Coral, Crater Hill, Polihale, Arizona, Halloween
Anini cauliflower coral
Knowing there was a storm coming
in, I hurried down to Anini just to get in the water. It was such a hot summer, the water temps
actually were so high corals started to bleach out. I haven’t heard if they have been turned
around now that the trades are back and temps more normal. I don’t think anything on the planet is
normal anymore.
Ironically, I swam uphill
against the current and further out toward the outer reef than usual. Not many fish, no exciting specimen eels,
only one grass munching turtle, but I did see a
few specimens of coral that were fun.
Once I decided to go back in the current placed me right where I had
started. Nice to get wet!
Domino damselfish or Hawaiian Dascyllus in branching cauliflower coral
Love these tiny guys that are so bold,
the biggest one here maybe as big as a quarter
Yellow cauliflower coral Pocilloporo meandrina
Same in pink
Splash of purple
Big male honu
Some very nice antlers
REFUGE WEEK
This nationwide week occurs every October and usually
features special events at refuges across the country. I signed up for several locally including a
hike to see the new predator proof fence installed on the ocean side of Crater
Hill or Nihoku – refuge property that is not normally open to the public.
New
Zealand is light years ahead of the US in terms of conservation and does not
wait until wildlife populations get critically low before they step in. It is in New Zealand that these fences have
been developed and improved. The one on
Oahu at Kaena Point (northmost point of that island) has surpassed expectations
in protecting native birds from predatory cats, dogs, mongoose, etc. that have
kept ground nesting sea bird success low in the past. For the last two years, there has been
discussion and research about putting such a fence on Kauai as well. Things generally move very slowly here and I
was really happy to hear the fence was complete!
On
the hike was the lead biologist for Kauai, Jessica Behnke. I’ve been to a number of meetings over the
last two years hearing about it and here it is!
It is 6.5 feet high of stainless steel mesh woven seamlessly
together. The rolled top will let
anything caught inside to get out but no predators can get in over the top,
through the mesh, or by digging underneath.
There
are already nene, albatross, and boobies that breed here on the hill. Frigatebirds roost nearby. The purpose is increase a safe haven for
those birds and also create safe habitat for Newell’s Shearwaters. There were only 11 breeding pair last year
and that was up from 2 pair prior to that.
Jesse and her project
Stainless steel mesh - the plate under the dirt prevents digging under
Grasses will be planted now to prevent erosion as the interior is replanted native
Crater face – home to tropic birds
Area enclosed is about 400 feet above sea level
The 600 enclosed acres on the
side of the hill is amphitheater like and should enhance bird attraction
devices when they are installed just in advance of breeding season for the
Newell’s next year. Kauai has 90% of
that bird population and they are primarily in the mountains. If they nest here, they not only will not be
predated, the fledglings will not have the distracting lights of the island to
confuse them.
From western edge looking east, opposite perimeter visible along tree line
We followed the fence across the top and down the other side. From there we could look back up to where we started with the knob of Crater Hill behind it.
Down and left
The corner across the way is where we started below the
knob of Crater Hill, home to hundreds of Red Footed Boobies
Lots
of work still to do before the attraction begins. The area has a couple patches of native nau
paka but mostly contains Christmas Berry – a nasty aggressive invasive that
grows into a woody tangled mess. This
has to be removed and replaced bit by bit to prevent erosion. Friendly grasses are planned for the fence
line – nothing tall a critter could climb up.
On
the hike out (up that steep hill) I did notice this male hala tree in bloom –
the fragrant flower called hinano. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ana was looming and
the the other hikes and events were all cancelled for Refuge Week including my
light house tours.
Hinano
wish I could smell it from here - heavenly
POLIHALE (po-lee ha-leh)
As
far as we can drive in one direction is Ke’e Beach on the north shore. If we drive the other direction past the west
side towns of Waimea and Kekaha, past the Pacific Missile Range, past the
wetlands of Mana, there is a turn off for Polihale State Park – one of the longest
beaches in all of Hawaii that butts into a powerful mountain at start (or end)
of the Na Pali. A friend decided she
wanted to celebrate her birthday out there and we were eager to join.
The week before the event,
Marion and I went out to check out the road – always in questionable
condition. It is about 5 miles of badly
rutted dirt, but passable. We just did a
quick survey of Queens Pond at the near end and then the campsites along the
far end.
Queen's Pond is usually a calm lagoon with a little reef protecting it from the bigger surf
Today the tide was high so there was considerable current in the shallow water
Looks pretty good to me, can't wait til next week
Marion
rented a 4WD just for the occasion and off we went. There were winds from the NE that should have
been stopped by mountains with a shift due the next day bringing mild trade
winds. Instead, the wind had already
shifted and big swells came in and continued to increase while we were
there. We found a vacant hale or picnic
pavilion and made our camp there out of the wind. We had a very nice meal of poke, rice,
grilled chicken, cole slaw, pho noodle soup, Japanese beer and sake. Truly happy campers. Oh, yes, then the champagne and brownies.
Where the end of the road meets the Na Pali
Our "spot"
Evening light from out "spot"
Lovely evening after the wind settled down
nice soft sand to sleep on
The Hale - great for cooking and eating
Glad we didn't have to stay this far in for the night
(a couple hundred feet makes a difference)
Marion caught me cooking
She hadn't opened her champagne glasses yet
60 can be nice
the candle played Happy Birthday
When it was time to sleep, the
wind had calmed enough we were able to put our sleeping bags where we had spent
the whole day – a very sweet spot at the base of the mountain. I couldn’t sleep so got up and walked the
beach over to the rocks and then back in time to see the moon come up in the
cleavage of the two mountains above us – perfectly centered. I woke up Gil & Marion (who were enjoying
their dreams by the way), they thought it was worth it but went right back to
sleep. I walked the beach for another
hour and then settled down.
Morning light on the waves
Love Polihale
From our hale at breakfast
moon still up
We didn't save any champagne left, made do with coffee and tea
Queen's Pond
Not very calm, with that swell it came right over the reef
Our car worked great in the sand
Happy Birthday Girl !
HALLOWEEN
Somewhere in October we had Halloween and Gil spent a week visiting his mom and a couple brothers in Arizona. He attended one party and missed the other. All good fun. I used his time away to crank away on my book - trying to wrap it up at almost four years!
Einstein says "What if E=MC2, Naaaa!"
Sherry & Sharon
Meow, grrrr
Several of us were in on the decorating at Mary Frances' scary house. What fun.
Everything moved, talked, lit up, or groaned
The broom chased us up and down the hall
Living room
Time out for the ball game
Powder room (rest room)
Piece of candy little girl?
Killer Bacon and Bacon N' Eggs
Jerome on left, Rick on right
A formal apology
Bob missed the party last year
Mary Frances, an unrepenting Ducks fan
and her co-conspirator, Connie the Ref
Witchy woman, Susan
ooh-eee that's one ugly girl!
Now these flappers were something else
Susan and Cheri
The black widow
Where is Gil?
Bill the Phantom
Sherry the Grecian
Where's Debbie?
The Pharoh and the Red Neon Angel
Rick & Deb
I missed a few but the cast of many had a great, spooky time.
Now, back in the box!
Gil's mom, Princess Kitty, in Arizona
Happy Birthday Mom Donnelly
93 and still partying !
