Tag Archives: On The Coast

A walk on the South Kohala Coast

A green turtle on a beach in Hawaii — A green turtle rests on the beach.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘The Great Outdoors.’ See more responses here.

Recently, I took a hike along the South Kohala Coast, starting out at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay in Waikoloa Resort, and heading south to Keawaiki Beach, before returning the same way. This is a hike I’ve done before, but not for some time.

ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay is often referred to as A Bay because it’s a tad easier to pronounce. It’s one of the more popular beaches on the island, but head south, around the corner from the main beach area, and the golden sands are largely deserted. Well, except for the odd green sea turtle taking a nap.

There are a few rustic structures behind the beach along here, but it’s a far cry from the resort developments less than a mile to the north. When the sands end, there’s a short stretch where high tides wash up against a wall of greenery. Hiking at those times, which I did, involves nimble footwork or getting your feet wet. I’m not nimble!

A table on elephant carvings in Hawaii — A table supported by elephant heads!

The trail along the South Kohala coast in Hawaii — A table supported by elephant heads!

Beyond this point the coast becomes rocky lava, where flows from Mauna Loa have tumbled into the ocean in bygone days. The trail is mostly over a’a lava, which is irregular and rough. The trail itself is not hard to walk, but straying into the lava fields is another matter entirely.

A lost buoy along the South Kohala coast in Hawaii — I found this sad looking buoy banging around in a tide pool, so carried it higher on shore where it looked much happier.

The first marker on this part of the trail is the lone palm tree at Akahu Kaimu Bay. Just inland from this palm is a pool, which is mostly freshwater and deep enough to swim in. This is a welcome option on a hot day, but since it was mostly overcast with a nice onshore breeze, I didn’t take a dip this time.

A lone palm marks Akahu Kaimu Bay in Hawaii — The lone palm tree at Akahu Kaimu Bay from the north.

The trail continues over the lava field to the next bay and it was here I got lost. The coast trail often passes over the lava rather than follow the coast around points and the only trail I could see appeared to be doing just that. But when I followed it for a while I saw that it continued inland. However, I could also see that where it headed was to the Golden Pools of Keawaiki, which was I planned on visiting anyway, so I carried on until I came to familiar ground. The golden pools owe their color to a unique algae that grows here. These are not pools for swimming in since that could alter the conditions and destroy the algae.

A trail to the golden pools of Keawaiki in Hawaii — The trail to the Golden Pools of Keawaiki.

A view of the highway from the coast trail in South Kohala in Hawaii — The trail to the Golden Pools of Keawaiki.

Heading back to the coast, the trail comes out at Pueo Bay where I found an abandoned kayak, not in great condition. Keawaiki beach, just beyond, is another bay marked by a sole palm tree, but this poor tree has been badly damaged by storms and is no longer much of a tree.

An old kayak at Pueo Bay near Keawaiki Hawaii — Abandoned kayak at Pueo Bay.

The beach at Keawaiki Hawaii — Abandoned kayak at Pueo Bay.

Heading back north, I passed the sole house on this part of the coast, just beyond Weliweli Point. I have yet to see anyone at this spot, though someone obviously maintains the property. I got back to the bay where I had strayed off the track and realized where I’d gone wrong. The coast trail zigzags up from the beach and is marked only by a couple of pieces of bleached coral, which don’t stand out much on a beach strewn with the same kinds of coral pieces.

This trail isn’t a great one for birds, but I did see a Great Frigatebird wheeling overhead, which is always nice. And though this coast appears unforgiving, there are hardy plants to be found including native Hau trees and swathes of Beach Naupaka.

A Hau flower in bloom in Hawaii — A Hau flower.

Beach Naupaka flowers in bloom in Hawaii — A Hau flower.

By the time I got back to A Bay, the Lava Lava Beach Club was busy with dinner patrons, enjoying their meals at tables set up on the sand and close to the water.

The Lava Lava Beach Club at A Bay Hawaii — Lava Lava Beach Club.

Also posted for Jo’s Monday Walk. See more responses here.

Waterfalls on the North Kohala coast

Waterfalls plunge intot he ocean along the North Kohala Coast, Hawaii

The North Kohala coast is largely inaccessible except by water or by air. This view shows a few of the many waterfalls that plunge into the ocean along that stretch of coast.

The color of water

Small fish swim in Kiholo Lagoon in Hawaii — Little fish swim in the glacier blue waters of Kiholo Lagoon.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Everything Water.’ See more responses here.

I’m going with some abstract images from my archives. No text with these except for some brief captions.

Late afternoon light on the ocean off Hawaii — Late afternoon sun on the ocean.

Water from an infinity pool in Hawaii — Late afternoon sun on the ocean.

An abstract of colors in the waters off Hawaii — Shimmering colors.

Tide pool colors in Hawaii — Shimmering colors.

Calm

An early morning view from Spencer Beach Park in Hawaii

An early morning scene at Spencer Beach Park near Kawaihae.

Konane game board

Kōnane is an old Hawaiian game with similarities to checkers or draughts but with more complications. It’s played on a board, or papamū, which can vary in size and material.

Older boards were often made in suitable rocks by creating hollows for the pieces to sit in. Sizes varied with most being rectangular with sizes such as a 14 by 17 configuration. The bigger the board, the longer the game. Game pieces were small pebbles of black lava and white coral. These days, wooden boards are common and some are made of cloth for portability. Square boards are more usual now such as an 8 by 8 configuration.

These photos were taken at Lapakahi State Historical Park, which was the location of an old Hawaiian village. The papamū in the top photo and the slider was probably made relatively recently judging by the smooth hollows for the pieces, but the board in the bottom photo was probably used by inhabitants of the village and show that boards weren’t necessarily a regular shape. Such irregularities only added to the challenge of the game.

To play kōnane, the board is set up as in the photos with black and white pieces on alternating squares. A correctly set up board should show all one color pieces on a diagonal line. After colors are chosen and the first two pieces removed, players alternate turns in jumping over the other player’s piece or pieces, removing those that have been jumped. Moves can be made up, down, or to the side, but not on the diagonal or around corners. The object of the game is to be the last player to make a move.

Kōnane was hugely popular in Hawaii, but was frowned on by missionaries who disapproved of the unproductive time spent playing and the rampant gambling on games. These days, it’s becoming more popular again, with tournaments and online games being held.

For more information about kōnane, go to hawaiiancheckers.com.

Mongoose by the water

Mongoose are everywhere including at the beach. This one was scurrying across the sand at Pelekane Beach, Kawaihae.

Signs: The end of the park is coming

My immediate response to this sign, at Lapakahi Historical Park, was to think, ‘You mean, before I fall in the water.’ In truth, the sign is there because the land to the right of it is no longer park property. I’m just not sure why they oriented the sign this way, but there’s a nice, simple bench next to the sign where one can contemplate the matter

Abstract: Something is watching

A blenny peers up from a tide pool in Hawaii

A blenny looks up from a tide pool, blending into its surroundings so that it is hard to spot.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii