Category Archives: Hawaiian History

Over the lava and through the woods

The Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii — Trails come in all shapes and sizes. Some meander through the woods.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Paths and Trails.’ See more responses here.

A Trail along the coast on the Big Island of Hawaii — Some follow the coast.

A Trail over Pahoehoe lava on the Big Island of Hawaii — Some follow the coast.

The trail to Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii — Some are paved and have rails for safety.

A sign marks the trail at Weliweli Point on the Big Island of Hawaii — Some are paved and have rails for safety.

The Ka'awaloa Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii — Some trails are mysterious.

The Powerline Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii — Some trails are mysterious.

Pretty in pink

A Pink container in Hawaii — This shipping container, parked in Kawaihae, isn’t likely to blend into the background.

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

Maiapilo flowers in Hawaii — Maiapilo flowers are white when they bloom but turn to pink within 24 hours as they fade.

A rider in the Kamehameha Day Parade in North Kohala, Hawaii — Maiapilo flowers are white when they bloom but turn to pink within 24 hours as they fade.

A Pink Ginger in Hawaii — A pink ginger.

A Bee on pinkhead smartweed in Hawaii — A pink ginger.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

A lava breakout from the Kilauea lava flow. — A lava breakout in a flow from Pu’u O’o covers the old coast road, which is now a trail (here).

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

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is the best known park on the island. It covers 354,461 acres, which includes, not just the Kilauea area, but up to the summit of Mauna Loa and down the southwest rift zone of that volcano. The park contains 106 miles of roads and 155 miles of marked trails, many of them well off the beaten track.

I’ve hiked a lot in the park, though I doubt I’ll ever cover all the trails, but these photos are from ones I’ve done with links to the original posts for those interested.

On the Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs Trail (here).

View from Hilina Pali Trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — On the Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs Trail (here).

A low section of Puapo'o lava tube — Puapo’o lava tube is only accessible on a guided tour (here).

The interior of Thurston Lava Tube at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. — Puapo’o lava tube is only accessible on a guided tour (here).

Steam rises alongside the Steam Vents trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — Steaming Bluff on the Crater Rim Trail (here).

Daybreak reveals the onlookers gathered at the Jaggar Museum viewing point. — Steaming Bluff on the Crater Rim Trail (here).

The Puna Coast Trail features colorful lava (here)…

Colored lava on the Ka'u Desert Trail, Hawaii — The Puna Coast Trail features colorful lava (here)…

Also posted for Jo’s Monday Walk. See more responses here.

Hawaiian Crown Flowers

Hawaiian Crown Flowers (Calotropis gigantea) came from India originally, and became popular here because they were favored by Queen Liliuokalani, the last ruler of the Hawaiian monarchy. The purple flower was the one first introduced here, back in the 1880s, with this white variety arriving some 30 years later.

The plant gets its name from the shape of the flowers, which are used in making leis. As members of the milkweed family, they also host Hawaii’s Monarch Butterflies. The plant has a milky sap that is toxic, but that Monarchs, and their caterpillars, are immune to. The caterpillars are voracious eaters, decimating the Crown Flower leaves, but the plant will bounce back after the caterpillars pupate. The plant is drought tolerant and does well on the dry side of the island here.

The Numbers Game #74

A monument commemorating Ikua Purdy, a Hawaiian paniolo — This statue in Waimea celebrates the role of paniolos in the region. (Original post here.)

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 195. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A stick swimming crab in the waters off the Big Island, Hawaii — A fascinating, but rarely seen, Stick Swimming Crab. Original post here.

A fascinating, but rarely seen, Stick Swimming Crab. Original post here.

The Numbers Game #69

Clouds fill the saddle between Mauna Kea and Hualalai.

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 190. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

King Kamehameha's statue in Kapaau, is draped in leis on Kamehameha Day. — A wasp working on a nest.

A pair of Threadfin Jack juveniles swim in the waters off the Big Island of Hawaii — A pair of juvenile Threadfin Jacks.

The Numbers Game #68

The lava cone and lake at Kilauea Volcano in late 2021 — The 2021 eruption at Kilauea Volcano.

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 189. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

The Numbers Game #61

A gecko checks out the scene from the coin return slot of a Pepsi machine.

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 182. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii