Noke! Noke! Noke!

Blog #3 Noke! Noke! Noke!
Pule 3 (10/16/16-10/22/16)
Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, nā hoa, a me nā kānaka i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. He mea maikaʻi loa kā mākou i ʻike ai i kēia pule. Ua hōʻea nō nā mōlī (black footed albatross & short tailed albatross)! Ua ʻike ʻia lākou i ka lā 21 o ʻOkakopa. Pīhoihoi loa kēia. He keu nō a ka nani!
ʻO ka hana o kēia pule, ʻo ia ka hoʻokau ʻana i nā ʻūmiʻi no nā naunau me ke poʻo nui a me ka ʻiole. He hana nui nō ia! Ua pono e hoʻokau i ia mau ʻūmiʻi i kēia mokupuni pālahalaha holoʻokoʻa. Ua hoʻokau mākou pākahi i kahi o kanaono a ʻoi a emi mai paha ʻūmiʻi i kēlā me kēia lā. ʻAkahi nō a pau ka hana i kēia lā. ʻO ka lā 22 o ʻOkakopa kēia. ʻOkoʻa kēia ʻano hana me ka hana o nā pule ʻelua i hala aku nei. ʻOkoʻa ka luhi o kēia hana. ʻO kekahi mau ʻāpana, ua maʻalahi. Eia naʻe, ua paʻakikī iaʻu i hele ai i ka naupaka. Pono e makaʻala a nānā no nā hale o nā manu a me nā manu e peʻe ana i ka malu i lalo o ka naupaka. Auē nō hoʻi ē! Hauʻoli au i ka pau ʻana o kēia hana haha. 

Aloha mai kākou. Exciting things are happening this week! I am so stoked to say that the short-tailed albatross and black-footed albatross have arrived! They were seen yesterday, October 21st while we were laying out the last of the big-headed (BHA) ant traps. I saw the two female short-tailed albatrosses near the albatross decoys on the southwest side of the island yesterday and then I finally got to see the black-footed albatross this morning as I was walking out to the runway to pick up the last of the BHA traps. They are so beautiful and majestic looking. Iʻm super excited for this whole place to be covered with mōlī (albatross)!
As for the work this week, we conducted a big-headed ant survey. We each laid out around 60 more or less traps on a 30-meter grid each day and we surveyed the whole island (200 acres). We finally picked up the last of the traps this morning and found some big-headed ants in some areas in the southwestern portion of the island. It was a different type of work compared to weed removal that we did in the past two weeks. It was a different type of exhaustion as well. Some parts were easy and some were hard once I came up to the naupaka. Although we are using our GPS units to make waypoints for the specific areas that we set the traps, it is pretty difficult trying to make our way through the naupaka while trying not to step on any burrows or birds that are hiding in the shade underneath the woven naupaka branches (kinna like when we are do the weed removal). However, when we are laying the traps, we have to find a decent spot to put it and then hope we can find it easily the following day when we pick it up. Iʻm super drained as of today and Iʻm happy that work is finished (haha).
Besides completing the BHA survey, we also did some work around camp. While it was pouring on Thursday morning, we cleaned and organized the bucket room. It took a few hours to go through all the food buckets, compiling the “likes” together, throwing out the old food, and re-stocking the shelves. It looks so much nicer now! I canʻt stop looking at it. The lua also got a high-class upgrade, thanks to Andy. We now have a better shade, wind, and rain-protected lua.
As for the weather, weʻve had some showers here and there throughout the week. Some at night, some in the morning as we picked up our traps the following day. One particular time was on Thursday around 10:15am. I saw around 200+ ʻiwa flying from the Southwest to the Northeast as a big shower came over to the camp. It was a nuts sight to see. He kupaianaha nō! Also, it rained Wednesday morning before work around 6:40am. The sky on the east and south side was pink while the west had dark, rain clouds. It was quite a contrast. He nani wale nā mea a pau!
I can hear the waves pounding on the east side. It was really nice to feel the breeze once I broke out from the naupaka while completing my lines for the BHA survey. The wind is continuing to pick up - meaning cold showers and cool nights. Weʻve had a mixture of clear and cloudy nights. However, the sky is so beautiful when itʻs clear. We have a clear visual of the many hōkū that decorate the sky. I just canʻt emphasize it enough of how beautiful it is to observe everything from the sunrise to the sunset. The moon is rising later as weʻre asleep. Itʻs pitch black here without the mahina. However, despite her size at the moment, she still glows radiantly. I always love greeting the mahina when I wake up. I get a feeling of contentment.
Well, we have completed our third week of being here on Hōlanikū. Many things are changing. Exciting things are happening! As I end my third blog, I leave you with this ʻōlelo noʻeau: “E kaupē aku nō i ka hoe a kō mai” (Put forward your paddle and draw it back). In other words, go on with the task that is started and finish it. Despite my exhaustion from the work this week, I still continued to push on and complete my lines even if it meant returning to camp an hour later or as the sun went down. I knew it wouldnʻt feel right if I didnʻt complete the task for the day. It was pretty draining, but I knew I had to noke! Noke! Noke! 

Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu ʻana. A hui hou a i kēia pule aʻe. Shoots den menpachis!

Naʻu,
Aulani

Hele a Maʻa

    Blog #2 Hele a Maʻa
                                 Pule 2 (10/9/16-10/15/16)

   Welina hou mai e nā maka heluhelu. Ua piha ʻelua pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i Hōlanikū. Hauʻoli loa au i ka ʻōlelo ʻana ua hoʻomaka ʻia kēia pule me ke oli ʻana iā “E Ala Ē” ma ka Lāpule. Ua ala mākou i ke kakahiaka nui, a ua hele mākou i ka ʻaoʻao hikina o kēia mokupuni pālahalaha. ʻAʻole kamaʻāina nā kānaka ʻē aʻe i ia mele oli. Eia naʻe, ua kōkua mai lākou i ka paʻi ʻana i nā lima iaʻu e oli ana. Ua nani maoli nō! Ma hope o ia hana, ua hoihoi lākou e aʻo mai i ia mele oli i hiki iā mākou a pau ke hana like. Nui koʻu mahalo i ke kākoʻo ʻana mai o koʻu mau hoa i ʻaneʻi i ka mālama ʻana i ka moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi. Piha kēia i ka mahalo a me ke aloha!
   Greetings again, dear readers. We have completed the second week of being here on Hōlanikū. I couldnʻt have asked for a better way to start this week off than by greeting the sun with my fellow team members. Iʻm really thankful for their support in allowing me  to share my knowledge of the Hawaiian culture. We all come from different backgrounds. However, we all get to play our role in sharing each of our own ʻike whether itʻs from a cultural or scientific perspective. Kōkua aku, kōkua mai. 
   Although we are a small group, this group is full of hammahs. Foreal though. Thereʻs only 5 of us and we have a goal of completing 35 acres each week. Not only do we hit our goal with those acres, we also complete other tasks later during the day. We spend the mornings making our way through thick naupaka bushes, spraying the invasive plant species that I mentioned before and some new ones as well, and then we go and do other things that include hauling, pulling, transporting, watering, counting, and so much more. Monday, we scrubbed the algae off our 17' vessel.  Tuesday, we propagated kāwelu since there was a monk seal near the pier and we couldnʻt finish the boat. Wednesday, we finished scrubbing the boat and brought it up on land. That was hard work! Thursday, we elevated the huge marine debris bags on the pier so that it doesnʻt get soaked and rips. Friday, we caged naupaka that was out-planted so that the mōlī donʻt destroy it when they come - which should be in a week or so. Iʻm so excited! 
   Last week, I did my first monk seal survey. Today, October 15, I did my first shorebird survey while I was accompanied by Andy as he did the monk seal survey. I mostly saw ʻakekeke, the ruddy turnstone, for the birds we were surveying. There were many ʻiwa and boobies soaring gracefully in the air. The wind is starting to pick up and today was the perfect day to have a booby land on a stick that we were holding or our hands, too. However, the boobies were more attracted to Andy than they were to me. There was one that came really close to landing on the stick I was holding, but then it flew away. Thereʻs just something special about Andy that had all the boobies fly straight to him. I think heʻs a booby whisperer. It was definitely an experience though! One day, a bird will come to me. One day, hehe. Besides surveying the birds, we also picked up marine debris that could be a hazard for marine animals. Today, I noticed more shoes than usual. I came up with the idea of taking a picture while wearing the various shoes and slippers that I find and putting a huge collage together. Itʻll be cool to see all the random kine stuff that you could find here, but then itʻll also be a realization of where belongings actually end up. It really makes you think of what happens next  when you discard things. 
   The wind is starting to pick up which is really nice while weʻre working in the field. Itʻs so hot, but the breeze just makes everything much better. Because the wind is picking up, I donʻt have to use a tiny battery powered fan to fall asleep. The outside showers are now getting colder with the breeze and all. Iʻm gonna have to bust out the solar showers soon - although itʻs really nice not sweating right after I shower ʻcause itʻs been so hot. Iʻve been wearing a pareu everyday, but now Iʻm starting to actually wear clothes. Slowly, but surely the layers of clothes will begin. 
   I love starting the working day as the sun rises at 7:50am (6:50am here), watching the colors of the sky change from pink to orange and then the sky radiates with blue, with the wispy to puffy clouds. Since itʻs such a small atoll, you can see everything from the sunrise to the sunset, the moonrise and moonset - just a clear view of EVERYTHING. And how about the mahina this week? Hina girl is looking so uʻi! Iʻm stoked to be able to have a clear visual of the moon with no lights, no cities, and watch her during each phase. Itʻs a full moon tonight, beautiful Hoku. Although, Māhealani (tomorrow) is considered the full moon. The mahina shines so brightly. He uʻi maoli nō! Itʻs so bright that I donʻt even need to use the night light. Everything here is so beautiful. 
   Well, we made it to our second week of being here. On to the next 26 or so! Ua hōʻea kākou i ka pau ʻana o kaʻu puke hoʻomanaʻo no kēia pule. I think itʻs going to become the usual that I end each blog with an ʻōlelo noʻeau that pretty much sums each week. Hereʻs the ʻōlelo noʻeau for this week: “E lauhoe mai nā waʻa; i ke kā, i ka hoe; i ka hoe, i ke kā; pae aku i ka ʻāina” (everybody paddle the canoes together; bail and paddle, paddle and bail, and the shore is reached). In other words, pitch in with a will, everybody, and the work is quickly done. This ʻōlelo noʻeau doesnʻt relate to the events for this week only, but also for extent of this whole trip. We are an awesome group (of hammahs) and weʻre all pulling our weight and the result is getting tasks completed in a fast and effective way. One great value that is implemented during this trip is laulima, meaning many hands working together. In Andyʻs words, weʻre straight “crushing it.” This is a hard working team and weʻre getting many things done! 
   
