A view of Hualali volcano in the late afternoon sun, sandwiched between the lower slopes of Mauna Kea, in the foreground, and heavy clouds overhead.
Birds bathing
Two Japanese white-eyes and a yellow-billed cardinal take a dip in one of the ponds at Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, also known as Place of Refuge. The ponds are very popular with birds and it’s a good spot to sit and watch them for a while.
For more information about Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm.
Purple allamanda
Purple allamanda is a member of the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. It’s an evergreen tropical shrub that produces a generous display of large flowers. However, all the parts of the plant are toxic if swallowed and the milky white sap can be irritating for skin, so be warned.
Painted lady butterfly
The painted lady butterfly is one of the most common butterflies in the world, but it’s only recently that I’ve spotted a few of them in Hawaii. This isn’t because they’re a recent introduction. They’ve been around here since the late 1800s. I guess I just haven’t been visiting the right areas.
Better Days: ’Aimakapa Fishpond sluice
’Aimakapa Fishpond is one of two fishponds at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. The other is Kaloko Fishpond, which is separated from the ocean by a huge rock wall, currently being restored. ’Aimakapa Fishpond’s barrier is made up of sand dunes.
A channel was dug to the ocean to allow water to circulate back and forth and, at the ocean end (seen here), a sluice gate (makaha) installed. The sluice gate helped keep predators out. These days it isn’t used and so the channel has silted up with sand.
Fishponds are different to fish traps. Ponds allow for the rearing of fish from small fry. Traps are shallow walled enclosures, which fish can cross at high tide, but cannot escape from when the tide goes out.
For more information about Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, go to www.nps.gov/kaho/index.htm.
Brassy chubs
A small group of brassy chubs catches the sun as it pootles about just below the water’s surface,
Lunar eclipse
A photo of yesterday’s lunar eclipse, at least it was yesterday here. This was taken at 3 a.m.. I almost missed it. When my alarm went off I looked out of the window and thought, ‘There’s not much moonlight; it must be cloudy.’ Then I thought, ‘Wait a minute….’
Barges that pass in the day
The photo above poses the question as to whether this barge captain is entirely clear on the concept. The photo below reveals that, yes, he or she is. These are two of the inter-island barges passing in the Alenuihaha Channel.
