Day 3 - Volcano National Park

Now I Know that Man is Nothing

We thought we had signed up for an 8 hour tour.  Nope - it was 14 hours. This  Monday, April 14, 2013 is one of those profound experiences I will never forget. After picking up the last of the couples, we headed south, passing through the coffee plantations.  I learned more about coffee and why Kona coffee is so good, than I will ever need.

Our first stop was a Bakery. Normally Hawaii isn't known for its baked goods.  Wrong - we have found the two best bakeries in the world - one on Kauai and this one in the town of Na'alehu. We got some apple stuffed things that were to die for, so we bought more and carried them with us for the rest of the day.

We ate is a little gazebo The weather was sunny, clear and very nice.

 We had a few more minutes, so we walked around taking pictures, 'cause that's what we do.

These Afrikan Tulips are high up on a tree. Kayleen's lens couldn't get the blooms, so guess what, I'm elected.  They are certainly majestic.

Here we see some of the southern most bays in the United States. The picture is a little fuzzy since it was taken in a moving vehicle/

From here, the topography changed.  The influence of the recent (100,000 year or so) of volcanic activity was evident.  the mountain peaks and valleys assume the shape of cinder cones and lava flow.

 

In the distance we could see the smoke or steam coming out of the vents.  The air is a little sulphuric,
but not as bad as the day before driving through Kona. Those with allergies to VOG or VEG started to become affected by the atmosphere.

The terrain in many places is rough and sparsely vegetated. 

After lunch in a very peaceful campground, we rive into the museum. 

The first thing we see is the summit crater.  From time to time (not for a few years though) this may partially fill with lava.  When lava is not in evidence, the fumes, or VEG, vent through this hole, relieving some pressure so that the lava can flow out of the fissures and tubes instead of exploding out. 

There are other rings around the edges as evidence of other, additional seismic and volcanic activity.

The VEG comes out constantly, sometimes in trickles, sometimes in plumes, but it is always present

 We drive a few miles away to the edge of a nearby cinder cone.  from here, we still see the VEG from the summit vent. Down below we see the crater of one of the ancillary flows from this volcano.

 

Because there has been no recent activity, and no indicators of imminent activity, people are allowed to hike down into this crater and walk across the floor. It is about a 2-4 hour walk, and we have other things to do, "miles to go before we sleep" so to speak.

 

We do walk about 1/2 mile around the rim to a lava tube. Kayleen's camera is dead at this point, so I make sure I get the bird for her.

This is Nohe (No-Hay).  She is an amazing and passionate guide. We could feel her passion for the history of Hawaii, the respect and reverence for the Hawaiian culture, along with a passion for the quest for knowledge and truth.  Every moment of the day, she spent teaching us about something, mostly by word, and also by example.

The lava tube is not very long, but it is contained.  We hike down about 150 feet into a small crater or fissure to enter the tube. We actually exit the tube through a stairway in one of the vents.

We will pick up the remainder of the day on the next post.  The day was overwhelming and Awesome (in the true meaning of the word) seeing the power and destructive forces of this planet.  I know that I will never look at the creative process the same.  So much needs to be understood before se seek to create new or different life. The consequences of transplanting life from one environment into another need to be understood, and all that stuff.

Kona - Day Too

 The Sabbath Day is a Day of Rest ! !

We woke up at normal Tucson times today.  But since we are on Honolulu time, we are up too early.  Kayleen cooks up some (prepackaged) cinnamon rolls.  We watch the Horizon get light and a new day starts. 

By 8:30 we are ready to go so we get directions to the Chapel and leave. The building is only a few minutes from the condo. We take a few snaps of the view from the parking lot.

 

We walk around to the other side of the building, and there is the Kona Temple.  Yes, that is Moroni on top of the building with a large trumpet. The temple is currently closed for annual maintenance.

Like many other temples, the parking lot of the Church building serves as parking for the Temple.

After a short rest and a bite to eat, we set out exploring, mostly to make sure of the pick up points for our activity tour. We soon miss the turnoff to the marina, but we find, a herd of goats in a rough looking lava field.  if you look close, you may see the goat between the two trees.

We find not only the marina, but the birthplace of King Kauikeaeuli Kamehameha III.  This boulder here is carved out of volcanic rock. the holes in the rock appear to be natural cavities and the Hawaiians carved the rock to fit the appropriate profile.

Here is a cave where he hid from his attackers. 

The memorial included a small trail with some quiet places for reflection.  This is right in the heart of the bay where the marina is.  Apparently this place is a perfect and natural boat / canoe launching point. 

.

 

There is an earthequake today in Hawaii. It is only a 4.4. It occurs while we are in church We don't know where and we don't feel it, unless that is when we think we are moved by the Spirit. This is a reminder that this island still has constant seismic activity. They estimate that 1,000 gallons of molten lava flows out of active vents every second.

