LOCAL PLANTS, CRITTERS, SURF

Local Stuff

            We spent a long day in Poipu recently and snorkeled one beach and visited another.  We also went to see the grounds above the sinkhole in Mahaulepu where native plants are being grown.  Since I was there last, several kalo fields have been put in production.  We had a few minutes to kill before a dinner reservation at the Beach House so drove up the road to Spouting Horn.  It’s a long drive back home tired from the sun and water and full from delicious food.

 The parrot fish are always a treat - this is a big colorful male

 This female parrot looks like mosaic tile

Yellow-stripe Coris - Super Male 

            We had trouble figuring this guy out with Gil's photo, I didn't see it. The two-tone orange band surgeons are big and he was much bigger.  As juveniles they are black and white striped (with faint yellow between on the spine).  As they get bigger the white predominates with a little aqua at the pect fin.  When they shift to super male, like this guy has done, they turn aqua blue with spots, WOW!

Convict tangs with a Lavender Tang in the mix

These are always fun  especially the ones with freckles on their nose

            We wandered down to Shipwrecks to watch for whales.  We were out of luck on that but there was plenty of activity.  

This rocky projection is a popular place for jumping off in the summer

            We didn't expect anyone to do it in these waves so I didn't have my camera ready when this guy (at bottom) did a fancy back flip off the top.  He got out of there OK but an instant longer would have been bloody.

            The whole beach has a shore break that is popular with surfers.  They are fun to watch now and then.  

             We drove along the rough dirt road toward Mahaulepu and turned in at David Burney's compound.  We thought his wife Lyda would still be there but we missed her.

            Kalo or taro is not native but has been produced in the islands since the very first Polynesians arrived.  Restoring these fields is in keeping with trying to restore the more native plants.

            The nursery across from the kalo is doing very well.  This is native cotton, Mao (front) Naio (left) Pritchardia Palm and Hala behind it, with Koa in right rear.

Their experimental project of using land tortoises as weed whackers seems to be helpful

Here are two napping in the afternoon heat.

            Even after getting locked in the compound by mistake, we headed to Spouting Horn.  The shops were closed and the pink afternoon light was beautiful.

 Spouting Horn in evening light

 Classic Poipu lava and water

             Walking back to the car through the closed market this was a funny sight.  Obviously someone feeds and waters the kitty but the two roosters are very interested.  My guess, this scene repeats every night.

            Since I put a couple south shore surfers in I though I'd add a couple recent north shore wave riders, too.

 This was at Lumahai and he was the only one out there.

Hanalei Bay: small stuff for beginners

 The new roof for the pier is nearly complete here

I just looked over and caught the whole mountain out of its cloud cover

Namolokama mountain with one of its many threads flowing

            Gil took on the concept of having the canoe club offer storage for one-man outriggers.  It was finally approved, an architect drew up plans (so he has a place to store his boat when he is away).  People groused about rent in addition to dues but not everyone has a one-man so rental space should be additional  Once the first rack was completed, there was a clamor for more so here are two racks in place.  Yesterday Gil picked up the materials for a third rack.  Not a bad idea after all.  The club is paying for materials, the work is volunteered and the rents will be on-going revenue.

Club racks 

OC-1s are stored nose to nose, 

People keep their outriggers, amas, and seats in their trucks

  

            Water conditions weren’t so good for snorkeling on the north shore last month but I so badly needed water I went several times to Anini, without my camera.  I saw some fun stuff:  a couple of flying gurnards that look like puffer fish with wings, a few peacock flounders, a pair of crabs mating – all strange guys I don’t usually see because Anini is a sand bottom.  

          

            Another day I noticed a big section there were little green leaves coming up through the sand like underwater sprouts.   I saw about 7 green sea turtles, two taking naps below rocks and the rest munching on the leaves. 

 I usually see them along the rocks in the surge eating seaweed.  

Everything is different at Anini.

            Recently I mentioned the golden plovers tuxedo.  It is fun to watch their new coats come in.  So far I have only seen one bird that elected to stay for the summer.  Even the new young guy to claim our back yard last winter went back to the arctic.

Golden Plover in his tuxedo and eating pupus