November 1, 2007

Good stuff - Free trees!

Did you know that Friday is Arbor Day? I know because I’ve been hearing about the free tree giveaway every time I turn on the TV or radio lately. Our electric supplier, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is giving away trees and providing expert advice on selecting the right trees and planting them in the right places.

(Sorry - that’s not really clickable. I tried!)

What do trees have to do with an electric company? HECO promotes wise energy usage. Properly placed shade trees can keep your house cooler and contribute to your overall plan to reduce your carbon footprint. Very cool way to do it, too. For my local readers, check out free trees at HECO for times and locations. Plan now on getting out early Saturday to grab the best tree! Rumor has it that the trees are usually snatched up within an hour or so, so skip the second cup of coffee and get there early!

In other good news: Surf’s up! Yeeeeeha! It’s at “fun surf” levels - knee to chest high - so the pros won’t be excited, but it’s safe for tourists and pretty much anyone else with a board. Have I mentioned that though I don’t surf I really enjoy watching the beautiful bronze boys and girls doing their amazing thing on the waves? People-watching at its finest!

This post will be linked to today’s Share Some Good Stuff meme.

Technorati Tags: Arbor Day, free trees, good stuff, Hawaiian Electric Company, HECO, Oahu surf

October 27, 2007

Parking lot denizens

I drove a friend to a clinic appointment and sat with her in the waiting room until her name was called. There was some time to kill while she was with her doctor, so I headed for my car to get my book about an Orlando vacation rental. As I left the building I disturbed a large, noisy flock of red-vented bulbuls. I abandoned the idea of reading and retrieved my camera from the car instead. The bulbuls flew away again as soon as I approached them with camera in hand, of course.

There were quite a few myna birds about. They’re almost always seen in pairs and spend a lot of time strutting on the ground. A man I worked with when I first came to Hawaii calls them “stupid birds” instead of mynas. They’re fond of paved roads and when cars approach them they seem to forget they can fly. It’s comical to see them trying to outrun a motorized vehicle, but a lot of them pay with their lives.

Zebra doves are pretty common in the islands. I’ve had nesting pairs in my yard as long as I’ve lived here. Their cooing is one of the first sounds I hear each morning.

I took over a dozen shots of this sassy red-crested cardinal, but never did catch him completely still. He was very busy inspecting the pavement for bits of plant matter and insects, never still the entire time he was in my sight.

Golden plovers over-winter in Hawaii. They are abundant near my home and I sometimes sit and watch them on the beach. They, too, are very “busy” birds, constantly running and picking and pecking.

I’m not sure who this pretty green fellow is, but I think maybe some type of finch. My copy of Hawaii’s Birds doesn’t picture him.

A single red-vented bulbul returned just before I was ready to leave. He paused or a brief rest, then flew away. My friend returned and we, too, went on our way.

Technorati Tags: birds, birds in Hawaii

October 22, 2007

Do we need Never Summer Snowboards in Hawaii?

Of course we do! We don’t get to snowboard on Oahu. It might surprise some of you to know that you can play in the snow in Hawaii, though. Our tallest mountains, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala get snow every year. When a good snow falls people here grab their gear, hop on inter-island flights and take their surfing to the mountains. (You’d be surprised how often I see snowboards and skis in the local homes I inspect.) Most snow bunnies go to the mainland, though, if they want to play in the snow, since our’s is usually not very deep and doesn’t last long. There are a lot of ski clubs and travel clubs here that arrange trips for snow-lovers. Whether you get your snow fix in Hawaii or the more traditional spots, you’ll want to check out Never Summer Snowboards to get yourself geared up for the fun. They’re built tough in Denver, Colorado by folks who know what you want, and come with a 3-year warranty, one of the longest in the industry. Pick out a styling design and make sure you get a Dakine Super Tune Kit to keep your board in tip-top shape. Dakine? Like da kine, the Hawaiian pidgin catch-all term for something everyone knows? Well, there ya go! Snowboard experts with a Hawaii connection! Winter’s coming. I know because I had to sleep in sweats last night (must have been way down in the sixties!) It’s time to get outfitted for winter fun. What are you waiting for?

Technorati Tags: Hawaii, snowboards, Never Summer Snowboards, sports gear, winter sports

October 14, 2007

Secret cove

Beaches in Hawaii are, for the most part, public. If you want a home on the beach you’ll probably have to buy an exisiting one because new beachfront developement is prohibited in most areas. When the old neighborhoods were being built it was necessasry to maintain public access to the beaches, so you’ll find little pathways between houses.

Some of them are narrow and pretty well hidden if you don’t know where to look. See the red shrub in the photo above? It’s easy to drive right by without discovering the secret it disguises. A narrow path of toe-stubbing coral thinly covered with sand leads to a quiet beach.

The beach bears no name on the maps I’ve seen. Locals call it by the name of a retired politician who owns one of the homes that front the beach. It’s only about fifty yards wide (if even that,) with coral ledges bordering each side and funneling the waves toward shore. I’ve swum here a few times, but the surf is usually a little too wild. Corals just below the surface only a few feet from shore are capable of slicing into flesh, and sea urchin spines can cause painful reactions when they penetrate flesh.

