Sounds of Seafaring Syrinx
words by RJ Roush
Spending my last three years in the world of birding and bird work has left me with an acute appreciation of the sounds our avian friends make, one that will likely never leave me. I've spent a good chunk of those years listening for birds in difficult to reach places. This is a job known as "point counting" and it means you stand in once place for a certain amount of time (usually a few minutes) and write down every bird you hear and see in that time interval, doing your best not misidentify or double-count. To the untrained ear, it's a bunch of "pip"s and "chirp"s that can seem indistinguishable from one another, but to those in this line of work, those who take the time to learn each species' calls and songs, then each "chip" heard is simply a bird telling you it's identity.
And so, I want to give you an audial landscape of Kure. For if you take the time to look up most of Kure Atolls voices in a field guide, you're greeted with a "generally silent at sea." I assure you, however, that while they are on their breeding grounds they make enough of a din to last the rest of the year in silence.
Laysan Albatross: Seemingly the most abundant bird on the island at the moment and surely the noisiest. The air is filled with their bill clacks similar to the sound of a latin dancer's castanets at varying speeds. It ranges from the light and slow snips to drink falling rainwater in a storm to a rattled, machine gun rapid-fire where they seem to unhinge their lower mandible at a potential mate during their dancing. They have their trademark "moo" which is somewhat mournful sounding with a throaty quality. It lasts a few seconds and decrescendos in pitch and tone toward the end. They can make a solitary or series of piercing whistles, which if you're nearby may well hurt your ears. They tend to "he-eh-eh-eh" in a whispered staccato, producing a rather endearing effect on those who are listening. And of course, if they pass low over your head in flight, it sounds like a small aircraft is but a few feet above you.
Black-footed Albatross: Take everything I said about Laysan Albatross and make it a little deeper in tone and throatier in delivery. A more sultry voice overall, with a bit more "honk" than "hew".
Wedge-tailed Shearwater: Possibly some of the strangest sounds on the island come from them. Moaning, groaning, and wailing in all forms. The most typical seems to be a strangely alluring "WHooooo-hru-whOOOOOoooooo-hruh-whroooo" that alternates high and low pitches. The result is something like taking very exaggerated breaths in and out while trying to make noise from the back of the throat. They also make a series of high, quick squeals, like mice greeting one another.
Bonin's Petrel: Their calls and bodies fill the sky as soon as the sun sets. Though difficult to describe, I would have to compare their calls to a sort of low radio static interspersed with regular clucks. "wurrrrrrrrrr-WHK-wurrrr-whk-whk-wurrrrrrr." Every so oftern they raise the volume of their scratchy static to produce an ascending "WHRaaaaark" of a screech.
Masked Booby: They seem to be mostly limited to grating honks and squawks "WHONK" or "GWAH-gwah-gwha" as well as various grunts. The males are starting to give off a high, dinosaurian whistle with beaks pointed to the sky to show off their better qualities to potential mates. The tone is hollow, almost ethereal, and decrescendos heavily in the few seconds in lasts.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: In flight they give an raucous, circling call and bark, far from harmonious. On the ground, the young give off one of my favorite sounds: an impressive, rattling and scornful trill that can go on for multiple seconds on a single breath. The quality is somewhat like if you tried to roll an R in your throat, as loud as you can, with your mouth wide open. Go ahead and try it.
White Tern: These little angels seem to be most vocal in flight while whirling around your head. Their voice is a nasal and squeaky oink and they go through their somewhat limited repertoire or "pinks", "gueenks", and "whnks" in no order whatsoever. Every few notes they seem to squabble with one another in a light, grunting and somewhat percussive "rhen-rhen-rhen-rhen" that fades either to brief silence of more "gueenks".
Great Frigatebird: The most Jurassic sounding of our island, in my opinion; their calls from the sky sound recall something out of a Steven Speilberg film. A scratchy series of clucks "whuk-whuk-whuk-whuk-whuk" announce their presence not unlike a car alarm. If you're near them on the ground, sometimes you'll catch a deflating hiss or a rapid hollow bill clacking even more clamorous than the Laysan Albatross'. If their is a group or young birds expecting food from an adult, the atmosphere becomes engulfed with scratchy prolonged screeches that may as well be coming from set of banshees in the heliotrope trees. The sound of their whirring feathers in the breeze, much like the Laysan's, could also be compared to a small aircraft skimming by if they pass overhead.
Bristle-thighed Curlew: Though this is not a breeder on the island, I figured I would make a small concession for their instantly recognizable call. They make a clear "WHEEoWHIT" whistle, similar to what you would do if you were trying to get someone attention from a distance.
Tristram's Storm-Petrel: Not very common, but they make their presence known late at night or early in the morning. The only call of theirs we seem to hear is a distinctive and somewhat erratic and rolling "hurh-hu-hur-hu-hu-huh." It has been compared to a monkey chuckling under it's breath.
This is not by any means a comprehensive list of all species or all sounds of those listed, but rather an accumulation of favorite observations. Seabirds are not known for the beauty of their voices, but for us they have come to mean home. Even though I described some as banshees and accused some of ear-damaging tones, they all bring a sense of joy and familiarity to the island. The noises that surround us become as much a part of our island as the sand underfoot and the ocean on the horizon.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Kau Ka Maka Blog #10
Blog #10 Kau Ka Maka
Pule 10 (12/4/16-12/10/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. E ʻokoʻa ana ke kumuhana o kēia puke hoʻomanaʻo me nā mea o nā pule i hala. ʻO ka maʻamau, kākau au e pili ana i ka hana o kēlā me kēia pule akā, mai kēia pule aku, e kākau ana au e pili ana i nā ʻano kumuhana like ʻole. ʻO kekahi, ʻo ia ka haʻawina o ka naʻau, nā mea ʻai a mākou e ʻai ai, nā mea aʻu e haʻo ai, nā mea e ʻike ʻia, a pēlā aku. Makemake au e ʻike ʻoukou i ka ʻoiaiʻo o ka nohona i ʻaneʻi. ʻO ka mea aʻu e kākau ana i kēia pule, ʻo ia koʻu haʻo ʻana i nā mea aloha. I loko nō o nā haliʻa aloha, he ʻāʻumeʻume ke kau ʻana o kekahi mau mea o ka wā i hala i koʻu waihona noʻonoʻo. Paʻa koʻu noʻonoʻo i kēia mau lā. Ua hoʻāʻo au e hoʻokuʻu i ka luʻuluʻu i mea e hiki ai iaʻu ke holomua. I loko nō o koʻu uluhua, ʻike au he kumu ko kēia luhi.
Howzit everybody. I know my blogs have been posted later than usual. My mind has been stuck and I couldnʻt find the words to describe what went on this past week (which by the time I finally finish this, itʻll already be during our 11th week). Honestly, Iʻve continuously made changes to this blog because my headʻs been so unclear lately. So, Iʻm gonna change things up a bit. So far, Iʻve been writing about the work thatʻs been done each week, but this time Iʻm going to let you in and give you a glimpse of what one really experiences while being here on Hōlanikū. For me, these past two weeks have been filled with questions and realization. While in a place of solitude, Iʻve been in a balance of going crazy over the things that are in my head while also finding myself in peace and tranquility.
Weʻre more than two months in and itʻs about that time that I go through some kind of phase. Iʻve come to the phase where I begin to miss those who play a huge role in my life varying from my ʻohana, a few close friends, and even who my heart desires.
As time goes by, my heart grows fonder and I become more appreciative of who and what is important to me. There are so many things here that remind me of people and things I hold dear to me whether its a re-occuring thing or something that happens within a single moment. At this point in my journey, as they appear in my mind, I realize the specific role that each special person has in my life. I went from being constantly surrounded by my ʻohana and hoaaloha to being in complete isolation. Although in the beginning my family and friends thought I was pupule for going so far away (from the world), I continue to receive their kākoʻo (support) and aloha (love) as they understand the reason why I do the things I do - even if it means not being able to hear from me for some time. Despite the distance, the simple things they do makes all the difference. For example, my dear friend, Jon, goes out of his way to send lyrics and ʻukulele chords since I donʻt have a book out here. Just a simple thing like that creates an uplift of my spirits. Although it may appear that heʻs helping me just so I can jam, heʻs really helping to free myself from all troubles, untangle the confusion, and to see things with clarity once again. Through music, I feel no pain. So, shoutout to Bossman Brito for being the best-est eva as always! Small things like that make me miss, appreciate, and love those special people in my life even more. Mahalo a nui no ke kākoʻo a me ke aloha ʻana mai iaʻu. Iā ʻoukou pākahi kuʻu aloha pau ʻole.
And now for the reason why my train of thought has gone off the tracks these past two weeks.. Although Iʻve been thinking of loved ones, my mind also goes adrift at times and I find myself wading in the open sea of dreams. Thoughts of those from the past reoccur like waves, pulling me under and leaving me restless as I try to make my way back up to the surface, back to reality. I am in between recalling fond memories while also fighting to forget others. Itʻs a push and pull kind of thing. While pushing forward, something that is unknown pulls me backward. This is when confusion comes to play. Iʻm tangled in my thoughts, questioning why Iʻm feeling this way. What is the interpretation for these thoughts and dreams? Why did this certain person or thing come to my mind? I had a lot of questions and after two weeks of my heart and mind fighting each other, Iʻve come to a realization and finally accepted what Iʻve been denying - my feelings, the truth. A lot has to deal with pride, not wanting to come forth and say yeah, I miss that person too despite the current circumstances. When I kept re-writing this blog, I referred these people as the ghosts of my past. But these ghosts were once people. People who played a role in my life at some point whether it was love or friendship. After struggling to find an answer, I now know the source of my current problem is because my mind and gut arenʻt in sync. Sometimes my mind overpowers my gut and thatʻs how I can easily become unsure of things. I just have to remember to follow my naʻau. Just trust the gut!
If I could choose a word that describes my experience here, it would be time. Time to learn. Time to realize. Time to change. Time to grow. Isolation on Hōlanikū has created a world in which I have all the time to do so. As time moves on, so does life. After all, itʻs a new day, a new season.
