A Japanese White-eye strikes a pose on a small branch.
Japanese White-eye
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Author Archives: Graham
Hawi
This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘In Your Town.’ See more responses here.
I’ve run a couple of Hawi scenes already this past week (here and here) and another earlier in this year (here). But here are a few more scenes from Hawi town.
Kohala Coffee Mill is a social meeting place with coffee, excellent local ice cream, and good food.
Across the street, the Bamboo Restaurant is a popular local restaurant which hosted farmers market stalls during the Covid times (I know, they’re still going on.).
The banyan trees are where the farmers market used to be held every Saturday, and is a popular rendezvous spot. Everyone knows where they are.
Across from the banyans is Nakahara Store, a small local grocery that’s been around a long time.
Hawi is an arty place and some arty types express themselves on their vehicles!
Signs: Woo-Woo
While walking through Hawi, I noticed that a new store has opened. I liked the sign out front as well as the rows of colorful potted flowers.
Whitemouth Moray Eel
At one of my regular snorkeling spots, there’s a spot I call The Eel Motel. It’s a little hole in the rock, which is often occupied by a small Whitemouth Moray Eel or Yellowhead Moray Eel. On this visit, the former was home.
In the top photo, the eel’s head is on the left and its tail on the right. Even though the eel has its mouth closed, the white tip to the tail is another sure identifier. I drifted above it, taking photos, while its head twisted back and forth keeping track of me.
The markings on these eels can vary quite a bit, one of which is a full spread of bold white spots, such as these.
Cloud over Mauna Loa eruption
On my way to work yesterday, I pulled over to photograph this view of Mauna Loa, early on day three of the current eruption. The heat and emissions from volcanic eruptions can create their own weather. Here, smoke and gasses from the most active vent can be seen rising up into a cloud over the northeast slope of the volcano.
Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.
Coast path
This is the last day for the November edition of Becky’s Squares with the theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
I’m finishing off with part of the coast path in South Kohala. Blue skies, blue water, palm trees, and a nice, easy path underfoot. Oh, and a gentle breeze and warm, but not too warm temperature. What’s not to like?
Mauna Loa erupts
Yesterday, my morning commute was enlivened by the sight of Mauna Loa erupting. The eruption started late Sunday night and the report I read, before leaving home, said the eruption was currently confined to the summit crater. That clearly wasn’t the case when I took these photos on the way to work. The quality isn’t great because they’re hand-held, but I think they illustrate the scene reasonably well.
In the top two photos, the red smoke is the glow of the lava, but the white/yellow bits are the lava itself. This was a flow moving down the slope of the volcano.
By the time I got to work, the sky was lightening but the lava still stood out. In the bottom photo, Mauna Kea is left center, with a stunning sunrise developing behind it. Mauna Loa is on the right and the activity can clearly be seen on the left (northeast) slope of the volcano, some way down from the summit.
When I got home, I read that three vents had opened on the northeast rift zone of the volcano, though only one was still active. Flows from Mauna Loa can reach the ocean in a matter of hours, depending on where they’re coming from and going to. This flow is currently heading towards the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which is mostly a military training area and undeveloped land. The main current danger is from gasses and Pele’s hair, thin strands of brittle volcanic glass, being carried from the volcano to communities downwind. However, new vents could open farther down the rift, bringing lava closer to human habitation.
Changes in eruptions on Mauna Loa can happen pretty quickly so, as usual, the advice here is be prepared and keep tuned to updates on the situation.
Stop that incessant buzzing
I couldn’t resist returning to the Agave Attenuata currently blooming in the yard. On this occasion, I was watching a gecko buried in the flower when one of the bees that have been collecting from the flowers came into the frame.
The gecko looked decidedly unimpressed by the bee’s proximity, and relieved when it disappeared.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
Graham's Island 