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Articles for December, 2007

Hawaiian Kahakai Wreath for the New Year

Posted: December 28, 2007

I was with great anticipation that I went to photograph a Hawaiian kahakai wreath made by Brian Choy for the holidays.  “Kahakai” means the sea coast in Hawaiian.  This is a kahakai wreath because it is made entirely with material gathered along the beaches and shorelines of Hawaii. 

Ha’uke’uke ‘Ula’ula — Red Slate Pencil Urchins of Hawaii

Posted: December 25, 2007

Red slate pencil urchins are some of the most visual stunning sea urchins in Hawaii.  Known as “ha’uke’uke ‘ula’ula” in Hawaiian, they are vibrant red in color and can reach 10 inches in diameter from spine to spine.  Their spines are about the thickness of a pencil and are blunt — they are not sharp like other urchins. 

Native Hawaiian Christmas Wreath

Posted: December 22, 2007

I was thrilled when Brian Choy asked me to photograph a Christmas wreath he created that could have been made in old Hawaii.  It is made entirely with native and Polynesian-introduced flowers and foliage. 

Apapane in the Ohia Forests of Hawaii

Posted: December 19, 2007

‘Apapane are the most abundant and widely distributed of native forest birds of Hawaii today.  They can only be found at elevations above 3,300 feet where mosquitoes carrying avian pox and malaria cannot reach.  While Apapane can be found on 6 of the 8 largest Hawaiian Islands, they are most commonly seen in the ohia forests at Kokee on [...]

Pinao — The Native Dragonflies and Damselflies of Hawaii

Posted: December 15, 2007

I love to photograph Hawaii’s native dragonflies and damselflies, known as “pinao” in Hawaiian. I can follow pinao for hours — stalking them as they dart and hover over the landscape — until they land on something interesting and attractive to photograph.

Giant Age-Old Koa Trees

Posted: December 12, 2007

Koa trees are among the largest native trees in Hawaii.  They reach well over a 100 feet tall and can have thick trunks 10 feet in diameter.  Their reddish brown hardwood is highly prized and is extremely valuable.  As a result, koa trees have been over-harvested and very few big old koa trees exist in [...]

Honu at Kiholo Bay

Posted: December 7, 2007

Kiholo Bay is located in South Kohala on the Island of Hawaii and is home to many Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles or “honu” in Hawaiian.  A miniature peninsula extends from the north end of Kiholo Bay forming a calm protected lagoon.  Known as Wainanalii Pond, fresh water seeps up from the bottom of the lagoon [...]

Islets Off Laie and Malaekahana

Posted: December 4, 2007

Five small islets lie just offshore from Laie and Malaekahana on the northern coast of Oahu.   The names of these tiny islands in order from north to south are Kihewamoku, Mokuauia, Pulemoku, Kukuihoolua, and Mokualai.  Some of these small islands are close to shore and can be reached by wading in the water, while others [...]