August 18, 2023

Overview for this week.

1. We start this week with a submission from long time Flocker, Dr. Jon B. Wang reflecting on a visit to Lahaina before the fire. We share Jon's love and compassion for the town and its residents.

2. Dr. Fox has announced a new series of online classes that will become available in the coming months.

3. The people of Maui continue to be in our prayers as relief efforts are underway.

4. We look at the International Dark Sky Places program that certifies communities working to protect the night sky from excessive light pollution and look at some of the best places in the world to view the milky way and other celestial objects.

5. A rare “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse will be visible throughout the western United States, Mexico, Central and South America in October.

6. In the Book Corner we look at titles that are centered on the culture and environment of Maui.

7. In the Artist's Corner we check in on Calley O'Neill's immense Kona Airport Mural project.

8. We look at intermittent fasting as a safe and effective alternative to dieting.

9. We find that there are still some unclimbed peaks in Reaching High.

10. In the Pet's Corner we meet a rescue cat named Fern.

Now, to this weeks Flock.

This sign is on the North side of Lahaina town and I think it is far enough North to have been spared. 

Ironically, Noreen and I did a self-guided walking tour of Lahaina this past April and visited all the historic buildings that are now ashes. 

Although we have been visiting Lahaina almost every year for the past 30, this was the first time we made the effort to methodically study every historic building. Now, no structures - only photos and memories. 

So sad,

Jon Wang 

Dr. Hayward Fox has contacted the Flock to announce that he is pivoting his efforts to focus more on online teaching. He will be offering a series of online classes beginning in September.

Every class will have a teaching, a discussion, and a guided meditation. You will receive a written synopsis of the teaching and a recording of the guided meditation to practice between classes.

To receive up-to-date class schedule and registration information, sign up to Dr. Fox's mailing list at the Institute of Personal and Transpersonal Knowledge here.

Read his announcement below.

I just entered my 80th year and am pivoting to online teaching. 

Over many years of psychotherapy, I have noticed particular patterns and tendencies from which we all suffer.

Mind whispers to us and tells us what is happening. I have noticed that the state of the mind influences what it whispers. What we think is so depends upon our state of mind at the time of the thinking.

I am offering a six-session online class to share these observations.

3. NATURAL DISASTER: Maui Wildfires Update

From: Vox, By: Benji Jones, August 16, 2023

The outbreak of wildfires last week in Maui, Hawaii — a state known for its beaches and rainforests but typically not fire — is now the nation’s deadliest such event in more than 100 years. The fires burned thousands of acres and killed more than 100 people, a greater death toll than any wildfire in California, where summer blazes are common. Hundreds remain missing in Maui, and the number of fatalities is expected to rise.

“This is the largest natural disaster in our history,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said, referring to Hawaii, in a statement Sunday. “It is a harrowing sight in Maui.”

Maui Nui Strong is a project of the County of Maui. The pages linked below aim to provide information, resources, and support to help those in need during these challenging times. There you will find County of Maui endorsed ways to give assistance to those impacted by the Maui wildfires including donating funds, supplies, or volunteering your own time.

From: Maui Nui Strong

Our hearts go out to the many families and businesses who have impacted by the Maui wildfires. On this page, we aim to provide information, resources, and support to help those in need during these challenging times. Together, let's stand strong and extend a helping hand to our fellow community members on the path to recovery, rebuilding and resilience.

photo: Unsplash/Pascal Debrunner

From: TimeOut, By: Gerrish Lopez, August 15 2023

The governor urges visitors to forego travel plans as the effects of the devastating wildfires are becoming clearer.

The devastating Maui wildfires forced thousands of residents and visitors to evacuate as acres of land — including the historic town of Lahaina — have been severely damaged or destroyed. The fire has been mostly contained, but hazards remain. While the island is not currently closed to tourists, Governor Josh Green in a recent proclamation has urged visitors to reconsider travel plans so the federal, state and county government and the West Maui community can focus resources and attention on the recovery of residents who lost loved ones, homes, their belongings and businesses.

4. THE HEAVENS: The Milky Way

The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program certifies communities, parks, and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.

From: Dark Sky

Dark Sky Places are all over the world

DarkSky has certified more than 200 Places since Flagstaff, Arizona, was named the first International Dark Sky City in 2001.

There are now over 160,000 square kilometers of protected land and night skies in 22 countries on 6 continents, and the list grows every year as new places achieve certification.

photo: Dan Zafra

From: Capture the Atlas, By Dan Zafra

Viewing our galaxy from Earth is one of the most mesmerizing experiences, but where can you see the milky way?

It doesn’t matter if your goal is to photograph the milky way or if you simply want to enjoy a nice view of our galaxy. To maximize your chances, you have to find the best places to see the milky way.

To do so, you should consider two things: the best time to see the milky way and the best places where you can see the milky way in areas away from light pollution and preferably at high elevations.

The milky way galaxy is one of at least 100 billion in the universe. Our solar system is in the milky way galaxy and our sun, Sol, is one of around 100 billion stars in the milky way. When we are looking at the milky way, we are not looking at the entire galaxy, rather we are only seeing the core of the galaxy. Located in the constellation Sagittarius, this is the brightest part of the milky way. Dust lanes, nebulas, and star clusters are all more concentrated in this area.

There are few views as awe-inspiring as seeing the milky way from a dark site. If someone unfamiliar with it sees a picture of the milky way without a terrestrial reference point, they might assume it was taken with a telescope. But the scale of the milky way is huge! You don’t need a telescope to see or photograph it. Binoculars or a telescope will certainly show you more detail, but they’re not a requirement. There have been many nights I’ve brought a telescope along for stargazing and haven’t even touched it.

