When I first saw this spider on the front door, I thought it was a small Hawaiian Garden Spider. But after had been there a while I got a closer look and realized it was something else and that it wasn’t going to get any bigger. I don’t know what kind of spider it is, and I don’t know if it’s going to survive there, since I’ve never seen it catch anything, but I like the shadow it casts on the door.
This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Beautiful Beaches.’ See more responses here. Obviously, this was a tricky challenge for me, but I have managed to come up with a few photos!
The top photo shows Green Sand Beach. It’s official name is Papakōlea Beach and the color of the beach is due to an abundance of olivine from the old volcanic cinder cone that borders the beach.
Next we have two black sand beaches. The best known black sand beach on the island is Punaluʻu Beach, which is often referred to simply as Black Sand Beach. However, there are several others. The first of these is Pololu Beach here in North Kohala. The black sand is a result of the breakdown of black lava into smaller pieces. Over time, the grains become as fine as those on white sand beaches.
Pohoiki Beach is the newest such beach on the island, formed by the eruption of 2018. The grains are still a bit coarse, but it’s mind boggling to think that before that eruption, there was basically no beach here at all. Now, as the photo shows, it’s extensive.
Finally, some white sand beaches. Anaeho’omalu Bay Beach, at the south end of Waikoloa Beach Resort, is a curve of sand dotted with palms, a quintessential tropical beach.
Hapuna Beach, farther north, is a regular on lists of best beaches in the U.S.A..
The beach at Spencer Beach Park is a current favorite of mine, a place I like to walk in the early morning before going to work. The sheltered waters, shade trees, and picnic areas make it a favorite with families.
The aptly named Convict Tangs are distinguished by six vertical black bars against a yellow-green background. One of these bars crosses the eyes, a feature common in many fish, which is thought to help confuse possible predators.
Convict Tangs are usually seen in large schools, again a tactic to deter predators.
I was one my way home from Kailua Kona yesterday when I saw this cloud formation off the North Kohala coast and pulled over to get a photo.
Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.
A Painted Lady Butterfly feeds on a Kiawe flower.
A view of Kohala and Maui from the western slopes of Mauna Kea.
The headline says it all really, but I’ve always liked how the rain beads up on the gracefully curving leaves.
Seen on the North Kohala coast.
Graham's Island 