01-18-2013, 06:29 AM
All the ideas about alternatives to heating with wood are fine and dandy, though this project is not addressing them. What Pam has put together is simple, and has a simple goal.
First is to recognize that there are people, most of them elderly, some disabled, but all who have lived in the Volcano area a long time, have had a life where they've heated their homes with wood, and have become either disabled, or alone due to the passing of a spouse etc., and have relied on wood as their source of heat before they became unable to fulfill that need themselves.
Secondly was to identify sources of wood that it's removal itself would be a benefit to those the wood was gathered from. For this people with dead trees (mostly ohia) in lower Puna, where the tree(s) were in the way, close to houses etc., and their removal itself would be a help to the land owner.
Putting the two together has been a small crew of us, who cut load and haul the wood up to the Volcano area where we store it while it dries out (cures) and then is chopped and delivered to the needy people in Volcano. This is not an effort to change the way things are. We do not encourage people that have traditionally heated their homes with wood to consider other methods, nor do we charge anyone for this service on either the collection or distribution ends. It is simply an effort to acknowledge a need and help meet it.
And yes, what is cold to one may not be as impacting to another. In Volcano it is not mainland winter type temperatures, but when it is raining the high humidity combined with the lower temps does make for a sense of cold that is stifling especially to those who are older and or disabled and less active.
All told I think this is an honorable project, and any help any of you wish to contribute is greatly appreciated. Other than that I can say that discouraging remarks are unwarranted, and encouragement in any form is greatly appreciated. Mahalo
First is to recognize that there are people, most of them elderly, some disabled, but all who have lived in the Volcano area a long time, have had a life where they've heated their homes with wood, and have become either disabled, or alone due to the passing of a spouse etc., and have relied on wood as their source of heat before they became unable to fulfill that need themselves.
Secondly was to identify sources of wood that it's removal itself would be a benefit to those the wood was gathered from. For this people with dead trees (mostly ohia) in lower Puna, where the tree(s) were in the way, close to houses etc., and their removal itself would be a help to the land owner.
Putting the two together has been a small crew of us, who cut load and haul the wood up to the Volcano area where we store it while it dries out (cures) and then is chopped and delivered to the needy people in Volcano. This is not an effort to change the way things are. We do not encourage people that have traditionally heated their homes with wood to consider other methods, nor do we charge anyone for this service on either the collection or distribution ends. It is simply an effort to acknowledge a need and help meet it.
And yes, what is cold to one may not be as impacting to another. In Volcano it is not mainland winter type temperatures, but when it is raining the high humidity combined with the lower temps does make for a sense of cold that is stifling especially to those who are older and or disabled and less active.
All told I think this is an honorable project, and any help any of you wish to contribute is greatly appreciated. Other than that I can say that discouraging remarks are unwarranted, and encouragement in any form is greatly appreciated. Mahalo