The coral is at several levels of elevation, with older, dead coral up above most of the action. Tidepools filled with urchins, shrimp, small fish and other life confirm that the water does wash over this upper platform on a regular basis. The landscape is eerie, almost lunar in appearance, with dried sea salt rimming pools that haven’t been refreshed for a while.

Around its margin the tidepools are permanent fixtures, regularly replenished at high tide. A few picturesque openings feed the larger tidepools where hand-sized fish can sometimes be found.

The lower coral ledge teems with life. Seaweed, fish and urchins are the most consistently visible. When the tide is just right, though, the table-like surface becomes an amusement park ride for honu (green sea turtles,) who allow incoming waves to tumble them, heal over tail, across the mossy-looking surface. They pause for a quick snack of coral before the next wave tumbles them back into the ocean, then swim back to their starting point and do it again.

This is the only beach I’m aware of on the Waianae Coast where honu routinely congregate in the water and where some come ashore to bask in the sun. I’ve seen as many as three at a time on the beach, but it’s more usual to see just one, as I did on the days I took these pictures. A keen eye will spot them in the water, though. I saw six or seven today and that’s about the norm, though I figure there’s probably several unseen for each one I spot.

I’ve never seen them move very far up the beach. They generally nap just a yard or so above the wave line, where the sand is wet and an occasional surge reaches out to remind them that home is nearby.

I rarely see other people when I go to the secret beach, but maybe I’ve never gone on a weekend before. When I went today there were two couples and a family each claiming a small section of beach. I spotted the scene above when I arrived, so I don’t know if honu or the tot got there first, but they both seemed perfectly contented with the arrangement. The little girl ignored the turtle. Honu opened one lazy eye a few times, but not with great enthusiasm. Perhaps that grand tradition, the Sunday afternoon nap, is a fixture in the turtle kingdom, too.

This post appears in the Carnival of Aloha published on November 5, 2007. Come! Share the Aloha!

Technorati Tags: beaches, green sea turtles, Hawaii, Hawaii beaches, Hawaii photos, honu, photos

July 12, 2007

Waianae hot spot

The catch is stowed on ice in the hold. The gear is clean and organized. By the time they’re back in the harbor, their day is almost done. They can relax, the most rigorous part of their day behind them. They’ve probably already had a few beers on the way back in, but the serious fishermen save the serious drinking until the boat is out of the water and they’re done with the perils of the sea for the day. The ones who left before dawn will arrive back at the harbor long before lunchtime. If they have “other” jobs, an Employment screening would show salt water, not drugs, running through their veins.

The boat washing station is a social gathering spot where fish tales are told, with the proof on ice to back them up. They’re rivals for the catch, especially at tournament time, but everyone is best friends after a good run. Laughter bounces off of finberglass hulls and grown men are not above a good water fight. They’ll be back to work soon, selling their marlin and ahi or cutting it into slabs for the freezer. But right now, just for these few minutes, they’re boys again and school’s just let out.

Technorati Tags: boats, fishing, fishermen, harbor, Hawaii, photos, Waianae, Waianae Boat Harbor

June 30, 2007

Gecko gathering

There was a party on my carport tonight. I wasn’t invited. The guests actually hid when I first arrived. I arranged my face appropriately, expecting them to pop back out and shout “Surprise!” I hung back in the shadows on the lanai to give them a chance to arrange themselves. My mind wandered as I waited … and waited … and waited. Maybe they were wrapping my gifts? The new Iz CD, perhaps? Maybe they’d gone big budget and had booked me for the cruises I’ve always wanted to take to Australia and Alaska? Jewelry - yeah, jewelry would be nice. As I considered the possibilities I saw a few of the guests begin to creep back out. Hors d’oeuvres were being served and they were snatching them up, not realizing, I guess, that the guest of honor still lurked just out of sight. The remaining guests suddenly reappeared and a feeding frenzy ensued. They were literally crawling all over each other in their mad rush to feast. I began to realize that my earlier assumptions had been wrong. No tasty tidbits were being resereved to satisfy late arrivals. I was an unwanted guest in my own home.

I couldn’t cling to my resentment. They had adapted to my presence, so at least I didn’t need to feel like a party crasher. Actually, a couple of handsome fellows began preening and showing off, making me realize that I had been noticed and found desirable. One was practically doing headstands in his efforts to impress me. I found it all quite flattering as he sauntered closer, flirtatiously licking an eyeball with his long, sensusous tongue in an age-old pre-mating ritual. He whispered sweet nothings in my ear. It took me a moment to sort out what he was saying in his sexy Australian accent. I’m still not sure I deciphered correctly, but I’ll figure it all out tomorrow night when we meet for our first date. I don’t know where we’re going, but apparently I’ll be driving. He seems extroidinarily interested in my car.

Technorati Tags: geckos, Hawaii, humor

June 27, 2007

More from the Waianae Boat Harbor

When I visited the harbor last week I found the wrecked plane and blogged about it. There was more to see at the harbor, though, that I’m only just getting around to sharing. It’s a small boat harbor, too shallow for the big tour boats, cruise ships and commercial shipping that keep Honolulu Harbor buzzing. Most of the boats here belong to local fishermen, dive boat operators and a few smaller tour operators. Sail boats are berthed here, too.

