Millons of years in the making

Volcano National Park, Hawaii

You feel so small and insignificant when you realize how many millions of years it took to create the Islands of Hawaii. It felt amazing to be at a place in the world that has worked so hard to grow from thousands of feet below the sea to thousands of feet above the sea and then to host thousands of life and animal species. We learned yesterday that one new species would arrive to the islands by sea or air every 30,000 years. Then there is the realization that you can drive from the dry barren rim of the Halema`uma`u Pit Crater to the lush rain forest lava tubes in less than 5 minutes.


Thurston Lava Tubes, Volcano National Park

I considered myself a pretty environmentally conscious person. I have to admit that it's much easier here in 80 degree weather then back home where you're separating recycling in 40 degrees while being pelted by the rain. We are staying about 25 miles south of Kona in a rural residential area where hundreds of homes use only the rain water collected from their own homes for showers, drinking, toilets and washing clothes. They also have to transport all their own garbage to refuse stations located along the highway. Which is really two guys and a really big truck. When you are responsible for your own water and transporting your own garbage it really makes you think about what you're doing and using on a daily basis.


Rainbow Falls, Hilo

I know that they do these acts out of necessity but this past week has helped re-energized my commitment to incorporate environmentally friendly acts into daily family life. I propose a family 2008 challenge to be more mindful of consumption or better yet to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Jack Johnson would be so proud.