Photos for people who like pastels

Pastel Candies in Hawaii
Pastel shades of candy.

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

Purple Crown Flowers in Hawaii
A Crown Flower.
Foliage in a pot at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii
A pleasing pot at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.
The interior of the Painted Church at Honaunau in Hawaii
A plethora of pastels inside the Painted Church at Honaunau.
A Rosy-faced lovebird in Hawaii
A Rosy-faced Lovebird getting to grips with lunch.
A piece of organic matter floating in the water off Hawaii
Organic matter floating in the ocean.
A Palenose Parrotfish in the waters off Hawaii
A Palenose Parrotfish.

Turbinaria ornata

Turbinaria ornata algae in the waters off Hawaii
Turbinaria ornata algae in the waters off Hawaii

Turbinaria ornata is an algae, native to Hawaii. It’s also known as crowded sea bells or crowned sea bells, depending on where you live. That name comes from how it bobs back and forth in the coastal surge where it’s found.

It’s something of an invasive species in other parts of the world. It can reproduce sexually or from bits breaking off and floating to other areas. It’s also good at adapting to different conditions.

This large colony was in the waters off Mauna Lani, which is not surprising. Turbinaria ornata has been found to do well near developed areas where the waters are rich in nutrients and have strong water motion.

Children’s Day

Children's Day celebrated at Hawi Jodo Mission in Hawii
Windsock flown at Hawi Jodo Mission in Hawii

The Jodo Mission in Hawi is getting ready to celebrate Children’s Day. This traditional Japanese holiday was known as Boy’s Days, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month, while Girl’s Day was celebrated on March 3, the third day of the third month. These days, there’s a push to celebrate both as Children’s Day on May 5th. One of the features is the flying of carp-shaped windsocks. There will also be gifts and special treats.

The windsock photo is posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card challenge. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #70

The beach at Honoka’ope Bay.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 191. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Green Anoles lined up in a window.
Flies on a horse.
Late afternoon in a macadamia nut orchard.
A Jeweled Anemone Crab.
A juvenile Commerson’s Frogfish.
Four spotted eagle rays in the waters off the Big Island of Hawaii
Spotted Eagle Rays circling next to the parking area at Mahukona.

Just passing through

A Manta Ray swims by in the waters off Hawaii

During yesterday’s swim, this Manta Ray appeared in front of me. It passed directly beneath me, and was clearly not inclined to pause and check out the ungainly creature above it. It’s the first I’ve seen in a long while, and certainly the first this year. Manta Ray encounters are a treat, especially as this one was beautifully marked and in great condition, which is always good to see.

A Manta Ray swims by in the waters off Hawaii