MARCH RAINS - 56 INCHES in 10 DAYS

            March was busy around here.  We had family in town with high expectations and day one was great!  Younger son Ian and his wife Stacey did the recreational paddle with us Friday morning and it was so clear, we literally rushed home, ate a bite and went snorkeling.  Ian spotted the secretive camouflage expert the Titan Scorpionfish.  We also got to see the bright yellow Cigar wrasse.  My underwater camera was acting up, so no great pics today. 

Morning in Hanalei Bay  

Front to back:  sharon, stacey, gil, ian

Titaln Scorpionfish

can you find it?

            We were then blessed with 46 inches of rain in ten days!  We whiled away the time with dominoes, Farkel, and a rousting game of Sequence with neighbors. One evening I saw the neighbor kids’ beach ball float by in the back yard!  

When this much runs through the swale in the yard, the rain has come down fast and hard

We don’t get terrible flooding being ~200’ above sea level and with a lava substrate, water percolates down quickly.  


            We did sneak in a game of mini-golf between storm fronts.  The fairly new Kilauea course is a botanical garden as well and we had a good time. 

March was a water feature

Stacey is obliterated here at the mini golf

            Same day, we visited the lighthouse/refuge and I finally got a good shot of a tropic bird.  Please see friends and links for link to photographer Thomas Tamura – a regular at the refuge (between shooting weddings).

The Lighthouse with its refurbished rail and fresh red paint

The remainder is expected to be done by 2013 for the 100 year anniversary

Red-tailed Tropic Bird

We visited the local Princeville albatross chicks.  We also visited Na Aina Kai botanical garden and got to see the specimen plants, hardwood forests, and more keiki albatross.  

Princeville darling (his Dad is the one who jumped nests earlier this year)

Camo 2012 at Na Aina Kai

It was so windy on the point I finally got the shots I did not get on Midway 
 Moli landing gear, feet down

More circling - thinking about his girl and maybe a dance

The road to Hanalei was closed due to being buried by the swollen river, a common occurrence in the winter.  This time, however, the roads in every direction, all over the island were closed due to avalanches.  When you live on an island with one road, weather severely limits your movement.  More indoor games and walks with rain gear!

 Stacey took this as we trudged out for a little exercise between matches of dominoes

From the edge, a hint of sky between the clouds

            Having a couple days of relatively drier weather, we tried to go to Limahuli Gardens on the extreme north shore but more avalanche with power lines down, we took a detour up Wainiha Valley. 

Wainiha Ridge from Princeville

On Powerline Road in Wainiha Valley

This is after the rains stopped, runoff creating its own pathways

In Wainiha Valley

            We all avidly studied the NOAA weather reports and decided our best bet for whale watching was the day before the “kids” were to return to California.  Getting up well before sunrise we checked in on time and had a great day.  It was a sailing catamaran and promised to be a fun return sail in high winds (too bad the rigging fouled and we motored back to the harbor).  We did however see whales at the beginning and end of time on the water and it was favorable enough to visit the entire Na Pali coast. 

Our first of the day - it was all about chasing tail!

Na Pali Coast - nothing like it

must be seen by boat or aircraft - no roads

The coastline always looks like an Asian painting to me

            Snorkeling was questionable as the run-off from recent rains make the water not only cloudy but dicey with potential bacteria.  We were surprised then turning the corner after Miloli’i to find a little cove suitable to jump in!  

Nice Indo-Pac Seargent fish 

I had to jump back in the water to get this Yellow Chub

I had read about it but there she was - The Queen

Not as clear as summer when it is drier but it was a pleasant snorkel that made us hungry and happy.

Notice Gil & I are in long sleeves while Ian & Stacey want a hint of a tan before returning home

Stacey got this great shot on the way back with Ni'ihau in the background

They came to see whales!

            Going to the airport on 3/14 we were thwarted once again with a tree fallen over a bridge – they had to reschedule their flight from noon to 8:30pm.  We didn’t mind the extra time together but it was expensive, and inconvenient to re-plan their logistics on landing.  They plan to return in summer next time now that they have seen what winter offers: whales, albatross, and rain.  

            Back to our normal winter – with and without rain, we still have issues from that incredible storm.  Erosion at and under the highway has created huge engineering projects and either single lane traffic or detours.  We trust it will be made safe and eventually be completed.  There is a price for living on a rock in the middle of the ocean.