Tag Archives: Kohala

Pololu

Pololu is at the end of the highway in Kohala. A popular destination for visitors, social media coverage has now boosted it into the burgeoning overrun category. Last week, I headed out there for the first time in ages, intending to walk down to the beach and see if the place had changed.

When I got to the end of the road, I found several people involved in organizing parking and giving out information. This was certainly new. The parking is still inadequate for the number of visitors, but a parcel of land, near the end of the road, is supposed to become a parking and information area, though the time frame for that is a bit vague.

With rain pushing along the coast, I didn’t go down to the beach, but the views along the coast and up the valley are still wonderful. Do me a favor though, and keep that to yourselves!

Pueo takeoff

A pueo watches from a hillside in Hawaii

I was driving the mountain road back to Hawi, when I saw this Pueo flying. I pulled over, but didn’t see it again, until I realized it was perched on a rock on the hillside above. It was watching me.

A pueo takes off from a hillside in Hawaii

I took some photos and was lucky enough to catch the bird taking off, before heading over a ridge and out of sight.

The final seven

Seven rings on a manhole cover in Hawaii — A Water Department manhole cover.

The final posted for this month’s Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here. I had some left over and couldn’t decide what to leave out, so I put them all in. Captions on photos.

Seven power lines in Hawaii — Power to the people.

Seven Wind Turbines at Hawi Wind Farm in Hawaii — Power to the people.

Seven Motorbikes parked in Hawi, Hawaii — I saw these, parked under the banyans, on my way to the post office.

Mile marker 7 on Akoni Pule Hwy, Hawaii — I saw these, parked under the banyans, on my way to the post office.

A long way from anywhere

Signposts outside the Kohala Resource Center in Hawi, Hawaii

In case you were wondering, these signposts, outside the North Kohala Resource Center, confirm we are truly a long way from anywhere.

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #40

A boat anchored off the beach at Anaehoomalu Bay in Hawaii — A Covid-year photo of a sailboat anchored off a deserted Anaeho’omalu Bay beach.

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 161. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Also, seven photos posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

A Cliff Ladder used by fishermen on the North Kohala Coast, Hawaii — A ladder used by people fishing, to access a rugged shore.

Palm tree reflections at Place of Refuge in Hawaii — A ladder used by people fishing, to access a rugged shore.

Goats drink from a pond at Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park — Goats take a drink at a pond in Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

Yuccas alongside the road to Kamuela, Hawaii — Goats take a drink at a pond in Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

Square of seven

A San Francisco 49ers flag flies in Kohala, Hawaii

Are you ready for some football?

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #38

A Clown with parachute at Upolu Airport in Hawaii — A clown with a parachute hangs on a tree. For a while it was a marker for the local skydiving company.

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 159. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Also, seven photos posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

A Wandering Tattler looks for food on the coast in Hawaii — A Wandering Tattler probes along a rocky shore.

A Japanese white-eye chick waits for its parents to help it in Hawaii — A Wandering Tattler probes along a rocky shore.

A Lenticular cloud in Hawaii — A lenticular cloud.

A Halo around the sun at Upolu Airport in Hawaii — A lenticular cloud.

Pueo, on the way to work

A Pueo, or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, perches on a rock in North Kohala

I was on my way to work yesterday, whizzing along only a smidge over the speed limit, when I noticed a familiar image out of the corner of my eye. ‘That’s a Pueo,’ I thought. It was standing on a rock alongside the highway. By the time the thought registered, I was past it, so I drove on a bit until I could turn around and head back.

Sure enough, on my return, the bird was standing in the same place. I stopped a little way beyond it, got out, and snapped the photo above. The Pueo started watching me the moment I got out of the car and, as I edged towards it, it took off and disappeared toward the ocean.

I crossed the road to the spot where it had been perched, then walked a bit farther to get a view down the gully it had disappeared into. I didn’t really expect to see it again, but then I spotted it, clamped to a tree branch, head swiveling 360° as it searched for breakfast. It spotted something, took off in pursuit, and glided from view behind some trees.

I see Pueos occasionally on this stretch of road, but always in flight, usually passing in front of my car at windshield level, which makes me cringe. This is the first time I’ve seen one perched here as this one was.

A Pueo, or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, perches on a branch in North Kohala

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii