The Story of Emily-Rose and the Mystical Banyan Trees

Emily-Rose Bennett (one of my most favorite people) came to visit me in Palm Tree Land.

On her last day here, as the Hilo rain wept for her departure, we explored the walking Banyan Trees of Rainbow Falls State Park.

Magic happened.

Friendship under a banyan tree.

Joseph Kerr, 49, came into the Hawaii Tribune-Herald mesmerized by Mary Pappalardo, 96, after randomly talking to her for over two hours at Kalakaua Park earlier in the week.  After describing his recent conversation to our reporter Colin Stewart, he convinced Colin to do a story on the unique friendship and deep respect he had formed for Mary.  So, today we met them both at Kalakaua Park under the banyan tree as Joseph again happily and gratefully listen to Mary talk about her past- that included stories about WWII, growing up in Harlem and her large family.  Mary wanted "all of us young people" to remember to slow down and put away our cell phones when we are with other people so that we make real face to face connections.  She stressed the importance of respecting others and having empathy.  She also spoke of never being too old to travel or follow your dreams.  (Mary graduated from college at 54 with a teaching degree and traveled to India and Thailand in her 80s.)  After about an hour of listening to Colin's interview and photographing the pair, I too was mesmerized.  This simple assignment in park left me all warm and fuzzy inside.  I've always loved listening to elderly peoples' stories and antidotes about life and meeting Mary and watching the same respect and warmth that I was feeling flow over Joseph's face only reenforced that love.  It also made me miss my grandparents back in Michigan.  

SO IF YOU'RE IN THE SAME STATE AS YOUR GRANDPARENTS 

GO GIVE THEM A HUG.

And if you're not, at least ask the little old lady in the park how her day is going.

Pu'u 'O'o Looms in Blues and Purples

Kimberly and Koa

Kimberly and Koa playing on Hilo Bayfront.

Birds.

Mavericks.  California.

Magical Mystical Weekend Wonders

Scenic.

A blog update of scenic things from work and play over the past few months.

I hope your eyes are pleased.

Banana flower petal macro

Cruise ship passenger

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Art walk portrait

Orchid show

Helicopter crash

NASA research for Mars exploration

Honolulu sunset

Kalapana lava

Police firearms competition

Bored

Honolulu relaxtion

Red morning in Hilo

Kapoho Tide Pools

.....I shall now return to my island hobbit hole.  ;)

LAVA.

Kupapa'u ocean entry and surface flow lava at the Peace Flow Field in Kalapana, Hawaii.

Ka'u Wildfire

I've seen A LOT of house fires working in Flint, Michigan but this brush fire was so much more eerie in a gigantic powerful way.  It was huge and spreading fast.  The endless hours of work put in by the firefighters is incredible.  They managed to divert the fire away from all houses and even a hospital keeping everyone safe until they could completely put out the fames.

This first shot is from a road block on the main highway on the Big Island.  The fire was approaching the road so they redirected everyone to a bypass road.  After the traffic cleared, the reporter and I got permission to move closer to the flames and I was able to make the following photos.