Zero-Putt-Birdie, Volcano Duet

 [Note: This is another blog based on my weekly emails to my family on the mainland.]

10/22/22

Aloha Everybody -- 

Looks like some of you mainlanders are getting a taste of fall. Our warm pattern has eased off somewhat, and we used our a.c. much less this week than last.  Good, thing, as our solar credit for the year was donated to Helco on Wednesday and we've started over from zero.

Makalei in Fall...

Last Sunday Karen's foot was improved enough that we went to the driving range and whacked a few balls, the first time in a couple of months.  We did well enough to go ahead and play on Thursday.  Karen's snowbird friend joined us.  She's also not been playing for awhile, so we were well matched.  Surprisingly, all three of us did very well.  The recent rain has made the Makalei course absolutely beautiful and the day we played was clear and cool.  We saw the usual resident bunch of peacocks, including the two white peahens, and we were treated to about 20 or more

A Standout

Nenes, who have returned for nesting season.  The best part for me was achieving the pinnacle of my golfing "career," a zero-putt-birdie on a par four hole!  This involved a rather amazing chip shot from about 30 feet off the green that rolled right into the hole! Damn!  It was almost like I knew what I was doing!  I did well on several other holes, too -- including 4 bogeys.  This performance will never be repeated, I'm sure, but it sure was sweet while it was happening.

You may have heard that Mauna Loa, our 13k foot volcano to the south, has been rumbling recently.  Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world, and has erupted 33 times in the last 180 years. The last time was in 1984 and it will undoubtedly erupt again.  Although there isn't any direct danger to us because it's 100 miles away, it is a danger to Hilo and to smaller communities in the area.  An eruption is likely to take out the only road that circles the island and it would cut our internet and power links. You might think there would be plans in place to deal with this likelihood, right?  Sortakindamaybe. Mauna Loa is monitored very closely and starting last month there has been an increase in earthquake activity from the usual 10-20 to  40-50 per day caused by lava moving into system.  However, the scientists say that "The current increase in activity does not suggest that a progression to an eruption is certain, and there are no indications that an eruption is imminent."  Not sure that's very comforting.  Anyway, that means that at the moment we have two volcanoes doing their volcano thing -- Mauna Loa and Kilauea, which is still oozing lava at the summit-- now around 29 billion gallons since September of last year. That's a lotta lava!

Ok, off to market and the beach. Take care, enjoy your fall -- you know what's coming next.....