Day 13 - North Shore Adventure

Compared to what we were doing with the Hawaiian Field Studies class, this tour was a breeze.  The guide's name was David Atkins.

We started at a cemetery - Valley of the Temple Memorial Park.  Odd place to start, but in the back of the cemetery is a full sized replica of the 11th century Phoenix Hall of the Byodo-In Buddhist temple complex in Japan.

  

Inside is a large Buddha.

Interesting place.  These are family plots where the bodies are cremated and added to the family plot.

Next place we stopped at was a structure called Chinaman's Hat.  It is also known as part of a legend.  Something about a dragon tail.  It is also called Mokolii which means "little lizard".

On the East Shore, we stop at Liea Point.  This is a beautiful little spot.  Nothing of much significance, but I am sure that there is something geology based and volcano based info here.

We drove through the town of Kohuku.  Here they have 12 wind turbines and are going to be getting a lot more soon.  Hopefully this will help cut down on the cost of their electricity.

We drive by the Shrimp Ponds.  We did not get to get out, but I did get to see a few birds, but no pictures :-(

Night Heron
Hawaiian Coots
Red-face Moorhen
Hawaii Stilt

On to the North Shore.  We stop at Sunset Beach.  This is where the big surfing competitions happen.  Definitely NOT in the summer.  It was just about as flat of water as Galveston...which is really flat. There was one area that had a little surf and people were surfing there.

Slightly unimpressive in the summer, but it was exciting to see where the BIG surf competition happens.  Here is a picture of what surf was happening.

Waimae Valley - we came here to see a Hawaiian temple.  We were reminded that Hawaiians did not have a lot of technology, so it may not seem grandiose, but was very meaningful to the Hawaiians.

Turtle Beach - There were two Green Sea Turtles resting on the beach.  It was so cool.  There is an organization that volunteers to watch the beach and rope off the Sea Turtles so that they are not disturbed.  Our guide said that someone is being fined for sitting on top of a Sea Turtle and taking pictures.  Goodness.  Some people.

Last stop was the Dole Pineapple Plantation.  Apparently, the Pineapples grown there stay on Hawaii for the most part.  Most of the Pineapples eaten now come from Central and South America.  I ate some yummy Pineapple Ice cream with pineapple chunks on it.  I was not going to eat the whole thing, but I did anyway.

 

Day 12 - Leaving Kauai and heading back to Oahu

All of the students get back on the plane and we all make it back to Oahu.  A few students stay a couple of extra days in Hawaii.  I met up with Judith for dinner and then a little shopping.  The Hula Grill was very nice, on the beach, and yummy food.

Day 11 - Wiamea Canyon, Iliau Nature Loop, Kalalau Valley, and Alakai Swamp

Wiamea Canyon - Another random stop on the side of the road.  I would like to say that I knew why we stopped here.  It was a beautiful view.  I am sure that there was something about a volcano said.

Iliau Nature Loop - a quick loop with a nice view of the Canyon.  There was some geology talk and some botany talk.  Passion fruit was found and eaten.  It was very sweet and yummy.  

Kalalau Valley and Alakai Swamp - Beautiful view.  The hike to Alakai Swamp was horrible.  The ground was very hard and it went up, down, up, down, etc. Two miles in never felt so long.  Some beautiful views of Kalalau Valley, but that is about it.  We were promised cold rainy weather as we went down.  On no.  It was hot and steamy.  Therefore, the jeans that I wore were really hot.  The Swamp was not even swampy.  We were only about a mile from the rainiest place on earth, but it has been a little dry.

Lets see.  We did get to see a Sundew plant.  Plants in the swamp were adapted similar to plants in a wetland...well, because it is a type of wetland.  Saturated soil = shallow roots, stunted growth, etc.  There is a low amount of phosphorous and nitrogen = carnivorous plants.

When I got back to the Condo and started packing, I found a piece of metal in my boot from the walk.  Thank you to the thick rubber on my shoes... and to Sabra by buying me my hiking boots.

