Category Archives: Weather

Nothing special

The coastline below Upolu Airport in Hawaii

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).

Plant collectors

A bromeliad filled with water

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).

A red heliconia filled with water

A walk from Spencer Beach Park to Hapuna

On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
The beach at Mauna Kea Resort.

A few days ago, I posted here an image from a recent walk along the coast to Hapuna beach. I thought I’d post more photos from that walk for this week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme of ‘Paths and Trails’ (more responses here), and for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (more responses here).

On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
A sign marks the trail.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
The trail along the coast.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
The trail passes through open areas.

The trail crosses beaches large and small.

On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
Looking towards Mauna Kea Resort beach.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
A small beach on the trail.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
A sheltered cove along the trail.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
A view of Mauna Kea Resort beach.

Of course, besides the views I was on the alert for anything moving on the beach or in the air.

A Pallid Ghost crab on the beach.
Nenes flying overhead.

Other parts pass through trees and other vegetation.

On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
The trail passes through residential areas.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
Passing by a resident’s yard.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
Through the trees.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
Walking through the trees.
On the Ala Kahakai Trail between Spencer Beach Park and Hapuna
Back to the park.

All quiet at Hapuna Beach

Hapuna Beach in Hawaii

A couple of days ago, I hiked south from Spencer Beach Park to Hapuna and back. My main reason for doing this was that I’d heard Hapuna State Park was closed because of a broken water line. People were still allowed to get in the water there, but not stay on the beach or gather anywhere – a sort of return to Covid restrictions. I wanted to see how much difference this made.

When I got down there, the beach wasn’t deserted, but was pretty quiet, especially for a Saturday afternoon. Normally, there would be large gatherings and barbecues. Mind you, the beach in front of Hapuna Resort, at the top of this photo, wasn’t especially crowded either. Perhaps it was just a slow weekend.

The sun ducks below the horizon

Something seen just after sunset in Hawaii

Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge asks us to post the last photo we took in October (See more response here). Mine came from a couple of evenings ago.

I was taking photos of the sunset and when the sun dipped out of view I noticed a strange something on the horizon. I zoomed in and took a couple of photos, this being the second of those.

It took me a while to figure out what was going on here, but then it all became clear. I realized, some 20 miles out to sea, an enormous duck was paddling by. I mean, what else could it be?