Endless Clouds

Location:  40,000 Feet Above the Eastern Pacific Ocean

As I flew from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland earlier this month, the cloud cover was nearly solid for most of the way.  We didn't get many glimpses of the ocean some eight miles below us, but some of the cloud formations aloft were quite striking.

Flying High Above the Weather

Location:  40,000 Feet Above the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Flying across the eastern Pacific Ocean earlier this month, we passed over a significant weather system.  Here is the evidence: a vortex in the clouds far below the plane.

Kawaihae Harbor and the Kohala Coast of Hawaii

Kawaihae Harbor and Kohala Coast Resorts

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

After flying northward from Kona along the Kohala coast of Hawaii's Big Island, the aircraft began to turn east over the port of Kawaihae.  Although our position in relation to the bright morning sun made it difficult to get an optimal photo, the view was spectacular.  In the bottom left of this photo is the harbor at the port of Kawaihae.  Up the coast you can see the northernmost of the Kohala coast resorts, including the Mauna Kea, the Mauna Lani, and the Hapuna Beach Prince hotels, and Hapuna Beach State Park.  A minute later, we flew right over my house!

Waikoloa Beach Resorts, Hawaii

Waikoloa Beach Resorts

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Yesterday I posted an aerial photo of the resorts on the North Kona coast of Hawaii's Big Island.  A short time later, the resort area of Waikoloa Beach came into view as the plane flew parallel to the Kohala coast.   This image shows the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort in the center foreground, and the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa on the right, next to the Anaehoomalu Bay Beach Park.  The old lava flows in the background are from Mauna Loa.

North Kona Resorts from the Air

Location: North Kona Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

When I left Hawaii earlier this month, I had a good view of the coast as the plane I was on climbed away from Kona International Airport.  In this image you can see some of the upscale resorts located just north of the airport, as well as old lava flows from Hualalai volcano.

Stay tuned for more aerial photos from this trip!

Snow-capped Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa in winter

Location: Big Island, Hawaii

Every year, from late Autumn through late Spring, Hawaii's two tallest mountains -- Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa -- are capped with snow.   This is a winter view of Mauna Loa, photographed from my back garden.   The name means 'long mountain, in the Hawaiian language.

To see photos of the snow on Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa's nearby neighbor, click here and here.

Something to brighten up a cloudy day...

Gorse (Ulex sp.)

Location:  Rakaia, South Island, New Zealand

This photo was taken during our trip to New Zealand, just about a year ago.  On this particular day, the sky was heavily overcast.  As we passed through farmlands outside a town called Rakaia, we spotted this stand of wild Gorse (Ulex sp.) beside a fence.  The bright yellow added a cheerful touch to an otherwise dreary day.

Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) has been a regular visitor to our bird feeders for some time.  Given a choice of mixed seeds, he always goes for the sunflower seeds first.  These birds are native to the eastern United States mainland.  They were introduced into Hawaii in the late 1920s.

Mixed Clouds Over Kawaihae Bay

Kawaihae Bay

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

I live on the northwestern coast of Hawaii's Big Island, and my house is on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  From our garden, we have a clear view of sunsets and weather phenomena over the ocean, and these are among my favorite photography subjects.  This wide-angle photo was taken from my hill a few days ago, in the late afternoon.   It shows a small ship heading for Kawaihae, a port just a few miles down the coast from where I live.  Overhead the sky had been covered for hours with a constantly changing array of clouds ahead of a weather system that was about to move in.   I'm happy to report that this time we did get some rain, although not nearly as much as we need.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Cooled Pāhoehoe Lava

Pāhoehoe Lava

Location:  Mauna Loa, Big Island, Hawaii

This won't win the prize for the prettiest photo ever posted on this blog, but I thought it would be a good follow-up to my previous post on pāhoehoe lava from Mauna Loa volcano.  This image is a closer view of the surface of pāhoehoe lava, which has cooled and hardened.   This, too, is part of a 1935 flow from Mauna Loa.   As you can see, a hardy lichen has sprouted from a crack, much as a weed would sprout from sidewalk cracks.

