Category Archives: Trees

Churches

The Kalahikiola Congregational Church in Kapaau, Hawaii
The St. Augustines Episcopal Church in Kapaau, Hawaii
The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi, Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Churches, Temples, and Spiritual Centers.’ See more responses here.

Here’s a few of the churches that can be found in this part of the island.

Kalāhikiola Congregational Church (top photo) is located east of Kapaau, where rainfall is plentiful and the foliage lush. It was built in 1855, though previous versions had existed for some years before this. The church was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2006, but rebuilt in the winter of 2009/2010.

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church (second photo) was founded in 1884 in Kapaau, and expanded in 1913. It sits on a small hill by the main highway.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church (third photo) was founded in Hawi in 1905, but this structure was built in 1925 and continues to be used daily to this day.

Kohala Baptist Church (bottom photo) is located on the road to Pololu at Makapala. It can’t be seen from the road, but there is a sign by the highway pointing out the way. Currently, the church is undergoing some renovations and services are held in the area below the Royal Poinciana tree on the grounds.

The Kohala Baptist Church in Kapaau, Hawaii

How to play pigball

Piglets wrestle for a mango

Leave one large unripe mango on the ground and wait for the arrival of seven small piglets. Watch them bat the mango around, trying to snare it in their small jaws. There are no rules in this game, so pushing and shoving is common, as is running around for no clear reason.

Piglets wrestle for a mango
Piglets wrestle for a mango
Piglets wrestle for a mango

The winner is the one who snags and keeps the mango.

Piglets wrestle for a mango

It’s a strenuous activity so a post-game rest is advised.

Piglets resting

Another invasive species

A cell phone tower disguised as a tree in Hawaii

I went for a drive up Old Saddle Road yesterday and noticed this unusual tree. It is, of course, that now ubiquitous invasive species, the cell phone tower. At least this one had the good grace to try and blend into its surroundings, and does a decent job of it.

This ‘tree’ is located on the grounds of Camp Kilohana, the Girls Scouts Camp on the Big Island.

Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.

Kōlea lau nui

The colorful new growth on a Kolea lau nui plant in Hawaii
The colorful new growth on a Kolea lau nui plant in Hawaii

Kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana) is a tree that can grow up to 60 feet high. But it’s the new leaf growth that is its most striking feature. The color of the new growth can vary quite a bit, but it’s these deep pink leaves which really stand out in the otherwise mostly green woods where I’ve see them.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds

Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii
Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge is ‘White and Pastels.’ See more responses here.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds are also known as Peach-faced Lovebirds and they have a lot of color variations. I have yet to see a rosy face in Hawaii outside of tourists who’ve seen too much sun. Instead, the local birds tend towards pastel shades whether they’re dining or simply hanging out.

Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii
Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii
Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii

Kamani tree

A Kamani flower and bee in Hawaii
A Kamani flower and fruit in Hawaii

Kamani is a canoe plant, brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers, though it grows naturally across most of the Pacific islands. Its common name is Alexandrian Laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum).

The wood of the tree was used for canoe building, homes, containers, and food bowls, and the fragrant flowers are popular with bees.

Better Days: Shade tree and bench

A tree blown over by high winds in Hawaii

The high winds of a few weeks ago caused a fair amount of damage around the island. At Lapakahi State Historical Park, this tree was toppled and took out a bench that had been set up in its shade. The bench will have to be fixed and set up somewhere else because that shade isn’t coming back anytime soon.

Jackfruits

Jak fruits at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden

I saw these Jackfruits at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. I took the photo because they were the biggest ones I’ve seen. When I got home and read up about them I discovered these are dainty by Jackfruit standards. Apparently, Jackfruits can weigh up to 120 pounds and can be three feet long and almost two feet around.

What this means is that is that the Jackfruit tree is not a tree to picnic beneath!

For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.