The Big Island, Sixty-Five
The birds, the turtles, the flowers, the fruits--
and it is as warm as the desert with a sea breeze!
Sea Tortoise
The Green Tortoise or honu, as it is known in Hawaii, can weigh up to 400 pounds. A visit with a tortoise can be very memorable if you show it respect. There are a couple of signs to watch for when near a sea tortoise that signal you are too close or within its comfort zone. "Yawning"--open mouth movements by the turtle is one. A sign of deeper irritation is a "flipper swipe"--this is turtle-talk equal to flipping you off! Back off if that flipper creeps up.
Generally, only female sea tortoises leave the ocean after entering it as hatchlings. But in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands both female and male tortoises crawl onto the beaches and lie motionless in the sunlight for hours. The tortoises may just be basking in the sun to increase their body temperature, or they may be avoiding tiger sharks.
Birds of Paradise
Red-Crested Cardinal
Purple Hibiscus
Fruit staight from the tree!
Papaya trees are found all over the island and if you are lucky you will find someone selling the fruit on the side of the road!
Hawai'i Volcanoes
Thurston Lava Tubes
These lighted prehistoric cavelike lava tubes await you once you walk though a tree fern forest and cross over a bridge. It is only 1/3 of a mile walk and if you listen you will hear the birds and if you are lucky you may see a Red Apapane feeding on the equally Red Ohi'a blooms, if they are in bloom.
The lava tube was discovered in 1913 by a local newspaper publisher, Lorrin Thurston. Walking through the tube consider that several hundred years ago a river of red hot lava rushed though this very space you now occupy.
Wild Orchids Sulphur Banks
You can smell the sulphur in the air and there is a visitor alert: high amounts of sulfur dioxide gas may be present in areas of the park. There are a number of plants growing close to vents, including the beautiful Wild Orchids. It is amazing that these plants grow quite well in this extremely hostile environment.
Akaka Falls
Akaka Falls State Park, Hawaii Island
(442 feet)
Following the footpath, you first see Kahuna Falls (100 feet) but as you continue to follow the loop around the hills, up and down, the bends and the turns though the lush rainforest filled with orchids, bamboo groves and draping ferns, you will see the towering Akaka Falls which falls 442-feet into a stream-eroded gorge.
This beautiful falls is perhaps Hawaii Island's most famous waterfalls.
American Chameleon
Scientists suggest that light, temperature and mood are what cause the chameleon to change color. Sometimes changing colors can make the chameleon more comfortable.
Chameleons have specialized feet, allowing them to grip tightly onto narrow or rough branches or surfaces.
This guy was using his happy feet to climb and explore the recycle bin!
I'm off!
(Copyright 2015)
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