I was trying to take photos of this gecko on the lanai at eye level, but by the time I got myself organized, it disappeared between the boards. But I waited, knowing that often times they will just wait a while and then pop up again. Sure enough, this Gold Dust Day Gecko did just that. And then we watched each other for a while, and that was the end of that!
Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.
Since the big windstorm of a few weeks ago, I’ve seen a number of Kiawe trees looking like this, on their sides with a disc of roots and dirt exposed. They’ll get cut up and probably used for smoke meat, but it will take a while to clear all of them. This one was below the trail at Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site in Kawaihae.
There are four reasons why I took this photo and why I like it. The ears!
The Autograph tree (Clusia rosea) is native to Florida and the Caribbean. Its curious name stems from the fact that, when its leaves are scarred, the marks remain visible for a long time. So if someone scratches their name into a leaf, it will stay there!
In Hawaii, it’s popular with commercial landscapers because it’s hardy and salt tolerant, so does well on the coast and in other difficult areas. But like all popular things it has a downside. It’s considered an invasive species here because it spreads prolifically and can crowd out native plants. It often starts out as an epiphyte and strangles its host plant. Anything else? Oh yes, the fruit and sap are poisonous, so getting rid of them requires considerable care.
A tug and barge enter Kawaihae Harbor around sunrise.
This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Hints of Autumn.’ See more responses here.
What’s more Autumnal than fallen leaves. OK, so this leaf fall has little to do with the season, and the leaves have already been replenished on the tree, but the top photo certainly looks the part!
A week or so ago, I was snorkeling when I happened to glance behind me and saw I was being followed by the local barracuda ohana. Ohana is the name for family in Hawaiian and these were Great Barracudas, which sometimes congregate together in this way. I think they follow people swimming in the hope that they’re spear fishing, and might catch something which they can steal. I offered no such rewards, so they soon moved on.
I see 10 in this photo, but I counted a dozen in the water, and there might have been more. They were all what I call small barracudas, perhaps a foot to 18 inches in length. The biggest around here get to be three- to four-feet long and much bigger around.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, this sliver of a moon shone against the blushing clouds.
Graham's Island 