kīpuka

A kīpuka is a raised island of native forest and plants situated in the middle of a recent lava flow. Because of its elevation, a kīpuka is spared burial and incineration. Hawaiians say a kīpuka is an oasis saved from Pele’s embrace. The word is a variation of the Hawaiian word puka, which means “hole”. It can refer to an opening of the blue sky among high clouds, or a calm in the middle of rough seas, or a safe time and space where one perceives things clearly.

Extracto del libro:

Home Ground: A Guide to the American Landscape

Berry Lopez & Debra Gwartney