There are two kinds of longnose butterflyfish in Hawaii, the common longnose and the big longnose. Neither name is especially flattering, but I think this is a big longnose butterflyfish. It feeds mostly on small shrimp, which it catches by thrusting its long nose into small crevices and swallowing its prey whole.
The little bright-eye damselfish on the left might have been startled by the butterflyfish, but not threatened. They can be quite aggressive in defending their small territories.
Puʻu Mahana is an ancient cinder cone near the southern tip of the island. It is best known for Papakōlea beach, the green sand beach, which formed when the ocean cut into one side of the pu’u, creating the bay seen here. The sand’s green color is due to the presence of the mineral olivine. (More photos here.)
Posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
This Pacific golden plover is all dressed up with somewhere to go, and that somewhere is the Arctic. These birds overwinter in Hawaii, and elsewhere, before heading north to their summer nesting grounds. But before they go, they lose their usual pale front for this snappy look. Not quite top hat and tails, but awfully close.
Posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
Every time I see this vegetable stand I’m moved to say, “We salute you, Stanley.” I’m easily amused.
Posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
The tropical-looking bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia reginae) is actually a native of sub-tropical South Africa. But it certainly has the pizzazz of a tropical plant, especially when being visited by a colorful gold dust day gecko seeking to sup on the flower’s nectar.
Posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
This multiband butterflyfish was cruising past the top of a head of coral. The dark stripe through its eye is a feature seen on many fish species, helping to confuse predators.
Posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
This week’s Friendly Friday challenge theme is ‘Working Together.’ See more responses here.
The Ironman World Championship race is held here every year in October. Last year, there were nearly 2,500 competitors so it’s a huge event. An army of volunteers helps make the race happen, involved in everything from setting up the course to numerous activities on race day to cleaning up afterwards.
This photo was taken at the turnaround in Hawi, roughly halfway into the 112 mile cycling course. It’s the top of the bike course with it being mostly downhill back to Kailua Kona. Of course, this being cycling, there’s a good chance the wind, which can be fierce here, will be in the cyclists’ faces on the way up and on the way back down.
At this turnaround, volunteers hand out water and food to the competitors. It’s a tricky business making the handoff since the cyclists keep moving and there’s a steady stream of them. In this photo, I like the movement of the volunteer handing off the water as well as the echo of the action in the strong shadows.
Also posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
At the top of wind turbine towers is a small room containing the machinery and electronics for the unit. Once in a while, I’ll see the door open and a couple or three blue bags hanging from a cable. Sometimes I can make out the technician inside, checking things out and performing routine maintenance.
It looks a little cramped in there, but given the trend towards tiny houses, when the turbine’s day is over, the space could probably be rented out for around $800 a month.
Posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Top.’ See more responses here.
Graham's Island 