Well gang, hereʻs to a new kind of blog, a new kind of message. Without the ability to find words to describe the work week, I decided to take you all below the surface and into the deeper truth about what one experiences while living on Hōlanikū. Iʻve recently found myself in a phase, having recollection of fond memories while also battling in between denial and acceptance. Within this certain period, I have learned, realized, changed, and grown. Itʻs all about time. With that being said, hereʻs the ʻōlelo noʻeau that I think best fits this week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “ʻUpu mai nei ke aloha” (A sudden yearning to see a loved one) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pākuʻi #2883. It is quite true that distance makes a heart grow fonder. Time and isolation has made me come to love and appreciate those special ones in my life. Iʻve also found my mind taking a trip down memory lane because of my naʻau. These people have come to my mind for a reason. Although part of this phase has been a struggle, itʻs just a part of the process for me to ulu aʻe. ʻAʻohe ʻeha, ʻaʻohe ulu. Love. Friendship. Past. Present. Love comes in all forms, times, and places. Whatever situations I find myself in, I continue to grow through love.
Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. K dennnnn
Naʻu,
Aulani
Pule 10 (12/4/16-12/10/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. E ʻokoʻa ana ke kumuhana o kēia puke hoʻomanaʻo me nā mea o nā pule i hala. ʻO ka maʻamau, kākau au e pili ana i ka hana o kēlā me kēia pule akā, mai kēia pule aku, e kākau ana au e pili ana i nā ʻano kumuhana like ʻole. ʻO kekahi, ʻo ia ka haʻawina o ka naʻau, nā mea ʻai a mākou e ʻai ai, nā mea aʻu e haʻo ai, nā mea e ʻike ʻia, a pēlā aku. Makemake au e ʻike ʻoukou i ka ʻoiaiʻo o ka nohona i ʻaneʻi. ʻO ka mea aʻu e kākau ana i kēia pule, ʻo ia koʻu haʻo ʻana i nā mea aloha. I loko nō o nā haliʻa aloha, he ʻāʻumeʻume ke kau ʻana o kekahi mau mea o ka wā i hala i koʻu waihona noʻonoʻo. Paʻa koʻu noʻonoʻo i kēia mau lā. Ua hoʻāʻo au e hoʻokuʻu i ka luʻuluʻu i mea e hiki ai iaʻu ke holomua. I loko nō o koʻu uluhua, ʻike au he kumu ko kēia luhi.
Howzit everybody. I know my blogs have been posted later than usual. My mind has been stuck and I couldnʻt find the words to describe what went on this past week (which by the time I finally finish this, itʻll already be during our 11th week). Honestly, Iʻve continuously made changes to this blog because my headʻs been so unclear lately. So, Iʻm gonna change things up a bit. So far, Iʻve been writing about the work thatʻs been done each week, but this time Iʻm going to let you in and give you a glimpse of what one really experiences while being here on Hōlanikū. For me, these past two weeks have been filled with questions and realization. While in a place of solitude, Iʻve been in a balance of going crazy over the things that are in my head while also finding myself in peace and tranquility.
Weʻre more than two months in and itʻs about that time that I go through some kind of phase. Iʻve come to the phase where I begin to miss those who play a huge role in my life varying from my ʻohana, a few close friends, and even who my heart desires.
As time goes by, my heart grows fonder and I become more appreciative of who and what is important to me. There are so many things here that remind me of people and things I hold dear to me whether its a re-occuring thing or something that happens within a single moment. At this point in my journey, as they appear in my mind, I realize the specific role that each special person has in my life. I went from being constantly surrounded by my ʻohana and hoaaloha to being in complete isolation. Although in the beginning my family and friends thought I was pupule for going so far away (from the world), I continue to receive their kākoʻo (support) and aloha (love) as they understand the reason why I do the things I do - even if it means not being able to hear from me for some time. Despite the distance, the simple things they do makes all the difference. For example, my dear friend, Jon, goes out of his way to send lyrics and ʻukulele chords since I donʻt have a book out here. Just a simple thing like that creates an uplift of my spirits. Although it may appear that heʻs helping me just so I can jam, heʻs really helping to free myself from all troubles, untangle the confusion, and to see things with clarity once again. Through music, I feel no pain. So, shoutout to Bossman Brito for being the best-est eva as always! Small things like that make me miss, appreciate, and love those special people in my life even more. Mahalo a nui no ke kākoʻo a me ke aloha ʻana mai iaʻu. Iā ʻoukou pākahi kuʻu aloha pau ʻole.
And now for the reason why my train of thought has gone off the tracks these past two weeks.. Although Iʻve been thinking of loved ones, my mind also goes adrift at times and I find myself wading in the open sea of dreams. Thoughts of those from the past reoccur like waves, pulling me under and leaving me restless as I try to make my way back up to the surface, back to reality. I am in between recalling fond memories while also fighting to forget others. Itʻs a push and pull kind of thing. While pushing forward, something that is unknown pulls me backward. This is when confusion comes to play. Iʻm tangled in my thoughts, questioning why Iʻm feeling this way. What is the interpretation for these thoughts and dreams? Why did this certain person or thing come to my mind? I had a lot of questions and after two weeks of my heart and mind fighting each other, Iʻve come to a realization and finally accepted what Iʻve been denying - my feelings, the truth. A lot has to deal with pride, not wanting to come forth and say yeah, I miss that person too despite the current circumstances. When I kept re-writing this blog, I referred these people as the ghosts of my past. But these ghosts were once people. People who played a role in my life at some point whether it was love or friendship. After struggling to find an answer, I now know the source of my current problem is because my mind and gut arenʻt in sync. Sometimes my mind overpowers my gut and thatʻs how I can easily become unsure of things. I just have to remember to follow my naʻau. Just trust the gut!
If I could choose a word that describes my experience here, it would be time. Time to learn. Time to realize. Time to change. Time to grow. Isolation on Hōlanikū has created a world in which I have all the time to do so. As time moves on, so does life. After all, itʻs a new day, a new season.
Well gang, hereʻs to a new kind of blog, a new kind of message. Without the ability to find words to describe the work week, I decided to take you all below the surface and into the deeper truth about what one experiences while living on Hōlanikū. Iʻve recently found myself in a phase, having recollection of fond memories while also battling in between denial and acceptance. Within this certain period, I have learned, realized, changed, and grown. Itʻs all about time. With that being said, hereʻs the ʻōlelo noʻeau that I think best fits this week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “ʻUpu mai nei ke aloha” (A sudden yearning to see a loved one) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pākuʻi #2883. It is quite true that distance makes a heart grow fonder. Time and isolation has made me come to love and appreciate those special ones in my life. Iʻve also found my mind taking a trip down memory lane because of my naʻau. These people have come to my mind for a reason. Although part of this phase has been a struggle, itʻs just a part of the process for me to ulu aʻe. ʻAʻohe ʻeha, ʻaʻohe ulu. Love. Friendship. Past. Present. Love comes in all forms, times, and places. Whatever situations I find myself in, I continue to grow through love.
Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. K dennnnn
Naʻu,
Aulani
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
ʻO Hoʻoilo Ka Malama Blog #9
Blog #9 ʻO Hoʻoilo Ka Malama
Pule 9 (11/27/16-12/3/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i nui ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. E like me kēlā mahina i hala aku nei, ʻelua mea i hoʻolauleʻa ʻia i ka pau ʻana o kēia pule. I ka Poʻakolu, ua piha ʻelua mahina o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. I ka Poʻalima, ua hoʻolauleʻa mākou i ko Eryn lā hānau. Ua piha nā makahiki he iwakāluakūmāwalu iā ia. Uihā! Huʻihuʻi nō i ʻaneʻi i kēia manawa. Ua pā mai ka makani, a ua heleleʻi ka ua. Eia naʻe, ua kō nō ka hana. Ua holo nō ka manawa! Ua hala ka pule ʻeiwa o ko mākou hana ʻana i Hōlanikū nei. Mākaukau mākou no ka pule hou!
Howzit kākou! Another week has blown by with the strong and chilly, winter wind. I canʻt believe December is here already. Just like the previous month, we had a few celebrations at the end of our work week. On Wednesday, we completed two months of being here on Hōlanikū. We also celebrated Erynʻs 28th birthday on Friday. Cheering! Andy and Coryna made the most perfect birthday cake for this field season. They constructed a cake made from scratch that resembled an albatrossʻs nest. It was so spot on! The thin, rectangular strips of sponge cake covered in chocolate frosting were the sticks and plants. Green frosting and fondant for the leaves. A pound cake shaped as an egg covered in white fondant, and the best part to make it complete, red spots made by food coloring for the blood when the egg is laid. It was probably the best cake Iʻve ever seen and it was ʻono too. So classic! So my birthdays next.. maybe weʻll try one shaped as an albatross? Nah nah.
It was a pretty cloudy week. We planned to greet the sun on the first of December, but it was too cloudy. So was the next day and the next one after that. It would also be rainy in the morning and then the sun would pop out in the afternoon. After so much rain these past few weeks, thousands of nohu sprouts are everywhere throughout the island. Uē ka lani, ola ka honua! Guys, the time has come. I have finally put clothes on. Yes, I have transitioned from wearing nothing but a pareu to actually seeking warmth and getting cozy with a flannel, sweatpants, and a beanie. The wind is stronger. The waves are firing around this tiny island. The coral has been washed up higher on the shore. Those are just a few signs that winter has arrived. The air is definitely cooler than the previous weeks. It was around 70 degrees during the day and then it went down to the low 60ʻs at night which is considered cold for us here in Hawaiʻi. Time to bust out the solar shower bags! But small kine hard when thereʻs no sun to even heat it up ah? Gotta either heat up the water in a pot or just suck it up!
Despite the weather conditions, we still managed to treat 35 acres. To start off the week, we checked our AMDRO stations in the areas where big-headed ants were found last month. They were found more towards the south side of the island. We donʻt want those ants here especially since we will eventually have lots of little chicks. We donʻt want those chicks to be eaten alive. ʻAʻole lā!
Due to some rainy mornings this week, we did alternative tasks such as working in the nursery, checking the seeps for mosquitos, inputting data into the computer, and even cutting some naupaka for an easier access towards the beach since a whole bunch of albatross are nesting in that area. We ended the work week by conducting a monk seal and shorebird survey. RJ did the interior shorebird survey while Andy, Eryn, Coryna and I split the island in half and worked in pairs starting from opposite sides. It was really funny that Andy had just finished telling me about how some albatross are found trying to sit on a buoy thinking that itʻs an egg. And sure enough, as we made our way to our last sector (Sector 1, Northwest of the island) we saw a Black-footed Albatross struggling to sit on a small, round buoy. It was having a difficult time trying to find the perfect position. As it did, it found itself leaning towards one side with the buoy poking out by its belly, or the buoy slipping out from under its tail. It was hilarious.