After the drive, we rest, 'cause that's what we do.  We go for a walk along the main road, just to get a feel of our surroundings. Kayleen seems to have rubbed off on me.

Now I'm taking pictures of trees and flowers too.

The ocean is quite active this afternoon. While on the walk, we find a public access path to the shoreline. We watch the waves come in for a while.

 

We see many vacant lots and land for sale.  This area seems to be repressed still. It appears that many homes and commercial buildings are in foreclosure or are simply abandoned.

We have a visit from another visitor - a HUGE black bumble bee.

We rest for a while, eat some food we purchased yesterday at the grocery store. The food is very expensive, all except the pineapple. We bought a  VERY good pineapple for only 99 cents. 

Yes, there is a sunset tonight.

Tomorrow we visit the volcanoes.

Let's find the Happy Place

 1st Day in Kona
I am a little apprehensive.  We are going to an island we have not been before. The flight is long, but it always is.  We are prepared for the long flight.  We sleep, we talk, we read. we endure. The 2year old girl across the aisle is not quite as prepared.  She doesn't understand why she can't get out of her chair. The parents are mortified. We try to comfort the dad (who looks like the mom) and the mom (who also looks like the mom). We finally land in Honolulu.  Alex is jumping out of her chair and does NOT want to get back in.

In Honolulu we have time to grab a bite to eat, and then we are on another flight, this time 45 minutes. We land in Kona.  We are on the leeward, or Dry side of the island.  It is also the island currently under construction (active volcanoes).  This is our first view of the island.

Within the next 2 hours, we have a car and a room.  The view is stunning, but the wind is  blowing. The pilot warned us that a storm was currently over Kauai and would hit the Island of Hawaii by tonight.  We walk out onto our balcony, and what do we see?

Kayleen is hoping to "just get to a place away from the stress of work and school."  She is content to sit on the beach every day.

 

 But we don't have to got to the beach. We can sit on our balcony an hear the waves role and feel the breeze.

She concedes, "I am happy"

The Source of All blessings (and other stuff)

As the year 2000 was approaching, I felt that we needed to do something more for the Lord.  We had been blessed with new employment. Our children were doing well.  We decided that we should dedicate our home to the Lord.  On the first Fast Sunday of 2000 just prior to breaking our fast, we gathered, knelt, and, by the Authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we dedicated our home to the Lord. We offered to keep our home a place where the Spirit could be nurtured and felt at all time.  We offered it as a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.
Since that day, our mortgage, and all other debts have been paid off.  We have seen grandchildren come into our lives.  We have been able to visit with our family is some of the fun or exotic places on earth.  We have been blessed beyond our comprehension. And as we try to be generous with the Lord, He continues to bless us beyond our ability to receive.  
  At the moment, I feel my life is a little bit boring.  I get up and go to work. I exercise, serve in my calling and sleep. But I have a great deal of peace, knowing that we offered, and the Lord not only accepted our offering, but has given us far more than we have ever given him.
And now, as a bonus, some pictures from Christmas to March.  We had Tim & Tiffany's family here for Christmas. 

 As I said above, our life falls into a routine.  Having children here for the Holidays is a renewal.  I helps us to feel the excitement of "Just another Christmas."

 

 

 

In January, Lecia, Kennedy & Cameron spent a week in Tucson.  It was cold in Utah, but the nicest weather of the winter in Tucson.  It got up to 80 Degrees a couple of the days

 

Kennedy likes to be a princess

 

Whereas Cameron likes to have fun.  We decided a cheerleader outfit would be fitting, especially for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

 Lecia always did enjoy sitting in the sun. 

 In March, Kayleen and I went to the 4th Ave. Street Fair. We have lived in Tucson for 27 years, and this is the first time we have visited.  We did not buy any beanie caps or any food. Mostly we looked at the people.

 We did spend some time looking at the various forms of art on display

 We may go back in another 27 years. But we're not making any promises

The Trial of Faith

From the time I was young, my life has been about learning to work in new and different ways.  From the time I was 8, I delivered papers for the Springville Herald, a weekly newspaper. Of course, that meant that I also needed to go around to the residents to collect the monthly fees.  During the summer months, I also worked a lot on our farm, as well as on my Uncle's farm.  My cousin Robert and I would be at the first of the conveyor belt to pull out leaves, twigs and obvious culls from the cherries, peaches, and any other fruit that happened to be in season.  Later, I picked the fruit for my summer wages. When I was old enough to work, I got a job digging & cleaning ditches for the Springville Irrigation authority.  I also worked for my dad's boss throwing tires, and changing tires. 
I worked for many years at the tire shop, and in fact, mostly worked my way through college at Johnson Tire Service.  I became proficient at changing large truck and farm implement tires.  I also worked for one summer in the recap department.
Of course, my Dad was a perfect example of hard work, so as I grew and matured, I recognized that work, any honest work, was ennobling and helped to shape the character of a man. 
When I graduated, I was employed by Arthur Andersen  Co., one of the "Big 8" international accounting firms. It turns out, I was not a good auditor.  I didn't have the attention span for that kind of detail.  My mind would constantly race ahead of where I was supposed to be. So after 2 years, I left that job and went to work for a Cal Gas Corporation, a very large propane distributor.  After 5 years in Idaho, they moved our family to Tucson. 
   This was the first big trial.  I knew that I had employment in Tucson, but we were having a very hard time selling the house in Boise.  For 5 months, I lived in Tucson while my family was in Idaho.  Every two or three weeks, I would fly back to Idaho for the weekend.  Kayleen and I both prayed and fasted that our family could be re-united again, but the days and weeks continued to drag on.  At last I decided that if I couldn't sell the house, perhaps we needed to stay in Idaho, so I began interviewing for work in Boise.  That didn't work either. 

   One Monday, just before Christmas break, I was driving to Show Low to do my work.  It was early in the day, and I was talking to Father, trying to understand what He would have us do.  I received a Spiritual witness, that the trial was done.  It was over.  I felt the elation, even though I did not yet know how it would end.  That night I called Kayleen, and she said that someone had put an offer on the house, but it was less than we owed.  We let the offer lapse.  Later that week an LDS couple walked through the house. They later said that it was like coming home.  They received a confirmation that they were to by that house at 9953 Bigwood Drive in Boise.  The house closed withing a month, during which time I bought a house in Tucson, where we still live.
   Now fast forward to 1994.  I was working for Horizon Moving Systems.  The owner's son came into the business, and for a number of reasons, we butted heads.  In the Fall of 1994, I began to pray for help in obtaining new employment, where I could be happy and where I could be of greater assistance to the owners.  Over a 3 year period, I prayed and fasted that I would be able to change my situation.  Every time I asked if I could quit, Father gave me a resounding "NO," but then He would send me some gift, in the form a dream or other revelation to help me.

  Once I dreamed I was wrestling. (Anyone who has ever been a wrestling match knows how totally exhausting that can be.) I was tired, very tired.  I felt myself go over onto my back, and I was about to be pinned.  But then I heard the "Coach" yelling encouragement from the sidelines.  I responded to the Coach, I was able to get a reversal on my opponent, and pin him to the mat.  I printed out a picture of a wrestling match and hung it in my cubicle to remind me of the dream. 
  Another time I dreamed that a ship with a very important payload had set sail, and was on its way to bring me something of great value.  I printed out a picture of a sailing ship and hung it in my cubicle, to remind me that Father knew me, and had something on its way for me.
In November 1997 I had another dream.  It was on a Friday evening. In the dream, I climbed the side of a very high overpass.  I got to the top looked both directions, and the slide ( like on a playground slide) down the road to the bottom of the overpass. 
  I then brushed off my trousers and started walking down the road.  I emailed the dream to my sister, and she called me. She said, "The trial is over.  I don't know how it is going to end, but it is over." 
On Monday, my boss took me to lunch and asked me to resign.  He had a severance package ready for me to review.  He suggested I have my lawyer look at the severance offer.  I took the offer to the legal counsel for the College (I had been elected to the Governing Board of the College.)  The lawyer made some suggestions, had it re-typed, and I took it back to my boss.  Basically, I received 6 months pay for going quietly. 
  I was very disturbed though, so I went to the Mesa Temple on the next Thursday.  I was fasting, and I knew that this was the culmination of 3 years of prayers.  The whole experience was beyond my ability to describe, but while in the Celestial Room, I saw what I needed to do.  I came out of the temple with a different attitude.  I knew, absolutely knew, that 1) Father knew who I was, 2) he had heard my prayers, and 3) He had a blessing for me, and I just needed to find out what that blessing was.  From then on, the job search was more like the weeks leading up to an exciting Christmas.  I was getting a present from God. 
  From November through January 1998, I worked at finding that present.  I would get up at 4:00 AM , to be online at the time the offices on the East Coast opened.  I worked until about 10:00 or 11:00 each day.  I took up painting, to stimulate my right brain activity.  I exercised most days, cooked for the family and cleaned the house.  In late January, I had a series of interviews that lead to the employment I currently have.  It was a most interesting and amazing journey.  I still know that Father lives and that He loves ME.  For all my imperfections, faults and failings, He loves me.  Just like the people in the Martin Handcart Company, the journey was hard, but I would not change a thing.  Looking back, I know that the trial was meant for me. It was set for me as an individual, to teach me the very things I needed to learn.