In the latter part of September, my husband and I traveled to Kauai. One day we explored a road and came upon this landscape and later discovered that a scene of the movie, Jurassic Park, was filmed in this area. This was the area where the dinosaurs were in a large meadow area. As we explored the bright light and felt the trade winds in this area, we suddenly heard a large crashing sound and realized a tree had just fallen in the near distance.
Nature's power and strength (as depicted in the movie) and in real life shows itself so quickly.
We noticed this year, that the sugar cane (as seen here surrounding the cocanut trees) fields are giving way to new crops. Since the last sugar cane plant has closed, coffee plantations and cattle ranches are appearing. It is good to see there is new hope since the sugar cane industry has left the island. There were new ideas of sustainability heard both in these new ways to farm the land and in the restaurants we discovered. We learned that the Hawaiian culture from long ago also sustained the land. These old ways are being taught and incorporated into today's renewed interest in sustainability. While we were in Kauai, we went to a traditional hula competition which was part of the annual Mokihana festival.
I will be drawing inspiration from the light, images, smells, and sounds that we experienced on our September visit to Kauai for a long time.
As I finished this painting, I thought of the golds, vermillions and burgundy colors that will soon be seen on trees here in the Sacramento valley. The trees are turning colors later this year in our area.
Wishing you new discoveries this autumn.
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