Akaka Falls State Park is on the wet side of the island. There’s a short loop walk through the park that showcases the abundant vegetation and the falls themselves, which have a more than 400 feet drop.
Category Archives: Places
Better Days: Gravesite
In Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, north of Hilo, this gravesite sits close to the ocean, surrounded by tropical foliage. The wording on the sign reads:
Long ago, Onomea Bay was a fishing village, became a rough-water seaport in the 1800’s, and later was inhabited by Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos who came here to work in the sugar cane fields and to help build the Onomea Sugar Mill. In the early 1900’s, Onomea was deserted and vegetation grew so densely that few signs of habitation could be seen.
When our Founder and his tireless helpers were first clearing this area, they discovered this olden and dignified gravesite. We have never been able to authenticate the origin, although some old-timers believe the gravesite may have belonged to a caretaker’s family, since a cement-made gravesite would not have pre-dated the 1900’s.
Our commitment is to forever preserve this resting place with the utmost care and respect.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
For more information about Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, go to htbg.com.
A lonesome palm, a moody sky
The lone palm at Keawaiki stands out against a cloudy sky.
Hawaiian Upland damselfly
The Hawaiian Upland damselfly (Megalagrion hawaiiense) is endemic to the state. Hawaiians called dragonflies pinao and damselflies pinao ‘ula. I’ve never been sure what the difference between the two is but I have learned that, among other things, damselflies tend to be smaller, have eyes on the side of the head that are clearly separate, and can fold their wings behind them.
This one was on the Kaumana Trail off Saddle Road (officially the Daniel K. Inouye Highway) at an elevation just over 5,000 feet.
Abstracts: Green turtle swimming
A green turtle swims through rippling shallow water at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.
Orthosiphon aristatus
Orthosiphon aristatus is better known in the U.S. as Java tea or cat’s whiskers, which I think is particularly fitting. This one was at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden just north of Hilo on the east side of the Big Island.
For more information about Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, go to htbg.com.
Boats at anchor
A pair of sailboats at anchor off the Big Island with Maui in the background.
Lumpy and grumpy
I came across this on a rocky stretch of coast, placed there by someone who liked the shape as much as I do. It’s a lump of bleached coral, but looks like a small, tubby lap dog not at all pleased about being toted to such an uncomfortable spot. I particularly like the petroglyph-like form on its side.
Graham's Island 