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  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. Hawaii, February and March, 2009

Big Island #3: Trip Through Waimea to Hilo

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Maybe you can see the observatory better now, just to the left of the actual summit of this mighty shield volcano.
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Maybe you can see the observatory better now, just to the left of the actual summit of this mighty shield volcano.

lookingmaunakea

  • We are heading northwest from Kona, on a trip to Waimea (near the north part of the island) and then on to Hilo. Here, you are looking northwest. You can see several different lava flows. Even on this side of the island, many of these flows occurred as recently as the mid 1800's (we'll get to some newer ones in a later album). You can see Maui in the distance, through the clouds (upper left portion of the photo). That's where the professional seminar will be next year, hopefully with me in attendance!
  • This friendly fellow is an erckel's francolin. Native of Ethiopia and Sudan, this type of partridge was introduced to Hawaii in 1957. From what I read, they are pretty rare in their native lands, but they sure seemed quite numerous on Hawaii.
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  • It did not seem at all alarmed of being near people......
  • .....not even people acting in rather strange ways.
  • Old corner post and wire on lava.
  • Same old corner post and wire on lava, different angle, in B&W.
  • Looking up at Mauna Kea. There is a rare "hole" in the cloud allowing you to see the top. Do you see the observatory? This is a good photo on which to bring up how the typical Hawaiian volcano differs from volcanoes in many places (such as the Pacific NW, for instance). Lava here tends to flow as a liquid with relatively low viscosity. This allows it to flow quickly and for long distances, which builds up a mound with relatively little steepness. The lava oozes and runs, adding a little to the height and a lot to the girth of the mountain. As this occurs time and time again through the eons, it develops a mountain of extreme mass compared to mountains of similar height arising by different means. Such volcanoes are called SHIELD volcanoes. If this has piqued your interest, take a look at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shield_volcano">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shield_volcano</a>
  • Maybe you can see the observatory better now, just to the left of the actual summit of this mighty shield volcano.
  • Remember how I mentioned the difference in rainfall from Kona to Hilo? Well, Waimea is between them (in an out-of-the-way sort of way). I think it may belong more to the Hilo weather pattern.
  • Lots of rain as we approached Hilo. Lots of beautiful stuff, but all pretty much shrouded in fog and rain. We drove up to Akaka Falls State Park. Here you see some pretty healthy bamboo along the Kolekole Stream in the park.
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  • Yep, sure looks different from the Kona area.
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  • And there is Akaka Falls. Actually there are a couple of falls in the photo: A big one to your left and a small one to your right. We stood there for a while to be able to see it THIS good. Awesome thunderous rumble and refreshing mist while we stood there, though!
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  • As we were driving back to the highway from Akaka Falls, we saw these huge banyan trees in the town of Honomu. We stopped and inquired. Some of the locals told us the story behind these trees (caption, next photo).
  • Just after WWII, a Hawaiian lady who lost a son in the war decided to plant a tree here in his memory. A Japanese lady who had similarly lost a son decided to do the same. Through the years since, as Japan and the U.S. have grown together and relied on each other as friends, so to have these trees grown strong and intermixed their branches and roots to give one great canopy. Wow: As I'm sitting at my computer writing about this tribute to war dead;, thinking about these two women loosing sons who they obviously loved dearly, I'm listening to Pandora.com (internet radio). Peter, Paul, and Mary just came on singing BLOWING IN THE WIND. How many times indeed.......
  • As Bev and I entered a little general store in Honomu, this lady saw my camera and exclaimed "He's got a camera! He can take my picture!" These were not her birds, but she had a little time to enjoy them because their owner had brought them in. Her name is Brenda. She has had to wait a lllooonnnnggg time for me to get these photos out.
  • Well, Brenda: I hope that you are doing well. Thanks for your patience on the photos, and I hope that you enjoy. I would love to hear from you, either by email or through you leaving a comment (find the comment button to the lower left on your screen). Have you been able to have the birds play on you again? How are things going in Honomu? Has it ever stopped raining?
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