I know I always say everything here is so beautiful, but letʻs talk about the not-so-pretty side of this experience. We did find a mōlī (Laysan Albatross) that had a fishing line wrapped around its leg. While Andy held the mōlī, Coryna and RJ removed the line and then it was set free. Sure, glass balls are cool to find but itʻs not nice to find plastics, ropes, line and much more that can be an entanglement or choking hazard for the animals both of land and sea. Although this is a very beautiful place, a sanctuary for such beautiful plants and animals, we also face the harsh reality of the effects when a world is careless or unaware of how its waste can affect the environment. I know I always say aloha ʻāina dis, aloha ʻāina dat, but I really mean it. Here on Hōlanikū, weʻre reminded every single day of why itʻs important to take care of our belongings. I know we canʻt clean up everything all at once, but we can each do our part in doing so in our own personal lives even if itʻs a simple thing like picking up some trash on the beach. Any little thing will make a big difference. That lighter you picked up saved a bird from choking on it. That fishing line you took out of the water saved a honuʻs (turtle) neck from getting entangled it in. So I say it with meaning and I say it with truth, e mālama i ka ʻāina (care for the land). E mālama i ke kai (care for the sea). And reduce, reuse, recycle brat!
Well, another week blew by with the wind and the rain has washed a clean slate for us to start a new week and the month of December. We have completed our ninth week and second month of being here on Hōlanikū. Time is definitely soaring past us just as the albatross shoot through the sky like jets. The chilly wind, rain, and air has forced us to seek comfort in our layered clothes and warm blankets. As each week goes by, it sinks in even more that winter has arrived. Itʻs crazy to see how these albatross can withstand all the elements. He kupaianaha nō! Anyways, weʻre ready for whatʻs in store for us as we enter a new month. Well gangeh weʻve come to the end of this blog. As usual Iʻll leave you with an ʻōlelo noʻeau for the week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Kāpeku ka leo o ke kai, ʻo hoʻoilo ka malama” (When the voice of the sea is harsh, the winter months have come) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pākuʻi #1536. The strong winds create a whistling sound through our windows while shaking the wooden bunk house. The wind is blowing, waves are crashing on the reef that surrounds the lagoon and waves that are firing inside the lagoon can be heard from all sides of the island. Storms. Showers. Surges. Winter is full of excitement!
Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu a me ke kākoʻo ʻana mai! A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. K den menpachis
Naʻu,
Aulani
Pule 9 (11/27/16-12/3/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i nui ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. E like me kēlā mahina i hala aku nei, ʻelua mea i hoʻolauleʻa ʻia i ka pau ʻana o kēia pule. I ka Poʻakolu, ua piha ʻelua mahina o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. I ka Poʻalima, ua hoʻolauleʻa mākou i ko Eryn lā hānau. Ua piha nā makahiki he iwakāluakūmāwalu iā ia. Uihā! Huʻihuʻi nō i ʻaneʻi i kēia manawa. Ua pā mai ka makani, a ua heleleʻi ka ua. Eia naʻe, ua kō nō ka hana. Ua holo nō ka manawa! Ua hala ka pule ʻeiwa o ko mākou hana ʻana i Hōlanikū nei. Mākaukau mākou no ka pule hou!
Howzit kākou! Another week has blown by with the strong and chilly, winter wind. I canʻt believe December is here already. Just like the previous month, we had a few celebrations at the end of our work week. On Wednesday, we completed two months of being here on Hōlanikū. We also celebrated Erynʻs 28th birthday on Friday. Cheering! Andy and Coryna made the most perfect birthday cake for this field season. They constructed a cake made from scratch that resembled an albatrossʻs nest. It was so spot on! The thin, rectangular strips of sponge cake covered in chocolate frosting were the sticks and plants. Green frosting and fondant for the leaves. A pound cake shaped as an egg covered in white fondant, and the best part to make it complete, red spots made by food coloring for the blood when the egg is laid. It was probably the best cake Iʻve ever seen and it was ʻono too. So classic! So my birthdays next.. maybe weʻll try one shaped as an albatross? Nah nah.
It was a pretty cloudy week. We planned to greet the sun on the first of December, but it was too cloudy. So was the next day and the next one after that. It would also be rainy in the morning and then the sun would pop out in the afternoon. After so much rain these past few weeks, thousands of nohu sprouts are everywhere throughout the island. Uē ka lani, ola ka honua! Guys, the time has come. I have finally put clothes on. Yes, I have transitioned from wearing nothing but a pareu to actually seeking warmth and getting cozy with a flannel, sweatpants, and a beanie. The wind is stronger. The waves are firing around this tiny island. The coral has been washed up higher on the shore. Those are just a few signs that winter has arrived. The air is definitely cooler than the previous weeks. It was around 70 degrees during the day and then it went down to the low 60ʻs at night which is considered cold for us here in Hawaiʻi. Time to bust out the solar shower bags! But small kine hard when thereʻs no sun to even heat it up ah? Gotta either heat up the water in a pot or just suck it up!
Despite the weather conditions, we still managed to treat 35 acres. To start off the week, we checked our AMDRO stations in the areas where big-headed ants were found last month. They were found more towards the south side of the island. We donʻt want those ants here especially since we will eventually have lots of little chicks. We donʻt want those chicks to be eaten alive. ʻAʻole lā!
Due to some rainy mornings this week, we did alternative tasks such as working in the nursery, checking the seeps for mosquitos, inputting data into the computer, and even cutting some naupaka for an easier access towards the beach since a whole bunch of albatross are nesting in that area. We ended the work week by conducting a monk seal and shorebird survey. RJ did the interior shorebird survey while Andy, Eryn, Coryna and I split the island in half and worked in pairs starting from opposite sides. It was really funny that Andy had just finished telling me about how some albatross are found trying to sit on a buoy thinking that itʻs an egg. And sure enough, as we made our way to our last sector (Sector 1, Northwest of the island) we saw a Black-footed Albatross struggling to sit on a small, round buoy. It was having a difficult time trying to find the perfect position. As it did, it found itself leaning towards one side with the buoy poking out by its belly, or the buoy slipping out from under its tail. It was hilarious.
I know I always say everything here is so beautiful, but letʻs talk about the not-so-pretty side of this experience. We did find a mōlī (Laysan Albatross) that had a fishing line wrapped around its leg. While Andy held the mōlī, Coryna and RJ removed the line and then it was set free. Sure, glass balls are cool to find but itʻs not nice to find plastics, ropes, line and much more that can be an entanglement or choking hazard for the animals both of land and sea. Although this is a very beautiful place, a sanctuary for such beautiful plants and animals, we also face the harsh reality of the effects when a world is careless or unaware of how its waste can affect the environment. I know I always say aloha ʻāina dis, aloha ʻāina dat, but I really mean it. Here on Hōlanikū, weʻre reminded every single day of why itʻs important to take care of our belongings. I know we canʻt clean up everything all at once, but we can each do our part in doing so in our own personal lives even if itʻs a simple thing like picking up some trash on the beach. Any little thing will make a big difference. That lighter you picked up saved a bird from choking on it. That fishing line you took out of the water saved a honuʻs (turtle) neck from getting entangled it in. So I say it with meaning and I say it with truth, e mālama i ka ʻāina (care for the land). E mālama i ke kai (care for the sea). And reduce, reuse, recycle brat!
Well, another week blew by with the wind and the rain has washed a clean slate for us to start a new week and the month of December. We have completed our ninth week and second month of being here on Hōlanikū. Time is definitely soaring past us just as the albatross shoot through the sky like jets. The chilly wind, rain, and air has forced us to seek comfort in our layered clothes and warm blankets. As each week goes by, it sinks in even more that winter has arrived. Itʻs crazy to see how these albatross can withstand all the elements. He kupaianaha nō! Anyways, weʻre ready for whatʻs in store for us as we enter a new month. Well gangeh weʻve come to the end of this blog. As usual Iʻll leave you with an ʻōlelo noʻeau for the week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Kāpeku ka leo o ke kai, ʻo hoʻoilo ka malama” (When the voice of the sea is harsh, the winter months have come) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pākuʻi #1536. The strong winds create a whistling sound through our windows while shaking the wooden bunk house. The wind is blowing, waves are crashing on the reef that surrounds the lagoon and waves that are firing inside the lagoon can be heard from all sides of the island. Storms. Showers. Surges. Winter is full of excitement!
Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu a me ke kākoʻo ʻana mai! A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. K den menpachis
Naʻu,
Aulani
Monday, November 28, 2016
Pili Kau, Pili Hoʻoilo (Aulani's Blog #8 )
Pili Kau, Pili Hoʻoilo
Pule 8 (11/20/16-11/26/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i nui ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. I kēlā pule aku nei, ua hiki mai ke kau anu. Ua pā mai ka makani me ka ikaika, a ua ʻoi aku ke anuanu. Ua hoʻomaka ka hoʻopūnana ʻana o nā mōlī a me nā kaʻupu, a ua hānau kekahi o lākou i nā hua. He mea pīhoihoi nō kēia! I kēia pule, ua loku nō ka ua. Ua huʻihuʻi nō! ʻO kēia ka manawa aʻu e haʻo ai i ka ʻauʻau ʻana i ka wai wela. Eia naʻe, i loko nō o ka ua ʻana, mau nō ka hana, a mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana.
Howzit kākou! Boy is time flying by. Last week blew right passed us with the wind picking up and the air getting much cooler. This week we were showered with some heavy and chilly rain as we enter the winter season. This is definitely a time that I miss bathing in hot water. However, despite the effects the rain may have on us, we still continue to work and get things done.
Thereʻs always something new happening each week. The previous weeks consisted of anticipating the arrival of the albatross. As they all settled in, the dance parties took place and courtship commenced. Next thing we know, nesting season had begun and we spotted some of the first eggs of the season last week. This week, we were able to witness the miracle of life - two mōlī laying an egg. Now, we wait a few months for the eggs to hatch and be en-captured by the absolute cuteness of albatross chicks. This is a very exciting time. ʻTis the nesting season!
We had a super cold and wet work week. There was a huge downpour of rain which affected our spraying. Due to rain and a holiday, we were just shy of completing 30 acres after spraying just three days this week. Work started even later at 8:30am (7:30am here) due to the sunrise and the weather. During the times that we didnʻt spray, we did nursery work, entered data into the computer, and added to and organized the inventory in the bucket room (meaning new food to eat!). Speaking of food, we had to conserve energy because of the lack of sun this week and we turned off the freezer. For those who donʻt already know, we rely on solar energy. So itʻs really crucial that weʻre aware and mālama these kine things.
