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Articles for October, 2007

Tide Pools at Halona Point

Posted: October 30, 2007

Amazing tide pools are carved into the rugged coastline at Halona Point.  Halona Point is next to Blow Hole and Sandy Beach on the Kaiwi Coast of East Oahu.  It juts out into the ocean and harbors a small sandy cove often visited by honu (sea turtles).  On the opposite side of the point facing […]

Lehua and the Volcano

Posted: November 2, 2007

Ohia lehua is superbly adapted to the volcanoes in Hawaii.  It is among the first plants to colonize a new lava field and can sprout in cracks between lava rocks where moisture collects.  It can also tolerate sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano.   
 

Yellow & Orange Lehua Leis

Posted: October 24, 2007

I was thrilled to photograph an authentic yellow lehua lei made by Brian Choy.  In old Hawaii, yellow was more highly prized than red because it was rarer and more difficult to get.  Yellow was reserved for the highest rank of chiefs.  Kamehameha the Great’s feathered cape was pure yellow. 

Nuuanu Waterfalls

Posted: October 23, 2007

There are soothing waterfalls within 2 miles of the heart of downtown Honolulu.  Up in the cool higher sections of Nuuanu Valley, near the ruins of Kaniakapupu–the summer home of Kamehameha III–waterfalls plunge off cliffs into pools at their base.   

Red Lehua Leis

Posted: December 24, 2007

I was thrilled when I learned I would have the chance to photograph leis made by Brian Choy and Reynold Choy.  Brian and Reynold are brothers who make leis, arrange flowers, and landscape gardens–among other artistic pursuits.  Since the mid-1970’s, their leis have consistently won or placed at the May Day Lei Contest sponsored by the City […]

Lehua Color Spectrum

Posted: October 23, 2007

The vibrant color of lehua has always inspired me.  The vast majority of ohia lehua flowers (Metrosideros polymorpha) are red with shades ranging from crimson to fire-engine red to scarlet.  However, the color spectrum of lehua extends beyond red to yellow and orange including shades of lemon, amber, butterscotch, apricot and salmon.  

Wiliwili Trees of Ulupalakua

Posted: December 24, 2007

The wiliwili trees of Ulupalakua on Maui have always fascinated me.  They have short stout trunks with wrinkled leathery bark that looks like the backside of a pachyderm.  Some have thorns on their trunks and branches which make them look like something out of Tolkein’s Middle Earth. 

Lehua Flowering Progression

Posted: October 23, 2007

The distinctive shape and vibrant color of lehua add much to the ambiance of the native forest.  I like to take close-up shots of lehua flowers to capture the different stages as their buds bloom into flowers, become pollinated and produce seed.     

Tide Pools at Ahihi-Kinau

Posted: October 23, 2007

I visited the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve on Maui to photograph a series of amazing  tide pools.  The pools are spectacular shades of blue, aqua, and teal—some of them are over 12 feet deep and support communities of coral, fishes, and invertibrates. 

Five Species of Ohia Lehua

Posted: October 23, 2007

It was my goal in 2007 to photograph the five (5) species that make up ohia lehua.    Ohia lehua has always inspired me.  Their distinctive flowers, dainty leaf rosettes and gnarled branches add much color, form, and character to the native forest.