This young man had not had a catch yet when we spoke, but said he catches fish here most days. He was on the next dock over when I first noticed him. I think it was my picture-taking rather than a search for a sweet spot to drop a hook that drew him nearer.

One of life’s simple pleasures - watching the water shush in and out of a mini coral cave at the harbor’s edge. I’m not a good enough photographer to capture the small fish and crabs that slid in and out of the opening and scrambled on the rocks with each wave. Kind of like Six Flags for sea creatures.

I watched this fellow for half an hour and took about twenty shots before I finally caught him in shallow enough water to get his picture. He lives in the calm waters of the harbor, so his shell does not get scoured by the ocean surf and is covered with algae. He’s a Green Sea Turtle, called honu in Hawaiian.

Technorati Tags: boats, fishing, harbor, Hawaii, honu, photos, Waianae Boat Harbor

April 26, 2007

Natural pest control

I don’t do a whole lot of pesticide applictions outside. My neighborhood is overrun with feral cats, so treating for fleas has to happen on a regular basis. That requires broacast treatments about every three months. There’s no getting away from that. Other than the fleas, though, I pretty much let nature take it’s course. I have plenty of these guys hanging around, and a lot of geckos, too. They’re pretty good at keeping things under control. I especially like seeing them in and around my herb garden, because I don’t ever apply pesticides in that yard or garden. My dogs don’t have access to that side of the house, so I even exclude the area when doing the flea treatments. Pesticides would kill off the chameleon lizards and geckos, but they thrive happily in the herb garden. Win/win!

Technorati Tags: lizards, chameleon lizards, natural pest control, life in Hawaii, gardening

April 8, 2007

Pikake

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Based strictly on my own anecdotal evidence, pikake (jasmine, Jasminum sambac) is the second-most popular fragrant bloom in Hawaii. Pronounced “pee-kah-kay” in Hawaiian, it is another post-contact import and very popular in lei-making. I knew that it is used in making perfumes, but discovered only today that it is also used to flavor tea. You know I’ll have to try that soon! The large shrub outside my gate and its keiki (child) in my side yard offer double blooms. Both get direct sun throughout most days, so I’m not sure why the one out front is growing wildly out of control and the keiki is a scrawny little thing. What I do know is that both are bearing heavily now and there’s not enough benedryl on this island to keep my allergies at bay. Beauty always comes with a price!

Technorati Tags: pikake, life in Hawaii, flowers, gardening, flowering shrubs

April 1, 2007

Plumeria

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Last year I was reading a contemporary fiction story about a mainland American woman and her experiences upon moving to Hawaii. Throughout the book she referred numerous times to frangipani. Having lived here for a dozen years, I could not understand why she stated that the fragrant flower grew everywhere. I’d heard of frangipani in literary references before, but had no clue what it was or why I had not met it yet. When I finally thought to look it up, I understood. Called frangipani in Mexico and South America, it is locally known as plumeria, and it is indeed ubiquitous. Named melia in Hawaiian, they are so popular that most people here assume that they’re indigenous, but plumeria arrived as an import after Western contact. As I menioned in my last post, I react with typical allergy symptoms to its presence, but there is no getting away from it in Hawaii. I have a plumeria tree in my own yard and mostly just allow it to take care of itself. I started it from a cut stem perhaps six to eight inches long right after I bought the house ten years ago and it stands at about ten or twelve feet now. I’ve cut it back frequently because it is prone to whitefly and aphid infestations, difficult to treat in taller trees. I’m not sure what height they can attain, but there are twenty-footers in my neighborhood. New-growth branches are rubbery in look and touch, but will break with a crisp snap under pressure, so this is not a tree for climbing or propping a ladder in. Any break unleashes an oozing tide of white sap, looking and feeling much like white glue and quite poisonous, so gloves are recommended and frequent hand-washing essential when handling plumeria (though, in truth, everyone here handles them and I’ve never heard of a poisoning case. Still, better safe than sorry.) I’ve seen some trees that were never pruned and branched out to cover a circumference of twenty to thirty feet.

My plumeria blooms year-round. There are brief die-backs in blooming, but I’ve never seen a plumeria completely denuded of blossoms. I always know when a hula competition is coming up because word has gotten around that my flowers are abundant and free for the picking. Even girls too young to sew their own costumes are expert lei-makers and proud of carrying on the tradition of gathering the raw materials needed. I love to hear the call from outside my gate, “Auntie, can I pick plumeria for my lei?” They are also one of the most popular blooms found at the airport lei stands and other shops around the island. Their heady fragrance is a bonus when a single flower is tucked behind an ear. Though most women don’t bother, there are little test tube-like clips that can help keep them in place and keep sap from making a sticky mess of ones hair.

You can learn more about plumeria and see some of the other color varieties in this Wikipedia article.

Technorati Tags: plumeria, life in Hawaii, flowers, gardening, flowering trees