Btw, Hauʻoli Lā Hoʻomaikaʻi iā kākou! I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. We actually worked on Thanksgiving day so that we could take Friday off and have a nice 3-day weekend. We actually had good weather that enabled us to complete a good amount of acres. It worked out perfectly that I witnessed a precious moment of two mōlī laying eggs on this day. I was overwhelmed with contentment and gratefulness for life. This is such an exciting time to be alive. We had our Thanksgiving feast on Friday evening. We each made a dish: roast, 2 little hens, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, asparagus, yams, pumpkin pie, and haupia. Thereʻs just five of us so we made just enough to satisfy our stomachs that evening and the following day. It was a really special day being that it was different from the usual traditions and I was spending the holiday with my new little ʻohana in our own little world on Hōlanikū. Nui koʻu mahalo. ʻOluʻolu wale koʻu naʻau.
After a super chilly and wet work week, Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day despite it being said that there was a 100% chance for it to rain. Instead, it was a 100% perfect day to dry our drenched clothes and den it was kai bounds! The water was cool, calm, and refreshing! This day was a good way to top off this week, especially after freezing our butts off haha.
Altogether, we had a pretty successful week despite the weather. Although it was freezing, it was the warmth of love that kept me going. Love for my little ʻohana in our little world here on Hōlanikū. Love that I witness from the albatross that surrounds us. Love for life. Love and support that I receive from my ʻohana and hoaaloha that are over thousands of miles away. Love is what gets one through hardships. Thus, leading me to the ʻōlelo noʻeau for the week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Pili kau, pili hoʻoilo” (Together in the dry season, together in the wet season) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pūkuʻi #2649. This is said of a loving companionship. As Iʻve mentioned before, I still continue to be inspired by love and continue to be inspired to love. The mōlī and kaʻupu here are great examples. Despite the heat, pouring rain, and gusty winds they remain kūpaʻa in their place (nesting area). Once bounded together, a pair will sit side by side throughout the extremes of hot and cold, wet and dry, calm and crazy. Or a parent wonʻt leave its egg unprotected despite rough conditions. This ʻōlelo noʻeau speaks to me in relation to being kūpaʻa with love between oneself and another despite the obstacles - hot, cold, wet, dry, near, far, deep, shallow. Always keep the faith. E kūpaʻa. Always noke mau. Love conquers all.
Mahalo a nui no ke heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. Shooooooooots
Naʻu,
Aulani
Pule 8 (11/20/16-11/26/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i nui ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. I kēlā pule aku nei, ua hiki mai ke kau anu. Ua pā mai ka makani me ka ikaika, a ua ʻoi aku ke anuanu. Ua hoʻomaka ka hoʻopūnana ʻana o nā mōlī a me nā kaʻupu, a ua hānau kekahi o lākou i nā hua. He mea pīhoihoi nō kēia! I kēia pule, ua loku nō ka ua. Ua huʻihuʻi nō! ʻO kēia ka manawa aʻu e haʻo ai i ka ʻauʻau ʻana i ka wai wela. Eia naʻe, i loko nō o ka ua ʻana, mau nō ka hana, a mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana.
Howzit kākou! Boy is time flying by. Last week blew right passed us with the wind picking up and the air getting much cooler. This week we were showered with some heavy and chilly rain as we enter the winter season. This is definitely a time that I miss bathing in hot water. However, despite the effects the rain may have on us, we still continue to work and get things done.
Thereʻs always something new happening each week. The previous weeks consisted of anticipating the arrival of the albatross. As they all settled in, the dance parties took place and courtship commenced. Next thing we know, nesting season had begun and we spotted some of the first eggs of the season last week. This week, we were able to witness the miracle of life - two mōlī laying an egg. Now, we wait a few months for the eggs to hatch and be en-captured by the absolute cuteness of albatross chicks. This is a very exciting time. ʻTis the nesting season!
We had a super cold and wet work week. There was a huge downpour of rain which affected our spraying. Due to rain and a holiday, we were just shy of completing 30 acres after spraying just three days this week. Work started even later at 8:30am (7:30am here) due to the sunrise and the weather. During the times that we didnʻt spray, we did nursery work, entered data into the computer, and added to and organized the inventory in the bucket room (meaning new food to eat!). Speaking of food, we had to conserve energy because of the lack of sun this week and we turned off the freezer. For those who donʻt already know, we rely on solar energy. So itʻs really crucial that weʻre aware and mālama these kine things.
Btw, Hauʻoli Lā Hoʻomaikaʻi iā kākou! I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. We actually worked on Thanksgiving day so that we could take Friday off and have a nice 3-day weekend. We actually had good weather that enabled us to complete a good amount of acres. It worked out perfectly that I witnessed a precious moment of two mōlī laying eggs on this day. I was overwhelmed with contentment and gratefulness for life. This is such an exciting time to be alive. We had our Thanksgiving feast on Friday evening. We each made a dish: roast, 2 little hens, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, asparagus, yams, pumpkin pie, and haupia. Thereʻs just five of us so we made just enough to satisfy our stomachs that evening and the following day. It was a really special day being that it was different from the usual traditions and I was spending the holiday with my new little ʻohana in our own little world on Hōlanikū. Nui koʻu mahalo. ʻOluʻolu wale koʻu naʻau.
After a super chilly and wet work week, Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day despite it being said that there was a 100% chance for it to rain. Instead, it was a 100% perfect day to dry our drenched clothes and den it was kai bounds! The water was cool, calm, and refreshing! This day was a good way to top off this week, especially after freezing our butts off haha.
Altogether, we had a pretty successful week despite the weather. Although it was freezing, it was the warmth of love that kept me going. Love for my little ʻohana in our little world here on Hōlanikū. Love that I witness from the albatross that surrounds us. Love for life. Love and support that I receive from my ʻohana and hoaaloha that are over thousands of miles away. Love is what gets one through hardships. Thus, leading me to the ʻōlelo noʻeau for the week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Pili kau, pili hoʻoilo” (Together in the dry season, together in the wet season) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pūkuʻi #2649. This is said of a loving companionship. As Iʻve mentioned before, I still continue to be inspired by love and continue to be inspired to love. The mōlī and kaʻupu here are great examples. Despite the heat, pouring rain, and gusty winds they remain kūpaʻa in their place (nesting area). Once bounded together, a pair will sit side by side throughout the extremes of hot and cold, wet and dry, calm and crazy. Or a parent wonʻt leave its egg unprotected despite rough conditions. This ʻōlelo noʻeau speaks to me in relation to being kūpaʻa with love between oneself and another despite the obstacles - hot, cold, wet, dry, near, far, deep, shallow. Always keep the faith. E kūpaʻa. Always noke mau. Love conquers all.
Mahalo a nui no ke heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. Shooooooooots
Naʻu,
Aulani
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Hiki Mai Ke Kau Anu Blog #7
Blog #7 Hiki Mai Ke Kau Anu
Pule 7 (11/13/16-11/19/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua piha ka pule ʻehiku o ko mākou hana ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mau mea pīhoihoi kā mākou e hoʻolaha ai. Ua hiki mai ke kau anu! Pā mai ka makani me ka ikaika, a he mau lā ʻōmalumalu i kēia pule. ʻOi aku ka ʻoluʻolu i kēia manawa. ʻO kekahi mea aʻe, ua ʻike mākou i nā hua mua o ka mōlī, ke kaʻupu, a me ka makalena. Pīhoihoi nō mākou.
Aloha mai gangeh. We completed our 7th week and we have some exciting things to share. Winter is here! The air is much cooler, the wind definitely picked up, and the sky is covered with clouds. We also had a few showers - and this is just the beginning. It seemed as if the seasons changed instantly. It was hot one day and then bam! We all went to eat breakfast all bundled up on a super windy, chilly morning. The days are also getting shorter now that the sun rises later around 8:18am (7:18am here) and it sets earlier which makes it turn dark fast. Weʻre all back inside our rooms before 8pm (7 pm here).
Another exciting thing is that we spotted the first Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross, and Short-tailed Albatross eggs this week. Love is in the air! Itʻs so precious to see the pairs at their nests. I canʻt wait until the chicks are here. Speaking of pairs, we saw a hybrid trying to woo a BFAL at the beach on Friday. Although, the female totally wasnʻt interested and she just sat their uncomfortably, ignoring him. He really tried. However, he did not succeed. I do give him credit though. Itʻs small kine heartbreaking, but itʻs cute to watch. Some are lucky with finding a mate and some arenʻt. Either way, witnessing love and the creation of life is precious!
I hope you guys got to see the super beautiful Super Moon at the beginning of this week. Brah, talk about a view! We got to see the moon set early Monday morning when we went to move the apex on the beach. It was an incredible sight to see. It was huge, beautiful. It was nice to have some time to soak in that rare moment. We took a crew picture with it in the background. It was an awesome way to start off the new week. In addition to the view we had in the morning, we also saw the moon rise around 7:45pm (6:45pm here) the same night. It was another incredible sight to see. The moon was orange. Although there were clouds on the horizon, it still didnʻt take away from the beautiful sight. We have the perfect view here since there are no obstructions - no lights, no buildings (yuck), no noise. Over here is just perfffffffs.
This work week consisted of spraying, monitoring, collecting, transplanting, and propagating. We now begin work at 8:15am (7:15am here) since the sun rises later. Itʻs also weather-depending especially now that itʻs windy, cloudy, and rainy in the morning. Now that thereʻs albatross everywhere, we have to be careful when we spray since itʻs so windy. The good news is there wasn't as much weeds in some RAʻs, but there were a lot in some. It was really nice to do some nursery work after a week of spraying too. Like Iʻve said before, itʻs very therapeutic after taking away the lives of so many plants (the weeds). If you take something, you must give back. We seeded trays of paupera, transplanted pōpolo, and propagated ʻākulikuli. I love being able to watch the stages of their growth. Super stoked on our babies. E ulu aʻe!
