Essential music out of New Zealand: Fat Freddy's Drop - The Nod

Aloha All, Up to now, my Blog has pretty much been about all things Hawaii, but I would like to share this video with you all, because, well, it's awesome! The band is called Fat Freddy's Drop. They are out of New Zealand, and they have a really unique sound - very inspiring music. Enjoy! Warren

Pacific Golden Plover or Kolea (Pluvialis fulva)

The Pacific Golden Plover, or Kolea, (Pluvialis fulva), is a migratory shorebird that arrives here in Hawaii sometime in August, then returns to its breeding grounds on the Alaskan, or Siberian tundra in late April.

The migration of the Kolea is most dramatic; a distance of about 3,000 miles in 50 or 60 hours! The Kolea fly at an elevation of about 20,000 feet probably navigating by the sun and stars.

A Hawaiian poetical saying states; Ai no ke kolea a momona hoi i Kahiki. The plover eats until fat, then returns to the land in which it came. This was said of foreigners who came to Hawaii, made money, then departed to their homeland to enjoy their wealth. Unlike greedy foreigners, however, the Kolea returns after its breeding season with gifts of seeds and spores stuck to its feathers and in its digestive track. These seeds are then sown here in Hawaii to evolve into unique Hawaiian species.

Photos: Warren Costa

Ae. Polypodium pellucidum.

Ae, or Polypodium pellucidum is an endemic fern of Hawaii. Ae is an early colonizer of lava fields, and is often found growing with Ohia, Metrosideros polymorpha, and Ohelo, Vaccinium reticulatum.

Photo: Warren Costa

Black - crowned Night - Heron. 'Auku'u. Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli.

The Black - crowned Night - Heron, or 'Auku'u is an indigenous waterbird of Hawaii. Unlike it's continental relatives, the Hawaii 'Auku'u is diurnal, that is, it comes out during the day. The 'Auku'u is often seen foraging, or waiting patiently to ambush prey in shallow wetlands.

The image of the 'Auku'u, seen above, was captured by Heather Pickard, during a recent outing with me on my Hilo Birdwatching Adventure.

Honu's First Kiss

History a Draw for Hawaii’s Big Island - Hawaii - News - TravelAge West

History a Draw for Hawaii’s Big Island - Hawaii - News - TravelAge West

The Legend of Hina and Mo'o Kuna. Conclusion.

Aloha Friends, here is the exciting conclusion of the Legend of Hina and Mo'o Kuna.

Wasting no time, Mo'o Kuna headed down the stream with Maui in hot pursuit. Often, the dragon tried to hide himself in some sheltered caves and rocks, but Maui gave him no rest. He speared him out of every cave that he entered. Soon, he dived into some of the deep pools in the river. Mo'o Kuna hoped that he at last was safely hidden. Maui was not to be thus easily fooled. He could see the ugly body far below the surface of the gloomy water. Mo'o Kuna was cornered.

High above the pool, Maui stood with his face lifted upwards toward Halemaumau. He called upon the goddess Pele to send him hot stones and molten lava. Pele heard him. She sent fiery rocks down the stream. Maui cast these into Kuna's retreat. It sent a huge column of steam far above the rim of the gorge, and also caused other nearby pools to boil. These are the Boiling Pots of today. They are sometimes found bubbling, especially when it rains.

Because Mo'o Kuna's body was covered with a tough hide, he somehow managed to crawl and drag himself out of the boiling pool. The monster was nearly exhausted, but didn't stop his flight. With a horrible shriek, he once again made his escape. Maui sent torrents of boiling water after him, scalding at last the life from his ugly body.

Then Maui, proud of his work, rolled the huge carcass down the river to a point below Rainbow Falls, within sight of his mother's home. And there the form of the dragon lies to this day, a long, black, rock island known as Mo'o Kuna. Every freshet, every heavy rain beats upon it as an everlasting punishment for plotting the death of Hawaii's goddess, Hina.

Story originally edited by Eliza K. Osorio. Photography and artwork by Warren Costa 

To visit the places mentioned in this story, take a tour with Native Guide Hawaii.