'Ole Ku and Huna: blossoms and pollinators

The night sky has been clear, and we are blessed with many sightings of Hina during the 'Ole Po

Huckleberries and wild blue berry bushes fill with blossoms opening. Bees and hummingbirds are wild for the nectar. Their songs high-pitched and present during the day.

Raspberry canes have become a hedge of green and tiny blossoms. The pin thin beaks of hummingbird are perfectly shaped to harvest and pollinate. I watched her yesterday, busy with her gathering amazed at her diligence.

Grape vines are reaching out and growing wild up and onto the garage roof.

The wind is strong. The sky has filled in with clouds. No sign of blue at noon. Seems to be blowing off the Cascades, from the Northeast. 

Na 'Ole Po (the 'Ole Moons)

What?

During the wind times of the passed few days and nights, I came across a change in a snapped tree (a hemlock or fir) that was caught between two near-by 'ohana (family).

The trunk remaining has separated from the rotted top.

Like a precarious seesaw the fallen is held in place ... at least for now.
CAUTION take another trail through the woods!

These are the four moons of 'Ole, times for reflection, weeding, cleaning, sharping tools, and preparing for the next steps. As Mahina approaches her fullness (HO'ONUI phases) I am conscious of the astrology behind such a moon. It is important to know on what land, what place I am. I reflect upon the connections with the First Peoples' of this moku; pa'a this connection to the Tulalip Lushootseed Language where my husband and I start to learn the sounds, words, 'olelo of this place. Listen. Hear.

TULALIP LUSHOOTSEED WEATHER

Change in the weather (between Hilo and Na Ku Po)

Kalei Nu'uhiwa describes the highlights of the month of WELO (April 19-May 18) as being, among other things, "a time when high pressure systems roll into Hawaii and bring unexpected weather with winds [...]" Yesterday, high and strong winds and heavy rain came through the woods.

I tried to catch the movement in the chimes off the end of the vardo. Lots of wind!

The Tall Ones danced. Pete heard two trees topple and crash northeast of us.

A big change from the bright and clear sky, and warm summer-like weather of the days and nights over the weekend. The shots below were taken between 7:43 PM and 9:04 PM, April 20, 2015. You can get a bigger view by clicking on the images.

Hina barely visible in the west just before sunset. Look closely ... See the tip of the tree in the lower right-hand corner. Move your eyes up to barely 12 o'clock (almost straight up) Use the long finger of the Tutu Tree (big fir to the left). Hina is just beneath tthat finger and above the tip of the tree in the lower right-hand corner.

A streak of cloud adds to the changing look of the sky with Hina. Can you spot her?

And now in the cloud?

Darker sky, brighter moon

Spacey! Dark sky, Hina setting behind our horizon of Tall Ones.

Planting on Hoaka Moon: Eia na pulapula a 'oukou 'o ka 'ohana ...

"Eia no pulapula a'oukou 'o ka 'ohana [...]" 

Here are your seedlings, sprouts, descendant, offspring

Pule Ho'ulu'ulu

Yesterday, on a Hoaka afternoon, we planted a special Fir Tree in memory of my Brother David.

Pete carried David's fir down the main trail through the woods. Mary waited with the 'ohe (bamboo) and windchime.

A sweet and sunny spot protected by moss to the right of the trail was the spot I chose for David's fir.

"E malama 'oukou ia makou/Eulu i ka lani/Eulu i ka houa/Eulu i ka pae'aina o Hawai'i o me ke'ia moku o Salish"
Safeguard us/ That we may fllourish in the heavens/That we may flourish on earth/That we may flourish in the Hawaiian Islands and in this Salish Island

Pete goes back with a bucket of water to make sure the fir has a good long drink after transplanting.

(Muku or) Hilo Daytime; Pule Ho'ulu'ulu

 The temperature was like summer. The air dry. Only a very gentle breeze. Perfect day for preparing a new bed for pole beans, summer squash, and herbs. 

Sifting the lepo to get loamy soil ... tilth

And bare feet!

Perfect weather for drying clothes, too

As I sat taking a break at the picnic table I saw something big in the lower chicken yard. A flash of black. A flash of red.
Pileated Woodpecker.

Mary, our friend and land-mate said she thought we were now hanai-parents (adopted parents) to a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers after the land across the road was clear-cut this family lost their habitat. They're welcome here.

Sunset. Bright orange ball through the trees. In the west.

Later in the evening the sky and the forest was a shade of violet.

This was ka la (the sun) at sunrise on this po. In the East.

The opening line to Pule Ho'ulu'ulu

"Na 'Aumakua mai ka la hiki a ka la kau!

Ancestors from the rising to the setting sun"

Last night when I was pau with playing in the dirt, I had a big WOOW. We live in a place where we can see the sun rise in the east and set in the west. Sacred space. Mahalo na 'aumakua, hilo ia a pa'a. 

Muku nei, New Moon Morning

Sunset in the woods on a Mauli po. La'au soak up the last rays of sunlight. Turn them golden.

This morning, E a la e ... sunrise and muku nei 

Brackens through the slats of the vardo porch leafing out and reaching tall

The apple tree is blossoming

The Asian Pear near pau blossoming

 Hummingbird greeted me with his 'buzzzz' when I opened the orchard gate to let Rygel out from her coop. Ever heard the greeting of a hummingbird?

First signs of raspberry fruit

Close-up of Gravenstein blossoms

 First salmon berry right outside the Quonset 

The new malama (month) of WELO begins with this po. Is it Muku or Hilo po? Maybe we'll be able to see the twisting sliver at sunset. 

Kane Moon

Kane Moon

" No fishing. No planting."

(Click to see Ke Ala O Ka Mahina Calendar)

(Listen to the opening

Oli Ke Welina Mai Kei Kekini O Lalo

 for KANE
... and Kekuhi Kanahele interpretation, "Kane in his largest form is atmosphere ...") 

Mercury in Taurus

"Wednesday morning the Moon in Pisces sextiles Mars in Taurus. Mars trines Pluto for a deep, physical anchor in action. When you wake, pay attention to the physical sensations in your body. Connect to that deep root to power up.[...]"Read the rest

'Ole Pau (over the weekend)

From ma'uka where we live in the woods, Raven flew above us just before we left to do errands up island. He perched on a hemlock branch, turned to watch us ... for a long look at us. 

Our first stop was Greenbank Farms. The sky was clear, the weather malia...pleasant with a slight breeze, and warming sun. Geese on the other side of the pond grazed. We heard a pair 'call' and 'respond.' 

Dandelions and English Daisies filled the grass with color. We stepped carefully.

The reeds were a perfect raft for a Starling to drink water.

We continued north to Coopeville. First to the junk yards (they call 'em Recycling Centers now) looking for a used sink and a heater for next winter. We found them both for $20. Resourceful use of fossil fuel (to drive the car) and use the skills of know-how from a lifetime of fixing things rather than consuming new.

 (Hover over the map for the First Peoples' name for the island we live on.) The island we live on is the long irregular shape of moku with the "T" in the word "PUGET" on its lowest southern tip. 

An exhibit at the Island County Museum in Coopeville led me to a place where I could discover some answers to my questions about the songs of these moku, and this water.

Outside, on Penn Cove the winds had picked up strength, the tide was flowing in. Mid day. Ho'oku'i.
We are facing north east, the wind came from that direction.

The feathers of the gulls ruffled, the birds remained pa'a, steadfast.