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 7:30am (SST) 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