Category Archives: Parks

One of our barriers is missing

High surf at Mahukona Hawaii

A series of high swells recently, played havoc with the place where I go swimming. Concrete barriers were not only moved around, but one went missing altogether! The decaying parking area was roughed up, with more potholes and cracks appearing. As a result the gate to the parking area was kept closed for several days while ideas were mulled about what to do.

High surf at Mahukona Hawaii
Barriers on the move and water shooting up through the asphalt lot.
A concrete barrier in the water at Mahukona Hawaii
The missing barrier under the water.

One day, several new concrete barriers appeared, though the missing barrier had been located – near the entry ladder, but underwater. Word leaked out that repairs were to be made. The sunken barrier would be recovered and the holes in the lot filled.

They were true to their word. Next day a crew arrived and the promised work was completed in a day. The barrier was back in place, its smaller replacements removed. The gates were opened and cars flooded in. It looked like a brand new place, relatively speaking.

Yesterday, I went down there to see how the latest big swell looked. The parking lot gate was closed again as expected. The swell was still building, but washed across the lower reaches of the lot. And the recently replaced concrete barrier was on the move again, heading across the parking lot, en route to the channel by the entry ladder!

The swimming entry at Mahukona Hawaii
Calm conditions, but a rather battered looking lot.
The parking area at Mahukona Hawaii
Barriers back in place and potholes filled!
High surf at Mahukona Hawaii
Barrier on the move again!

The Numbers Game #8

A cattle egret stands on a sleeping cow in Hawaii
A Cattle Egret stands on a resting cow. No, it’s not dead!

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 129. You can see more responses here.

A black stink bug next to a black strap on a red shirt.
This stink bug landed on my shirt as I was trying to photograph it.
Sunset over Kohala
Sunset from the lanai.

Some things to do on the Big Island

Skydivers in the air above Hawaii
Try skydiving, whether you’ve ever done it before, or not.
Paddleboarders in the waters off Hawaii
For something more mellow, there’s paddleboarding, at least on a morning like this one.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Something to Do.’ See more responses here.

There’s plenty to do here on the Big Island, with outdoor activities available year round. Here’s a selection.

Canoe paddlers practice in the waters off Hawaii
Another paddling option is in canoes…
Canoe paddlers practice in the waters off Hawaii
…Or you can just watch others doing that.
A fisherman tries his luck in the waters off Hawaii
Perhaps a spot of fishing is more your style.
Going for a swim in Hawaii
There’s lots of places to go for a swim.
Sunbathing on a beach in Hawaii
Or you could kick back, relax, and do nothing, which is still something, right?

A tail of a whale

A humpback whale slaps its tail in the waters off Hawaii

Yesterday, I posted photos from the latest of a series of swells rolling in from the northwest. After the last one, and before the next, I got in the water for a swim. It wasn’t great. Visibility was poor and the swells were still a good size.

The highlight of the swim was drying off afterwards and seeing several Humpback Whales active not far offshore. There were a few good breaches, which naturally escaped my camera, but I did get photos of some vigorous tail slapping, which was fun to see.

A humpback whale slaps its tail in the waters off Hawaii
A humpback whale slaps its tail in the waters off Hawaii

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.
Windows at a building site in hawaiiA 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.