A view of Honoli’i Beach Park with Hilo Bay in the background. I do love the lush vegetation on the east side of the island.
Author Archives: Graham
Stump-toed Gecko
This gecko is nocturnal and isn’t often seen out and about during the day. This one was either running late, or had been disturbed from its daytime resting place. Its main identifying feature is that it lacks a claw on the inside digit of its feet. Sadly, in this photo, that feature is hidden on all four feet. C’est la vie.
For more information about this and other geckos, go to geckoweb.org.
Better Days: Fixer upper
This fixer-upper shack sits on the coast not far from Mo’okini Heiau in North Kohala. It comes with a pair of vehicles that could also use a little work.
Mo’okini Heiau
According to tradition, Mo’okini Heiau dates back to the 5th century, when it was built on the northern tip of the island, by the high priest, Mo’okini. Somewhere between the 11th and 14th century (dates vary) another priest called Pa’ao is said to have built the current structure. Pa’ao came from Tahiti or Samoa and is also said to have brought to Hawaii the practice of human sacrifice and the kapu system, laws that governed daily life.
Given its history, it’s not surprising that some people find the site eerie and unsettling. The stone in the second photo, is where flesh was stripped from bone after a person had been sacrificed.
For more information about Mo’okini Heiau, go to nps.gov/nr/travel/Asian_American_and_Pacific_Islander_Heritage/Mookini-Heiau.htm.
‘Ilima papa
This plant, officially called Sida fallax, does well in tough coastal growing conditions, hugging the ground as it spreads. In other situations, it can grow as a shrub.
For more information about this plant, go to www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/sid-fall.htm.
Bluespotted cornetfish
This is a fish of many shapes and colors. Seen from the side they look skinny and long. From above they look much wider and, consequently, seem shorter. They look silvery from the side, green from above and they’ll add dark bars sometimes.
This one was hanging out in shallow water and showed no inclination to move on. It might have been guarding eggs, but that’s just speculation on my part. It shows a green tint and also the blue spots and lines that give it its name.
In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.
Goat grooming
There are numerous wild goats on the island. This one, doing a bit of personal grooming, was part of a large herd at Kiholo Bay.
Must like ladders and have head for heights
A technician works on one of the wind turbines at Hawi Wind Farm. I believe this was just routine maintenance since on the following days I saw a similar sight at the other turbines.
I haven’t yet seen the operation from start to finish, but I suspect that inside the door at the bottom of the tower there’s a way of lowering a line to hook on the tool bags. Then I assume the technician has to climb a ladder to the top.
It’s pretty high up and there are strong winds, which is why the farm is where it is. So I hope the tech in the photo to the left doesn’t lean out too far. Probably not a job I’d be suited for.