Watch the milky way rise over Lake Sugema, IA, in this time lapse video shot in the early morning hours at the end of April.

5. SOLAR ACTIVITY: Annular Solar Eclipse

From: Martha Stewart, By: Madeline Buiano, August 7, 2023

Starting on October 13, the annular solar eclipse will make its way across eight states.

From overlapping meteor showers to a series of supermoons, summer has been a spectacular season for space lovers. And with fall just around the corner, stargazers are in for more incredible celestial events. On October 14, a rare annular solar eclipse will be visible from eight states in the United States. 

Also known as the "ring of fire," an annular solar eclipse is different from a total solar eclipse. According to NASA, the rare phenomenon occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth while it's at its farthest point from the planet—resulting in a blacked-out circle and fiery rim (hence the name!).

6. BOOK CORNER: Maui Titles

This week’s Book Coner features titles that celebrate Maui.

Finally, there's a guide to Maui that covers the island right! In this book, the authors actually hike all the trails, ride the boats, scuba dive the reefs, dine in the restaurants, review all the resorts, snorkel the coastline, explore the hidden waterfalls and share all the secrets that they find.

Spying on Whales:

The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures

By Nick Pyenson

“A palaeontological whodunnit…Spying on Whales captures the excitement of…seeking answers to deep questions in cetacean science.”

Good Night Maui

(Good Night Our World)

By Adam Gamble & Mark Jasper

Illustrated by Katherine Blackmore

Good NIght Maui features Ka'anapali Beach, sea turtles humpback whales, Maui Ocean Center, surfers, zipliners, Haleakala Crater Molakini Crater, local foods, Lahaina Banyan Court Park, the Road to Hana, Waianapanapa State Park, Wailua Falls, Whalers Village, and more. Welcome to the enchanted of island Maui.

7. ARTIST'S CORNER: Calley O'Neill - Kona Airport Mural Update

The Flock first featured the Big Island's respected conservationist, cultural artist, and muralist Calley O’Neill in our June 10, 2022, issue. We looked at her ambitious Kona Airport Mālama ʻĀina Mural in the June 16th issue of the Flock this year. This week we are checking in on the Kona Airport mural once again. This time with some new video updates on the project.

From: konaairportmural.org

This iconic 300-foot-long mural-in-progress promises to become a Hawaiian cultural landmark of Aloha ‘Āina.  

With a painted background of 100-year Beeck mineral paint, it will feature stained glass mosaic portraits, locally-sourced lava, and recycled bottle glass for a traditional ecological message experienced by over 3,000,000 visitors and residents each year. 

Kona Airport Mālama 'Āina Mural Progress in a Nutshell

Malama 'Āina Mural:  a Big Island TV feature production on the remarkable Kona Mural project.

8. WELLNESS: Intermittent Fasting

From: Mayo Clinic, By: Manpreet Mundi, M.D.

Intermittent fasting means that you don't eat for a period of time each day or week. Some popular approaches to intermittent fasting include:

• Alternate-day fasting. Eat a normal diet one day and either completely fast or have one small meal (less than 500 calories) the next day.
• 5:2 fasting. Eat a normal diet five days a week and fast two days a week.
• Daily time-restricted fasting. Eat normally but only within an eight-hour window each day. For example, skip breakfast but eat lunch around noon and dinner by 8 p.m.

Some studies suggest that alternate-day fasting is about as effective as a typical low-calorie diet for weight loss. That seems reasonable because reducing the number of calories you eat should help you lose weight.

From: Healthline, By: Lizzie Steeit, MS, RDN, LD & Rahael Ajmefa, MS, RD, August 1, 2023

Intermittent fasting involves limiting your daily food intake to a certain window of time. It’s become popular for weight loss and overall health improvements. For weight loss, knowing what to eat while intermittent fasting will make a difference.

Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years and is an important tradition in many religions and cultures worldwide.

Today new varieties of fasting put a spin on this ancient practice.

One of the most popular styles of fasting is 16/8 intermittent fasting. Proponents claim that it’s an easy, convenient, and sustainable way to lose weight and improve overall health.

The link below explains how to do 16/8 intermittent fasting and whether it’s right for you.

9. REACHING HIGH: Unclimbed Peaks

Lapche Kang II from above Camp 2. The 2016 route attempted by a Polish team up the east spur and the southeast face is marked in red. 'M' is the main summit (7,250m) of Lapche Kang II. 'E' is the east summit at 7,035m. 'C3' is camp 3 at 6,600m on the upper terrace. Photo: Krzysztof Mularski

From: ExplorersWeb, By: Kris Annapurna, August 16, 2023

In this series, ExplorersWeb looks at the world’s five highest unclimbed mountains, based on Eberhard Jurgalski’s list from 8,000ers.com. We will cover each peak’s modest climbing history and why no one has summited them yet.

As noted previously, this series covers independent mountains — those that are not just secondary bumps on higher main peaks. The debate about subsidiary peaks versus independent mountains is a recurrent headache when climbers search for the “highest unclimbed peak.” Some sources, for example, grant this to Muchu Chhish. But Muchu is part of the Batura Range and has just 263m of prominence and 3.5% dominance. Most do not consider Muchu Chhish independent.

Here, ExplorersWeb will be covering those unclimbed peaks for which there is no debate.

10. PET'S CORNER: Fern

This week's Pet of the Week is a three-year-old rescue cat named Fern. Her mother Margaret is a retired dental assistant. They live together near the Rio Grande River. Fern eats on a schedule and is a long-haired princess who loves salmon and kitty treats.

Fern poses for her close-up

photo: Steve Wrzeszczynski on Unsplash

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our second year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

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