Despite a cloudy and windy work week, Saturday was a very nice day. The sun was shining and you know what that means.. time for go beach! The water was calm and crystal clear. I saw new fish that I hadnʻt noticed before at the pier. I also saw an airplane fly above the atoll. There were two long streaks that trailed behind it as it passed over. It actually came to a shock to me when I saw it. Itʻs funny to see and know that thereʻs life outside our little world here on Hōlanikū. Then at night, I kept seeing flashes inside the bucket room and from the window closest to the computer in the camp house and thought it couldʻve been someone. As we began to return to our rooms after watching a movie, I saw the flash again. We all went to check it out, wondering if it could possibly be someone, but it was just lightning haha. It wasnʻt close to us. But it was cool to see parts of the sky light up - small kine eerie feeling to it though.
Anyways, the 7th week blew by (literally) and now itʻs on to the next! Winterʻs here and life is being created. This is an exciting time. Well, e ka mea heluhelu, ua hōʻea kākou i ka pau ʻana o kēia puke hoʻomanaʻo. As usual, Iʻll leave you with an ʻōlelo noʻeau of the week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Hiki mai ka mālie, a hiki mai nō ka ʻino” (Good weather comes and bad weather comes, too). Weather changes. This ʻōlelo noʻeau is perfect for this week and even for this whole season. Despite the changes of the weather, we still find a way to get things done. The main task this season is to spray, but if the weather is bad thereʻs always alternative things we can do - such as working in the nursery, entering data, constructing things, etc. Thereʻs always something to do and weʻll always be working, moving. Whatever the obstacles are, weʻll find out a way to make it work. Ainʻt no mountain high enough! (literally, since itʻs an atoll hehe).
Mahalo a nui no ke heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. K den
Naʻu,
Aulani
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Hū Mai Ke Aloha
Blog #6 Hū Mai Ke Aloha
Pule 6 (11/6/16-11/12/16)
Aloha mai e nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua piha ʻeono pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. Mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana. Mau nō ka holo pono ʻana o ka hana. Mau nō ka ulu ʻana aʻe o koʻu aloha i kēia wahi keu a ka nani. Pīhoihoi nō kēia i ka hōʻea ʻana mai o nā mōlī he nui. Aia lākou i ʻō i ʻaneʻi o kēia mokupuni pālahalaha. ʻO kēia ka hoʻomaka ʻana. E mau ana ko lākou hōʻea ʻana mai. ʻO ka nānā ʻana i kēia mau manu nui ka mea e lana ai koʻu naʻau. Me he mokulele lā ko lākou lele ʻana ma muli o ka nui o ko lākou kino me ko lākou ʻēheu. He kupaianaha nō ko lākou huakaʻi ʻana i kahi mamao loa. Ke ʻimi nei lākou i kekahi e pili pū ai a me kahi e hoʻopūnana ai. Piha kēia i ke aloha. ʻOluʻolu wale koʻu naʻau.
Howzit kākou. Weʻve completed our sixth week and it was filled with birds, literally. Just the other week, there were just a few mōlī (Laysan Albatross) slowly arriving and now theyʻre all over the place! They came in hot, swooping into camp like jets on Sunday morning. I was in the bunk house majority of the day and each time I went outside, more and more popped up here and there near the bunkhouse. By dinner, camp was musically entertained by the clapping of beaks, high-pitched whistles, honks, and squeaks that sound like theyʻre saying uh-uh-uh. They are such interesting beings.
We planned to greet the sun as we welcomed the new month. However, it was cloudy on both Sunday and Monday morning. There was a sight on Monday that Iʻve never seen before though. As we made our way to the north side of the island (our work site for the week), I saw the sun behind the haze. It was faint, orange-pink and it was as if it were behind a sheet. It was pretty cool. And so, Tuesday was the day. Before we headed out to the north side, we stood outside at camp and greeted the sun. It was a total of eight minutes that we chanted “E Ala Ē” and the sun was fully above the horizon and clear from clouds. Beautiful as always.
This work week consisted of spraying, planting, and even searching for a lost cellphone. We were clear from naupaka this week, yet there was no escape from burrows. Rather than trampling through naupaka, we had to clear the native plants from cassytha (kaunaʻoa) which gets entangled in the plants and sucks the nutrients from it. We completed 37 acres within 4 days (uihā!) since Friday was a holiday. It was pretty amazing that we worked in two RAʻs that had the name of my hometown (Haleʻiwa) and my younger sisterʻs name (Ilihia). Itʻs funny coming all the way out here and still have pieces of home with me. This is how I know I belong here. Itʻs destiny.
Throughout the week, we saw the hybrid. Gray, lighter from the Black-footed Albatross. Itʻs real pretty. We found out some disappointing news about the outside world on Wednesday morning. As we walked to our next RA, our faces were long, tired. However, the sky was pretty as it was covered with cotton candy-colored clouds. Thatʻs when my mood changed. Thereʻs mana in the beauty that surrounds us. Despite disappointments, sadness, fears, and troubles that overwhelms me, this environment never fails to make it all disappear.
Funny things happened on Thursday as we treated RA 03. A Black-footed Albatross flew straight into Coryna while in the naupaka. Then as we were returning to camp from the RA, I was surprised and got a big whack to the right side of my face by a Laysan Albatrossʻs left foot as it was landing in Puʻu Mōlī. I was so shocked. It was hilarious. And to think that we watched the movie “The Birds” last week haha.
Friday was a day of rest. I went up to roof of the camp house and watched the sunrise. It rises later now around 7:10am (8:10am for Honolulu). I love watching the colors of the sky and the clouds change within minutes, seconds too. The horizon was dark orange and then it got lighter as the sun rose higher. The clouds glowed with orange on the bottom and pink on the top. Once the sun was fully above the horizon, the sky then turned light blue. In this moment, as the sun was rising, ʻiwa and mōlī were gliding in the wind with the huge sun shining behind them. The breeze brushed upon my bare skin, chilling my body. However, the sun radiated with warmth. I love the view from the roof. I can see around the whole island from up there. Itʻs insane how we can see everything in this little world of ours - the sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, without any obstruction. We can see everything go from one side to the other side of the atoll. Itʻs a small world, but itʻs our world. Secluded, far from everything. Far from worries, troubles, drama. This here, these are the times when I soak in everything that surrounds me - in peace, contentment, and happiness. My mind becomes clear. My naʻau.. I just feel so rejuvenated. He kuleana nō koʻu. Iʻm here for a reason. Not only for the land and the sea, but for me as well. Letʻs just say this is an unreal experience. Itʻs a meaaaaan huakaʻi!
It was a rainy day on Friday. So I stayed inside all day and read “The Whale Rider.” After that, I watched the movie despite how many times Iʻve already watched it. Except this time I had a different perspective now that Iʻve read the book. I also finished reading “The Notebook” Thursday afternoon. I watched the movie. Same thing, a new perspective after reading the book. Now, Iʻm halfway through my fifth book called “Makai.” It makes me happy ʻcause it reminds me of home and itʻs interesting ʻcause itʻs back in time. Itʻs crazy how Iʻm blowing through these books ʻcause I wasnʻt much of a reader before. Itʻs a new time for this wahine. Iʻm already planning on books Iʻd like to read once I get back home. These books, this place, itʻs all inspiring. Total uplift in my spirit. Braaaaah, I just trip on how much this huakaʻi has affected me.
Btw, I hope the view of the mahina is just as beautiful as it is wherever you are than it is here. The bigger it gets, the brighter and more illuminated the sky becomes. No lights are necessary. Just the natural glow from the mahina. Itʻs especially prettier now, since thereʻs mōlī all over the place. Just like the stars in the sky, the ground twinkles from the glowing, white feathers of the mōlī. He nani wale!
Anyways gangeh, weʻve come to the end of this journal entry. It was a short work week, but we still got a lot done. It was nice to have some downtime and rest so that weʻre ready to be back on the grind next week. It was another week of happiness, contentment, and inspiration. E like me ka maʻamau, e hoʻopau ana au i kēia puke hoʻomanaʻo me ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau: “He pūnāwai kahe wale ke aloha” (Love is a spring that flows freely) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pūkuʻi #936. Love is without bounds and exists for all. My love grows stronger and deeper for this beautiful place that I now call home. Like I keep saying, this has been an unreal experience and itʻs just the beginning. Iʻve already been inspired and grown physically and mentally within a short amount of time. I have even more aloha and gratefulness for my ʻohana, hoaaloha, and everything in my life. Love is everywhere. Love is life - whether itʻs related to the books Iʻve read, mālama ʻāina/aloha ʻāina, birds and courtship, admiration of beauty, self-acceptance and growth, just everything. Love makes the world go round, my world here on Hōlanikū.
Nui koʻu mahalo a me ke aloha iā ʻoukou pākahi no ke kākoʻo ʻana mai. Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. I pule maikaʻi! k den menpachis
Naʻu,
Aulani
Pule 6 (11/6/16-11/12/16)
Aloha mai e nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua piha ʻeono pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. Mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana. Mau nō ka holo pono ʻana o ka hana. Mau nō ka ulu ʻana aʻe o koʻu aloha i kēia wahi keu a ka nani. Pīhoihoi nō kēia i ka hōʻea ʻana mai o nā mōlī he nui. Aia lākou i ʻō i ʻaneʻi o kēia mokupuni pālahalaha. ʻO kēia ka hoʻomaka ʻana. E mau ana ko lākou hōʻea ʻana mai. ʻO ka nānā ʻana i kēia mau manu nui ka mea e lana ai koʻu naʻau. Me he mokulele lā ko lākou lele ʻana ma muli o ka nui o ko lākou kino me ko lākou ʻēheu. He kupaianaha nō ko lākou huakaʻi ʻana i kahi mamao loa. Ke ʻimi nei lākou i kekahi e pili pū ai a me kahi e hoʻopūnana ai. Piha kēia i ke aloha. ʻOluʻolu wale koʻu naʻau.
Howzit kākou. Weʻve completed our sixth week and it was filled with birds, literally. Just the other week, there were just a few mōlī (Laysan Albatross) slowly arriving and now theyʻre all over the place! They came in hot, swooping into camp like jets on Sunday morning. I was in the bunk house majority of the day and each time I went outside, more and more popped up here and there near the bunkhouse. By dinner, camp was musically entertained by the clapping of beaks, high-pitched whistles, honks, and squeaks that sound like theyʻre saying uh-uh-uh. They are such interesting beings.
