Before Paul Gessing took the reins of the Rio Grande Foundation, Harry Messenheimer and former New Mexico Attorney General Hal Stratton got together (in 2000) and co-founded the organization.
Several years ago Messenheimer and his wife Robin moved to the Big Island of Hawaii (near Hilo) to retire. Recently the volcano began erupting and lava caused people living near it to lose their homes and/or be evacuated, including the Messenheimers. Harry recently talked to Channel 13 about their ordeal:
I had a great picture I took in December of 1987 of a black sand beach SW of Kalapana. A couple years later it was gone under a lava flow. Such is the Big Island. Sad what has happened to Leilani Estates, but that was the same site as a big 1955 fissure eruption. Stability on an active volcano is ephemeral.
All the best to the people living there. The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness–and in fresh lava fields.
Aloha, Khal
Harry & Robin we are glad you are safe.
Blessings
Karen & David Peer