The Serenity of Two Ponds

If you've been to Moanalua Gardens Park on the "ewa" side of Honolulu, you may have had a chance to check out the King Kamehameha V summer cottage, which has been in its present location since 1960.

The cottage was built by Prince Lot Kapuaiwa, who later became King Kamehameha V when he ascended to the throne.

Cottage and Taro Pond

Along with the property, the cottage was willed to businessman and landowner Samuel Mills Damon, who renovated it and used it as a residence.

Cottage and Koi Pond

Adjacent to the structure are two extensive ponds, one used to planting taro, and the other for raising koi (ornamental carp). The area exudes serenity with the only sounds being the distant conversation of tourists or families, and the twittering of birds.

The scene is luxuriant and green and a perfect setting for picture-taking.

10,000 and Counting

Can you imagine a natural event that goes on for 10,000 days and is still happening? Do you know how long 10,000 days is? It’s 27 years, plus a little more than four and a half months.

That’s how long Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island has been erupting nonstop – since January 3, 1983.

The volcano’s east rift zone cracked open on that day; they call it the Pu’u ‘O’o (“Hill of the Digging Stick” vent. A summit vent also opened up two years ago, on March 19, 2008.

If you’ve never seen an eruption close-up, you’re missing one of the most spectacular sights you will ever see in your life.

I’ve seen many eruptions, including the historic 1959 Kilauea Iki and 1960 Kapoho fountains when I was a kid in Hilo. Halemaumau Crater eruptions are also spectacular. I’ve been to a couple of those. You can drive right up to the rim of the deep caldera and look down at a huge many-square-mile pool of molten rock sloshing around like water.

The heat is tremendous! During the Kapoho eruption, I remember standing miles away and feeling as though I were right in front of a roaring fireplace. My face felt like I had a bad case of sunburn. And the sound! The sound was a deafening roar that reached down deep and set my soul a-tremble.

All I can say about the 10,000-day record is … Rock On, Madam Pele!

Teenage Mutant Ninja ... No

Turtle? YES!

Don’t you just love it when time and tide work out in your favor? It did for me yesterday.

The wife and I did an early-afternoon walk at Magic Island; we wanted to walk in the morning, but we had too many other errands and appointments that needed paying attention to first.

Then, when we were walking, we took a while to sit on a bench and just gaze out at the ocean, watching the ships and boats and barges and airplanes and parasailers do their thing, for about 10 minutes or so.

Instead of taking the paved walkway leading back into the park, we walked along the cement walkway at water’s edge. Just ahead of us, a few tourists tossed leis into the water (in hopes, I presume, that they would wash back to shore indicating the tourists would return to Hawaii).

I got ready to take a picture of one of the leis, when I saw a huge green turtle (honu) surface next to it. It must have had at least a three-foot carapace. One of the tourists excitedly exclaimed that it surfaced to look at the lei. As for me, I wasn’t able to get a picture of the turtle since my camera was still booting up. That’ll teach ME to turn it off during my walk, huh?

We waited around; watching the turtle nibble seaweed (limu) off the rocks underwater, then disappear over and over again in the veil of bubbles caused by waves crashing against the rocks.

Suddenly, it resurfaced and I managed to snap a quick shot, but was too late to photograph it when it poked its head out of the water. Here’s the shot I came away with:

It’s the best I could do, as the turtle never resurfaced. I got to thinking: If we hadn’t had all those appointments in the morning, if we hadn’t sat on a bench for 10 minutes, and if we hadn’t done our little detour, we would have missed that rare glimpse of this wonderful Hawaiian totem (aumakua) in the wild.

As for the lei, they washed along the sea wall and headed in toward Ala Moana Beach. So I guess the tourists WILL be returning to Hawaii after all.

Bishop Museum 2009

It’s been about 15 years since I last visited the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum and a lot has changed since then.

For one thing, Hawaii Hall has been renovated and looks brand spanking new again. The life-size sperm whale (innards and out-ards) is still there, looking as imposing as ever, and all of the artifacts and artworks that have been publicized and featured as Hawaiian icons are on display.

Big ol' life-sized shark

An i'wi (frigate bird)

I’ve always enjoyed the life-sized wildlife models that suspend from the hall’s ceiling, allowing the hall to represent the Pacific Ocean.

Giant Monarch butterfly

“Backyard Monsters: The World of Insects,” with its giant robotic creatures, is being exhibited in the Castle Memorial Building. Somewhat similar to the bugs on display at Pearlridge Center, the Bishop Museum event does feature different insects (except for the battling Atlas beetles). Some of the museum’s preserved insects were displayed, supplementing the robots.

 

Black-lighted time tunnel

The Richard Mamiya Science Adventure Center is new since I last visited the museum. Its displays and interactive hands-on exhibits basically tell the story of how Hawaii was formed and grows – geology. Not exactly my cup of tea, but somewhat interesting, nonetheless.

We waited until the remnants of Hurricane Felicia had passed, so as not to have to deal with dark clouds and high humidity. The day was bright, but the humidity still lingered and we were pretty much drained when we left the museum three hours later. The buildings are air conditioned, one has to walk outside to get from one to the other.

It was pretty much worth the price of admission. If you’re a kamaaina (local Hawaii resident) and can produce suitable identification, you’re entitled to a substantial discount on your entry fee.

I think I’ll wait a while before going back. But not than 15 years this time.

Historic Hawaiian Stones

This past weekend was spent on the Big Island of Hawaii – the wedding of a cousin’s son in Kona, and a revisiting of Hilo, my old hometown.

In addition to driving around to view my old schools, familiar neighborhoods, former houses I’ve lived in, and some of the natural attractions such as Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots, I stopped at the Hilo Library to take some pictures of two historic Hawaiian stones that have been on display since before I was a barefooted kid in Hilo.

The stone on the left is the more famous of the two. The Naha Stone, which weighs a little more than three and a half tons (7,056 pounds to be exact), was used as a test of strength by royalty. According to ancient legends, anyone who could move the stone would be destined to conquer and unite the Hawaiian Islands.

A 14-year-old boy, who would later be known as King Kamehameha the Great, moved the stone and grew up to fulfill his destiny as king of the islands.

The smaller of the two is the Pinao Stone. It is thought to have guarded the entrance of ancient Pinao Temple, which once stood at the site of the Hilo Library.

I’ve never failed to be impressed at these monoliths. And no, try as I might, I have never been able to move the Naha Stone.