Category Archives: Places

The king who united Hawaii

Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii

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

Here are a few more photos from this year’s celebrations commemorating the birthday of King Kamehameha I, the king who united the Hawaiian islands. The ceremony began with a welcome blown on conch shells.

Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii

The procession was led by the four Royal Societies in Hawaii. They are descendants of Hawaiian Ali’i including King Kamehameha I himself. Ali’i were the ruling class who were seen as the link between the people and the gods.

Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii

Hula dances were performed honoring the king. Hula was created by early Hawaiian settlers. It is often accompanied by chants and the movements are a visual representation of those chants. The subject matter can be anything from light entertainment to a sacred honoring of a god or goddess. Western missionaries disapproved of hula and encouraged Hawaiian rulers to ban it, but while there were some restrictions it was never driven completely underground as happened with some other traditional Hawaiian activities.

Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Leis draped on the statue of King Kamehameha in Kapaau, Hawaii

See more photos from the Kamehameha Day celebrations here.

Surf’s down

Surfers wait offshore at the Beach at Kohanaiki

This looks like a deserted beach scene, but a closer look at the water shows quite a few surfers waiting for a wave. However, this was not one of those days when that wait was rewarded. The surf was down and the waves small. Still, Kohanaiki Beach Park is a great spot to linger, waves or not.

Abstracts: Wired

Wire coiled and overlapping

There was some sort of marine object, a buoy possibly, hauled out on the beach in Kawaihae Harbor. I couldn’t really get a decent photo of the object, but I liked the look of this wire fencing material that was associated with the project.

Here’s where my garden grows

A gecko on a wax ginger at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
A small Gold Dust Day Gecko climbs over a Wax Ginger. The small yellow parts are the flowers and the red mass is bracts.

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

Here are a few plants seen on my last visit to Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.

A Heliconia Longissima Red Wings at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
Big leaves on Heliconia Longissima Red Wings
Towering trees at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
Towering trees reach for the sky.
An Anthurium cupulispathum at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
The giant leaves and long spadex of an Anthurium Cupulispathum.
Selaginella Umbrosa ferns at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
A mass of Selaginella Umbrosa ferns.
A powderpuff flower at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
A Powderpuff flower growing from a mossy trunk.
A red ginger at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
The syrupy look of a red ginger.
Foliage surrounds stairs at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
A variety of tropical foliage borders a staircase at the garden.
Foliage reflected in the lake at at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
There are plants on land and reflected in the water.

Tug and pigeons

Early morning clouds over the ocean off Kawaihae, Hawaii

A couple of days ago, on my way to work, the early morning sky had an interesting look to it. Then I saw a tug and barge heading toward Kawaihae Harbor, so I decided to pull over and park (right next to a No Parking sign!). I walked a few paces to get a more open shot of the scene and, in doing so, disturbed a flock of pigeons roosting in a nearby tree. They took to the air and swooped around for a while before dispersing.

Early morning clouds over the ocean off Kawaihae, Hawaii

SSV Robert C. Seamans at anchor

The SSV Robert C. Seamans anchored off Hawaii Island
The SSV Robert C. Seamans anchored off Hawaii Island

This rather splendid sailing vessel was anchored recently, for a few days, in front of Mauna Kea Resort. It’s the Robert C. Seamans, a 134-foot steel-hulled brigantine that, despite its classic appearance, was built in 2001. The vessel is a Sailing School Vessel (SSV) operated by the Sea Education Association, which conducts sail training and research.

For more information about the Robert C. Seamans and Sea Education Association, go to https://sea.edu/.