently watching her movements. She is interrupted by the arrival of two smaller red headed cardinals, who worry her into leaving so they can take her place. A dark brown cardinal shows up in the branches and hops from branch to branch and finally to the cross braces of the handrail. I assume that this is a young northern red cardinal that has not yet grown into its full color.

Leaving the birds to their antics, I place my 60 gallon water bladder in the back of the truck along with about 30 empty plastic jugs and two garden hoses, and head off into Na’alehu. I stop at the gas station/convenience store and pick up five plastic trays that are about 16″ by 24″ by 4″ tall. I plan on using these as the drawers in the shelves in the storage shed.

A stop at the post office allows me to pick up a package that contains two more water bladders – these are each 100 gallon size.

I stop at the trash transfer station in Waiohinu where the county has set up half a dozen hose bibs for dispensing water, and proceed to fill my water bladder as well as the other smaller empty bottles. One garden hose is attached to a hose bib and the end placed into the bladder. As it fills, I attach the other garden hose to another hose bib and proceed to fill the smaller empty bottles.

Once I arrive at the property, I find an email from the USGS telling me that the fountainng of this episode of the current eruption of Kilauea has stopped, and the caldera is just smoking and steaming from the north and south vents.

In order to make full use of the expanded area of the kitchen gazebo, I remove the sliding doors and reinstall them under the beam of the expanded section. I install them in a “fixed” condition – meaning that they do not move – no longer sliding.

August 23, 2025

At opposite ends of the gazbo extension are two walls that mirror each other. Today was spent framing in the upper portion of these walls, to include a window that is 9′ tall and 38″ long. One of these two walls will be the entrance with doors that open under the window. The other wall will have a counter or shelf, to expand the kitchen area.

Then I watered the tomatos, onions, plumerias, coconut palms, citrus, small avocado tree, etc., at Holowai. I used the water bottles from the truck that I had filled up yesterday. Also, I opened the package I got in the mail and spread out one of the new water bladders in a relatively flat area of the driveway.

and using a garden hose, I transferred the water from the bladder in the truck to this bladder – through the use of gravity.

In a couple of pots on the lanai, I have planted the seeds of some citrus – grapefruit, oranges, tangerines. I did not keep track of which seeds went into what pot, so that now that they have come up, I have a few citrus seedlings – which I do not know what they are. Five years from now, I will, because I took these seedlings over to Ahi and planted them along the Kona side property line. I also watered the other plants there – the norfolk pines at the top of the driveway, the poinciana seedlings with the papaya, the mango that looks like a stick now, the three groups of other citrus , and my macadamia tree that is struggling.

August 24, 2025

After parking the truck in the parking lot across the street from the hardware store in Na’alehu, I got on the 8 AM bus into Kona for some grocery shopping.

Then I got on the 2:30 PM bus back to Na’alehu, and I arrived at 4:45 PM

The bakery closes at 5 PM and they close and lock the gate at 5:30. This gave me 45 minutes to load up with some pallets. . . in the rain! The mouse traps in the storage shed have been tripped, but there is nothing in them. So, I rebait and reset them.

August 25, 2025

I excavated and built some forms for the base of a block wall at the Kona side of the gazebo extension.

It rained all afternoon as I took apart pallets tor the 1 x’s to be used as roof sheathing on the house.

August 26, 2025

My task today is to pour concrete. In the kitchen gazebo, there are three cells in the wall of what is to be a water storage tank, that are empty and deep. I am constantly dropping things, (spoons, bottle caps, etc), into these cells. It is with considerable difficulty that I retreive these items due to their depth being more than the length of my arm.

Therefore, when I mixed up concrete to pour the step at the top of the garden steps, I also filled these three cells so that when I dropped stuff into them, it would only be an inch or two away. I also poured the base or footing of the wall at the Kona end of the gazebo extension.

