The Melissae Journal

When storms approach in Hawaiʻi, there is a palpable edginess in the air. It is almost as if the collective hive mind becomes one—people buzzing with unsettling thoughts, uncertainty, anticipation, and a quiet, introspective humility. Mother Nature has always been a teacher. She is the force that governs all beings here on Earth. She is in charge. And sometimes, weather systems like these remind us of her strength and her fierceness. They remind us that, despite all of our te

Yes, I slept with my bees. Many years ago, I dreamt of building a bee temple with a pavilion roof, mostly for the reason of keeping my bees covered and protected from the abundant rain that we have here on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island. The bee temple structure has been built for over 4 years now, and I have never slept there, although it has always been in my mind’s eye. I have had every excuse. Oh, it’s too cold, it’s too much to bring my blanket out there, what if my son