Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) hails from Africa in the distant past, but has spread across the globe. The small flowers are a delicate shade of yellow and are followed by somewhat spiky fruits. These are widely used in cooking, particularly in Asia, but only when the fruit is green. The ripe orange fruits are not edible.
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is generally considered to be a canoe plant, brought to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers, though it’s not entirely clear when the introduction occurred. However, it is clear that breadfruit, known as ‘ulu in Hawaii, was a major food source in days gone by and that the trees were possibly the most prevalent tree to be found on the islands.
An interesting paper about breadfruit can be found at https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu › oc › freepubs › pdf › breadfruit.pdf.
Ipu is the Hawaiian word for the gourd (Langenaria sacraria). The early Polynesians brought the seeds to Hawaii and also used the hollowed out gourds on the voyage, for storing water, food, and other items, and to bail out the canoes.
These days, the gourds are used to make musical instruments that are used in dances and in chants. The plant is a climbing vine and the gourds are the fruit of this vine.
The late afternoon sun sinks towards the horizon, silhouetting a shapely tree.
I was driving to Kona recently when I noticed this sailboat easing along the coast in light winds off Kiholo. I liked the bands of blue in the water and the palms lining the shore.
This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Color Challenge: Ruby wine.’ See more responses here. Terri described ruby wine as ‘burgundy-brownish’ and included a handy color match, which I’ve made use of here.
The top photo shows exterior of the Pu’uanahulu Baptist Church. The second photo features a fire extinguisher on a colorful wall. I liked the reflections in glass of the cabinet. The bottom photo features another church, this time the interior of the Painted Church south of Captain Cook.
Akia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) is an endemic plant that’s quite rare in the wild, but is used quite a bit in landscaping here. The shrub, which grows to three or four feet high, is hardy, drought-tolerant, and not prone to pest problems. Its distinctive oval leaves, clusters of yellow flowers, and red or orange fruits add visual interest.
Graham's Island 