January Snow

The snow has been here almost a week and it finally warmed up enough to roll it into a ball...

Janie is not sure what is happening.

Barb adds the finishing touch while Janie is still not sure...

To Jensen, it is "wat's sis" while Janie warms up to it.

Always a cutie.

Ring around the Snowman.

Just leave me alone and let me play in the snow.

Christmas 2010

The next generations viewing Aune movies from 1949.

not everyone was ready to cooperate

an angel from GramB

A book with tools.

Penny's new pots make great drums.

Kari and Eric

Mexican Train

Ping Pong in the Wreckroom.

Opening packages of family heirlooms - the ornaments they made so many years ago.

The difficulty with having children live so far away is that we are hardly ever together as a complete group.  Ben and Penny are wonderful about flying out here at Christmas.  One can imagine how busy it is at Penny's store but she makes every effort to take time to be with family.  This year Ben and Penny flew in on Christmas Day and flew out on the 28th.  So we had two full days of very special time.  "Flat Ben" and "Flat Penny" were replaced by the real ones and Jane and Jensen took to them as if they were around all the time.  An enjoyable few days.

Winter

The snow hit Monday and stayed through Thanksgiving.  Some photos:

PreThanksgiving

Janie, learning the technique in her Nordic hairstyle.

It is cold. It is snowing. On Saturday we hunkered down inside and prepared for the festive season. It is always fun. It is much more fun with the grandkids.

In major production.  Two irons.

eating the krumkake

krumkake production

Chillin

Hawaii:  I had five objectives and I only met three.  Perhaps it is due to my increasing age, my lack of preparation or, it may be due that Hawaii is Hawaii, and it does not compare to any other state.  I have not journaled the last few days because I was spent.  The Jeep gave us access to some of the most remote spots of the island, yet my energy was not there.  After returning from the volcanoes, I had little energy left to explore the Big Island.  My number one objective had been met.  We saw, and stood on the rim of Kiulauea.  We did not see lava, but imagined the possibility.  We did experience the glow of her caldera.  We stood on land younger than us, and we checked off another National Park.

The island of Hawaii is so rural.  Much like home, it is a compilation of many homespun villages.  Unlike home, it is inundated with tourists to experience the uniqueness of its culture, its volcanoes, its unique topography (lava and beaches) and the pleasant weather.  Road travel is relatively easy but it is not home.

After returning from the volcanoes on Monday eve, Barb and I really chilled out.  We hit some of the local snorkeling beaches nearby.  We spent a lot of time in Kona, including the museums, and relished in the fact that we were located on the beach near a nationally historic place.  The adventure was over after Monday.  Tuesday through Friday, we enjoyed our environs.  We chilled.

Three of five?  I have two cousins, my age, who died on this island.  I failed at making contact with their families.  Part of that is me.  Part of that is Hawaii.  I tried.  I failed.  But Hawaii is different.  And that difference, I did not bridge.

Day 5 Volcanoes

Other condo members advised against it. But we did it and it worked great. We drove over to Volcanoes Nat’l Park, spent the day, and drove back tonight. The roads aren’t the best, but we felt they were adequate. It’s two hours each way (90 miles), some over narrow mountain roads, some over a volcanic landscape home to the one of the greatest resort ownership debacles of all time. At one point you look up at 11,000 acres of volcanic flow and you see houses doted across the landscape. The promoters sold one acre lots, promised great infrastructure that never materialized. Interestingly, about 3,400 people live (it was supposed to be 22,000 with a luxury golf course) there.

The mountains and lava fields change to fertile plains dotted with fields of grass and trees. The Black Sand Beach was a wonderful stopping point as several giant sea turtles were resting in the sun.

black sand beach

turtles resting on black sand

Volcanoes National Park is located on the southeast part of Hawaii. Kilauea dominates the park but unlike our mountains, you drive to an elevation of 4,000 feet and look down into the smoking caldera. We took a short hike through an area with steam vents and another through a lava tube. We also drove down another dead end road to the sea where the lava flow closed the highway. At one point you could see in the distance steam rising from the ocean where Kilauea’s lava is flowing into the sea. Currently, red hot lava is not visible on land.

entry to lava tube, lush area

road ended at lava flow

We stayed till nightfall to view the fiery caldera of Kilauea. The sun set over the flanks of Mauna Loa behind us. (Again, not like our mountains. The slopes are even and extend for miles, steadily upward to 14,000 feet making Mauna Loa the largest mountain on earth in terms of mass.) As the sky darkened the fiery Kilauea Caldera was revealed. An eerie red glow rose from deep within the caldera.

Kilauea Caldera

A Park Ranger stood near us as the sky darkened. Again, I was reminded as to why I enjoy our National Parks so much. He told stories of native Hawaiians who still hike to the cliff to give homage to the Goddess Pele. He skillfully answered some dumb questions like, “Where is the mountain?” “Duh, you are standing on it.” He also adeptly described the geological activity, the environmental impact of the volcanoes emissions, and the life that still flourishes in the area. I think the National Park system represents the best of organizations. There is no hype, no advertisements, and little commercialism. The Rangers let the landscape speak the loudest. The process of Creation is evident and still on going. God is not done yet. We spent a good part of the day driving and walking on land that is younger than we are. Yes, we are now older than a rock.

Land, much younger than me.

Day 4

Day 3 and 4

It was a bit drippy (just mist) on Saturday so we chose to stay in town to visit the site of the home and temple of King Kamehameha the Great. (1812 ) and Hulihe’s Palace (1838) both located in the center of Kona. It was a day of learning more of the history and the culture of the Hawaiians. For dinner Barb and I grilled the tuna, then sat under the palms on the beach next to the condo until around 9:30. There was no wind, moderate surf, and temps in the mid 70’s.


Volcanic landscape dominates east side

bay north of kona

Sunday morning shone bright and we decided to drive north, as far as the Jeep could carry us. Barb and I refuse to admit we are near the end of the road but today we experienced that feeling twice. One we expected. The other was a surprise and major disappointment. Kapa’au is a small town on the northern edge of east Hawaii. The lava dominated landscape turns to green grass, banana trees, lush vegetation, and deep valleys of running streams. The major road stops abruptly just past the town at a vista of the northern coast. Maui was visible to the north.



a puddle is no problem

off road to see heritage sites - actually a county road

these ponds are getting larger

now it is a river, how deep

water sprays over our heads

Just east of Kap’au we took a side road to find two ancient heritage sites. The (debatable) birth place of Kamehameha is said to be down a dirt road just off the main road near Kapa’au. Also on the road is the site of a structure dedicated to human sacrifice. Both are stone structures and guide books suggest 4WD to visit them. The advice was correct. Our friends, the Turners, had visited the sites last summer and told us what to do. Our challenge however, and we did not know this until we were well into the trip, was that heavy rain squalls had hit the area the night before and the dirt road was full of puddles, no ponds would be a better description. There were no other vehicles on the road, there were a few tracks ahead, but the ponds got bigger and deeper. Finally, after loosing sight twice due to muddy water splashing up on the windshield, we got to our destination. Then as we continued to progress out of the site, up a hill and seemingly out of the pools, the road was blocked and we had to return the way we came in, high water in all. In retrospect it was a dumb move. We enjoy the back roads but in this case we were in a very remote country and had no business taking on those conditions. Barb, the Everready tourist, urged me on, but later admitted that she was quite afraid during the most challenging part of the drive.

now where?



finally arrive at site, not much



end of road, beautiful



 

end of trail, beautiful views

 

 

 




 

 

 

 
We settled our nerves by spending the late afternoon on Hapuna Beach.