Another day, another beach

It pays to poke around and discover things that are nearby and not insanely crowded.  This morning, we drove to a beach that I found after walking to it from another beach.  It is a fairly new state park and offers lots of shade and a peaceful place to hang out.

Although it is not really a swimming beach, except for little kids in keiki pools, there were a number of surfers enjoying themselves.

On top of that, the park has a lovely historic trail to a native plant garden and features a giant star compass that represents how Polynesians navigated to Hawaii.

Part of the park is habitat for the endangered Hawaiian stilt, and we saw several in the ponds.

House guest

Yesterday, we had some unexpected house guests.  After leaving the front door open for a few minutes, two red-crested cardinals flew into the house.  I managed to herd the first one outside pretty quickly in the south end of the house, but the second one turned north and ended up flying around and bumping into several windows.  I almost caught it, then it flew up into the loft space above the entryway where it stayed for about 10 minutes.  It was pretty tired.  When it left the loft, I was able to grab it with a towel and release it into the vegetation outside.  

As it was recovering, it permitted me to take a close-up photo.  This is another introduced species, native to from South America.

For the birds

We regularly encounter an enormous variety of bird species.  Most don't really belong here, but were introduced.  Some migrate here.  I have the utmost respect for the migrants that fly here nonstop from the mainland.

One migrant species that winters here is the Pacific golden plover (10 inches).  Adults breed in the arctic and then migrate here in August.  In winter plumage they aren't quite as spectacular as in their breeding plumage, but they are definitely amazing birds.

Another migrant is the ruddy turnstone (9 inches).  It also migrates here from the arctic.

This morning, we encountered a cute little bird (about 6 inches) that we had never seen before, the rosy-/peach-faced lovebird.  This import is native to SW Africa.

Something for plant lovers

This island has beautiful flowers, in many areas.  Some places require watering regimes, while other locations receive enough rain to keep the flowers blooming.  Here is some of what I saw today.

Orchid

Orchid

Plumeria (also known as frangipani)

Double Hibiscus

Hibiscus

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea

Stop and smell the flowers (or at least take the time to look at them)!

Kawi and the north shore

This morning, we drove up the north Kohala coast to the town of Hawi and the area nearby.  Historically, this area was important in supporting nearby sugar plantations.  Many old buildings remain, but have been repurposed.  The old hotel/brothel is now Bamboo restaurant with gallery space in the old rooms upstairs.  We ate lunch at Bamboo. The food is excellent, with a local flair.

Nearby, a gorgeous mural of a native woman holding two parrotfish is evocative of Paul Gauguin's Tahitian period.

King Kamehameha I was born nearby, and a statue celebrates him.

This area has lots of restaurants, art galleries and shops.  We saw some beautiful pieces including a hand-painted silk image of jellyfish laminated onto a surfboard.

We spent a great day with Hawaiian friends.

Mahalo!

South Point

Not just the point farthest south in the state of Hawaii, South Point is the point farthest south in the US.  It is a beautiful site that teems with energy, from the wind and waves that pound the place.

It is an historical site, that is used to deep-sea fish from land, and surprisingly to jump off the cliff.

Despite posted warnings, and recent death from this activity, people continue to jump.  Yesterday we saw 2 jumpers.  The first one looked like he had done it before, and scrambled up the clunky assemblage of ladders back to the top of the cliff.

However, the second jumper had a heck of a time navigating the ladders.  It requires a great deal of upper-body strength and he looked scared out of his wits several times on his upward journey.

Just after the jump

Faced with the trickiest part--the long chain that links the ladders

Finally on the top ladder and able to relax a bit

Black sand

We always enjoy visiting Punaluu, the black-sand beach on the south shore of the island.  Yesterday, it was a sunny spot on a cloudy day.  The black sand radiates warmth.

We have always found a few sea turtles gracing this site.  Yesterday, one (two-feet long) was sleeping on the beach, and others were in the water.

Although sitting in the shade of the palms is lovely, it is always a good idea to look up and make sure that the coconuts have been removed.  An enterprising young man was selling freshly trimmed coconuts for $10 a piece.

Another day another beach

But not just any old beach, today we traveled to a beach that is 2 miles from the highway across a challenging, bumpy road through a lava field.  Its palm trees can be seen from the highway. Some people park near the highway and walk in.  We had the great fortune to be driven in by friends with a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  

As a result of the degree of difficulty to get there, it wasn't very crowded.  A pleasant day on a lovely beach, north of Kona.

The north end

Looking south

Looking north

We found 2 more monk seals on the beach, and one in the water.

Sitting on the beach we were visited by 2 francolins, a partridge native to India (about 10 inches long).