Report from South Kona

Pebbles on the beach after the relentless pounding of the waves have been replaced for a short while with a blanket of black sand . Flat , smooth slightly course dark and warm . Surf had dropped from the roar of last night , still high and powerful , unlike on occasion when the surf is large , you could walk on the beach letting the waves splash about your legs . Ocean reflecting blue from clear near cloudless sky that let the sun light fall unhindered . Foaming white waves crashed with powerful thrusts to the shore . Thick and grinding from the deep trench to the shallow beach . Whales made an appearance , breaching the surface and spouting just a bit off shore as the Island drops off steeply to deep cool water . They have returned after all the rough water has begun to settle down . Going to try this year to get the late night sounds recorded , it really is something to sit out late at night and listen for . Sipping hot chocolate and enjoying some herb under the stars .

Cool now out on the deck 68 , rumble of the waves , coming in with a soothing rhythm from the coast . Now and then a boom from one of more powerful ones . Just the light movement of the breeze rustling the leaves and fronds .

Peace and Love Steve

Even steady rainfall though out the night , bringing the water tank up to near full . The poor old cover is on it’s last leg , ripping to pieces , with long tears going across it . Liner a little sketchy too , needs some shoring up along the rim . Wind never really kicked in full blast , it had a good gust going today but not that hard core blast like last week . Waves still going off but in a victory at sea style , choppy winds blowing on shore . Clear as it’s been still in years , too bright with out sun glasses on , blindingly crispy sunlight . The blasts from larger sets of waves , crashing into the coast below , sent up gigantic plumes . Fanning out over the dark black lava rock white and foamy . With the wind behind them , waves sailed up over the coastal cliffs . There was next to no clouds in the sky as the sun dropped down to the sharp fine lined horizon . With out some clouds it’s still pleasant , but with out the textured contrast of the clouds . As darkness fell and progressed thru the evening , stars began to stand out against the pitch black sky . So clear that sitting out with a little spliff , the sky alive with stars . Looked like a giant dome of bright points of light . Breeze not violent but still blowing , rustling the palm fronds , cool and crisp . Cold for us , 63 , with a chill wind keeping a crisp edge to the air . Rumble of the surf in the background .

Peace and Love Steve

Swell Big Island Jan 16 , 09

It’s like a light electric shock running everywhere . As clear as it’s been in 20 years , bright , the ocean rising to the horizon a sharp line at the edge of the world . A impending storm swirling to the north . Closing the schools and many public building on the rest of the Island chain , the boys indignant at the injustice of school still being open here . Winds expected to be high up to 60 mph , blew in the afternoon though not as strong as that . Surf still massing in , was choppy and unruly with the strong on shore winds . Many people still out ridding the still spectacular waves . Much of the day was so clear , the top of Mt . Hualalai a small Volcano near town was visible as most of the time it is clothed in mists and clouds . The massive green slopes of Mauna Loa also most of the time obscured , rose up into the sky . Mauna Loa towering up , the gentel slopes deceiving as to how large this Volcano is . Rain forest most of the time in rolling mist , now out in open clarity stretching for miles and miles up and up .

All these factors , large waves bands of energy marching in from the sea , clear open skies cleansed by the swirling storm to the north . Have generated a buzz in the air . Putting people in a elated mood or a slightly edgy one . lol These are the times the Big Island with Pele the goddess of the Volcano erupting . The ocean sending bands of energy and the storm all combine together and when in full swing emit a powerful energy .

As of now the wind has been very calm almost completely still, tropical clouds all about as the sunset and a light yet steady rain falling . If the full force is to come it will be late tonight or tomorrow . Though it may not hit almost completely still, tropical clouds all about as the sunset and a light yet steady rain falling . If the full force is to come it will be late tonight or tomorrow . Though it may not hit with the high winds the other islands received and the torrential rain.

Peace and Love Steve

A really big winter swell has hit starting a bit last night and in full swing today . It may even hit for a few days getting a little bigger . Many of the surf spots had maxed out the waves closing out and not ride able . Storm warning are out along with a high winds advisory . Today started looking like a storm day but turned not only humid and tropical but one of the clearest days yet . The weather , since the flash storm on Sunday , has been the clearest its been in years . Now we should get a big storm this weekend most likely Tomorrow afternoon or Saturday . I have some footage of the waves but need a bit more for the vid I’m working on .

Back to school on Wed. back up a 6 am , it’s been a change getting the boys to sleep . They have been staying up very late and sleeping way in during the winter break . We are slowly getting back on the new schedule or the one we were on before lol

Peace and Love Steve

Once again the sun was bright and gave the ocean that sparkle that looks so pleasant . Traveled off later than usual again , sleeping in a bit too much . Had a nice tropical day stopping on the journey home at my buddy Mark and his family’s Little Coffee farm . They also have Macadamia Nut Trees and grow several fresh herbs , lettuce and a variety of things to eat . Plus there is many Coffee Trees , some up to 60 years old . Those have a different type of coffee than many of the farms planted later . Most of it , someone on the mainland buys . only now and again can I get any . When arriving they were getting a bunch of chickens that someone up the road had sold them . Not the wild ones that are about , but tame ones that are fat and lay bunches of eggs . They were herded and brought down the road to their new roost .

Tomorrow finally school starts again this winter break is just too long , they stay up too late and get me also off a good time schedule . Plus now I will have some time to myself in the evenings .

Peace and Love Steve

Today broke as a classic Tropical Hawaiian day , clear air with a sharp bright sunlight illuminating the sky and all below it . Not really turquoise , but a close color the ocean sparkled with warm flashes of light off the lightly textured surface . Fluffy white as these type of clouds are often called , cotton balls floated about giving a over all pleasant effect . Slow rolling morning , just gearing up , loading the truck and acualy going to work when the day called for a major ditch to the beach . Ipod loaded with some fresh Podcasts , sunglasses on , I departed for a nice little cruise to town . Traveling along with the green branches hanging over the road the sunlight flashing brightly as you pass from under them . The tropical folage green and flowerful lining the shoulders of the road like a little magical passage .

Upon arrival in town a nice pineapple smoothie is called for along with a shot of wheatgrass to start the day , wich is getting passed 11a by now. Being Monday and quick sanding all morning , thought that perhaps the day would be unproductive , but it turned out that all my appointended round were complete .

The late afternoon brought me today to Kahaluu with a nice swell building , the tide was changing and the setys began to march in as long walls closing out over the shallow boiling reef . Still a few inside waves were fun though the larger waves were tending now to close out . It was nothing but nice down there by the coast today with many happy people hanging around the chore and strolling about . A variety of wave riders going in and coming out of the water , Long boarders , short boarders , knee boarders and a body boarder or two .

Peace and Love Steve