I had a small bag of vegetable plant food, so I opened it and spread some on the tomatoes, onions and other plants at Holowai. It began to sprinkle, so I resumed reclaiming 1 x boards from pallets. I can do this under a tarp I have put up between the house construction and the storage shed. One dead mouse in the storage shed trap!

August 27, 2025

I removed the forms from my concrete pours yesterday and laid block for the “west” wall of the gazebo extension. Took a drive down to watch the waves at the ocean. Stopped off and refilled the empty water bottles (but not the bladder). Stopped off at the post office – it’s like christmas!

August 28, 2025

Still being in a masonry frame of mind from laying block yesterday, I added another layer to the walls of the bathroom at Ahi.

These walls are now ready to be grouted. I picked up more pallets from the bakery.

August 29, 2025

At the Kona side of the gazebo extension, I want to create an oven. . . much like a pizza oven. I poured a base for this oven, and set the first course of block. I also got some pieces of slate to use as the inner liner for this oven.

Then, I disassembled the shower at the lower end of the property and moved it to the new shower location. I put together some 1 1/2″ PVC piping in a kind of a radiator to use as a solar collector.

August 30, 2025

I continued the block walls for the pizza oven.

My order of lumber arrived and they placed it along the side of the road in front of the property.

The order contains some pvc plumbing fittings for running a water line from my collection tank at the back of the storage shed to the bathroom, along with ten bags of cement.

I moved the plumbing fittings and the cement from the side of the road to a more secure place on the property.

I heated a piece of 2″ pvc pipe and created a 22 degree bend to use in extending the drain line for the shower in the bathroom.

At noon, the water coming out of my showerhead in the shower was quite warm, but it smelled like PVC glue. This is because of the glue in the fittings of the solar water heater radiator. When I took a shower at 4:30, the water had cooled off as the afternoon was cloudy and overcast. For dinner, I went to a restaurant in OceanView where I could watch the football game between the University of Arizona and the Unversity of Hawaii.

August 31, 2025

Moved the lumber from next to the road to a more secure location further back on the property.

Light rain all afternoon.

Spray painted the PVC solar radiator for the shower. Painted it black to absorb heat from the sun.

Built a form for a concrete counter in the gazebo extension in front of the oven.

August in Hawaii has come to a close.

TTFN

WOW! It’s July Already!

July 1, 2025

My neighbor had shiped his artwork and display racks to Oahu for the Haleiwa Arts Festival a couple of weeks ago, and then had to ship it back to Hawai’i island after the festival was over.

The shipping port is in Hilo, and he asked me to help him bring it back from there.

So off we went to Hilo. Mauna Loa was easily seen as we drove along the highway. Normally, the summit is shrouded in clouds, but this morning, there wasn’t a single cloud.

As we passed the National Park where I had first seen the lava fountain from Kilauea, there was still smoke billowing up from the caldera, but no tower of flame!

At the port, I could see a pretty good view of Mauna Kea even though there were a few clouds at the peak.

July 2, 2025

Today is an overcast, rainy kind of day. There is no steady rain, just a few sprinkles on and off during the day.

In spite of the weather, I was able to continue with the framing of the walls for the house.

I have all four corners framed up and defined, and now I’m adding blocking and bracing to stabilize it.

Under the floor line, I’m adding some diagonal blocking that will reinforce the corners.

I went over to check on the property at Ahi.

Along the driveway, I had planted some poinciana seeds from some of the large brown beans I had gathered at the airport. They have sprouted and I am coaxing three poinciana seedlings to grow. They will become huge trees with a fern type leaf, and overshadow the driveway. Of course, that will take a few years!

July 3, 2025

Once I had my diagonal blocking in place, I applied plywood to the outside.

And I picked up a few more pallets. I will be needing many more pallets as the roof sheathing and the final exterior siding will all be pallet boards. I can pick these up in Kona at various places, and I can also pick them up at the bakery in Naalehu. And the price is just how I like it – free!

