These two trees were ailing from all the choking foliage. We have to decide whether to keep these two - a large mahogany relative and a big avocado. They seem to have some new growth, but there are a lot of dead branches.
Tools of the trade. STIHL is the bomb!
The benefit of all this clearing is new growth. This 5' banana tree is only a couple of months old!
On the way up the hill I pass some baby Miconia (that nasty plant that wiped out the native foliage of Tahiti). It is growing under a large plant I cut yesterday. This litte plant can grow into the 20' tall monster on the left in less than a year and drop 10,000 seeds!
The least fulfilling land to clear is land covered with hau. Hau is a light wood. Very easy to cut.
The Hawaiians used them for their outriggers. The problem is the tree seemed to evolve with a defense against people with chainsaw and bulldozers. It can grow into a tight curve and snap at you when you cut it. You can cut a whole acre of the stuff and it will interlock and hang above your head.
The first photo is from my previous work. The second is 120+ cuts later. Notice the deference? Ha!
Out on the Ridge, the cutting is a mess of downed palms and java plum, but the views are beginning to open up.
Looking south into our other gulch - Pu'u Moi Stream
And the ocean!
It also looks like we might have a 120 degree ocean view when we finish cutting!
BTW 4pm the skeeters arrived in force!
1 comment:
Thank you so much guys for this blog! It helped us "reconnect" with you. We miss you a bunch and the kids look so big. It looks like ... uh... Ra'am is about GB's height now? Hope to get back out there one of these days, though not after this trip unless we are broke and homeless and begging to camp in your yard! I will add you to my RSS and read regularly (at least as long as I have internet).
We love you!
James and Cecily
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