Pretty Plants on Kauai

Kauai, Hawaii ~ September 25, 2006

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Captain Cook's Monument, Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii

Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii ~ September 25, 2007

Captain James Cook's plaque can be seen along the far side of the lava rocks in the foreground. This is the stunningly beautiful and now-peaceful bay in which he met his end.



Sorry, I had this one the right way up, and Blogger turned it. I tried a second time and the same thing happened. So as not to be here all day, I'll let you read it sideways. There is also a tall, more imposing monment that I didn't get a photo of. You had to kayak over a ways from where we were. We liked our spot, and we headed back before going to the tall monument.

As the morning advanced, more snorkelers arrived in kayaks . . .

. . . and the tide covered the marker in the rocks beneath the trees.

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Friendly Fish

Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii ~ September 25, 2007

At Captain Cook's Monument

I was mesmerized by the fish at Captain Cook's Monument. We paddled over in kayaks; the water was clear, the setting idyllic, and the fish not as skittish as in some other places. Here's another fish from that day.

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Wailua Falls

Kaua'i, Hawaii ~ September 21, 2005

Wailua Falls

What you can't see in this photo are the cool Kaua'i chickens that were strutting around on the lookout point. Fortunately, I have one for you in this post.

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Whales in the Swimming Pool

Maui, Hawaii ~ May 7, 2010

Outrigger Napili Shores Resort

This mosaic of mama humpback and her baby added a lot to the poolside effect for me. I didn't go in the pool, so this is as close as I got. I spent my time chasing fish with a camera in the ocean instead.

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Yellowtail Coris, Hawaii

Hawaii ~ September 25, 2007

Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook's Monument)

Usually it's nice when the fish cooperates and gives you a fish-like profile, but in this photo I was happy get some of the brilliant blue spots and the flowerlike tail.

By the way, for any of you who enjoyed my "On the Pavement" blog, I merged it with "Tapirgal's Daily Image" last night. All of the photos and comments are here. I'll be including "pavement" photos among the other posts.

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A Beach Called Two-step

Hawaii (Big Island) ~ September 22, 2007

A remarkable snorkeling place

The hut on the outcropping may be a cultural center.

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Green Sea Turtle, Kaua'i

September 25, 2006

There's nothing like swimming in the ocean and discovering that you're not alone.

One of the first things I noticed about sea turtles is how placid they seem, although they're clearly aware of you and are not that happy about having you in their space.

It's hard to desceribe what it's like being close to one of these big, peaceful reptiles. It seems ageless, and timeless as it goes on its way reflecting diffused and ripple light patterns in its suspended world.

This turtle has gotten tired of me and flaps away like a bird in slow-mo.

Near the surface.

Up for air.

Gliding away.

Bye bye.

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where you can find some cool toy and replica sea turtles.

Cool Tropical Gothic

Kaua'i, Hawaii ~ September 20, 2005

I can't say I like the missionary thing, but I do love the Gothic-influenced architecture of some of the small wooden Hawaiian churches. I think they go especially well with the landscape, or is that just me?

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(Un) Dress Shop?

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 7, 2010

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Birthday Bird

Napili, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 6, 2010

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Dancing Roots

Kauai, Hawaii ~ September 20, 2005

Ke'e Beach ~ Na Pali Coast

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Let Me Make This Perfectly Clear

Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii ~ September 21, 2005

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Redbird

Northern Cardinal, male (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Napili, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 8, 2010

Wikipedia

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Please visit our page of bird toys and replicas

Big Banyan Tree, Lahaina

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 7, 2010

On first impression, it doesn't look like one tree. The shade was inviting, and the trunks beckoned me to explore.

The guy with the green shirt leaning against this mass of roots is working or playing on his laptop. As I gazed around, I realized that he wasn't alone. I'll bet there were at least five people sitting under the tree using their computers. This banyon tree and its assorted benches provide a sort of outdoor internet cafe (bring your own laptop, and I'm not sure where the connection comes from).

One tree creates a small forest of beatifully-textured roots and light-play from the tree's canopy.

This is the main trunk. Branches of varying sizes reach out horizontally and . . .

. . . like these, they drop roots in large clusters.

The roots eventually look like real trunks, and the branch continues to grow outward to form yet another trunk.

Here is a plaque at the base of the main trunk.

On another note, a funny thing happened while we were wandering under the tree. A young woman was telling a young man about the cruise she was on. She said, "We're stopping at some small town, then going on to Seattle, and then Alaska." Can you guess where that small town is? Right. Astoria, Oregon. If you're reading this and don't know me, that's where I live. I could say, "Small world," but so many cruise ships stop here that it's not such a coincidence. It did make us laugh, though. A few days after we got back, there was a cruise ship in port. I wonder if she was on it.

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Signs by the Big Tree

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 7, 2010

I often take photos of street signs just so I can identify where I've taken the other photos. In this case, I liked the sign, and on viewing it, I liked the trees and the sky. The green at the bottom of the photo is a famous gigantic banyan tree that takes up most of a block. I'll post its pictures tomorrow.

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In Focus

Feral Rock Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Napili, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 9, 2010

It's always a challenge. With most animals, it seems that focus is at least half the success. I do enjoy watching pigeons, and they're tame enough to let me practice.

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Please visit our page of bird toys and replicas

Parrotfish and Wrasse, Maui

Star-eyed Parrotfish (Calotomus carolinus) (above)
Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) (below)

Honolua Bay, Maui ~ May 8, 2010

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Galloping Waves

Maui, Hawaii ~ May 6, 2010

Ukumehame Beach Park

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Brilliant Brazilian Cardinal, Maui

Red-crested or Brazilian Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
Napili, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 8, 2010

Wikipedia / Common Birds of Honolulu

I could hardly believe the flaming red color when this cardinal hopped onto the table at our hotel in Maui. I'd never seen one before on my trips to other Hawaiian islands, but this bird visited us several times each day. It didn't come around often enough that I had much time to take photos, but I did take a few, and I have two more to show you tomorrow. It was a quick little bird, active and somewhat skittish, and so it was harder than the other visiting birds to get into focus.

The Brazilian cardinal was introduced from South America to Oahu about 1930.

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Please visit our page of bird toys and replicas