Dinner is hamburgers and potato chips.

I also enjoy watching the geckos and the birds.

Click on the picture above for a video of the geckos and the birds!

July 4, 2025

Now that the plywood is applied to the bottom layer, I go back and fasten it on with screws –

6″ apart around the edges and 8″ apart through the middle. . . or something like that!

July 5, 2025

Next, comes the framing for the columns in the upper section.

They are an extension of the columns below so that they will be continuous columns from the ground to the roof.

July 6, 2025

Today, I play auto mechanic and change the oil in the truck.

In the afternoon, I help the neighbor Scott, mix up some fire ant deterrant to spray into the trees. This has peanut butter to attract the fire ants and a chemical called Tango that doesn’t kill the ants (and other insects as well like some fire ant chemicals will do) but it makes the queen infertile so she does not produce more fire ants. This effectively kills the colony – without disrupting the other species in the environment – at least that is the theory! Anyway, this mix contains three or four other ingredients as well as the peanut butter and Tango. The mixture is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed into the trees where the ants pick it up and take it back to the nest.

July 7, 2025

watching the birds is always entertaining.

Clck on the picture above for a short video.

For some reason, I am awake real early this morning.

I am rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise.

I head off to Kona to pick up some more building materials.

The Mormon Temple in Kona is undergoing a complete rebuild.

I load up the truck and I moved to . . . similar to the Beverly Hillbillies!

The weather in Kona is great!

Back at the property, I work on the plumbing system. I want to install a sewer line to serve the house. I borrowed an electric jackhammer to remove some rock so I could install the pipe.

July 8, 2025

With the plumbing pipes in place, I set up a form to pour a concrete stoop outside the bathroom door.

And it is time to go down to Honuapo and watch the waves!

Back in the 1850’s, the lava flow created a short wall where the waves crash against the shore line. When the ocean level rises due to climate change, the waves are up, or when it is windy, these waves create sprays of water that shoot quite high into the air.

Then when the ocean level drops – again because the climate changed – the waves don’t create such dramatic displays.

Today’s waves are about average.

click on the picture to watch the waves crash onto shore.

When I return to the property, I pour concrete in my forms outside the bathroom door.

July 9, 2025

Continuing with the concrete idea, I set up a form to pour another step at the top of the garden steps.

And another step at the bathroom landing as well, leading up to the house.

July 10, 2025

Time to do some laundry. The laundromat is in Oceanview – about ten miles away.

Along the road, there is a variety of vegetation as well as areas that are just black lava.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

I go back down to Honuapo to go swimming.

There is one parking place here that is under the trees.

Out on the point, there are two tidal pools that typically hold water. They are no more than two feet deep, sometimes they are quite low and barely have any water, but they are always a few degrees warmer than the ocean. A couple of nice little wading pools, that at times get to be bathwater temperature. Today, they are quite full.

There is also a pool here that is quite deep. This pool on the left has a section that gets up to 6 foot deep. A great little swimming pool. I would not want to go swimming out where the waves crash against the lava.

I brought a little refreshment. A mango.

As I drive away, I notice this poinciana tree in full flower.

July 11, 2025

The step at the top of the garden stairs and the one at the bathroom get poured.

I begin to install plywood on the interior of the upper sections of the walls.

Pouring concrete requires lots of water.

July 13, 2025

After finishing the installation of the tin on the roof of the storage shed, I install a gutter to capture water. Not for drinking, but for watering plants and mixing concrete.

I still need to install the 1 x pallet material as the exterior siding on this side of the shed.

July 14, 2025

As I drive around, to and from Naalehu, I see some small yellow birds. They are about the same size as the red headed cardinals and the Hawaiian Honeycrepers, but they are almost totally yellow.

I have often wondered what I needed to do to coax them to come to my feeder.

I figured that it was just a matter of time.

That time has arrived.

There are a pair of yellow birds that have shown up at the feeder once in the morning, and once in the afternoon for the past two days.

