In preparation for the Kona low storm that was predicted to arrive on Hawaiʻi Island early this morning, I closed all the south & west facing windows last night. It is so nice to have windows I can open & close effortlessly! Although it rained early this morning it was not the same intense rain event like they are having on Kauaʻi & Oʻahu. It was overcast but dry this morning, so I took advantage of the calm before the storm. I weed whacked the mālā kalo & lined it with cardboard. I watered the cardboard to get it to mold to the shape of the trench I had Fred dig for me over a year ago when he was putting in the cat fencing. I want the rain from the Kona low storm to soak it even more before I begin to add the mulch & plant the kalo.
 |
| Forgot to take photo before I weed whacked. |
 |
| Hope cardboard keeps the weeds from coming back. |
 |
| I want cardboard saturated before I add kalo. |
I still had more charge left on the 1st battery for the weed whacker, so I cut the grasses around the edges of the planting area for the ʻohiʻa. I then spread out the cardboard to slow the weeds from crowding around the trunk of the ʻohiʻa. I will also let the coming rains soak the cardboard before I add the mulch.
 |
| Also forgot the before photo on this one. |
I still had some charge left on the 1st battery & a fully charged 2nd battery, so I started on the driveway. There is an area just outside the garage that was covered with bricks; later David poured 2 concrete tracks for the tires from that brick pad out to the road. During the time that no one lived here, the bricks got covered with grass. Since I arrived a little over 4 years ago, my driving in & out has worn down some of the grass but a lot remains. Today I used the weed whacker to start to find the edges of the brick pad so I know how much work I have ahead of me!
 |
| Forgot to take a "before" photo for this also. |
 |
| Seems over the years a lot of dirt has settled on the bricks. |
 |
| Looking out at the brick pad from garage. |
The Kona low storm had not arrived on Hawaiʻi Island by the time I went to bed. Today Kauaʻi got between 2.6" to 7", Oʻahu had between 3.8" to 4.9", & Molokaʻi had 2.15". Hawaiʻi Island had 1". Starting tomorrow evening there will also be a high wind watch on for the state. According to the weather report tonight the next round on Friday will be more intense.
In the meanwhile, the eruption at Kīlauea has ended; it is not expected to be putting on another show until some time the end of March & into the 1st half of April.
Hauoli lā Hānau e Ratna!
