Author Archives: Graham

Unknown's avatar

About Graham

I take photos when I'm out and about, recording life on the Big Island of Hawaii.

It’s coming to get you

The former Sonny's Restaurant building being torn down in Hawi, Hawaii

Sonny’s Place was a long-established restaurant in downtown Hawi. It was still in business when I first moved here, though it looked worse for wear even then. I was advised not to eat there. Within a couple of years it appeared to be shut down, though the difference was marginal at best.

Recently, someone bought the place and I wondered what they would do with it. Then this excavator appeared and I thought I should get photos before the building disappeared. I finally did a couple of Sundays ago. The next day the lot was cleared.

The Numbers Game #59

The golden pools at Keawaiki, Hawaii
One of the golden pools at Keawaiki.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 180. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A Katydid on a Castor Bean plant.
A Lesser Blue Butterfly.
Rooster and hen.
Hibiscus tiliaceus.
A Hawaiian Hogfish.
Small fish in the golden pools at Keawaiki.

Shark approaching

A Whitetip Reef Shark in the waters off hawaii
A Whitetip Reef Shark in the waters off hawaii

I was watching some chubs milling around, when I noticed a much larger fish heading my way. Easily identified as a Whitetip Reef Shark, it hugged the bottom and passed directly below me.

Whitetips are mostly curious, but like anything in the water, they should be treated with respect and given space.

A Whitetip Reef Shark in the waters off hawaii

Chow time for birds

A Nutmeg Mannikin feeds on cane grass seeds in Hawaii
A Nutmeg Mannikin feeds on cane grass seeds in Hawaii

The current Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Feeding and Watching the Birds.’ See more responses here.

I rarely see Nutmeg Mannikins around the house, but when the Cane Grass goes to seed, they show up in force.

The Pueo below made short work of this unfortunate mouse. no chewing involved!

A Pueo catches a mouse in Hawaii
A Franklin's Gull finds something to eat in Hawaii
A stray Franklin’s Gull found something and seemed to be trying to figure out how to eat it.
A Black-crowned night heron spears a fish in Hawaii
This Black-crowned Night Heron speared a fish and took it ashore to eat it.
Ruddy turnstones feeding on the shore in Hawaii
Ruddy Turnstones pick through tide pools in search of food.

Postcards from Hawaii

Postcards at a shop in Hawi, Hawaii

I thought I’d sign off from this month’s Becky’s Squares Geometric challenge (more responses here) with postcards from Hawaii.

‘Wish you were here, but having a lovely time. Weather not too bad, especially for January! I’ve seen many wonderful things, including lots of Humpback Whales. Hope to see you soon.’

An uplifting experience

The boom of a crane in Hawaii

As this month hurtles towards its conclusion, I realized I’d failed to post any crane photos for Becky’s Squares: Geometric. (See more responses here.)

They’ve finally got around to replacing the turbine blades at Hawi Wind Farm, after months of the blades just lying next to the turbines. The operation requires a crane to lift the blade assembly into place. These photos were taken while they were still preparing for that operation. The last photo shows the security for the operation!

Wires on a crane in Hawaii
The cab of a crane in Hawaii
A hook and anemometer on the boom of a crane in Hawaii
A crane prepares to hoist new blades onto a turbine at Hawi Wind Farm in Hawaii