The heirarchy at the feeder has changed. The red headed cardinals give way to the pushy Honeycreepers. The Honey creepers even have a heirarchy among themselves that I haven’t been able to figure out, but they seem to take over the feeder and push the red headed cardinals out.

These new comers seem to be even more dominant. The larger Northern Red Cardinals have been the “rulers of the roost” and when they show up, everyone else gives them preference. The Honey creepers try to intimidate them, but they are rarely successful.

Not so with these yellow birds. I have seen this pair of birds chase everyone else – even the larger red cardinals – away from the feeder, until they are finished!

The papaya along side of the driveway at Ahi appears to have the flowers and buds of the beginning of fruit. Maybe if I can give it enough water, . ..

That will also help the poinciana seedlings growing in the same spot.

The tomatoes in the tires are beginning to ripen.

They are not very large, but they are tasty!

The ones in the tomato planter are not far beind.

A bit of cross bracing of the walls and columns to hold them plumb and stable so that I can install the beams.

The first beam is in place over the opening at the driveway side.

I have been storing the beams over at the Ahi property under a tarp. I brought them over on top of the truck.

July 15, 2025

Not very big, but there are quite a few of them.

My beams are all up and in place. Now I just need to secure them, and make sure everything is straight , level, and plumb!

These braces will keep the walls from spreading until I can get the roof framing in place.

July 17, 2025

I felt that the 2 x 4 exterior walls felt a little flimsy, so I have added a second 2 x 4 wall on the inside to make the exterior walls 8″ thick.

With the 1/2″ plywood sandwiched between these two framed walles, it creates quite a stable structure.

The exterior wall is baloon framed and resting on the concrete block wall. The studs go past the floor and up to the roof. I have installed blocking at the 4′ level and at the floor . There is a layer of 1/2″ plywood fastened to the inside of these walls, and the inner wall is also fastened to this plywood. The inner walls are platform framed, in that they rest on the floor and then extend up to the roof.

With the structure of the house as far along as I can get until I have more materials for the roof, I have gone back to concrete work.

I set forms for another step above and one below the entrance to the bathroom.

Also, some concrete to stabilize the top of the rock wall between the coumns at the front of the building.

I set up a form and will pour a slab about a foot wide.

July 18, 2025

My concrete at the edge of the house openings effectively locks in the top of the rock walls.

My pile of rocks and sand out by the road is diminishng, as I use it for my concrete!

Just a simple different project. The roads in our subdivision are not very well marked. In some places, people have put up a sign in a tree, or on a power pole, but there is no organized effort. The corner where Holowai and Palaoa Road meet is unmarked, so I cleared out an area, dug a small hole, filled it with concrete, rocks, and an old piece of metal that looks like maybe an axle from a trailer as a sign post.

This is a young Northern Red Cardinal, sitting on the branch.

The parent flys up to the young chick and it looks like they are kissing.

What is really happening, is the parent bird is feeding the young chick.

I have watched as the smaller red headed cardinals do this with their young and so do the Hawaiian Honey creepers.

It is comical to watch, as the young birds usually look larger than the parents!

July 19, 2025

I will need to build a porch with stairs to get up to the floor level of the house. I have started to build a rock wall to support this porch and stairs. Basically, it is two lines of rocks a few inches apart. Then I fill the gap with concrete.

July 20, 2025

I add signs to my street sign at the corner.

The tomatoes in the tires are doing real well.

As are the ones in the tomato planter.

Once the concrete sets up, I stack more rocks on the inside and ouside of the rock wall.

I start another wall to the left as the left side of the stairs.

More concrete is mixed to pour in my rock wall as well as to pour the next two steps in the sidewalk at the bathroom.

The white pipe is the drain for the shower. It will not drsin into the septic tank system but will be captured and reused to water plants.

July 22, 2025

Now that my time here is drawing to a close, my tomato plants are giving me quite a crop. he mangoes were a gift from the next door neighbor, Lorenzo.

