A few shots from around the grounds of the B&B in Volcano Village (on the Big Island of Hawai'i) where we spent one night of our honeymoon. (Yes, it was in a rain forest, and yes, the drops of water on the ferns were from rain.)
The last one is a candle out on the patio.
3 July 09
Here we have the reason my wife and I chose the Big Island rather than another Hawaiian location: actual flowing lava.
The lava is not to be seen from the Kilauea crater in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. It is roughly an hour's drive from there (because of the route one must take to get to that destination), down at the coast. The lava flows underground and emerges where the land meets the ocean.
At the end of route 130 people a dirt parking lot allows the public to start assembling around sunset. Then from there it's about a half-mile trek across hardened lava fields to the viewing area. Which itself is about 3/4 mile away, because the flow is (at least on the day we were there) on private property.
Mostly what one sees is the massive plumes of steam caused by the lava hitting the water. And before the sun has completely set, the orange glow of the lava on the steam is less vibrant. But after darkness is complete, the glow is impressive.
The lava is only visible in two of these (the third and fourth from the end--notice the bright yellow portions) because the burbling spurts of lava that popped up from time to time never occurred when I was shooting. Suffice it to say: These shots don't capture how phenomenal it was.
(The last shot is the spots of glowing lava coming down the hill, peeking through holes in the ground.)
[For the photo geeks: Not having a tripod and not being able to get up to the edge of the viewing area (because of all the people lined there), most of these had to be taken by holding the camera over my head (to get over the people), with the zoom set to its maximum, employing very fast exposures, and trying to hold my arms as steady as possible. So please pardon that some of these aren't perfectly sharp.]
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i
Kahuna Falls (in Akaka Falls State Park) is less impressive than the ones for which the park is named--the first shot is the only one of the falls, and from the vantage point available really all you can see is the crevice and not so much the falls. (That's undoubtedly why everyone recommends one visit this one first, almost as an appetizer for the eyes before Akaka.) However, along the trail to the falls in the foliage there's bamboo trees, little streams, and gorgeous red flowers.
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along the trail to Akaka Falls my wife took these amazing macros of these new fern leaves--and with a point & shoot A1000.
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i
In Akaka Falls State Park, along the trail to the eponymous falls (see previous post) one encounters impressive foliage, and a little waterfall to whet the appetite. Near the vista point are a number of toppled trees covered in moss.
(As with the previous post at Akaka, a few of these shots were taken by my lovely and talented wife.)
Big Island of Hawai'i
Akaka Falls in Akaka Falls State Park, north of Hilo along the Hamakua Coast
We start with two shots of the falls including the sign on the overlook. Why? The first one was taken by me with my S3 (and spruced up a tiny bit on the computer):
And this second one was taken by my talented wife with our other little pocket camera (no post processing):
We were shooting separately, but both recognized the same general layout. However, notice how she went with aligning the bottom with the line of the text on the sign whereas I went with a fairly conventional straight orientation. One doesn't need a fancy camera for good photography.
Now the rest of my semi-worthwhile shots:
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i
Pepe'ekeo Scenic Drive (aka Hamakua Scenic Drive), north of Hilo, along Hwy 19
This turnoff from the highway takes one through tropical forest and along the coast (and even in to an agricultural area). However, there's not many spots to pull over, so all these shots were taken from a moving car.
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i, city of Hilo
Rainbow Falls, where the Wailuku River plummets 80 feet down, surrounded by tropical plants and trees. (And it's an easy hike along the side of the falls to get to the upper level.) Unfortunately we got there on a mostly cloudy day (so there were no rainbows).
Credit where it's due: Some of these were taken by my talented wife.
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200 (a/k/a Saddle Road)
Entrance to the Kaumana Caves
A lava tube from an eruption in 1881 makes a cave just off the highway. A concrete staircase allows for easy access down, and from there one can choose to explore (we didn't have time nor appropriate footwear for the slick ground). The sides of the wall are lined with ferns, with vines hanging down from the upper area. Rainforest plants line the floor of the exposed open area.
Oh, and in case you might forget, back up at the level of the highway there's hardened lava to remind you what created this area.Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Saddle Road, near the Kaumana Cave, this tree is adorned with these long, streaming vines.
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road
Scenes from a moving rental car of the area east of Mauna Kea and west of the Kaumana Caves, as the landscape transitions from rocky lava beds to more lush rainforest (or vice versa, depending on the direction). (In the distance in this first shot is Hilo.)
Big Island of Hawaii
Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center
Telescope set out on the patio for looking up at the sun.
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from a detour up the Mauna Kea Road, around the grounds surrounding the Visitor Information Center.
This was as far as we could get without a 4WD vehicle. But yes, we were above the clouds (at around 9,200 feet).
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from a moving rental car, traveling up (or down, depending on your direction) the Mauna Kea Road to (or from) the Visitor Center.
Next to last is looking back up the beginning of the road (as it disappears into the clouds).
The last one is back down on the Saddle Road, looking over the lava fields toward Mauna Loa.
2 July 09
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from a quick stop in part of what I think is Mauna Kea State Park. Flowers, plants, trees, and what's probably weeds.
Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from the area in the northwest part of the highway, near Parker Ranch. Shots from a moving rental car.
Slopes of Mauna Kea and clouds.
One of the many one-lane bridges in the western portion of the Saddle Road. I think that's Mauna Loa in the distance.
Shadow of a cloud on a cinder cone, with power lines in the foreground.
Tall grass along the side of the road.
Ubiquitous including-the-side-view-mirror shot.
Yep, sheep.
Morning sun between trees coming through the sunroof. Kohala region of the Big Island of Hawai'i
In the water by the beach of the Mauni Lani resort, green sea turtles (Honu) feed on algae just below the surface.
(They can hold their breath for a long time, so catching a shot of the head coming up to breathe is easier said than done.)
29 June 09
A little lizard seen, in of all places, at a shopping center on the grounds of a Hawaiian resort.
29 July 09
Just off the pier in Seal Beach, Ca., this seal swam and dove near the fishing lines in search of a tasty meal.
23 May 2009
The (tongue-in-cheek) explanation of these papers can be read in this post over at my wordy blahg. But I did get in this semi-arty shot.
This shot shows the source of the light for the previous post: the sun reflects off the side of the Bonaventure Hotel and across Flower Street. (That's the walking bridge between the hotel and the YMCA.)
20 Feb 2009