We planned to greet the sun as we welcomed the new month. However, it was cloudy on both Sunday and Monday morning. There was a sight on Monday that Iʻve never seen before though. As we made our way to the north side of the island (our work site for the week), I saw the sun behind the haze. It was faint, orange-pink and it was as if it were behind a sheet. It was pretty cool. And so, Tuesday was the day. Before we headed out to the north side, we stood outside at camp and greeted the sun. It was a total of eight minutes that we chanted “E Ala Ē” and the sun was fully above the horizon and clear from clouds. Beautiful as always.
This work week consisted of spraying, planting, and even searching for a lost cellphone. We were clear from naupaka this week, yet there was no escape from burrows. Rather than trampling through naupaka, we had to clear the native plants from cassytha (kaunaʻoa) which gets entangled in the plants and sucks the nutrients from it. We completed 37 acres within 4 days (uihā!) since Friday was a holiday. It was pretty amazing that we worked in two RAʻs that had the name of my hometown (Haleʻiwa) and my younger sisterʻs name (Ilihia). Itʻs funny coming all the way out here and still have pieces of home with me. This is how I know I belong here. Itʻs destiny.
Throughout the week, we saw the hybrid. Gray, lighter from the Black-footed Albatross. Itʻs real pretty. We found out some disappointing news about the outside world on Wednesday morning. As we walked to our next RA, our faces were long, tired. However, the sky was pretty as it was covered with cotton candy-colored clouds. Thatʻs when my mood changed. Thereʻs mana in the beauty that surrounds us. Despite disappointments, sadness, fears, and troubles that overwhelms me, this environment never fails to make it all disappear.
Funny things happened on Thursday as we treated RA 03. A Black-footed Albatross flew straight into Coryna while in the naupaka. Then as we were returning to camp from the RA, I was surprised and got a big whack to the right side of my face by a Laysan Albatrossʻs left foot as it was landing in Puʻu Mōlī. I was so shocked. It was hilarious. And to think that we watched the movie “The Birds” last week haha.
Friday was a day of rest. I went up to roof of the camp house and watched the sunrise. It rises later now around 7:10am (8:10am for Honolulu). I love watching the colors of the sky and the clouds change within minutes, seconds too. The horizon was dark orange and then it got lighter as the sun rose higher. The clouds glowed with orange on the bottom and pink on the top. Once the sun was fully above the horizon, the sky then turned light blue. In this moment, as the sun was rising, ʻiwa and mōlī were gliding in the wind with the huge sun shining behind them. The breeze brushed upon my bare skin, chilling my body. However, the sun radiated with warmth. I love the view from the roof. I can see around the whole island from up there. Itʻs insane how we can see everything in this little world of ours - the sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, without any obstruction. We can see everything go from one side to the other side of the atoll. Itʻs a small world, but itʻs our world. Secluded, far from everything. Far from worries, troubles, drama. This here, these are the times when I soak in everything that surrounds me - in peace, contentment, and happiness. My mind becomes clear. My naʻau.. I just feel so rejuvenated. He kuleana nō koʻu. Iʻm here for a reason. Not only for the land and the sea, but for me as well. Letʻs just say this is an unreal experience. Itʻs a meaaaaan huakaʻi!
It was a rainy day on Friday. So I stayed inside all day and read “The Whale Rider.” After that, I watched the movie despite how many times Iʻve already watched it. Except this time I had a different perspective now that Iʻve read the book. I also finished reading “The Notebook” Thursday afternoon. I watched the movie. Same thing, a new perspective after reading the book. Now, Iʻm halfway through my fifth book called “Makai.” It makes me happy ʻcause it reminds me of home and itʻs interesting ʻcause itʻs back in time. Itʻs crazy how Iʻm blowing through these books ʻcause I wasnʻt much of a reader before. Itʻs a new time for this wahine. Iʻm already planning on books Iʻd like to read once I get back home. These books, this place, itʻs all inspiring. Total uplift in my spirit. Braaaaah, I just trip on how much this huakaʻi has affected me.
Btw, I hope the view of the mahina is just as beautiful as it is wherever you are than it is here. The bigger it gets, the brighter and more illuminated the sky becomes. No lights are necessary. Just the natural glow from the mahina. Itʻs especially prettier now, since thereʻs mōlī all over the place. Just like the stars in the sky, the ground twinkles from the glowing, white feathers of the mōlī. He nani wale!
Anyways gangeh, weʻve come to the end of this journal entry. It was a short work week, but we still got a lot done. It was nice to have some downtime and rest so that weʻre ready to be back on the grind next week. It was another week of happiness, contentment, and inspiration. E like me ka maʻamau, e hoʻopau ana au i kēia puke hoʻomanaʻo me ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau: “He pūnāwai kahe wale ke aloha” (Love is a spring that flows freely) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pūkuʻi #936. Love is without bounds and exists for all. My love grows stronger and deeper for this beautiful place that I now call home. Like I keep saying, this has been an unreal experience and itʻs just the beginning. Iʻve already been inspired and grown physically and mentally within a short amount of time. I have even more aloha and gratefulness for my ʻohana, hoaaloha, and everything in my life. Love is everywhere. Love is life - whether itʻs related to the books Iʻve read, mālama ʻāina/aloha ʻāina, birds and courtship, admiration of beauty, self-acceptance and growth, just everything. Love makes the world go round, my world here on Hōlanikū.
Nui koʻu mahalo a me ke aloha iā ʻoukou pākahi no ke kākoʻo ʻana mai. Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. I pule maikaʻi! k den menpachis
Naʻu,
Aulani
Monday, November 7, 2016
Zen Gardening in the Middle of the Pacific
Zen Gardening in the Middle of the Pacific
words by RJ Roush
I've spent a good deal of the last month trying to put my finger on a feeling deja vu I've had since arriving. Upon stepping onto the coral crumbled shore of Kure for the first time I can't shake the feeling that I've been here before. At first I simply thought it was because I lived on another seabird colony--Southeast Farallon Island--for a few season before coming out here. Familiar sights of the ocean in all directions, familiar sounds of seabirds courting, chortling, and caterwauling through day and night, just a few thousand miles West, that's all.
But that wasn't it. The island and all of it's inhabitants are new to me. I'm seeing it all for the first time, except for a few species of birds I've encountered before. This feeling of deja vu I'm having isn't based geographically. I know I've never been to Kure Atoll before, let alone spent much time in Hawaii before this. It also has very little to do with the fact that I've spent time in similar places studying similar things. Working with birds in National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Sanctuaries. No, this feeling I've been having is based solely in my mind. Rather, it's a state of mind. One that I've been calling "home" more and more in the last three years working wildlife and conservation field jobs.
This mindset is one of presence. One of living in the moment; observing each moment, letting it pass, observing the next moment, letting that pass, reacting as I see fit. It's not ambivalence or apathy. Rather, it's the opposite. It's being entirely absorbed in your present task, no matter what it is, and remaining thoughtful in all that you do. This is what is so familiar about Kure to me--this island keeps me here and now and I'm beyond grateful for it.
Some might think that the work out here is tedious. Searching every inch of this island to the best of our abilities and removing the plants that have been unwantingly introduced over the years. We're essentially cultivating an island wide garden for native vegetation only. We spend hours every day climbing through dense Naupaka, walking zig zag transects to ensure we don't miss anything, looking for those few errant blades of grass or the telltale yellow of a flowering Verbesina in need of culling. If it's hot, we sweat, if it rains, we get wet, either way we're out there looking for invasives monday through friday with few exceptions. Perhaps it would be tedious to some, but when in this mindset I'm trying to describe, it is as fulfilling as any other job could be.
It reminds me of a story of a Zen master and his pupils. One pupil was particularly unsuited for the intellectual rigors that the master typically put his students through. The other students would tease this one pupil and the master began to worry about his wellbeing. One day, the master put this pupil to work cleaning the shoes and tatamis while the rest of the students continued to study texts. And so every day, this one pupil would spend hours cleaning while the others would study. Day in an day out, the monk would clean each shoe attentively, and become absorbed in his task. After 17 years of cleaning shoes, this monk reached enlightenment.
I'm not saying that I'm out here scouring for weeds to reach enlightenment. I'm out here to help restore this atoll to a state that the native fauna--the seabirds, shorebirds, seals, turtles, and fish--thrived with long before humans set foot on this island. The story simply reminds me of how one can find satisfaction and fulfillment in even the simplest tasks.
When I'm out in the field, I am wholly enveloped in whatever we're doing. Each call from a passing seabird rings sweet, each maze of Naupaka branches is worth investigating intently, each bead of sweat from my brow falls into the soil in just the right place. The news is what you learn from the island each day. The weather consists of how it feels to be outside at that time of day. It sounds a bit silly, but it's really a beautiful thing. When you are able to shake away worries of another time, of past and future, and exist just where you are. You become entwined with the island and all of it's happenings.
And so, I can't help but picture the six of us out here on this little island, cultivating our garden of natives in the sand, much the way a zen master puts their thoughtfulness and being into their own garden. Each moment, each plant, acknowledged and attended. Each day, not measured by future or past, but lived in the present.
"And I asked myself about the present: how wide it was, how deep it was, how much was mine to keep." -Kurt Vonnegut
words by RJ Roush
I've spent a good deal of the last month trying to put my finger on a feeling deja vu I've had since arriving. Upon stepping onto the coral crumbled shore of Kure for the first time I can't shake the feeling that I've been here before. At first I simply thought it was because I lived on another seabird colony--Southeast Farallon Island--for a few season before coming out here. Familiar sights of the ocean in all directions, familiar sounds of seabirds courting, chortling, and caterwauling through day and night, just a few thousand miles West, that's all.
But that wasn't it. The island and all of it's inhabitants are new to me. I'm seeing it all for the first time, except for a few species of birds I've encountered before. This feeling of deja vu I'm having isn't based geographically. I know I've never been to Kure Atoll before, let alone spent much time in Hawaii before this. It also has very little to do with the fact that I've spent time in similar places studying similar things. Working with birds in National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Sanctuaries. No, this feeling I've been having is based solely in my mind. Rather, it's a state of mind. One that I've been calling "home" more and more in the last three years working wildlife and conservation field jobs.
This mindset is one of presence. One of living in the moment; observing each moment, letting it pass, observing the next moment, letting that pass, reacting as I see fit. It's not ambivalence or apathy. Rather, it's the opposite. It's being entirely absorbed in your present task, no matter what it is, and remaining thoughtful in all that you do. This is what is so familiar about Kure to me--this island keeps me here and now and I'm beyond grateful for it.