July 23, 2025

I return to Arizona tomorrow, so I need to button everything up. I have build shelves in the storage shed to enable me to store the tools and stuff a bit more orderly.

I have a major portion of the back wall of the storage shed covered in pallet lumber as well. I don’t have time to build doors, so I will screw a couple of sheets of plywood over the opening for now.

July 24, 2025

The volcanoes seem to wave goodbye as we fly away from Kona.

A last look at the Kohala coast of the island of Hawai’i.

After changing planes in Las Vegas, I head over the southwest desert.

I am greeted into Arizona by a brilliant sunset.

The city approaches as we fly away from the sunset.

This little adventure comes to a close as I arrive back in Arizona.

TTFN

The Last of June

June 15, 2025

The need to go downtown to Naalehu today prompted me to fill the back of the truck with my empty water containers. I take every opportunity to make each trip into town well worth it by hauling water back with me. I stop off at the trash transfer station where there are six water faucets for getting water, and fill my water bottles.

Back at the site, I begin installng metal roofing on the roof of the storage shed.

I have been able to pick up – here and there – pieces of metal roofing that were used on other buildings and subsequently replaced. These used pieces will be more than sufficient for the roof on the storage room. Recycling at its finest!

June 16, 2025

Another trip into town, another load of water.

I begin installing some pallet boards on the exterior of the storage shed as the siding.

Some black building paper is placed over the pallet walls to provide a moisture barrier, and then the pallet 1x’s are being attached at a diagonal to give added strength to the structrure. It also looks cool!

June 17, 2025

As long as I have enough salvaged 1 x’s I will continue with the diagonal siding.

The mauka side is done. It just needs corner trim!

June 18, 2025

The load of lumber I had delivered last week has been sitting by the side of the road – just inviting someone to help themselves.

It is time to move it and remove the temptation.

The plywod and the 2 x 4’s are stacked in the area of the garden steps which is just past the house and the gazebo.

I move the 2 x 6’s and 2 x 8’s that will be the floor boards up onto the floor framing.

And then, I go back to installing the diagonal siding on the shed.

The front around the door is done, so I start on the makai side.

Not all the floor 2 x’s were moved from the road, so I parked the truck over top of the pile as a deterrent.

June 19, 2025

The makai side of the storage shed is now done. . . . except for the trim.

June 20, 2025

The flooring installation has begun. I will be installing 2 x 6’s and 2 x 8’s in an alternating pattern. One 2 x 6, and then, one 2 x 8. Then a 2 x 6, then a 2 x 8. I place them as tight together as I can, knowing that as they dry, they will shrink and leave small gaps between the boards.

June 21, 2025

Work on the property is interrupted by a trip to Oahu.

I park the truck at the airport and catch a plane for the 30 minute trip.

There doesn’t seem to be many people flying today.

I get a view of the other islands as we fly past them.

Maui with the ever recognizeable Haleakala volcano.

Arriving at Honolulu and the weather is much like what I left on the big island.

I pick up a rental car and I’m off on another adventure!

I find my way out of the airport and onto the freeway. I’m headed to the north shore.

The highway goes up through the central part of the island. A bit further down the road, I pass the entrance to the famed Schofield Barracks. The Army Air Corps base made famous by the attack by the Japanese that brought the US into WWII.

Up in the central part of the island, there are acres of pineapple fields.

They are part of the Dole Pineapple Plantation.

I’m not 100% certain that the pineapple is being grown as an export crop. I suspect that it is more as a backdrop to the tourist trade! There are various gift shops, restaurants, and guided tours of the grounds to purchase.

That’s enough commercialized tourism for me.

You’re welome!

My destination quickly approaches. The town of Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu.

My neighbor in Na’alehu is an artist. His family owns a house on the beach just outside of Haleiwa. He has come here to be a part of the annual Haleiwa Art Festival and invited me to come over and spend a few days at the beach house.