Mahalo a nui no ka heluhelu ʻana! A hui hou - shoots den menpachis 

Naʻu,
Aulani 

Lele Ka Manu No Hōlanikū

 Blog #1 Lele Ka Manu No Hōlanikū
                                        Pule 1 (10/3/16-10/8/16)

   Welina mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, nā hoa aloha ʻāina, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha no Hōlanikū. ʻO au ʻo Aulani Herrod a no Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu mai au. Ua piha nā makahiki he iwakāluakūmākolu iaʻu. Ua puka au mai ke kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo me ka mēkia o ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi. Ma mua o koʻu hele ʻana i Hōlanikū, ua hana au ma ka loko iʻa ʻo Loko Ea ma Haleʻiwa. He pōmaikaʻi nō ka hiki ke hele i kēia wahi nani loa. Ua nui koʻu ake e hele i ka ʻāina kūpuna. He mea nui ia iaʻu. Iaʻu i lohe ai i ka ʻimi ʻana i poʻe no ka hana manawaleʻa ʻana i ʻaneʻi, i Hōlanikū hoʻi, ua hōʻike au i koʻu ʻiʻini e hele i ʻaneʻi. Me ka manaʻolana a me ka pule ʻana, eia nō au e noho nei i kēia mokupuni pālahalaha ʻo Hōlanikū no ka Hoʻoilo 2016-2017. Piha kēia i ka hauʻoli!
   Greetings to all readers, family and friends, fellow aloha ʻāina warriors, and those who are so filled with love for Hōlanikū (also known as Kure). Iʻm Aulani Herrod and I am from Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu. As a graduate from UH Hilo with a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies and a recent intern at the Loko Ea fishpond in Haleʻiwa, I havenʻt been more blessed to have such an opportunity of a lifetime to go and work on our ʻāina kūpuna (elder lands). This place is so rich with mana and Iʻm surrounded only by beauty. I am very pleased to be able to share my manaʻo (thoughts) with you all throughout this Winter camp  2016-2017. If only we could send pictures that so you can see the beauty that surrounds us. Iʻll only try my best to give detailed descriptions so that you can picture it in your mind. 
   Well, we survived our first week! One down, about 27 more to go! So far, the majority of the work weʻve done consisted of searching and spraying various invasive plant species such as Cenchrus echinatus, Eleusine indica, Lobularia martima, Solanum americanum, Sonchus oleraceus, Verbesina encelioides, and much more. As we search for these invasive plants, we have to make our way through thick naupaka bushes in intense heat while carrying our spray packs a big fanny pack on our pelvis and most importantly - not stepping on burrows or birds.  Besides spraying, weʻve also made big-headed ant monitoring stations using peanut butter, honey, and a piece of spam. I also went on my first full monk seal survey on Friday and I found my first glass ball ever! Iʻm super stoked. Finally, we ended the week with a marine debris survey in the lagoon. We checked out two spots - a reef to the Northwest of the atoll and an old shipwreck, the Houei Maru from 1976. Luckily, there werenʻt any debris where we surveyed. However, there were many fish swimming freely! It was really nice to have jumped in the water after a long week of working up a great deal of sweat.
   Besides working in the field, we also have various daily tasks. One of them is completing our rotation for cooking meals each night. Since we are a small group of 5, the rotation goes by pretty fast and we sometimes cook twice a week. I joked around with my ʻohana before I came that everyone is going to be skinny if Iʻm the one cooking - being that I would probably cook the bare minimum or just make cereal. Itʻs just a joke though. So far, Iʻve made pasta that quite frankly, was pretty ʻono. Well, anything that anyone makes here is considered ʻono since itʻs all we got. Mahalo i ka mea loaʻa! Be thankful for what you have. But really though, everything tastes good here. Oh, and also the fact that we throw in random leftovers together from the previous nights whenever we eat lunch. After a few hours of hard work, we all have a big appetite. One thing I miss for sure though is ice cold water! Iʻm just waiting until we eat more food so that we have space in our freezers to start making ice trays. Then itʻll be perfs after a long day. One thing Iʻm stoked on is that weʻre limited to junk food. So Iʻll be skinny when this camp is pau haha. Time for a cleanse! 
   When weʻre not working, Iʻm either in the water at the beach, or reading a book in the sand while getting sunkissed. Coming from Haleʻiwa, you know I gotta get my kai missions in. I wasnʻt too much of a reader, but during this trip I will definitely be a changed wahine - for the better of course. The first book Iʻm working on is Me Before You that I borrowed from my younger sister. Too bad I didnʻt have enough time to download movies on my hard drive so I could watch that movie after Iʻm pau with the book. Two of my favorite books that Iʻm constantly flipping through pages are ka puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings a Mary Kawena Pūkuʻi and the Hawaiian Dictionary. Iʻm always studying and using them as reference as I do my kilo (observations) or write in my puke hoʻomanaʻo (journal). Living here for next 6 months will definitely be the perfect time and place to get my study on and hoʻonui ʻike (expand my knowledge)! 
Besides studying, Iʻve just re-started a work out program that I did during the summer and ended up stopping a month before I came here ʻcause I wanted to satisfy all my cravings before I got cut off from it haha. But now Iʻm back on the grind! After a long day of pushing through thick naupaka bushes while carrying our spray packs or hauling up the boat, an extra workout to end the day will just increase my ability to gain strength and drop dem paona! Stoooooooooking. 
   I can go on and on about the beauty that surrounds us, but Iʻll save it for my future blogs. Of course everything is spectacular, but one major thing that Iʻm particularly fascinated by is how many birds there are here - especially the ʻiwa. Although Iʻve lived in Haleʻiwa all my life, I have never seen so many ʻiwa than over here. He mea nui ia iaʻu. Itʻs just a special thing for me. Even better, thereʻs a spot here thatʻs actually called Haleʻiwa because thatʻs where majority of the ʻiwa reside. Iʻm just mind blown. It was destiny that I was to come here. Like Iʻve said before, there was a force that was pulling me into coming here. You know one thing that Iʻve told others before is that I always get a sensation of feeling safe or confirmation that I belong in a certain place wherever I have worked, traveled, or lived for some time whenever I see an ʻiwa. Itʻs funny that some say that itʻs the opposite and they feel like something bad will happen, but there was one particular event that just backed up everything I believed in. That moment was when we were at sea on our way here while aboard the Kahana. From what Iʻve heard, the trip out here is usually rough. However, it was the calmest ever and I did see a few ʻiwa here and there while I was on the top deck. It wasnʻt until I came here and looked up a few ʻōlelo noʻeau about ʻiwa and then I saw this one: “Lele ka ʻiwa mālie kai koʻo” (When the ʻiwa bird flies out to the sea, the rough sea will be calm -Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau a Mary Kawena Pūkuʻi #1979. Now that just confirms why I always get that special feeling when it comes to the ʻiwa. You know the phrase “home is where the heart is?” Well, my heart/naʻau is all for aloha ʻāina/mālama ʻāina which makes “home” everywhere I go. And Iʻve always had at least one ʻiwa appear wherever Iʻve gone. Small kine deep no? 
   I can talk for days but because of our limited time and data for emails, Iʻll leave you with another ʻōlelo noʻeau that I found that best fit the very beginning of our trip. “Hoʻolau kanaka i ka leo o nā manu” - Mary Kawena Pūkuʻi, Ka Puke ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #1094. The voices of birds give the place a feeling of being inhabited. This pertains to those who live, work, or travel in lonely places. However, life is made happy by the voices of many birds. When I first saw this ʻōlelo noʻeau, I reflected on the very beginning when in transit from the Kahana to the shore. Of course, the first thing I noticed was how small the atoll was, but second, I have never seen so many birds at one time. Although we are so far from what I say is the rest of the world, we are not alone and the sounds of the birds prove it. Trust me, it is definitely not silent here haha. Therefore, we are not alone. Nui nā hoa manu! 

Mahalo iā ʻoukou pākahi no ka heluhelu ʻana, ke kākoʻo ʻana, a me ke aloha ʻana mai iaʻu. A hui hou nō a i koʻu kākau hou ʻana. Shoots den menpachisssssss!

Naʻu,
Aulani