June 21, 2020. Lā Makua kāne and Solstice-ing

Tis an event full time.  The weathers have been most excellent, though to me, thereʻs a chill in evening and morning air.  Tradewinds have been breezily breezing, days have been sunny more often than not, and Iʻm venturing out more frequently, though cautiously.

Yesterday was Ka Māuikiʻikiʻi o ke Kauwela, the Summer Solstice, when ka Lā (the Sun) reaches its zenith over Ke Alanui Polohiwa a Kāne, the Tropic of Cancer (according to Kamakau), or in the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, Pōʻaiolu ʻĀkau.  Whatever or whichever we call it, itʻs the line demarking the northernmost seasonal reach of the sun at 23.5 degrees north latitude.  Where lies Mokumanamana, if you recall those recent posts.

On its way there, the sun passes directly overhead in Hawaiʻi on a succession of dates, depending on latitude.  Here in Volcano, we noted what is locally called Lāhainā Noon on May 16 at 1217p, and will note the return of the sun as it heads south on July 25 at 1227p.  Looking at Google Earth, my hale is at 19.430078dN and 155.217248dW.

Weʻre fortunate if the day is clear and we can observe shadows.

And indeed, up here, May 16 was a beaut of a day, and so we washed and hung the sheets outside.  Note the vertical shadows...

Solstice Sunrise here (actually, a bit after sunrise, so sun was able to cast nearly tree-free shadow on wall) was clear...now we watch as shadows move to the right...till Ka Māuikiʻikiʻi o ka Hoʻoilo (Winter Solstice).

And to commemorate the Summer Solstice, yesterday I ventured to Keanakākoʻi with a group of good friends.  Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NP reopened this past Monday, and the absence of tourists makes it an even greater pleasure to roam the park.  It was excellent to see local families out and about, enjoying our park.  

For the first time in 6+ months I made it to KKOI and back.  Slow and steady, helped along with a bit of precautionary Aleve, a few changes were noted.  Mainly (and it might be difficult to make out) the finely pulverized pōhaku grey-streaking the wall of the Lua, especially on the Kaʻū-side (left) of image.

And yesterday, while waiting for me to catch up, it was nap time for companions...

A sweet image-memory for a special day.  Thanks for sharing, jc.

Nūnī feels better than I thought it would today, and I look forward to many many more walks!

Iʻll leave you folks with that, but Iʻll be back soon...

As always, with aloha,

BobbyC
maniniowali@gmail.com