There's happy news for the town of Pahoa recently.

The lava flow that originates 13 miles or so from town and nearly hit my dear little Pahoa has backed off and is flowing nearer the vent. The flow is not over, but it is definitely less menacing than it was 2 weeks ago. Go to hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maps/ for the latest.

Businesses are returning and new ones are opening in Pahoa-Town. Senator Russell Ruderman and his band Terrapin Station played a concert last weekend to give thanks and celebrate that "We're all still here, 'cause we're not all there." That's a joke. Not the theme of the concert. But they played some mean Dead! Twirlers and hoppers were in attendance.

Now the new topic of discussion in town is the new geothermal power plant that is being planned. I went to a meeting last night (3/24/15) that was held to update the public on the current drilling activity at the existing power plant. They aren't divulging where the new plant may go. Thanks for nothing, I say.
For more information, click on Puna Pono Alliance.

After a long spell of no rain, the weather has returned to it's more normal pattern of overnight rains with partly sunny days. Us gardeners are relieved to have the moisture back. And have the catchment tank full again.

During the drought, the grasses lost so much moisture that I was carrying water to the goats. Typically the goats ignore the water trough, but the plants were stressed and didn't have their normal moisture content.

One bonus of the lack of rain is that mango fruit set has been better than usual. If you're visiting this summer, be prepared to pick up local wild mangos anywhere along the Red Road.

Another bonus was that it was prime weather to prune fruit trees and to weed (and weed, and weed, and... you get the picture).



Here's me severely topping a volunteer avocado seedling. Beware the tossed pits, they'll grow up to tower over you.