Haleiwa is a smal town, and the road through town is single lane each way, and traffic is absolutely horrible. Especially when they have events like the Annual Art Festival!

The Festival is being held at the Beach Park on the west end of the old town.

I meet up there with Scott and follow him down the road to the beach house. We pull off the highway and go down a lane between other properties.

The house is indeed, right on the beach!

An interesting sunset welcomes me the first night.

June 22, 2025

The main house has three stories. Actually, there are many, many stories that could be told about this house, and property. What I mean, is that there are three levels. On the ground level is the garage, workshop, storage, and laundry. Going up one level is a three bedroom two bath unit with a full kitchen and living room/familyroom that open out onto a patio, or porch, known in Hawaii as a lanai. This lanai looks out onto the ocean.

The top level has another living area with bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen. I stayed in a bedroom on the second level over the garage, and away from the ocean.

There is also a second home on the property that they rent out as a short term vacation rental.

When the tide goes out, there are rocks/reef that gets exposed.

A real nice place to relax and take it easy for a few days.

Haleiwa is a couple of miles down the beach, past the tees and around the corner.

The beach is quite a bit lower than the house. Scott tells me that there have been times during many storms, when the ocean has spilled past the huge salt cedar trees and flooded the garages of both houses.

I decide on a little road trip and drive on around the point to Kahuku.

One of the major sites in Kahuku is the high school. Across the street are what remains of an old sugar mill where there are now shops sellng souveneirs to the tourists as well as food stands, a bank, and the Post Office.

I imagine the High School is much the same as it has been for many years! With the exception of the addition of about a dozen large windmills behind the sports fields.

Past Kahuku, I come to the town of Laie. I lived here for two and a half years back in 1960, 1961 and 1962. You can never go back!

I am surprised at how close the two towns are. Five to ten minutes is all it takes to get from one to the other. I seem to recall thinking that going to Kahuku was a major road trip, that it was a long way away. Interesting are the impressions of a six year old!

The elementary school administration building is not what I remember it to be either.

I seem to recall there being a number of large steps leading up to the entrance. Either I am mistaken, or things have changed in 60 years.

In Laie is the Mormon Temple.

And the Polynesian Cultural Center. They were just starting the Polynesian Cultural Center when we were here, and it was still under constrution when we left.

My father supervised the construction of this church. That is the reason we were here!

This large, modern house sits on the corner where we lived in a much smaller wooden house.

The corner of the highway where we lived.

The next door neighbor’s property has not had the old house removed and a large home built in it’s place. The rock columns of the fence to the right is at the back of the church property.

The beach at Laie Bay is straight across the highway from the house and down a lane past another property.

The beach area is much smaller than I remember. But then, everything is so much larger to a six year old.

Beyond this open grassy lot are the buildings of the Polynesian Cultural Center hidden by the wall of vegetation/trees.

The back side of the elementary school, is seen from the road that leads to the entrance to Temple.

The main entrance to the Mormon Temple grounds.

A place called the Hukilau Cafe.

And on the way out of town heading back towards Haleiwa is the Hukilau Beach.

On the highway, heading in to Haleiwa.

One of the displays at the Arts Festival.

Near Haleiwa is the Waimea Valley. The Waimea River runs through this valley and a short walk will bring you to a waterfall.

Of course, it is monetized to capitalize on the tourist dollar.

June 23, 2025

Between Laie and Kahuku there is a large state park beach.

The sandy bottom is swept by the waves.

A view down the shore towards Laie Bay.

In the other direction is a small flat island not far off shore. I may be mistaken, but for some reason, I seem to recall this island being called goat island.

Going in the opposite direction from Laie, heading south along the eastern shore of the island, there are numerous small towns, with Hawaiian names. It is difficult for me to know where one ends and the next one begins.

Nestled within these small towns is another state park beach.