Pāhoehoe Lava from Mauna Loa Volcano

Mauna Loa Lava Flow

Location: Big Island, Hawaii

At present, Kilauea volcano is the most well-known of Hawaii's volcanoes - probably because it is vigorously erupting right now, and has been erupting more or less continuously since 1983.  There is another active volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, and that would be Mauna Loa.  Although it has not erupted since 1984, Mauna Loa is still considered to be active -- that is, capable of erupting again at any time.  The name Mauna Loa means 'long mountain' in the Hawaiian language.

This photo was taken near a road that runs over a pass between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.   It shows Mauna Loa in the distance, with numerous cooled lava flows cascading down its flanks.  In the foreground is some of the lava from a 1935 eruption.

The type of lava you see in the photo is called pāhoehoe.  It flows like a heavy syrup, and when it cools it has a smooth or wavy surface, much like thick frosting on a cake.  Another type of lava, called ʻaʻā, also is found in flows from all of Hawaii's volcanoes.  ʻAʻā flows are not smooth at all, in contrast to pāhoehoe.   Instead ʻaʻā flows look like disorderly heaps of broken up lava rock -- which is what they are!

To see more MyWorld images click here, or click the MyWorld button at the top of this post.

The Weka (Gallirallus australis)

Weka (Gallirallus australis)

Location: Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand

This the Weka (Gallirallus australis), a flightless bird native to New Zealand.  We saw it at a picnic area where we stopped to eat our lunch, near Punakaiki, on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island.  We had never seen one before, and at first I thought it might be a kiwi.   Fortunately a nearby visitor center had a chart identifying all the local birds, and we learned this was a Weka, also called a Woodhen.

It appeared that this individual hung out regularly at the picnic area where we saw it, looking for handouts.  It was not very shy.   It would come to within a meter of any humans who looked like they might have some food.     I thought this one was quite a nice looking bird.

New Zealand's Eglinton River Valley

Eglinton River

Location: South Island, New Zealand

The Eglinton River valley lies north of the town of Te Anau, on the way to Milford Sound in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park.  Without a doubt, this was one of our favorite areas of New Zealand's South Island.   The landscape was ruggedly beautiful and there were more hiking trails than we could have tried in a lifetime.

Morning Sky in Rural Hawaii

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Never go out for an early morning walk without your camera.  If you do, you'll surely see something worth photographing, and you will have to run back to the house for your camera, just as I had to do a few days ago.  Fortunately I had only walked about 200 meters down the road from my house when I saw this scene.

This was the sky I saw a little past 7 AM that day.  The sun had just cleared the top of Mauna Kea -- the mountain in the far left of this photo -- and was shining brightly into the clouds as if trying to melt them.   Indeed, the clouds overhead were starting to dissipate without giving us any rain again!!  We really, really need rain in my area.  If you don't believe me, look at the color of the grass in the field in the foreground.

In the center of the photo is Mauna Loa, the second highest mountain in Hawaii.  It was partly obscured that morning by a layer of "vog" that had drifted over from Kilauea, a volcano that is erupting vigorously at present.  "Vog" is what we call the haze produced from volcanic emissions here in Hawaii. (Kilauea is not visible in this photo.)

The mountain on the right hand side of the photo -- the one trying to hide behind the coconut trees -- is called Hualalai.   Later in the day, Hualalai became completely obscured by the vog, but at this point in the morning, the sky above it was clear and blue.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Jet Boating on New Zealand's Shotover River

Jet Boat

Location:  Shotover River, South Island, New Zealand

North of Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island, is the Shotover River.   The Shotovover is a fast-flowing river famous these days for water sports such as white-water rafting and jet boat rides.   In earlier days, the Shotover was known as a rich source of gold, and we understand there was quite a gold-mining boom in the area in the 19th century.

Yes, the water really is that pale turquoise color.  The source of the river is in the island's Southern Alps, and the color of the water (we were told) is due to minerals and tiny ice crystals in the water from the melting glaciers that feed the river.

View from the Pololū Lookout on Hawaii's Big Island

Location: Pololū Lookout, Big Island, Hawaii

There is a large section of the northeastern coast of Hawaii's Big Island that is not accessible by road.  The area is wild and very rugged.  At the northern end of this area, the paved road stops at the top of a place called Pololū Valley.  There is a lookout point there, and this is the view.   It was a bit cloudy on the day I took this photo, but even on very clear days, the view south often looks a bit misty from sea spray.

