KAUAI SPRING 2018

BACK TO KAUAI –  WINTER INTO SPRING

STILL WINTER

                Cold and wet winter for us on island, we are glad we have a fireplace to knock down the damp.  Canoe training doesn’t stop for Gil.  They use the river when the ocean is too rough.  

This mass of tree trunks came down the river in one or more storms and has now formed a new island. Team members are threatening to put a real estate sign up. (sorry about the water spot on the lens - boat hazard)

Gil paddling just past “the narrows,” these hau trees have been cut back since.  It is an annual process where both canoe clubs (Namolokama CC and Hanalei CC) join forces and clear the passage – from boats, canoes, and land – a tricky and dirty job.

                There are future plans for the Hanalei River and Beach Park to get revamped with additional lands purchased, the parking moved, a new boat launch, both canoe clubs, etc., etc.  Not sure when any of this will happen but the best scenario for our club is to hopscotch up river and past the unit that has a building with a commercial kitchen for community events.

                Some of the longer races are held on the other side of the island, usually a one way route with cars getting shuttled to finish site for boat pick up.  Sometimes they even get water time without much rain like this one man race from Kalapaki Bay to Poipu. 

Kalapaki Bay -  Niumalu Canoe Club

Poipu - race over, boats loaded

  

                While I was in Yellowstone, Gil had to go to Oahu for time trials in the one man canoes to qualify for Tahiti.    

Race lanes in Keehi Lagoon 

The Beach Park is in between the airport and city proper of Honolulu.

Tahitian one man

                 Gil is now one of three from Kauai to qualify and since he is also in the 6 man races (he qualified for that last summer on Maui), he is considered an “elite” racer.  Cool beans for the international 70s team.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE – KILAUEA POINT

                This season can have really squirrely wind patterns.  The northeast trade winds we rely on to make Hawaii comfortable most of the year may switch to winds from the north that bring cold.  This particular day at the lighthouse (most northern point of the main Hawaiian Islands) the wind shifted and blew due west.  This created wind waves and a blowhole we normally only see at Spouting Horn in Poipu.  As the water vapor blew across the islet of Moku’ae’ae, it showed up rock formations usually not discernible.  Gorgeous day if dressed for it!

A blowhole, just for today!  Sorry cannot capture whooshing sounds too.

Winter waves 

                Albatross Hill at the refuge is one of the nesting locations for “pioneer” Albatross trying to establish on higher ground than in the Northwest Islands.  As of March, 47 of the 48 hatched chicks were doing well.  At Mokolea Point, the far end of the refuge (see above), 25 of 39 were still alive.  Pigs, cats, and barn owls are all possible culprits in the deaths.  
               Earlier in the year we heard there were 38 chicks in Princeville and do not have the current status.  These nest sites being in a suburban residential neighborhood are more vulnerable to cars and dogs off leashes than at the refuge.  Update on the chick at Spindrift named Kale (rhymes with hall-eh).

Moli chick – alive and adorable!

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - HANALEI

                I was asked to take part (as one of many) in an ongoing study that will use dogs to help locate birds that are sick, dying, or dead from Avian Botulism.  Kyoko Johnson is a professional dog trainer from Oahu, her company called Country Canines.  She has been here for six months training four dogs to locate the effected birds.  They are just to point – not pick up.  Her husband Thor is the photographer-videographer for the project run by USGS.   Arriving early, I got quick instruction and had 15 minutes to search six fields wearing a tracking collar.  Some fields were dry, some flooded, some with taro and some overgrown fallow.  My previous experience with botulism searches never had a time limit and my method was a thorough and leisurely process.  Not today!  No surprise that I found no birds.  

Hanalei taro

After I returned, Kyoko went out with one of the dogs and in 15 minutes, he found three smelly decoys.  Good job, pup!

Speaking of geological surveys, this year the famous beach at Hanalei Bay disappeared altogether.  From the pier, the tide is reaching all the way to the grassy park.  In summer, rows of pop up tents and trucks and cars with driving path reside between the grass and shore.

No beach at Black Pot this winter

                As mentioned last post, we have had many days, and weeks of flash flood warnings.  We aren’t as extreme as much of the crazy weather patterns around the world but with a two lane road that goes only part way round the island, an interruption creates some havoc.  For two days the north shore roads were stopped up or traffic greatly reduced by trees that came down.

Landslide - Gil got this while stuck after weight training at Jack's gym

KAUAI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

                I had an interesting and rewarding project collecting seeds for Kauai’s upcoming Garden Fair.  A couple of us will not be able to attend the booth for KNPS that promotes use of native plants over non-natives.  Instead, we went to the private nursery associated with Makauwahi Cave (scheduled with permission) to gather seeds that were available now to give away as promotion at the event. The main ones retrieved were Ilima and Mao.  We had done a big project at the cave a few years ago and I had not been back.  I won’t wait so long again. The nursery is above the cave.

Makauwahi Cave - check it out at www.cavereserve.org

Mikala posing with Mao seeds, native Hawaiian cotton plant.  
(I thought I had stepped out of this picture.)

Ilima

Done by noon just as it started to rain

FAUNA

                If Kauai is about anything it is both flora and fauna.  On a rare semi-sunny day we managed a couple hours at the beach.  Gil had already paddled and was happy to read while I went to visit underwater friends.

     Numerous chubs were foraging in the sand floor and didn’t dash away as I swam by.  

Gray Chubs    20" max not including tail

                But this little pair of hunters were also not intimidated by the chubs.  The young tuna was paired up with a good sized goat fish. Called mutualism, they take turns stirring things up likely to flush out edible critters.  Intent on their search, they went right under the chub.

Gray Chub,Yellow-stripe Goatfish, about 11", Papio (juvenile Bluefin trevally) 9-10"

Ironically, when that little tuna is fully grown, goatfish will be on his menu – but for now they are buddies.  

Farther out, I was pleased to come across this white mouth eel as he swam out of a coral. He probably saw my shadow and skedaddled back seeking shelter again.  So fun.

A few hundred yards beyond that I caught this guy clandestinely hiding out.  He did not risk going for a swim.  About twice the size around as the one above, this character is the biggest white mouth eel I’ve ever seen.  We played peek-a-boo for a couple minutes then I let him get back to making a living.

EASTER

                On a happy, hoppy note we had another really fun Easter holiday.  A little panettone and prosecco at home then the beach for a beautiful buffet that featured roasted turkey, spiral ham, ribs, pork roast and all the appetizers, side dishes and desserts you can imagine. 

Homage to our Italian Pasqua holiday

Buffet at Anini Beach

Of course in addition to other fauna, Kauai is home to some pretty quirky humans and the contests and games are really a hoot.  Giant Jenga, giant Checkers, contest for the best Easter Basket, water balloon toss, hula hoop contest, and several others.

Winner of Best Easter Basket (this one on wheels with a bubble maker), Dawn got a workout hauling Jonna around

BIG Jenga  - what is leaning more, the tower or the wine goblet?              

Most fun of all was the surprise visit from the Easter Bunny and his Chick. The kids on the beach were screaming as they paddled ashore!

Not to be outdone, this pretty boy won the crowing contest

                And just to really celebrate spring, our coconut orchid has started to bloom!  Reading next to this unique display is such a pleasure as the fragrance is really special.  Yum.

HAPPY SPRING 2018