Some might think that the work out here is tedious. Searching every inch of this island to the best of our abilities and removing the plants that have been unwantingly introduced over the years. We're essentially cultivating an island wide garden for native vegetation only. We spend hours every day climbing through dense Naupaka, walking zig zag transects to ensure we don't miss anything, looking for those few errant blades of grass or the telltale yellow of a flowering Verbesina in need of culling. If it's hot, we sweat, if it rains, we get wet, either way we're out there looking for invasives monday through friday with few exceptions. Perhaps it would be tedious to some, but when in this mindset I'm trying to describe, it is as fulfilling as any other job could be.
It reminds me of a story of a Zen master and his pupils. One pupil was particularly unsuited for the intellectual rigors that the master typically put his students through. The other students would tease this one pupil and the master began to worry about his wellbeing. One day, the master put this pupil to work cleaning the shoes and tatamis while the rest of the students continued to study texts. And so every day, this one pupil would spend hours cleaning while the others would study. Day in an day out, the monk would clean each shoe attentively, and become absorbed in his task. After 17 years of cleaning shoes, this monk reached enlightenment.
I'm not saying that I'm out here scouring for weeds to reach enlightenment. I'm out here to help restore this atoll to a state that the native fauna--the seabirds, shorebirds, seals, turtles, and fish--thrived with long before humans set foot on this island. The story simply reminds me of how one can find satisfaction and fulfillment in even the simplest tasks.
When I'm out in the field, I am wholly enveloped in whatever we're doing. Each call from a passing seabird rings sweet, each maze of Naupaka branches is worth investigating intently, each bead of sweat from my brow falls into the soil in just the right place. The news is what you learn from the island each day. The weather consists of how it feels to be outside at that time of day. It sounds a bit silly, but it's really a beautiful thing. When you are able to shake away worries of another time, of past and future, and exist just where you are. You become entwined with the island and all of it's happenings.
And so, I can't help but picture the six of us out here on this little island, cultivating our garden of natives in the sand, much the way a zen master puts their thoughtfulness and being into their own garden. Each moment, each plant, acknowledged and attended. Each day, not measured by future or past, but lived in the present.
"And I asked myself about the present: how wide it was, how deep it was, how much was mine to keep." -Kurt Vonnegut
Aia Ke Ola I Ka Hana
Blog #5 Aia Ke Ola I Ka Hana
Pule 5 (10/30/16-11/5/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha no Hōlanikū. Ua hōʻea mākou i ka pule ʻelima o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mau mea kā mākou i hoʻolauleʻa ai i kēia pule. Ua piha nā makahiki he 25 iā RJ, a ua piha hoʻokahi mahina o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi i ka lā 30 o ʻOkakopa. ʻO kekahi mea pīhoihoi, ua hōʻea nō nā hoa manu hou. ʻO ia hoʻi nā mōlī (Laysan Albatross). Ua maikaʻi wale ka hoʻomaka ʻana o kēia mahina hou. Pīhoihoi nō kēia.
Aloha mai gangeh. Weʻve completed our fifth week and this one consisted of celebrations - celebration of life, accomplishments, new beginnings, and special appearances. As October came to an end, we celebrated both RJʻs 25th birthday and our one month anniversary of being here on Sunday, October 30th. We had a Mediterranean-themed dinner cooked by our very own birthday boy and then it was topped off with some bomb dessert that Coryna made. It was an ice cream and mango-filled sponge cake roll that could possibly be my new favorite dessert. Brah, was soooo ʻono! The following day was Halloween. Not much celebration for that holiday as it wouldʻve been if we were home, but RJ and I did dress up for dinner. I wore my giraffe onesie that I brought for the winterʻs cold. However, my body ended up heating up during dinner and I went straight back to wearing my pareu as usual. RJ came to the camp house with his face painted, a pareu, and a bird skull necklace. Because Halloween was on a Monday and we were exhausted from work, we decided to save our Halloween movie, The Birds, for Friday.
The following day was a very exciting day. On November 1st, I spotted the first Laysan Albatross on the other side of the runway when I poked out the naupaka as we were transecting Sector 5 West. It was standing, poised with its bold, white body, black wings, and an unmissable large yellow beak. It stood there for a minute and then slowly made its way into the naupaka. Ua nui koʻu hauʻoli! After that first appearance, more of our royal bird friends slowly made their way throughout the island. Each morning as we went to our RAʻs for the day, we saw more and more Laysans pop up here and there. By the end of the week, we had around 15 mōlī in camp. In addition to the Laysans, this island is still continuing to be filled by the BFAL. Thereʻs quite a contrast between the Black-footed Albatross and the Laysan Albatross. The most obvious is their color, of course. The BFAL are large, dark seabirds with little white around its face while the Laysans glow with their white bodies. They both are strikingly beautiful. Like Iʻve mentioned before, the BFAL waddle with their heads down following their feet left-right-left-right as if searching for something on the ground (like us when weʻre looking through the naupaka for invasive species). Laysan Albatrosses, on the the other hand, look a little more normal when they walk. Itʻs similar to how we walk. Rather than their heads leaning downward and going side to side, the Laysansʻ heads bob up and down. They have a bob to their walk too. Another difference is their sounds. The BFALʻs make me thinking of a honking donkey and then they let out a scream. The Laysans are a little more quiet and have more of a mild chirp sound. They both, however, make loud clapping sounds with their beaks. Itʻs really cute watching both of these huge seabirds. Itʻs fun watching the BFAL take off in the sand. Six steps, right-left-right-left-right-left and theyʻre off soaring above the waterʻs surface, some going over the waves appearing to be surfing (but in air). Theyʻre such gigantic birds. Itʻs even more funny watch them land, especially when theyʻre coming in hot and theyʻre sticking out their huge feet in preparation to land. Some of them kind of stumble on the sand and then shake it off, pretending nothing happened. Theyʻre just so cute!
As for work, we continued to spray this week. We went above our goal of 35 acres and completed 42 acres (given a boost from the runway). Itʻs been so hot and itʻs really nice to feel the breeze once in a while. Iʻm still waiting for it to become cold. Letʻs just say itʻs still pareu-wearing weather. Still wearing the bare minimum! Anyways, after a long, hot week of spraying it was nice to switch gears and end the last half of Fridayʻs work by planting. After taking away the life of many invasives, it was definitely therapeutic and “a must” to put life back into the honua. We planted 150 kāwelu in pathways of three different spots so we could prevent weeds from growing there. The word therapeutic is a perfect fit for this occasion. After destruction comes renewal. Thus bringing us back to the celebration of life and new beginnings!
After work, we started the weekend by finally watching The Birds which was meant for Halloween. Itʻs an older, “scary” film that was about birds attacking people. I gotta say, there were some intense parts because of the suspense, but overall we were laughing the whole time because of the horrible acting and visual effects that were so corny. It was a good movie though. It was just ironic because here were are living on a secluded island, completely surrounded by birds.
Today, Saturday, November 5th was a beautiful day. The sun was shining which meant completing my chores early in the morning and exercising so I could have the rest of the day to soak up as much sun as I possibly could. My skin definitely got more pāpaʻa and Iʻm loving it! It feels so nice to be sun kissed. I also finished my second book, To Kill A Mockingbird, and just began my third called The Notebook. Iʻve seen the film before so I wonder if the book will be even better. Tonight was also free night for dinner. So everyone made their own meals. While I was eating saimin, I began to crave chicken katsu ramen. In addition to that, Andy added katsu curry ramen. And then Eryn mentioned spam katsu. Brah, talk about inspiration for the next time we cook! Craviiiiiiiiiings. Itʻs gonna happen.
Anyways, we have entered a new month, a new beginning. So far itʻs begun with a celebration of life (birthdays and new growth), accomplishments for work, and the appearance of our majestic mōlī in which will bring new life as well. As I come to the end of my fifth blog, I leave you all with an ʻōlelo noʻeau that I think fits best for this week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Ma kahi o ka hana he ola ma laila” (Where work is, there is life) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pūkuʻi #2090. Those who know me know that I live by my favorite quote, “Aloha ʻāina isnʻt a job. Itʻs life.” There was a force that drove me here and there was a reason for it. He kuleana koʻu. Although weʻre a small team, weʻre making a big difference from the land to the sea. To think of the many hands that did their part before and the future ones to come, working together to protect the natives so that they can flourish. Huli ka lima i lalo. There is life! E ola!
Mahalo hou no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou nō a i kēia pule aʻe. K den menpachis
Naʻu,
Aulani
Pule 5 (10/30/16-11/5/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha no Hōlanikū. Ua hōʻea mākou i ka pule ʻelima o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mau mea kā mākou i hoʻolauleʻa ai i kēia pule. Ua piha nā makahiki he 25 iā RJ, a ua piha hoʻokahi mahina o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi i ka lā 30 o ʻOkakopa. ʻO kekahi mea pīhoihoi, ua hōʻea nō nā hoa manu hou. ʻO ia hoʻi nā mōlī (Laysan Albatross). Ua maikaʻi wale ka hoʻomaka ʻana o kēia mahina hou. Pīhoihoi nō kēia.
Aloha mai gangeh. Weʻve completed our fifth week and this one consisted of celebrations - celebration of life, accomplishments, new beginnings, and special appearances. As October came to an end, we celebrated both RJʻs 25th birthday and our one month anniversary of being here on Sunday, October 30th. We had a Mediterranean-themed dinner cooked by our very own birthday boy and then it was topped off with some bomb dessert that Coryna made. It was an ice cream and mango-filled sponge cake roll that could possibly be my new favorite dessert. Brah, was soooo ʻono! The following day was Halloween. Not much celebration for that holiday as it wouldʻve been if we were home, but RJ and I did dress up for dinner. I wore my giraffe onesie that I brought for the winterʻs cold. However, my body ended up heating up during dinner and I went straight back to wearing my pareu as usual. RJ came to the camp house with his face painted, a pareu, and a bird skull necklace. Because Halloween was on a Monday and we were exhausted from work, we decided to save our Halloween movie, The Birds, for Friday.