The meadow in the foreground of this photo is situated at the top of some sea cliffs.  The vertical drop from the seaward edge of that meadow to the ocean is about 400 feet (about 122 meters).  It is not unusual to see horses grazing in that meadow.

There is a steep hiking trail that descends into the valley from the place where this photo was taken.  At the base of the trail is a black sand beach, although it's not a very safe place to swim due to rough water and strong currents just offshore.

If you could get into a boat at the mouth of Pololū Valley and follow the coast, you would pass by a number of other wild valleys.  Eventually you would come to Waipi'o Valley. (If you visited last week for MyWorld, you may remember the photo of Waipi'o Valley that I posted.)

To see more MyWorld images click here, or click the MyWorld button at the top of this post.

New Little Pineapple

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Awhile back I posted a photo of a green pineapple - just about full grown, but not quite ready to pick.  Here is a macro photo of a much smaller pineapple in my garden.  In real life, this one is only about two inches (5 cm) tall.   At this stage, it looks more like a pine cone than a fruit.  Notice that it has just the mere beginnings of what will become its tall crown.  This one will not be fully grown and ripe enough to pick until next summer.

New Zealand's Earl Mountains

Earl Mountains

Location:  Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Here is another photo from our trip to New Zealand's South Island last year. This is a view of the inland side of a range called the Earl Mountains.  The photo was taken from a hiking trail near the road that goes from Te Anau to Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park.

Although it had rained steadily the day before, on this day the sky was a pristine blue.  Some puffy cumulus clouds were hugging the very tops of the mountains, partially hiding the fingers of melting snow near the peaks.  

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Color Varieties of Russell Lupines

Russell Lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus)

Location: Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Last December when we were in New Zealand, we saw these beautiful Russell Lupines growing wild practically everywhere we went on the South Island.  They were profuse on roadsides, beside hiking trails, along streams, and in meadows.   The colors were a feast for the eyes.   Most were in shades of blues, pinks, and purples.  Occasionally we saw some yellow ones.

Hawaii's Waipi'o Valley

Waipi'o Valley

Location:  Hamakua Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is the Waipi'o Valley, situated on the northeastern coast of Hawaii's Big Island in an area known as the Hamakua Coast.  It is one of those end of the road locations, not on the way to or from anywhere else, and is sparsely populated.  Most of the people who live there are taro farmers.

The valley extends inland about six miles from the coast, and is completely covered with lush tropical vegetation.  At the ocean edge, the valley is fringed with about a mile of black sand beach.  Steep cliffs completely surround the valley, and in some places rise nearly 2,000 feet above the valley floor.

Waipi'o Valley is a popular tourist destination.   Visitors can tour the valley on horseback, or by riding a mule-drawn wagon to see the many waterfalls cascading down the sides of the cliffs.

I took this photo last week from a lookout near the top of the treacherous road that leads to the floor of the valley.  The road is steep -- a 25% grade -- so only four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed on it.  It takes about a half hour to drive slowly from the lookout to the valley below.  You can also hike down the road if you are fit.  I have no idea how long that takes!

To see more MyWorld images click here, or click the MyWorld button at the top of this post.

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

According to the Hawaii Audubon Society, the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) was introduced to Hawaii from India in 1865.  Mynas are abundant in our area.

This individual and its mate live in our garden.  We call the pair "Heckle and Jeckle."   I know that the cartoon Heckle and Jeckle were magpies, but the names seem to suit our Mynas.  They can be quite comical.  They have a goofy gait: instead of hopping like so many birds do, they walk (and sometimes run), one foot at a time.  They perch in our trees and on the peak of our roof and behave like bossy overseers.  They screech at us when we walk through the garden and scold the other birds that come to our feeders.

Tautuku Beach on New Zealand's South Island

Tautuku Beach

Location: South Island, New Zealand

Last year, my husband and I spent a month in New Zealand, traveling all over the South Island.  One of the most scenic coastal areas we visited was a rugged section of the southeast coast known as the Catlins.  This photo, taken from a spot called the Florence Hill Lookout, shows Tautuku Beach.  The spit of land at the far end of the bay is the Tautuku peninsula, which was home to a whaling station in the 19th century.

