Mahina: Pō Lāʻaupau
"Today was a beautiful day. We met at 10 am to catch 0 ft low tide at 11:30 am. We were testing the ocean water along the coast. The coast is alive and abundant with life. The pōhaku were filled with limu, the tide pools home to puhis and baby fish and the ocean visible enough to see bigger fish below and hungry honus. I've never been so intrigued while observing a coastline. Kō'eles that made my tastebuds tingle, limu that caught my attention every time I looked below the cliffs and hā'uke'uke that made me think of my mom because she loves to eat hā'uke'uke. And we can't forget about the curious puhis who pop their heads out of the pukas in the ponds." -M.K. "We came out today with a different game plan as to how we will do water salinity and temperature testing. Even though we are literally next to the ocean there is always a a different challenge when we are getting water to test. It is challenging and at the same time still a great opportunity to learn even more about this amazing coast line. Todays low tide showed us may of the creatures that are hidden from us when it is high. Even though we waled this before it is remarkable you always find something new each time." -K.G.
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Mahina: Pō Mahealani
"Today was unbelievably clear from the sky to the ocean. I am blessed to be with kamaʻāina from this ahupuaʻa. Today I was humbled to learn new things about limu from Dr. Karla McDermid. She has showed amazing ʻike to us, and I personally love that it is in the field and not in a classroom. Even as we went to our Kalapana ahupua'a the tranquility of the weather was beyond comparison to the previous days we have been down here. The clarity to which we could see the fish swimming from a top 60 feet on these cliffs is mind blowing. The life on these cliffs reflect the ocean correspondingly. It might be the hottest place at some moments but to be surrounded by resilient resources as well as astounding views will be etched in my mind forever. " -K. G. "This morning we were on a limu mission. We all met at 8 am to catch low tide at 8:30 am. It was a great day today, the limu was exposed in the Pu'ilima tide pools and the ocean was calm. There were hon of many sizes eating limu off of the rocks below the water and floating to the surface to breathe, leaving their shells exposed before they swam back under to feast. There were so many different kinds of limu, unique in their own ways. Limu of many shapes and colors that grow and thrive along this coastline in tide pools and on pōhaku among an abundance of 'opihi and baby fish who find refuge in these tide pools with limu." -M.K. Mahina Pō Hua
-walking from Black Sands community, Kaimū towards Kīkala "As we walked through the brush to get to the water, I remember all the memories under the low milo tree grove. The big boulders mixed with 'ili'ili pebbles, sitting on the shore and strong as ever. In union they sit under the sun waiting to be washed by the cool, salty water as the tide rises and the waves get bigger. Under the big milo trees stand baby milo trees, perfectly sheltered by their parents' canopy. It's nice and hot today and as we walk along the cliffs I stop to feel the pa'akai that has dried up in little pukas in the pāhoehoe above the cliffs." -M.K. "In all my experiences of tidepools on Oʻahu, I have never been to one that holds so much diversity and life until I came to Hawaiʻi island. It is a refreshing feeling to see tidepools that are still healthy and full of traditional limu that our kūpuna used in their everyday lives. The treacherous walks across the ʻaʻā protects these resources fiercely. One wrong step can potentially be a fatal move on this coast line. It is as if natures knows that it needs to create these barriers to keep these resources alive. The limu kala, limu ʻakiʻaki and even limu kohu are all prevalent. Something regrettably I have never seen back home. I hope I never live to see these resources vanish from this wahi pana." -K.G. Mahina: Pō Kūpau
Ahapuaʻa: Kalapana "Today I remember seeing blue uhh fish again, just swimming below the cliff. I watched in awe as they swam so freely, tempting me to join them in the clear, cool water to escape the heat of the sun. I sat one the pāhoehoe rock above to listen to the waves crash against the rocks and watch the water rush through the little ili ili pebbles in the small beach below. The naupaka crawls at the cliffs edge overlooking the ocean boulders below that are abundard with baby 'opine, ha'uke'uke, and limu." -M.K. "The walk across the pāhoehoe seemed to give me energy as we made our way to the coast. The mist from Kanaloa slowly shaping the foundation Pele has created drives my excitement and curiosity as we start to observe the coastal life in this new area. It is amazing to see life prevail in harsh environment. The limu we got samples of today tasted different even though we collected them from the same area. One was also a lot easier to ʻohi than the other. The concentration of haʻukeʻuke was greater in my kilo, however they were smaller in size. The kaunaʻoa pehu seemed to once have a predominant hold over the waiawī but are now dying. I wonder if it is because the days are getting longer as the summer solstice is right around the bend." -K.G. Muku moon
@ Kīkala ahupua'a ma Kehena "Some more blessings of ua. We saw a lot of birds today. There was an 'iwa that was constantly visiting us. Here, along the coastline, I mostly see naupaka, mau'u aki'aki grass, and Hilo bunch grass. The 'Iwa bird always reminds me of rain or as a warning that a storm is coming. Naupaka reminds me of the mo'olelo of naupaka, of the love between Naupaka and Kai forever separated by lava. The waves crash against the cliff's side and spray a salty mist. It's coastlines like this that remind me of mo'olelo." -Mini Keli'iho'omalu "Through a side trail we are guided by ohiʻa until we are at the coast. The breeze, smell, and taste of the salt in the air is the same as Kalapana ahupua'a. The terrain is what changed. From pāhoehoe to ʻaʻā, even in the movement of the ocean. As our elevation declines the landscape from our akua convey their other physical attributes. The strength of the water crashing on the rocks is constant. Though there is still a phenomenal presence of life, I cant help but wonder why there is less limu. The concentration of limu was recognizable from a top the cliffs at our previous site." -Ka'ehukai Goin Po'ālua (Lā 7, Iune, 2021)
Mahina: Kāne Ahupuaʻa: Kalapana Amazing to see life being reborn through blanket of Pele as she extends our ʻāina. The amount of Limu growing, alongside the presence of Pipipi Kōlea and Pipipi show proof of a healthy kai hele kū system. Each bay that we rested at seemed to have large blue uhu. I did not see many coral heads or coral structures. The coast line is mostly pahoehoe and pōhaku nui. -GKG Today started off with the blessing of some ua and we were lucky to have some cloud cover on the walk in Kalapana. I was taught to recognize our blessings as hō'ailona and to always be aware and appreciate them. Recognizing hō'ailona teaches you to be more observant and to realize what is happening around you. Whether it be the rain or the uhh fish that swims below, these are signs that I recognize and am grateful to have seen today. -KMK |
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