Category Archives: Parks

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.

Wasp and Milo flower

I saw several wasps flitting around a Milo tree at Lapakahi recently. What I found interesting was that none of them paid attention to the flowers, but they were more interested in the buds about to bloom. Not sure what that was about.

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.

Am I bothering you?

A cow with a bird perched on its back in Hawaii

On a recent walk at Upolu, the wind was very light, an unusual occurrence in that area. As I walked past the cattle pasture, I got a long stare from this one. But it turned out, irritating as I can be, the flies were a greater bother. The whole herd was engaged in some vigorous tail swishing to very little effect. Luckily the winds returned the next day and most of the flies were blown away.

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).

Ku’ula rock

In this view of the coast at Lapakahi State Historical Park, the large rock in the foreground was believed to be the home of Ku’ula, the fishing god. Local fishermen would leave a portion of their catch for him and, in return, would catch many fish next time they went out.