 |
| Beautiful Hilo Bay with Mauna Kea in the distance |
Another eventful journey to the Big Island of Hawaii to continue with our sustainable living dream. Sunday was St Patrick’s day and it also happened to be the day of the Big Island International Marathon in Hilo. We have both done this race before and this year Two Feathers dedicated her run in memory of her late brother Rory as his birthday fell on this day. The weather started out sunny and humid and a stiff wind blew up towards the end of the race in which she placed 3rd in her age group which was an additional nice little surprise!
 |
| Picking up race numbers at the Grand Naniloa Hotel |
 |
| Big Island international Marathon |
We learned a lot of new and useful things this time in Hilo , for example: where to get free potable spring water and also where to get free mulch for our developing garden.
 |
| Free mulch at the green waste facility in Hilo |
 |
| Self load or they load....much easier |
 |
| Potable spring water on tap |
We shipped our second truck over which we had purchased for our Big Island property when Two Feathers ran in the Pony Express 100 miler in Utah a couple of years ago. Now that we have secure storage in the form of “Connie” the container we could bring the “ Pony Truck” over to have as our very useful utility vehicle and transport. Shipping it over with Young Brothers shipping company from Honolulu to Hilo was easy, reasonably priced and stress free and it has been an absolute pleasure to have, enabling us to do so much more than before.
 |
| Collecting the truck at the Port of Hilo |
 |
| "Connie" the container and the "Pony Truck" |
The main event, so to speak during this episode is to have a septic system installed which involves heavy machinery to excavate holes for the tank and drainage field. Dreadknot has coordinated with Civil Construction who are doing the job in order for us to get signed off on our permit.
Meanwhile we’re enjoying a movable composting toilet in the bush, communing with nature.
 |
| Bush toilet |
We’re even able to have a warm shower now as Dreadknot bought a solar bag shower typically used for camping and it works perfectly. What a treat after a hard day of manual labor!
Our camping has become more comfortable each time and now with "Connie" thrown into the mix, even more so! We have a table and chairs, a camping stove and ice chest which allows us to cook meals instead of eating out all the time.
 |
| Cooking on the camp stove |
 |
| Chocolate Macadamia nut pancakes with fried banana |
Next up is a garden we are naming the Amajam Friendship Garden, named after our dear friends Amanda and James who are our first patrons for our sustainable living dream project. A huge thank you to both of them and we can’t wait to complete this next beautiful garden intended for reflection and meditation.
 |
| The beginnings of the Amajam Friendship Garden |
Our previously bought fruit trees (avocado, lychee and tangerine are thriving and in blossom) and our Ohia Lehua trees are all healthy and in full flower with brilliant red blossoms.
 |
| Ohia Lehua in bloom |
We took a drive down to a subdivision called Leilani Estates which was devastated by a volcanic eruption last year. We had previously fallen in love with this area and had put in 3 offers on homes here, each time being outbid by someone else. After feeling quite disappointed we chose a different area to purchase land without a home, which in the end took us out of the pathway of Madam Pele’s (goddess of the volcano) wrath. A huge portion of the subdivision had been obliterated, along with one of my favorite drives through a mango tree tunnel and a huge portion of this corner of the island all the way to Kopoho.
|
|
| The lava flow at Leilani Estates |
 The road and community obliterated |
|
How sustainable is a septic system?
"Septic Systems require very little energy (and if the system is gravity-fed, virtually none), and no chemicals; once the water moves through the drain field, it is “clean”—free of harmful pathogens—and replenishes the groundwater below it. Septic systems can be a part of a sustainable wastewater treatment solutions": (from an article on Green Builder Media: Better Waste Management).
 |
| Aerial view of the excavator at work |
“Many people do not realize it, but a home septic tank is actually a very environmentally friendly part of the community. Whether you live in the country or the suburbs, having a home septic system is good for your neighbors, the community and the environment as a whole.
Unlike some commercial waste treatment plants, that use artificial and potentially hazardous chemicals, your home septic tank relies on a completely natural process. When you flush the toilet, the waste your family generates is broken down by healthy bacteria, rending the waste products harmless and avoiding environmental contamination.
One of the reasons proper waste treatment is so important is that household waste products can present a disease risk to the community at large. Many serious illnesses are spread through contaminated water and soil, but a well-functioning septic tank can prevent this danger and protect everyone in the community.” (Appropedia: septic tanks)
 |
| Excavating the black lava rock |
“How Septic Systems Work
Septic systems have two key components, a receiving tank and a leaching system. A sewage line carries wastewater from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to the underground septic tank, where heavy particles settle out of the liquid, forming a layer of sludge on the bottom of the tank. Light materials float, forming a layer of scum on top of the water in the tank. Bacteria use the solid materials, liquefying these waste products. To allow sufficient time for particles to settle and for bacteria to break down the sludge, a septic tank should be large enough to hold at least one day’s flow of wastewater from the home, and to provide storage for sludge and scum.” (Longislandsoundstudy.net)
 |
| Our 5 bedroom capacity tank |
 |
| The leach field filled with cinder for optimal drainage |
Now that we have our sustainable waste management system in place we can progress onto building the actual house structure which is very exciting.
 |
| Delivery of the excavator |
 |
| We need this machine to dig through lava rock |
 |
| The first truck load of cinder |
 |
| All the lava rock rubble was moved to create a driveway to the second half of the property |
 |
| The final product: septic system in place! |
A huge mahalo to Lance, Alika and Hoku for doing such a professional and great job of installing our septic system into our property.
The road and community obliterated
