New activity on Kilauea Volcano!

This image of Pu'u O'o was taken looking east. In the foreground is ponded lava, originating from several individual vents.

Photo: USGS

'Ilio Holo I Ka Uaua, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Monachus schauinslandi

This Hawaiian Monk Seal was resting on the rocks at Laupahoehoe Point on Saturday, June 18, 2011. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the world's rarest marine mammals. To learn more about Hawaiian Monk Seals, check out these Hawaiian Monk Seal Facts.

Photo: Warren Costa

Yellow Lehua

A blooming Yellow Ohia with emerging stamen and pistil. The skinny, yellow structures with the brown knobs are the male parts, (stamen), and the fat tubes, like the one in the center right of the image, are the female parts, (pistil).

Photo: Warren Costa

Hinahina, Geranium cuneatum, subspecies hololeucum



This hinahina is one of four native Geranium subspecies found in the Hawaiian islands. A hardy plant, hinahina is often found at the upper vegetation margins of our high mountains. The name, Hinahina, translates to "silver" in english. Hinahina has the distinction of being the world's only woody geranium.

Photo: Warren Costa

The Corpse Flower

Amorphophallus titanum, or the Corpse Flower is a rare native of Borneo. The specimen shown here, at the Panaewa Zoo in Hilo, is on loan from a private collector. I had the good fortune to be at the zoo to see it blooming, and to smell its pungent fragrance. It kind of smells like roadkill. In addition to its unique smell, the Corpse Flower also has the distinction of being the world's largest unbranched flowering plant.

Photo: Warren Costa

Tsunami Model: Japan Earthquake, March 11, 2011



Credit: “Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Prof. Takashi Furumura and Project Researcher Takuto Maeda”

New fissure between Pu'u O'o and Napau crater.

New fissure eruption SW of Pu`u `Ō `ō between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20 m into the air, above the trees.

Photo: USGS