Recently, we had our first big high surf event of the winter. Here, big swells roll in on the northern tip of the island.
High surf
Category Archives: Weather
Sunrise over Mauna Kea
The morning I first saw Mauna Loa’s latest eruption (here), the sunrise was equally spectacular.
Cloud over Mauna Loa eruption
On my way to work yesterday, I pulled over to photograph this view of Mauna Loa, early on day three of the current eruption. The heat and emissions from volcanic eruptions can create their own weather. Here, smoke and gasses from the most active vent can be seen rising up into a cloud over the northeast slope of the volcano.
Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.
Coast path
This is the last day for the November edition of Becky’s Squares with the theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
I’m finishing off with part of the coast path in South Kohala. Blue skies, blue water, palm trees, and a nice, easy path underfoot. Oh, and a gentle breeze and warm, but not too warm temperature. What’s not to like?
Mauna Loa erupts
Yesterday, my morning commute was enlivened by the sight of Mauna Loa erupting. The eruption started late Sunday night and the report I read, before leaving home, said the eruption was currently confined to the summit crater. That clearly wasn’t the case when I took these photos on the way to work. The quality isn’t great because they’re hand-held, but I think they illustrate the scene reasonably well.
In the top two photos, the red smoke is the glow of the lava, but the white/yellow bits are the lava itself. This was a flow moving down the slope of the volcano.
By the time I got to work, the sky was lightening but the lava still stood out. In the bottom photo, Mauna Kea is left center, with a stunning sunrise developing behind it. Mauna Loa is on the right and the activity can clearly be seen on the left (northeast) slope of the volcano, some way down from the summit.
When I got home, I read that three vents had opened on the northeast rift zone of the volcano, though only one was still active. Flows from Mauna Loa can reach the ocean in a matter of hours, depending on where they’re coming from and going to. This flow is currently heading towards the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which is mostly a military training area and undeveloped land. The main current danger is from gasses and Pele’s hair, thin strands of brittle volcanic glass, being carried from the volcano to communities downwind. However, new vents could open farther down the rift, bringing lava closer to human habitation.
Changes in eruptions on Mauna Loa can happen pretty quickly so, as usual, the advice here is be prepared and keep tuned to updates on the situation.
Nothing special
My usual walk around Upolu Airport is about a three mile loop. A few days ago, I was about halfway around and I hadn’t seen much of anything. No cattle or horses, no butterflies or bugs, few birds, and nothing in the water – no turtles, whales, or monk seals. And I thought, ‘Nothing special today.’
Then I looked out over the blue water under blue skies, waves splashing against the shore, and a light breeze moderating an otherwise hot day, and I thought, ‘Even nothing special isn’t half bad.’
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
Peek-a-boo
I like hiking and longer walks, but I’m equally happy staying closer to home and wandering around the yard here and at work. Here the sun peeks through the branches of an albizia tree.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking.” See more offerings here.
Plant collectors
Many people collect plants, but some plants are collectors, too. On my last visit to Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden it had recently rained. This bromeliad (above) and heliconia (below) had collected, not only water, but also an assortment of vegetation. There might even be a fish in there somewhere!
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
Graham's Island 