Tag Archives: Upolu

The Numbers Game #104

Sea Monster
A sea monster lunging up? Actually, a Humpback Whale. The ‘lower jaw’ is a fin!

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

The Numbers Game #101

It’s the time of year when big northwest swells start to hit the islands. This one is from a few years back.

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

The Numbers Game #100

Small planes at Upolu Airport, Hawaii
A fly-in at Upolu AIrport

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

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Shadows. See more responses here.

Black and white, some in color

Black and white cars in Kailua Kona in Hawaii
I was photographing the building, but realized later that all the vehicles were white except for the one black one. What are the chances?

This week’s Sunday Stills color challenge theme is ‘Black (and/or) Black-and-White.’ See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #81

A Red Scooter in Hawi, Hawaii
A scooter I see often in Hawi.

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

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Simply Red. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #66

A view of Waipio Valley from the air.

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

The miracle of birth is hard work

A cow trying to calve in Hawaii

Driving down to Upolu for a walk, I noticed this cow behaving oddly, so I pulled over to take a look. The reason quickly became clear: a pair of hooves sticking out below the tail. She was about to give birth. I thought this would be a good photo op, so settled in to watch.

A cow trying to calve in Hawaii

The poor cow was up, down, walking, lying down. The pair of hooves did not budge. A couple of times I thought the delivery was nigh, but they were false dawns.

A cattle egret stands by a cow trying to calve in Hawaii
Are you the midwife?

I wasn’t the only one watching the action, or lack of it. Other cows looked on from a safe distance, chickens pecked the ground around the struggling cow, and a cattle egret flew in to see if any bugs might be being stirred up by the activity. In the end, I could wait no longer. I went off for my walk. On my return, nothing much had changed so I went home.

A cattle egret flies by a cow trying to calve in Hawaii
I guess not.

I didn’t contact the dairy. Early in my time here, I tried that, but they weren’t interested and soon after, No Trespassing signs went up on the driveway! I grew up on a small farm and, for us, a new calf was an important arrival to be carefully ushered into the world. But this was a bigger operation, and I’ve learned that the cows are left to get on with it. Truth is, she was probably fine. These things take time and, as every mother out there knows, it’s never easy.

A hen stands in front of a cow trying to calve in Hawaii
Hey, look at me! I’m the star here!