Spanish Moss

About 2 weeks ago Ron sent a text out to the Neighborhood Security Watch group of walkers, asking if anyone wanted some Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides); he was removing an old lychee tree that was no longer producing fruit that was covered with it. I said I would like some but I would not be there for about 2 weeks; he said he would save some for me. I picked it up today; it was a big garbage bag full!

Wow! (Photo by Ron)

They're so long they're touching the ground! /(Photo by Ron)

I think there are 2 bunches in here.

Spanish moss is known in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi as ʻUmiʻumi ʻo Dole or Dole's Beard; named after Sanford B. Dole who has a complicated history with the overthrow of the Hawaiian nation. It is sometimes called Pele's hair but this confuses it with the volcanic phenomenon. Here's a picture of Dole, I can see why they gave it that name!

The walk to Ron's house & back was a little less than half a mile. Just walking probably took only a few minutes one way. According to the Samsung Health walking app that I use, Ron's house is about 59 feet higher than the Kaimukī house. 

During my walk, HNN Weather said it was 8o degrees F at 72% humidity with a dew point of 70 degrees. The Samsung Health app gets its information from The Weather Channel; they said it was 78.8 degrees F at 73% humidity. Very similar. I couldn't tell the difference when walking, I just know I needed a lukewarm shower to help me cool down after that walk! 

After cooling down, I began working on the computer room. The Roommates have been slowly working on various parts of the house, sorting & purging. A lot of the things they thought I might want ended up in the computer room since it was the least used room. Now it is my turn to purge things.

Decided to start in this section.

Panorama of the work to be done.

Sunday at 5 pm is the end of the Duolingo leaderboard "tournament". At that time it is determined whether you will be demoted, promoted, or stay in the same league. If you are in the top 3 you also get points. This week I got promoted; I am now in the Obsidian League! I forgot to take a screenshot of the additional points I won.

... Obsidian League.

 

I saw a tiny house gecko this afternoon. I think it is newly hatched since it seemed to be just under an inch long.

 

About 4:30 this morning I texted Tomiko, "Precursory activity has finally started! 😸" And about a half hour later, "Low fountaining has started." Then another half hour later the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued a Volcanic Activity Notice saying Episode 29 had officially begun. 

Screenshot of precursory activity at 4:43 am.

Screenshot of low fountaining at 5:07 am.

Tomiko saw my texts about 6:30; she fed Moʻo, packed a bag of camera gear & sandwiches, then headed to Kīlauea. She got there about lunch time & set up her video equipment & began recording Episode 29 from a viewpoint near Camp Kīlauea. She stayed until it paused again about 6:30 pm; this episode lasted about 13 hours.

Documenting on video. (Photo by Tomiko)

Episode 29. (Photo by Tomiko)

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Sue!