Day 10 - Salt Ponds, A Couple of Random Spots, and Spouting Horn

Salt Ponds -

Much more to explore and a few new critters.  There are still a lot of Sea Cucumbers.  There were a lot more Brittle Stars and larger crabs were found.  We snorkeled afterwards.  The water was rough, but snorkeling happened.

Spaghetti Worms                                  Brittle Star

Another Sea Cucumber

Another Rock Boring Sea Urchin

Sheriff's Badge Sea Star

Collector Sea Urchin                             Banded Sea Urchin

Nudibranch                                                    Oysters

7-11 Crab                                                   Crab (?)

Random Stop - This RR stop turned out to be great.  We saw a Hawaiian Monk Seal.  There are only about 1,200 left and we got to see one!  This was one of the highlights of the trip!

Random Spot - This was as close to a Black Sand Beach as we got.  We went there for the Glass Beach.  Apparently they are getting nervous that the Glass Beach is disappearing.  How do you fix the problem??? Start littering again?

Spouting Horn - Another volcanic phenomenon.   There was something about a lava tube and air and water pushing up.  I was not listening too well...oops.  

National Tropical Botanical Gardens - a quick stop to enjoy the plants.  Pretty plants.

Garbage Conglomerate - Ah yes.  We stopped to look at garbage, but fancy garbage.  The garbage was somehow cemented together naturally.   But the view and the colors of the water were beautiful!

Just Beautiful!

Garbage Conglomerate

Day 9 - Limahuli Garden and Preserve and a Walk on the Beach

Limahuli Garden and Preserve - We had the lead guy give us a tour of the Canoe plants - Kawika.  The Canoe plants are the plants that the Polynesians or others that came over to the island brought with them.  These plants are  considered to be their botanical toolkit - plants that could provide medicine, food, building material, clothes, had cultural meaning, etc., etc.

We learned about ethnobotany and  how these plants had an impact on the Hawaiians.  The big one is the Taro plant.  This plant is considered to be the perfect plant in terms of nutrition.  The only thing that it is missing is protein.  Culturally, poi (what is traditionally made from the Taro plant) is served with fish completing the dietary needs.  Today, the Taro plant does not produce a flower or seeds.  For generations, they take a stalk of the Taro plant and re-plant it.  This then make a new plant, etc., etc.  This is why the Taro plant is revered in Hawaii - it is the same plant that their ancestors an their ancestors have touched.  Due to the climate, artificial selection, and mutations, the Hawaiian Taro is specific to the region.

Other Canoe plants were the Bamboo and the Coconut plant.  There was a lesson in the Bamboo plant.  The bamboo plant is strong, but flexible with keeps it from breaking.  You can guess the lesson - be strong, but don't forget to be flexible so you don't break.  These two plants have more uses than any other plant in the world.

Pepper - natural antibacterial additive.
Sugarcane - other than sugar, it can be used to make the arrow part of the bow, but it was used to kill rats.
Candle nut - oils used to make...well...candles.

After lunch, we helped the facility by helping in the garden across the street.  We broke into groups and weeded, mulched, and created a spiral  garden.  Really cool idea - the plants at the top do well in the sun and don't need a lot of water.  The plants near the bottom, need the shade and more water.  Really interesting idea.

I even get my hands dirty.

At lunch, they make a sugarcane drink for us.  They have a machine that is like a huge juicer and then they add coconut milk to it.  I tried it.  Not too bad.  Not something that you want a whole glass of, but not bad.

Afterwards, we walk around the rest of the gardens and see all sorts of other native plants.  

What I want to do now - have a cultural driven garden - the 6 Flags Garden or Flowers and Plants of the 6 Flags.  Something like that.  There are so many cultures in Texas it would be difficult to pick out some and not include some, but I still like the idea.

 A Walk on the Beach - I have not had a chance to go and walk on the beach across from the Condos.  It is a nice beach, but definitely not one for swimming or hanging out.

Beautiful beach.  As I sat there watching the waves come in (and taking pictures of it of coarse) the ghost crabs cam out.  They came out, ran around a bit, and then dug holes.  They used their large claws to dig out the sand.  They would also run back into their hole when they got scared or when the waves came up close on them.  They were mighty cute.  There was one that kind of got used to me and staid close to me and I got some good pictures.