The following day was a very exciting day. On November 1st, I spotted the first Laysan Albatross on the other side of the runway when I poked out the naupaka as we were transecting Sector 5 West. It was standing, poised with its bold, white body, black wings, and an unmissable large yellow beak. It stood there for a minute and then slowly made its way into the naupaka. Ua nui koʻu hauʻoli! After that first appearance, more of our royal bird friends slowly made their way throughout the island. Each morning as we went to our RAʻs for the day, we saw more and more Laysans pop up here and there. By the end of the week, we had around 15 mōlī in camp. In addition to the Laysans, this island is still continuing to be filled by the BFAL. Thereʻs quite a contrast between the Black-footed Albatross and the Laysan Albatross. The most obvious is their color, of course. The BFAL are large, dark seabirds with little white around its face while the Laysans glow with their white bodies. They both are strikingly beautiful. Like Iʻve mentioned before, the BFAL waddle with their heads down following their feet left-right-left-right as if searching for something on the ground (like us when weʻre looking through the naupaka for invasive species). Laysan Albatrosses, on the the other hand, look a little more normal when they walk. Itʻs similar to how we walk. Rather than their heads leaning downward and going side to side, the Laysansʻ heads bob up and down. They have a bob to their walk too. Another difference is their sounds. The BFALʻs make me thinking of a honking donkey and then they let out a scream. The Laysans are a little more quiet and have more of a mild chirp sound. They both, however, make loud clapping sounds with their beaks. Itʻs really cute watching both of these huge seabirds. Itʻs fun watching the BFAL take off in the sand. Six steps, right-left-right-left-right-left and theyʻre off soaring above the waterʻs surface, some going over the waves appearing to be surfing (but in air). Theyʻre such gigantic birds. Itʻs even more funny watch them land, especially when theyʻre coming in hot and theyʻre sticking out their huge feet in preparation to land. Some of them kind of stumble on the sand and then shake it off, pretending nothing happened. Theyʻre just so cute!
As for work, we continued to spray this week. We went above our goal of 35 acres and completed 42 acres (given a boost from the runway). Itʻs been so hot and itʻs really nice to feel the breeze once in a while. Iʻm still waiting for it to become cold. Letʻs just say itʻs still pareu-wearing weather. Still wearing the bare minimum! Anyways, after a long, hot week of spraying it was nice to switch gears and end the last half of Fridayʻs work by planting. After taking away the life of many invasives, it was definitely therapeutic and “a must” to put life back into the honua. We planted 150 kāwelu in pathways of three different spots so we could prevent weeds from growing there. The word therapeutic is a perfect fit for this occasion. After destruction comes renewal. Thus bringing us back to the celebration of life and new beginnings!
After work, we started the weekend by finally watching The Birds which was meant for Halloween. Itʻs an older, “scary” film that was about birds attacking people. I gotta say, there were some intense parts because of the suspense, but overall we were laughing the whole time because of the horrible acting and visual effects that were so corny. It was a good movie though. It was just ironic because here were are living on a secluded island, completely surrounded by birds.
Today, Saturday, November 5th was a beautiful day. The sun was shining which meant completing my chores early in the morning and exercising so I could have the rest of the day to soak up as much sun as I possibly could. My skin definitely got more pāpaʻa and Iʻm loving it! It feels so nice to be sun kissed. I also finished my second book, To Kill A Mockingbird, and just began my third called The Notebook. Iʻve seen the film before so I wonder if the book will be even better. Tonight was also free night for dinner. So everyone made their own meals. While I was eating saimin, I began to crave chicken katsu ramen. In addition to that, Andy added katsu curry ramen. And then Eryn mentioned spam katsu. Brah, talk about inspiration for the next time we cook! Craviiiiiiiiiings. Itʻs gonna happen.
Anyways, we have entered a new month, a new beginning. So far itʻs begun with a celebration of life (birthdays and new growth), accomplishments for work, and the appearance of our majestic mōlī in which will bring new life as well. As I come to the end of my fifth blog, I leave you all with an ʻōlelo noʻeau that I think fits best for this week. Eia ka ʻōlelo noʻeau o kēia pule: “Ma kahi o ka hana he ola ma laila” (Where work is, there is life) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Pūkuʻi #2090. Those who know me know that I live by my favorite quote, “Aloha ʻāina isnʻt a job. Itʻs life.” There was a force that drove me here and there was a reason for it. He kuleana koʻu. Although weʻre a small team, weʻre making a big difference from the land to the sea. To think of the many hands that did their part before and the future ones to come, working together to protect the natives so that they can flourish. Huli ka lima i lalo. There is life! E ola!
Mahalo hou no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou nō a i kēia pule aʻe. K den menpachis
Naʻu,
Aulani
Thursday, November 3, 2016
I Ka Laʻi O Hōlanikū
October 29, 2016
I Ka Laʻi O Hōlanikū
Blog #4 - I Ka Laʻi O Hōlanikū
I Ka Laʻi O Hōlanikū
Blog #4 - I Ka Laʻi O Hōlanikū
Pule 4 (10/23/16-10/29/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka
heluhelu. Ua piha ʻehā pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mea pīhoihoi nō
ia. Mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana he nui, a mau nō ka holo pono ʻana o ka
hana. He iwakāluakūmāhā pule i koe!
Aloha gangeh! We
completed 4 weeks of being here on Hōlanikū. Although time seems to go by slow
here, the days are flying by fast - being that Winter is making its way through
and the days are becoming shorter. As soon as dinner is pau around 7-8pm (like 6-7pm
here because Kure is so far north), weʻre in bed before we know it. These past four weeks flew right past
us. Weʻre continuing to blow through the work tasks and dominate through the
naupaka. After spending our third week setting big-headed ants (BHA) traps throughout the island,
we have returned to spraying and reaching for our goal of completing 35 acres a
week. I couldnʻt have been more happy to spray again. In addition to spraying,
we each went out and set Amdro® stations near the areas that we found BHA last
week. Weʻll leave them there for a month and hopefully this place will be rid
of most of the colonies. They are certainly not good for our hoa manu.
More mōlī (Black-fooded
Albatross) are arriving here and there throughout the island. Slowly, but
surely this place will be full of thousands of them. We have one in camp, a few
on the beach, some near the East turnaround on the runway and at South Point,
and the rest in other areas. Iʻm just in awe with their beauty. I canʻt help
but to laugh when I watch them walk because itʻs then that I realize that we
look just like them when weʻre going through the naupaka looking for invasive
species. Each step, left-foot-right-foot, our heads follow in the same direction
with our backs hunched over. Itʻs the perfect example! These gigantic birds
look so elegant and poise when theyʻre at rest. Their wooʻs and clucking of
their beaks are too cute to not admire. I canʻt wait to be surrounded by such
magnificent creatures.
For dinner this weekend
Andy grilled hamburgers topped with cheese and because of our limited supply of
certain food items, we settled with bagels as our bun for our burgers. And I
gotta say, that type of burger was sooo ʻono! The fact that we were eating our
burgers on bagels totally didnʻt phase me at all. The meat was nice and juicy
and so, so satisfying! Brah, on the real, I would probably try it when I get
back home or it could just be that weʻre putting whateverʻs available to great use.
Either way, it was ʻono and I was content. As soon as we finished eating around
7pm, we went out to the pier area to burn
the weed seeds that we picked during the last three weeks. The sun was just about setting once we got
there. There were clouds on the horizon, so we didnʻt see the sunʻs rays
glisten upon the sea. We were, however, blessed as usual with such beautiful
scenery. As the sun went down, the clouds on the horizon were dark while the
higher ones glowed with pink and orange and the water lightly reflected those
colors. There was a light blue sky in the background. The sun went down further
and those clouds became a darker shade of pink and the sand glowed bright
orange from the fire. It was at that moment, that I had a feeling of
contentment. I couldnʻt help but to smile. We had completed four weeks of being
here on Hōlanikū. We accomplished a huge amount of work just within this short
time frame. We have now become acclimated to working with one another. Like I
said before, weʻre a hammah crew. Weʻre only surrounded by beauty. And now that
weʻve made a mark of our residence here, I just feel more at home. And of
course it just felt really good to burn those Cenchrus seeds. As the night
proceeded, a manu-o-Kū flew above me and I thought it was a shooting star. Iʻm
very fascinated with nā hōkū lele (shooting stars) and comparing the beauty of
the two just brought me happiness. And with the arrival of the new moon, the
only things that light up the sky are the many tiny stars. However, there was
one particular, larger star that shone brightly that there was a faint
reflection in the water. It was probably the first time that I ever noticed
that since the moon is the most obvious. This night was the best way to
complete this week.
As some of the crew
members went out to do a shorebird and monk seal survey on Saturday, I stayed
at camp and completed my chores in the morning so that I could have the rest of
the weekend free. I also got to squeeze in a work out, which by the way, I have
lost a few inches since Iʻve been here. Stoooooking. Anyways, I went out to the
beach for a few hours while repetitively reading a new book, “To Kill A
Mockingbird,” and jumping the water. ʻOluʻolu ke kai. The water is getting
colder, but itʻs so refreshing! I was watching around 200+ ʻiwa soaring above
the right side of the pier and then to the left, and soon after they went all
the way out pass the lagoon and to the deep blue sea, leaving them looking like
tiny little black specks. They disappeared into a rain cloud and returned to
shore after an hour. The way they soared above in circles looked like a
whirlwind of ʻiwa. It was quite the view. Later, after dinner, we watched the
movie “North Shore” after have talked about it for a week. It was another thing
that made me have a huge smile on my face as it was one of my favorite movies
that reminded me of how my brother, Lōkahi, and I would quote scenes from the
movie. It made me feel proud of where I am from and it also made me miss home.
I miss surfing! The movie made me really happy and also miss my ʻohana as the
characters and places shown reminded me of them. “Nobody listens to Turtle” -
crack up, I tell you. The ending of this week was just perfsss.
Well, this was an
exciting week as we completed our fourth week of being here. This place feels
more like home the more time I spend here. I am so happy with where I am at
this moment - which leads me to closing this blog with the ʻōlelo noʻeau of the
week: “Hoʻolaʻi nā manu i ke aheahe” (The birds poise quietly in the gentle
breeze) - Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #1090. This is said of those who are at peace
with the world, undisturbed and contented. I feel like this ʻōlelo noʻeau fit
perfectly as we came to the end of this week. Although exhausted from work, a
breath of life was blown right back into me and I am filled with happiness and
contentment. We are, after all, in our own little world as were surrounded by
nothing but the deep blue sea. ʻAʻohe pilikia. ʻAʻohe hopohopo. No troubles. No
worries. Itʻs just us. And although I do miss my ʻohana, I have one right here.
He ʻohana hou koʻu. I have everything I need. I am content.
Mahalo no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui
hou nō. Shoots den menpachissss
Naʻu,
Aulani
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