A few days ago I posted (here) about the view from an old blockhouse on the Pu’u Wa’awa’a trail. Today, I’m taking a look inside. As I mentioned before, the building is now a shelter for livestock with assorted detritus on the floor, but light through the empty windows still casts a bright image on the painted walls.
For more information about Pu’u Wa’awa’a and its trails, go to puuwaawaa.org.
Lei triggerfish are quite common in Big Island waters. Sometimes two or three of them can be seen circling, then chasing each other. The two bands behind the eyes can change color from brown to gray or yellow. I like their blue eye shadow and their permanent look of surprise, as if they’re always saying ‘Oooo.’
On the north side of the Painted Church at Honaunau the windows look out onto a small graveyard. It’s a most peaceful scene, both inside and outside the church, but still with a distinctly tropical feel.
For more information about the Painted Church at Honaunau, go to thepaintedchurch.org.
There are several plants known as zebra plant, all with strongly patterned foliage. This one is Calathea zebrina var. humilior.
The trail up Pu’u Wa’awa’a passes through old ranch land, some of which is still used for livestock. Part way up, near the old quarry, is a small, flat-roofed building made with concrete blocks. This could have been a home for a ranch worker or perhaps a basic office associated with the quarry.
Whatever it was, it no longer is. The building is gutted, the doors and windows gone. Nowadays it serves as a shelter for sheep, goats, cattle and whatever else wanders in. One things it still has is a commanding view of the Kona coast.
These old windows look out onto the side of the hill and down toward the coast in the distance.
For more information about Pu’u Wa’awa’a and its trails, go to puuwaawaa.org.
The spotted boxfish is the most common boxfish in Hawaii. They really are little boxes with a hard carapace. Only their fins, eyes and mouth move. They can also secrete a toxic slime if they’re bothered.
Surprisingly, given their shape, they’re very good swimmers and can easily outdistance a human. Such is their prowess in this regard that they’ve served as inspiration for submarine and car designs.
On a more basic level, they’re always fun to see in the water, puttering along nimbly, and keeping a good distance ahead of pursuing photographers. The top boxfish is a male and the one below, a female.
Another layered view, this time of Maui, from North Kohala. Rocks and surf in front, the Alenuihaha Channel in the middle, with Maui in the background, and a layer of cloud thrown in for good measure.
I was in Kailua Kona recently when I saw this electronic sign flashing “Emergency Water Restriction” and “Stop Sprinkler Use.” The irony, of course, was that I saw the sign during the kind of tropical downpour that washes cars, trees, and houses away. The road I was on was a shallow river. Entering one store, I had to wade through water lapping at my calves.
Kona’s water supply has been in trouble for several weeks now, but it’s nothing to do with rainfall. The water supply comes from wells and several of the pumps have broken down. Most of the pumps are different so each has its own unique spare parts. The one, brand new, spare pump available proved to be defective.
How was such a situation allowed to happen? Well, that’s a good question and people in high places are concerned. Serious questions are being asked. New procedures are being drawn up. Those responsible will be held to account. Just kidding on that last one. That’s not really how things work here.
