Category Archives: Photo Challenges

Hawaii Elepaio

The Hawaii Elepaio is a small, endemic bird found only on the island of Hawaii, though it has close relatives on Oahu and Kauai. It’s found mostly in the higher elevation forests on the island. This one was on the Pu’u O’o Trail off Saddle Road, a good spot for seeing these birds, at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet.

The Elepaio is a member of the flycatcher family and feeds on insects it catches on the wing or by probing tree trunks and branches.

Posted for Bird of the Week XLVIII.

Rolling in

Surf rolling on along the North Kohala coast in Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge is Aquamarine. See more responses here.

It’s the season for big swells from the northwest, and these photos are from the last one. A new one is supposed to fill in today. These are good news for surfers around here, not so good for us snorkelers.

A window to my world

A view through the windows of Pepeiao Cabin in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — Looking out through a window at Pepeiao Cabin in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Through a Window.’ See more responses here.

A variety of photos this week, with captions on the photos.

Two Common Waxbills in Hawaii — A pair of Common Waxbills seen through the bathroom window. It’s a good vantage point for watching and photographing birds, so long as I remember to clean it once in a while.

A view through a window at the old Bond Library in Kapaau, Hawaii — Looking through a window into the old Bond Library in Kapaau, currently in the process of renovation.

Rain falling in North Kohala, Hawaii, seen through a vehicle windscreen — Looking through a window into the old Bond Library in Kapaau, currently in the process of renovation.

Windows at a building site in hawaii — A look through new windows at a construction project at Hapuna. Sadly, one of the new windows already had something go through it.

A broken window in Hawaii — A look through new windows at a construction project at Hapuna. Sadly, one of the new windows already had something go through it.

Looking back at 2023 – part 2

A Gray Francolin walks on a railing in Hawaii — July: Got anything for me (link)?

A vase of tropical flowers below a photo of a gecko on a bird of paradise flower — August: Still life with snake (link).

Sunday Stills challenge theme this week and last week is ‘Your 2023 Year-in-Review.’ See more responses here. As before, I’m going with a favorite photo from each month of 2023, with a caption and link to the post the photo first appeared in. Last week, I posted favorites from January through June. This week, it’s July through December.

A Whitetip Reef Shark in the waters off Hawaii — September: Mr. Chompers on the move (link).

A decoy duck in the waters off Hawaii — October: Wood you believe it (link)?

A view of Mauna Kea at Sunrise — November: Mauna Kea around sunrise (link).

A child's boot left on a rock in Hawaii — December: The boot’s not on the other foot (link).

Lurking

A Praying Mantis lurks on a Plumeria flower in Hawaii

I had to go back a few days for my photo for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge (see more responses here). It proved to be this praying mantis lurking on a plumeria flower stem.

Looking back at 2023

Late afternoon sun of the coast of Kohala, Hawaii — January: Approaching sunset off the Kohala coast (link).

A chocolate birthday cake — February: A yummy birthday cake (link).

Sunday Stills challenge theme this week and next week is ‘Your 2023 Year-in-Review.’ See more responses here. As before, I’m going with a favorite photo from each month of 2023, with a caption and link to the post the photo first appeared in. This week, I’m posting favorites from January through June. See the rest of the year next week.

A praying mantis drinks from a puddle of water — March: Time for a drink (link).

A manta ray swims in the waters off Hawaii — April: Meeting a manta (link).

Piglets wrestle for a mango — May: They’re not cute and funny these days (link)!

Leis draped on King Kamehameha statue — June: The king’s birthday (link).

Gingerbread house

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Festive.’ See more responses here.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to post for this until I went to the dentist and found this in the waiting room. Not sure the sign is in the holiday spirit though!

Red and green and nothing in between

A red anthurium flower at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Gardens — Red anthurium flowers with green leaves.

This week’s Sunday Stills color challenge is ‘Red and Green.’ See more responses here. I’ve gone for a mostly plant-based response, except for the last.