Cows are rounded up for milking on one of the Big Island’s two remaining dairy farms. These days most cowboys, called paniolos in Hawaii, do their work on four-wheelers, though horses are still sometimes used.
Tag Archives: Upolu
Cackling goose
A cackling goose is similar in appearance to a Canada goose, but much smaller and with a shorter beak. Both are rare visitors to Hawaii. This cackling goose was taking a drink of water from a puddle at Upolu airport until a couple of mynah birds started harassing it. Then it took off and headed east, into a strong wind.
Upolu sunset
The scene shortly after sunset on the coast below Upolu airport in North Kohala.
Takeoff
A small plane gathers speed on a hot runway. No birds were harmed in the making of this photo – the plane was airborne long before it got there.
Mo’okini Heiau
According to tradition, Mo’okini Heiau dates back to the 5th century, when it was built on the northern tip of the island, by the high priest, Mo’okini. Somewhere between the 11th and 14th century (dates vary) another priest called Pa’ao is said to have built the current structure. Pa’ao came from Tahiti or Samoa and is also said to have brought to Hawaii the practice of human sacrifice and the kapu system, laws that governed daily life.
Given its history, it’s not surprising that some people find the site eerie and unsettling. The stone in the second photo, is where flesh was stripped from bone after a person had been sacrificed.
For more information about Mo’okini Heiau, go to nps.gov/nr/travel/Asian_American_and_Pacific_Islander_Heritage/Mookini-Heiau.htm.
Signs: Flying shark attack?
Last September, a 13-foot tiger shark attacked a spear fisherman off Upolu Point in North Kohala. Luckily he had friends there and they got him to hospital. En route, he posted photos of his serious wounds on Facebook!
Usually, when there’s a shark attack, nearby beaches are closed. In this case, it’s a somewhat remote area with no beaches so there were no closures. But any time there’s an attack or even a reported sighting, these ‘Shark Sighted – Keep Out” signs are posted. What I particularly liked in this case was that the sign was attached to the fence at Upolu Airport (which is no more than a lightly-used landing strip). Was this something new from the sharks? An air attack?
In fairness, there’s really no better place to post such a sign and the dirt road that runs alongside the fence is the one most people use when heading toward the coast. But I like to imagine that some tourist came by and wondering whether some shark had flown in in this instance.
The sign blew away within a couple of days by which time I expect the shark was also many miles away. Or perhaps not. Dun dun dun dun …
For more information about the shark attack off Upolu Point, go to westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/shark-attacks-man-upolu-point.
Saffron finches
I saw this pair of saffron finches hopping through the grass near Upolu Airport. They’re an introduced species that are commonly seen, especially on the west side of the island.
Plovers on a pond
Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) enjoying the water. In the winter, these birds migrate from Alaska to Hawaii where the bird is known as the Kolea. And the water? Sadly, not some tranquil mountain lake or forest pond. Instead, it’s a dip in the ground near the end of the runway of Upolu airport. Nice view though.
Graham's Island 