Hot Rocks Hawaii

I bet you can’t guess where one of my favorite places is right now?  No, not the current crazy lava flow in Kalapana with a zillion people running all over private property……..it is our very own Federal National Park in the State of Hawaii. Volcanoes National Park in Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii – only 40 minutes from where I live.  The minute you drive into the park you can feel the serenity and peace of the environment.  On my “staycation” this year I chose to hike Kilauea Iki trail.  Depending on your ability to walk and your stamina will depend on if you want to do this hike.  I believe it is considered a moderate hike.  (Make sure you get the brochure at the park ranger station – it tells you what you are looking at while you hike).  You can either hike it from beginning to end for about an hour or so, or if you are strange like me, I like to do the part I was after…….. stay tuned.

For the first time in my life (and I have lived in the islands for over 25 years in total) I went to the bottom of a Caldera. I have been to the park many times over the years (from Age 5 to 40 something) but have never stopped and taken a moment to just enjoy one of the hikes and enjoy just being there……instead of the mad rush of trying to see a park….cause you have visitors and no time for everything.  I went from the back end of the hike (across the street from the Lava tube trail) and went down the jungle side for about 45 minutes, enjoying the scene as we got closer to the bottom of the Caldera. If you do this early in the morning you also don’t run into anyone and the birds are singing away for just you.  The hike back up was a good one and gets your breathing going……probably about 1 hour to go back up. But, we were distracted by a “Io” (Hawaiian Hawk) who was irritating an “Apapane” a rare bird except for the Volcano areas.  I was thrilled!  It was my first time seeing an Apapane……OMG.  They were doing the full feather dance because they wanted that Io out of there.  So in this one day, I not only made my wish list of being in a Caldera, the icing on the cake was the Apapane sighting!  Wow, what a Birthday present that was for me!

So,Get out there and make your wishes come true.  And, by the way, Support your Federal National Parks – they are yours. If you live on the Big Island it is only $25.00 for a card for access all year round. Hike, Camp and see the Stars at night……just do it!     Aloha Janet D

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School ArtWork

Great News!

For a poor economy – we still pulled the “cat out of the bag”  at the Paradise Art Studio Tour 2009……….in all we raised a total of $1,036.00   The donation check was presented to the Pahoa Intermediate/High School on February 3rd by the PST.

This will help support art in the schools in our community.  As you can see from the artwork (above) displayed at Hot Rocks Hawaii Studio, we have some really great artist in the making!  Alot of people remarked (WOW) on the self-protrait – I think he only drew it in a manner of days!

Thank you for supporting this event and visiting my art studio – it was a fun event.

Janet d.

Make sure you look up at the skies and see how many falling stars you can count. Right now and peaking on Tuesday November 17, 2009 you will see one of the best Leonid Meteor Showers in years.  I remember a really good one about 10 years ago…….. We are expecting to see up to 500/per hour with this session.  What is it, where does it come from – this is a result of comet Tempel-tuttle – and what you are seeing is the tail pieces hitting our atmosphere.  Don’t take my word for it – google and you will find really great resources from NASA to   on the web. Read up, keep science alive and keep your enthusiasm for learning alive – Aloha Janet d

Halloween Nite: We hiked to see the activity at Kalapana on this spooky night – lit with the Full Moon.  The activity is not as spectacular as June 2009 or July 2008 when the lava activity shot high into the air about 100 ft.  This night it was still a sight to see – with the lava clearly seen streaming into the ocean, splashing up now and then – interacting with the saltwater – fresh hot orange lava. In the steam clouds you could see figures such as Pele’s face looking toward the lava streams, Warriors and I saw a grand ole Orange Pumpkin!

We missed seeing the activity a couple of weeks ago when the lava stream from up-slope came down close the trailhead and burned the Kipuka (Jungle patch) on the edges.  On our hike back to go home – a large pig was spotted looking for crispy grubs from the recent fire. We spot-lite her with our dive light and she just kept foraging – she must be used to Tourist! As for the crowd – well with tourism down right now – it was a small crowd – more rowdy. When we have the large crowds at the viewing site in the summer they tend to behave much better.   

Over night  NEWS – Halemaumau Caldera at Volcanoes National Park – had another collaspe of the walls of the pond! They are stating you can see more of the swirling lava pond from Jagger museum.  Is it possible this could continue to happen and end up being a full pond in a couple of years time? That would be something.  Stay tuned and support our local National park right here in our own back yard.  We might take a drive tonight to see how it looks……stayed tuned.  Aloha – Janet D

Have you read the one about the family who thought their SUV was hit by someone throwing rocks – then it turns out there was a meteor shower the same night?  Take a look the link below for the video.  Now remember – the next time you think you have been hit by a rock – you just might have been hit by a meteorite – worth $

Source: CTV News

Duke Kahanamoku’s ink handprints are expected to catch about $12,000 at a surf auction on Monday October 19th in LA. The ink impressions were made in 1943 of the huge 9  x 6 wide hands……..no wonder he had such powerful hands for swimming in the Olympics in 1920.  As you know he represented and made popular the sport of surfing to the world….. and is still honored to this day.

Other items for auction include Hawaiian specialty items such as the 1841 Hawaiian Constitution valued at $7000 to $9000 and the engraving (of the painting) of Captain Cook’s death – it may be worth as much as $18,000.  A 1783 Seaman’s account of sailing with Captain Cook, the first texts of the Hawaiian Government under King Kamehameha III and an atlas of one of Captain Cook’s voyages to the pacific.

If you are a collector of Hawaiian history – you may be interested in this: a copy of the first English Language version of the Hawaiian Creation Chant as translated by Queen Liliuokalani from family manuscripts during her imprisonment.

For more information you can go to the honoluluadvertiser.com and look up the article or search the web.

After 120 years – Father Damien De Veuster has become Hawaii’s first Saint to be acknowledged at the Vatican. If you live in Hawaii you should know the story about Father Damien who gave his life of comfort and care for the forgotten patients of Molokai – who also died from Hansen’s disease.  If you don’t know the story then read: The Colony.  You will be mesmerized, sick, elated, shocked and hopeful while reading this true account of what the Leper’s (and their families) experienced on Molokai from the first patients to the existing families today.

This is the first time that a President will have a “first light” at the White House – the timing is perfectly timed to the Year of Astronomy 2009.  And it happens today!  See: SkyandTelescope.com They will have about 150 children and astronomers at the white house for this special event.  It is a great show of Obama’s commitement to science and support for astronomy – to promote greater awareness of our place in the universe.

This is the brainchild of our friend Audrey Fischer – the same lady who donated the awesome 3.5 lb Nantan Meteorite that I show at events on the Big Island. Audrey is an advocate of astronomical causes and sparked the idea to hold a star party at the White House.  Thank you Audrey – Great job!  Aloha Janet D

The St. Joseph Schools Country Fair was fun.  There was something for everyone and especially for children.  Cake walks, auctions, games, live music, food, Fire Trucks, Classic Cars, rock climbing, pony rides, Choo Train rides and of course our Astronomy Tent with Suburu, Imiloa, Gary’s Meteorites and my Geologic table.  All good Fun!  Kids and Adults alike loved the “dino dug”. We live in Hawaii and do not have fossils or a museum of natural history……so this is it…… for this kind of experience of learning.  I had great discussions with kids and adults about why we don’t have fossils in the Hawaiian islands, how old are the Hawaiian islands, where did these fossils come from and how do you know these are dino poo?  Great questions and conversations.

If you missed seeing my geologic table – we will be at the first Galileo Block Party in HILO.  Saturday October 24, 2009 from 1:30 pm until 7pm.  The whole street will be the Astronomy community plus my little ole table of dino dung and a Nantan Meteorite.  FREE and definately a childrens event.  Please join us. Aloha Janet D.

Astronomy Outreach August 2009

This is from our Astronomy community outreach at KMC in August.  I was “meteor mama” as well as the table with the “dino dung”.  WHY?  You Ask.  Because I have a passion for teaching kids about cool stuff.  I love geology, nature, volcanoes and cool stuff like Coprolites – which are dino doo that have been replaced by Agate stone!  Wow!  Now that is cool. On my table I had the Nantan, China 3 pound Meteorite, the 4 pound of Dino Doo, Apache Tears, fossils such as Nautilus and Squid etc.  If you are interested in seeing my educational setup – it looks like I will be presenting at the St. Joseph’s Country Fair October 3rd from 8am to 3pm.  SEE my events Tab for more information.  This is another Astronomy Outreach program – that are kind enough to add the crazy lady with the Dino Doo.    Aloha Janet D