Grieving the loss of a place

Grieving the loss of a PlaceIt’s a strange thing- to have lava cover up so many places you have called home and your favorite places on earth. Life changed drastically for the people of Puna, Big Island of Hawaii, in May 2018, when the Eastern Rift began erupting in highly populated subdivision (2000+ people), called Leilani estates. Since the beginning of this eruption over 700 (permitted) homes have been taken- and MANY more people have been displaced and/or cut off from their homes due to lava or the fumes making it unsafe to live there. There is currently no end in sight as the lava continues to pump out of “fissure 8″ in the highest volumes ever seen before, forming a massive 8.5 mile long river to the sea, which has taken out some of my very favorite places on earth: Ka Wai O Pele (a.k.a. Green Lake), Kapoho Bay, Wai ‘Opae (tide pools) and now Ahalanui (the warm ponds). The lava continues to crumble and creep its way towards Pohoiki, Puna’s beloved surf break. This is where I learned to surf when I was 13, shortly after moving to Hawaii. The warm waters, crystal clear, with so many fish and turtles, where I enjoyed countless days of my life- I can’t imagine what will become of Puna if Pohoiki is also lost to the lava. To lose these places feels like losing a friend- many friends actually. These places held the space for so many transformative, beautiful experiences of my life. They inspired so many songs. For goodness sake, my first amazing album Nectarian was 100% birthed in Kapoho, on land that no longer is there. I cry with heart break that I will never see these places again. And I also cry in Gratitude that I am so blessed to have known and connected deeply with these places. This life is so precious. This earth is so precious. And all is temporary. Just as this body is temporary. The cycles of life will continue on, in many shapes, forms, colors, feelings and experiences….I am so grateful for these experiences of my life that have helped shape me in these beautiful places- Places hold a certain energy from the life present in those places and the collective energy in those places. These places held the energies of healing, beauty, joy, peace!! We are reminded that not even a place can be “held on to.” Even the earth is temporary! What will this planet be like in a hundred years? a thousand? ten thousand? a hundred thousand years?  With all the transformation that has occured in Puna in the past 2 months, the People wonder what their community and town will look like in the next few days, weeks and months to come. The following photos are all my own that were taken in various places that have been taken by lava in the past month (June-July 2018). I haven’t been “home” to the islands since February, as I am currently based on the West Coast. My parents are there however. My heart goes out to all those in difficult transition. To those that have lost Everything and are feeling despair. What a test this is for the community - and for the people to come together and help one another. Even though many people are leaving the island to begin a new life elsewhere, there are people that do not have that option to pick up and leave- and so in Puna they stay strong!! I Love you all! See you soon! I need to come home and make all this more real. Its one thing to see it all through a picture screen….its another to really see it, smell it, hear it, and feel it. E Pele E!