Category Archives: Weather

Shade tree, hold the shade

A misshapen Milo tree at Upolu Airport, Hawaii

Almost five years ago, I posted a photo of this Milo tree (here). It had been planted as a shade tree and there was a picnic table beside it. However, the tree had grown with a 90° bend, a result of the strong winds that blow here.

A few days ago, I went for a walk on the coast there, for the first time in ages, and this is what I saw. I’m assuming the tree was pruned like this in the hope that new growth would be in a more normal direction. I doubt that will happen, though the winds aren’t as consistently strong these days. Oh, and the picnic table, that had gone before my previous post, never did return.

Tune in again in five years for more exciting developments!

Holei Arch

Holei Arch in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Anyone who has visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and driven down Chain of Craters Road to the coast, likely ended up taking a photo of Holei Arch, which is near the end of the road.

Anyone who visits that spot in the future will not do that, because the arch is no more. It collapsed while the park was closed during the passage of Tropical Storm Nolo. The exact time of its collapse isn’t known. It was there on Wednesday, September 23, but gone by Sunday evening on September 27.

Just a moment

A cyclist speeds by in Hawaii
The blur of a passing cyclist in an Ironman race.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Ephemeral.’ See more responses here. Captions on the photos.

A Green Darner Dragonfly at Pololu in Hawaii
A Green Darner Dragonfly caught in the act of darting back and forth.

Downtown Hawi

A family of four walks past a building in Hawi, Hawaii
The main highway through Hawi is Akoni Pule Hwy., though it looks more like Abbey Road in this photo!

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Your Home Town.’ See more responses here. Downtown Hawi is only about a block long, but it can be a busy little place, and popular with tourists on their way to and from Pololu Valley.

A mural on the side of the post office in Hawi, Hawaii
This mural, on the side of the Post Office building, was painted by local high school kids and depicts some of the history of North Kohala.

Trees down

Trees blown down by Hurricane Lala at Mahukona Beach Park in Hawaii

A couple of the trees blown down by Hurricane Lala at Mahukona Beach Park. The park was shut for several days with lots of trees blown down and other damage. The wharf parking area is still closed because concrete barriers, that prevent people from driving into the sea, have to be replaced. One is currently underwater, next to the steps where people get in the water.

Another hurricane is currently passing close to the island so more damage is likely!