The water is a bit muddy for quite a ways out from shore. Not exactly inviting me to go swimming.

Not far past this beach, is a rock formation nestled up in the hills that overlook the highway.

A closed inspection begins to bring into focus a distinctive figure.

That of a lion crouched on top of one of the hills and looking towards the interior of the island.

Hence, the name, The Crouching Lion.

With, of course, a complimenting restaurant!

June 24, 2025

Back in the 1960’s the main store in town was called Goo’s, after the family that ran it. I think it was a church owned store, but Mr Goo and his wife and daughters operated it.

All that is left now, is a commemorative plaque on the original site – which is now someone’s property with a modern house.

This is the corner where the store was located.

At the opposite side of town, the Polynesian Cultural Center now sits.

Either next to, or as a part of, the Polynesian Cultural Center, there are a collection of stores, shops, restaurants, and other type eateries. It is called The Hukilau Marketplace.

There is a store there named “Goo’s Plantation Store”.

Somehow, I think the merchandise is a bit different than what was sold in the original version.

However, there also as a store called the Laie Cash and Carry, that still exists, much the same as it did then, but it was called “Sam’s Store”. Located in the same building as the Hukilau Cafe.

I drive from Laie, back past the Dole Plantation and Schofield Barracks, to arrrive at the airport in Honolulu.

After returning the rental car, I board a plane to return to the Big Island.

Oahu quickly fades behind .

Molokai, Lanai, and Maui also get left behind.

And we approach the Kohala Coast of Hawaii island.

June 25, 2025

Back to work on the house. I cut some 2 x 8’s to fit in the center part of the floor framing, and paint them white. Then I install them, connecting and straightening out the floor joist on the two sides, while installing solid blocking at each end of these shorter joist.

June 26, 2025

The fountain seems to be losing a lot of water, so I add a bit of watrproofing. I tried painting with elastomeric paint, but I’m not sure how effectiv this was. So, I am using a bit of black roof cement.

Then back to installing floor boards.

My tire garden seems to be flourishing. There are tomato plants growing in most of the tires, even though I don’t remember planting tomatoes here.

My tomatoes in the tomato planter have really taken off. The plants are very greem and healthy. Intresting what a steady supply of water will do.

There are quite a few tomato blossoms on the plants. When I look closer, I see that there are little green tomatoes on the vines.

The onions are a bit thicker and greener as well.

And in the planter that has a papaya, there are cucumber vines with flowers on the vines.

I take a drive over to Ahi just to check it out since I was on Oahu.

No changes. The grass on the road where I mowed, hasn’t grown.

June 28, 2025

Making progress on the floor boards.

One of the pineapples I had picked up before going to Oahu was quite ripe, so I cut the outer rind off. Very good.

The birds are getting used to me being around and are coming a bit closer.

June 29, 2025

Click on the above photo to view a short video.

The USGS sends me updates on the status at the volcanoes on the

Big Island. his morning, I received an email that said that episode 27 of the ongoing eruption had started this morning, and the lava was shouting out in a fountain over 1,000 feet high.

I had to go look for myself. After passing the entrance sign to the National Park, I got a glimpse of the lava fountain.

The trees got a bit taller as I got closer.

Then I began to see ash all over the ground.

Someone had parked their car along side of the highway for some reason. The top was covered in ash and soot and bits of lava and pumice.

I could really see the lava fountain now as well as a plume of smoke and dust and ash. The air was thick with ash and dust and bits of lava up tothe size of a ping pong balls was falling from the thick cloud overhead.

The entrance into the visitor center was packed,

People were parked along side the road in any available spot.

I was able to find a place that someone had pulled out of and parked the truck.

As I walked up to the caldera edge, there was smoke and steam and heat rising from holes in the ground. I wondered about the intelligence of walking around on the edge of the caldera when smoke was coming out of the ground. What is to stop the lava from following the smoke?

June 30, 2025

I have all the floor boards installed.

TTFN