Tag Archives: Kapaau

Termite tented church

A church being tented for termites in Kapaau Hawaii

No, it’s not the circus in town, it’s another church tented to gas those pesky termites that could otherwise chew their way through the building. This one is St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church at Kapaau. I’ve pondered before on the theological implications of this practice, but I suppose it falls under casting out demons, rather than mistreating God’s creatures!

In the pink, or in the red

A Pink hibiscus in Hawaii
A pink hibiscus.

This week’s Sunday Stills Color Challenge theme is ‘Pink and/or red.’ See more responses here.

A firecracker plant in Hawaii
I thought this was a firecracker plant, but I’m not sure now. Either way, it’s red!
Kamehameha Day parade at Kapaau in Hawaii
Kamehameha Day parade in Kapaau.
Kamehameha Day parade at Kapaau in Hawaii
I bet the guy in the photo is thinking, ‘I’d look good in that hat.’
A Pinktail Triggerfish in the waters off Hawaii
A Pinktail Triggerfish. How do they come up with these names?
Kamehameha Day parade at Kapaau in Hawaii
Fishing on the North Kohala Coast.

A window to my world

A view through the windows of Pepeiao Cabin in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Looking out through a window at Pepeiao Cabin in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Through a Window.’ See more responses here.

A variety of photos this week, with captions on the photos.

Two Common Waxbills in Hawaii
A pair of Common Waxbills seen through the bathroom window. It’s a good vantage point for watching and photographing birds, so long as I remember to clean it once in a while.
A view through a window at the old Bond Library in Kapaau, Hawaii
Looking through a window into the old Bond Library in Kapaau, currently in the process of renovation.
Rain falling in North Kohala, Hawaii, seen through a vehicle windscreen
Looking out from my old truck on the drive down to Upolu Airport.
A view from the air of Kohala Ranch in Hawaii
A view of Kohala Ranch through a helicopter window. I like how the white fencing stands out.
Windows at a building site in hawaiiA broken window in Hawaii
A look through new windows at a construction project at Hapuna. Sadly, one of the new windows already had something go through it.

A bevy of bridges

A bridge over an inlet on the coast in Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Bridges.’ See more responses here.

The top image is an elegant bridge on the coast, in the Hilton Resort at Waikoloa. It spans an inlet from the ocean into a lagoon. This bridge is part of the coast path, which is open for anyone to walk.

A bridge over a gulch in North Kohala, Hawaii
A bridge over a gulch in North Kohala, Hawaii
A bridge over a gulch in North Kohala, Hawaii

The Big Island’s main use of bridges is to span the numerous gullies that run from the mountains down to the ocean. On the east side, some of these bridges are quite long and high, with vertigo-inducing views over the edge. These three bridges cross gullies in North Kohala on the winding road from Kapaau to Pololu. The third has several houses nearby, so a walkway has been added. This is surely safer than walking on the road, though not by much judging from its appearance!

Two anoles meet on a wire in Hawaii
A green anole hangs onto a line.

Finally, bridges of a different kind. Anoles and geckos use lines, attached to the house, to get around. Sometimes these one-lane bridges lead to encounters with fellow travelers. In this case the smaller anole leapt off into the cane grass, but that was its intended destination anyway. In the second photo, this anole was using the washing line to bridge the space from the house to a hedge.

Orange is the new theme

A Passion vine butterfly spreads its wings

This month’s Sunday Stills color challenge theme is ‘Orange and Gold.’ See more responses here. First up is a very orange Passion Vine Butterfly taking a break.

Next, orange is the official color of the island of Lanai, represented here at this year’s Kamehameha Day celebrations.

A rider at the Kamehameha Day parade in Kapaau, Hawaii
A rider at the Kamehameha Day parade in Kapaau, Hawaii
Riders at the Kamehameha Day parade in Kapaau, Hawaii
Fish swim in one of the golden pools at Keawaiki, Hawaii
A spot of gold at Keawaiki.
An orange Bitter Melon fruit in Hawaii
The fruit of a bitter melon.
The orange flowers of a Wiliwili tree in Hawaii
The flowers of an endemic Wiliwili tree.

When I was putting this post together a few days ago, I thought a sunset photo would be a nice way to wrap it up. I trolled through my files before picking a suitable one out, and was on the verge of processing it, when I happened to glance out of the window and saw this developing. Another reminder to live in the present and not the past!

Sunset in North Kohala, Hawaii

Bond Library restoration

Restoration work at the old Bond Library in Kapaau, Hawaii
Restoration work at the old Bond Library in Kapaau, Hawaii
A sign at the old Bond Library in Kapaau, Hawaii

Back in 2019, I posted a bit about the old Bond Library (here), mentioning that there were plans to convert the old Bond Memorial Library to a cultural/historical museum.

When I was down that way a few weeks ago, I found that work is now underway on that project. The overgrown area around the building has been mostly cleared and it looks like the roof is receiving attention. The rest of the building looks pretty much unchanged, though.

I have to say that the $1,000,000 project goal seems steep for fixing the building, but I have no idea what construction costs are these days.

Windows at the old Bond Library in Kapaau, Hawaii

The king who united Hawaii

Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Historical.’ See more responses here.

Here are a few more photos from this year’s celebrations commemorating the birthday of King Kamehameha I, the king who united the Hawaiian islands. The ceremony began with a welcome blown on conch shells.

Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Ceremonies at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii

The procession was led by the four Royal Societies in Hawaii. They are descendants of Hawaiian Ali’i including King Kamehameha I himself. Ali’i were the ruling class who were seen as the link between the people and the gods.

Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii

Hula dances were performed honoring the king. Hula was created by early Hawaiian settlers. It is often accompanied by chants and the movements are a visual representation of those chants. The subject matter can be anything from light entertainment to a sacred honoring of a god or goddess. Western missionaries disapproved of hula and encouraged Hawaiian rulers to ban it, but while there were some restrictions it was never driven completely underground as happened with some other traditional Hawaiian activities.

Hula at King Kamehameha Day in Kapaau, Hawaii
Leis draped on the statue of King Kamehameha in Kapaau, Hawaii

See more photos from the Kamehameha Day celebrations here.