The sky was overcast for most of the several days we spent in this area, and it drizzled off and on.  Although the rain and lack of direct sun made it a bit chilly, the cloudy sky was anything but dreary.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Rock Rose Ice Plant (Aptenia cordifolia)

Rock Rose Ice Plant (Aptenia cordifolia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

One of the plants we use for a ground cover on a steep hillside section of our garden is called the Rock Rose Ice Plant (Aptenia cordifolia).   It is a succulent that has plump green leaves, and dainty red flowers that attract honeybees.

Evening Freight Barge to Honolulu

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

I live just a few miles up the coast from Kawaihae, which is the primary freight port on the west side of Hawaii's Big Island.  This is one of the routine sights along the coast where I live.

Tugboats tow freight barges back and forth daily between Hawaii's main port at Honolulu and the other islands.  Most of the barges carry general cargo, but some of the barges are specialized to carry shipping containers, or livestock, or motor vehicles.

To see more MyWorld images click here, or click the MyWorld button at the top of this post.

‘Ilima (Sida fallax) - A Hawaiian Wildflower

‘Ilima (Sida fallax)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

‘Ilima (Sida fallax) is a wildflower common in coastal areas of Hawaii.   The plant has developed into several different forms.  This particular one grows as a low shrub.   Another version, called ‘Ilima papa, grows close to the ground.

It is a wildflower, but many people cultivate it in their gardens.  'Ilima papa, the version that grows close to the ground, is sometimes planted as a ground cover.  We have several 'Ilima shrubs on our property.  They were sown there by the wind, but since we like the plant with its pretty yellow-orange flowers and pale green foliage, we water the ones we find so that they will flourish where nature planted them.

The flowers of the 'Ilima are used for a very special kind of lei.  If you would like to see what an 'Ilima lei looks like, here is a link to a website that has a photo.  [Note: Link goes to a shopping site. I have no connection with that site; just linking to it because of the photo.]

I understand that the 'Ilima has some medicinal uses in the traditional Hawaiian culture.  The local honeybees like the 'Ilima flowers, too.

Smoke on the Water

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This photo was taken just about a year ago, on the morning of Oct. 28, 2007.  There was a large wildfire in an area a few miles down the coast from where I live.   The smoke plume from the fire wafted out across the ocean, and was visible from my back garden.  The smoke spoiled what had been a beautiful clear blue-sky day.  By the way, in case you are wondering, the fire burned a large area of open land, but there were no injuries, and no houses were burned.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Boot Hill Graveyard at Tombstone, Arizona

Boot Hill Graveyard

Location: Tombstone, Arizona, USA

In honor of Halloween, I chose a photo of the famous Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona for this week's Ruby Tuesday entry.  (Note the ruby red car parked outside the fence, heh heh.)  I visited the historic town of Tombstone during a trip to Arizona with some friends earlier this year.

Winter in Hawaii Means Snow on Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea in winter

Location: Big Island, Hawaii

Many people are surprised to learn that it snows in Hawaii, but it's true.  Our two tallest mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, have snow caps for many months of the year.   Mauna Kea rises 13,796 feet (4,205 m) above sea level, while Mauna Loa's elevation is 13,680 feet (4,170 m) above sea level.

A few days ago, my fellow Hawaii-based blogger, Andrew Cooper, who works at one of the several astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea's summit, mentioned the first snow of the season on his blog, A Darker View.   It didn't last very long, but soon it will be cold enough at that elevation for the snow to begin to accumulate.   Most years, the snow atop Mauna Kea lasts until late spring.

Here is a photo of snow-capped Mauna Kea, which I took a few years ago.  We can see Mauna Kea from several spots in our garden, but I took this photo from my neighbor's field.  Think of it as a preview of things to come -- very soon.

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is another photo that was shot on film a number of years ago.  This is the Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae).  This plant is native to South Africa, but the one here was photographed in our garden in Hawaii.

Another Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii)

Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Back in August, I posted a photo of an Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii).  I wasn't entirely happy with the angle of that shot, but the moth flew away before I had an opportunity to shoot it from a different perspective.

Earlier today I was going through some photos I had taken back in the days when I was still shooting film.   I came across this one, which I had forgotten about.  As soon as I saw it, I decided to scan the transparency and post it here.  This one is a much better 'specimen shot' than the one I posted in August.   It shows clearly the wonderful patterns of color on the moth's wings.

Note: Several moths ago, I also posted a photo of a Hawk Moth caterpillar.

Afternoon Offshore Rain Squall

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Late one afternoon we watched as some offshore clouds began to pile up.  This cumulonimbus cloud formed before our eyes, and a rain squall ensued as the clouds moved along, parallel to our coast.  Unfortunately for us, the rain stayed offshore.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Felucca on the Nile

Egyptian Felucca

Location: Nile River, near Luxor, Egypt

This is a Felucca -- a traditional wooden sailing vessel seen frequently along the Nile River in Egypt.   I photographed this one just outside of Luxor in southern Egypt.

The Edge of Devastation

Devastation Trail

Location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii

Kilauea, reputed to be the world's most active volcano, is situated in the southeastern part of Hawaii's Big Island.   Kilauea is the centerpiece of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park -- a "must see" for visitors to this island.  I live about 100 miles from the volcano, by road.

Kilauea volcano has erupted 34 times since 1952.  A 1959 eruption at a vent called Kilauea Iki buried the surrounding forest up to two meters deep in ash and cinders.  Trees that did not burn outright were stripped of their leaves.  Today, nearly 50 years later, the whole area around Kilauea Iki is still covered by a layer of cinder, although some hardy plants and trees have begun to grow there once more.

A one kilometer (5/8 mile) hiking trail passes through the area that was devastated in 1959.  Not surprisingly, it is called Devastation Trail.  This photo, taken from Devastation Trail, shows some of the cinder and the remains of dead trees, as well as some new growth at the edge of the devastated area.  The bushy green trees are 'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), a tree endemic to Hawaii.

Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora)

Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is a pair of Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora).  Despite the common name, these birds actually are a kind of finch, not a true sparrow.  Their beaks certainly do look more finchy than sparrowy, don't you think?

They are native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali.  It is believed that they first arrived here in Hawaii in the mid-nineteenth century as caged birds, and either escaped or were set free.  Environmental conditions in Hawaii must suit them, because Java Sparrows are plentiful now, particularly on the island of Oahu.  We began seeing them in our area of the Big Island about 10 years ago.  Java Sparrows love seeds, so they are enthusiastic visitors to our bird feeders.

Red Sky at Night, Sailors' Delight?

Red sky at night, sailors' delight;
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

When there are suspended particles and aerosols in the atmosphere at sunset, shorter wavelengths (violets and blues) of the setting sun's light get scattered, while the longer wavelengths (red and oranges) are able to penetrate.  We see a sunset like this one.

Traditionally, the 'red sky at night' sailor's axiom holds, at least in the northern hemisphere, because weather systems tend to travel from the west to the east.  Thus, the dust and water vapor that refract the light are to the east of the sunset, meaning they have passed.  Conversely, a 'red sky at morning' means that the weather system is to the west and therefore still approaching.

In this case, however, the red sunset is not caused by a stormy weather system.   Instead the aerosols and particles in the atmosphere offshore are components of volcano smog -- called vog here in Hawaii.  On days when the winds are calm or relatively light here, emissions from Kilauea, the very active volcano on the southern part of Hawaii's Big Island, tend to settle over the island.  We don't like the vog haze -- it burns our eyes and makes our respiratory tracts congested -- but it does make for pretty and often dramatic sunsets.

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Location: Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

A few days ago I posted a photo of a male Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos).  Here is a photo of his mate.  Both were photographed in New Zealand, but this species is widely distributed around the world.

Hula Girl Hibiscus

Hula Girl hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinesis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This bright yellow blossom with the ruby red throat is the Hula Girl hibiscus, another cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinesis.  This hibiscus has several interesting characteristics that set it apart from other hibiscus varieties.   First of all, the blossom is larger than most.  The average Hula Girl blossom is about 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm) wide -- definitely the largest hibiscus blossom in our garden.   (In fact we think their size makes them look a bit like yellow satellite dishes!)

Another characteristic of the Hula Girl hibiscus is that, unlike most other hibiscus varieties, the blossom does not immediately wilt and die when it is picked from the bush on which it grows.  Because it stays fresh for quite awhile after it is picked, this variety is the one you will most often see worn by hula dancers in their hair, or tucked behind the ear, and that is said to be how the Hula Girl hibiscus got its name.