Lava Update

Monday's big lava event was the complete destruction of Kapoho Bay. What was once a beautiful bay (and vacation hotspot) will now be a new peninsula on the southeast coast. The entire thing happened in less than a day.

Here’s the lava when it first entered the water:

And here's the before and after:

Volcano News

Mahalo to everyone who emailed or texted to check on me.

Sophie and I are fine and in zero danger of being pummeled with hot lava. The volcano is maybe 75 miles away on the opposite side of the island, and there's a huge mountain between us. 

We DID, however, feel that 6.9 earthquake last week! Our typical afternoon VOG is maybe a little denser, but nothing I'd notice if I weren't looking for it.

The latest news of the volcano is that a violent eruption is imminent and the bad air from that might make it to the Kona side - much depends on the prevailing winds (Trade Winds, good. Kona Winds, bad.)

By the time you come to visit, this will all be over and we can go see the cooled lava fingers that are currently hot little fissures spreading across the Puna District. As dramatic as this seems NOW, this is typical for a volcanic island. After all, this is how the island was formed in the first place.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army and plenty of other organizations are looking after the displaced people, but many pets have been left homeless or lost in all this commotion. Sophie's daycare, Paws, has been taking food and supplies over to the Puna district. If you'd like to help, check out the Puna wish list on Amazon:

Amazon Wish List 

Aloha!
 

Spring 2018

Aloha!

It's finally Spring! Yes, we have Spring here in Hawaii. My Plumeria trees are in full bloom - they bloom before they get leaves, kinda like fruit trees. I've got baby pineapples on half a dozen plants. 

Birds are building nests in my trees, shrubs, hanging plants. They identified my house as "bird friendly" and they now think they own the place. When the bird feeders get empty, birds will hunt me down and scream at me! I'm not kidding! The beautiful male Northern Cardinal is not shy about informing me that the trough is empty. He figures out which room I'm in, sits on the railing outside that room, looks me right in the eye, and SCREAMS! I love him very much.

I know I didn't mention this to most of you, but I was in San Jose in March. My schedule was uncertain until the last minute, and then I was in and out in 4 days. Work had me booked up solid, so I got to see only a couple of friends. Next trip, I promise I'll add a few personal days so I have time to visit more of you. Then again, you can always come visit ME! Sophie and I can't wait to see you!

This week is Merrie Monarch week. Six hours of hula each night from now through Saturday. Tonight is the group Hula Kahiko. It looks something like this:

Aloha y'all!

Dana

The New Dana

For years, I've been threatening to chop off all my hair. Well, I finally did it!

I've also got new glasses (I call them Oprah glasses). One of these days when I'm wearing makeup (a rarity these days), I'll take a picture of the entirely new Dana.

Aloha!

It's 2018 !!!!!!!!!

Sorry it's been so long since I posted here. You know the story... Thanksgiving ... Christmas ... New Year's ... and now it's 2018!!!

Here is the gang from my New Year's Eve dinner.

And here are some of the after-dinner fireworks. This show usually goes on for several hours.

Every New Year's Eve, I have a dinner and the neighborhood puts on a fireworks show. You are always welcome to join us!!

Aloha!

Dana

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Halloween is sort of the "gateway" holiday, right?
Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here ... and then !OMD! Christmas ... and then another NEW YEAR!

Next week, my friends Debbie and Colleen will be here.
And then the week after that, Eloise and Sue.
Can't wait to visit (and eat) with everyone!

All the local artists make the most of the pre-Christmas shopping season. Kona Palisades has a few well-known artists who host an Open House Artists Tour each November. I try to walk the entire tour (a couple of miles) and then drive back later to pick up my larger purchases. Last year, I got a couple of awesome stained glass pieces.

And of course, downtown Kona has many special art fairs this time of year. The monthly "Stroll" is appropriately amped up for the holidays.

I'll try to do my part for the Kona economy - and I encourage YOU to plan a November visit one year just to do your Christmas shopping! 

Here's the calendar of events to help inspire you:

Kona Events Calendar

Aloha y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha for Texas

The local T-shirt company, Crazy Shirts, made a special batch of shirts to raise money for Houston.

I sent a few to California and a few to Texas.

Luckily, my friends in Houston were spared. They had to evacuate (with their dogs), but their house didn't flood, and they are home safe and sound now.

Aloha!