Vibrancy

*

 Vibrancy

 anthurium

while I am familiar

with many of the plants 

here in Kauai

because they grow at home,

the extra rainfall 

on this island

and the smaller diurnal range

of temperature

plus a milder winter

and a less intense sun

bougainvillea

make for colours that pop -

such vibrancy

this bare tree

is garlanded 

with plump yellow blooms

like pom poms

I don't know its name...

hibiscus

The mountains

in the centre

of this island
are where you find
Mt Waialeale
which is the rainiest
and the wettest spot
on the planet

spider lily

Mt Waialeale
receives 472 inches
of rainfall a year
that is 39 feet
or 12 metres

orchid

the trade winds
blowing off the ocean
keep this island
cool in summer
usually 23-29 C
or 74-85 F

terminalia

the rainfall
is more prevalent in winter
when the days
range from 18-26 C
or 65-78 F,
although the climate
is termed 'localised'
meaning
that it may rain one minute
and be sunny shortly after

red ginger

The great thing about the climate
on this island
is that if it does rain
you can drive for 10 minutes
 and be in the warm sunshine...

Oh Happy Hula Days

*

Collage Creations

*

 Collage Creations

1. The Original

  

I had some idle minutes

so made a quick collage

tearing pictures from

a tourist magazine

2. Sepia

and then I thought

I would experiment

with the simple effects

in my new mac notebook's

iphoto program

3.  The Lovers

I made simple crops 

of the lovers from South Pacific

4. Vintage colours with border

gave them an antique hue

and an oval border

5. Hawaiian Women

then I looked at the beautiful

Hawaiian girls

6. Hawaiian women with Oval border

and gave them a soft dark border

7. Bookmark

I tried a bookmark

for you Elcmae

8. Postcard in oval frame

and a blurred effect

as a postcard

9. Sands

I used the view finder technique

to find new segments

10. Postcard bold

and had a a lot of fun

and was surprised 

at how a collage can change

with cutting

and colouring

My favourite is # 6

which I have just changed...

can you tell?

Which is your favourite?

*

Missionaries and Churches

*

Missionaries and Churches

have had a great impact 

on these Hawaiian islands

regardless of whether you think 

that this is a good thing 

or a bad thing

two visible signs

of their presence remain

The Wai' oli Hui 'ia church 

in Hanalei

many many churches

The Wai 'oli Hui'ia church
was built in 1912
on the grounds of
 the mission
that was established in Hanalei
in 1834

These are for you Ellen -

glass worker extraordinaire

I love the way the green glass

represents the mountains of Kauai
and also the verdant vegetation
and taro fields of the valley -

and the blue,

the sea and sky

and secondly

the descendants of the missionaries 

have some substantial land holdings

The Wilcox Estate

Hanalei

'Kauikeolani'
is the restored home,
replete with expansive lawns and palms
and Hawaiian fishing ponds,
of Albert Wilcox and his Hawaiian wife
from whom the estate takes its name

 Albert, a sugar planter,
born in 1836
was one of the sons
of missionaries

The name Kauikeolani
means



beautiful vision that comes in early morning mist





Albert and two of his brothers
funded the Wai 'oli Hui 'ia church
featured above.

*

Hanalei Town

*

 Hanalei Town

Hanalei Town

is a funky town

 

belonging to the past

and the present

where you can't help unwind

and slip back a notch

 

 where the roosters

go for a stroll

 

down to the surf store

 

funky houses

and mossy rock walls

 

 where Kauai Green 

predominates

in both paint 

and vegetation

 

and giant puddles grow

where you can be surprised
with what you find
on the grass verge

on the walk home 

from the coffee shop

 

and be stunned

as you walk 

by the tree

next door

Oh Happy Hanalei Days

*

Wild Friends

*

Wild Friends

 

come in floral varieties

 

this one is a prickly cactus

with a beautiful flower

 

that starts out

green and curled

 

and then later

collects the rain drops

 

feral cats 

once seemed to outnumber

the human population

in Hanalei

 

but this friend

with one fawn leg

one black leg

was domesticated

and in need of company

 

and this cocky fellow

had no fear of me

and walked up to my feet

 

the grass surrounding 

the local coffee shops 

and eateries

is frequented by many 

friendly families of cardinals

 

 This photo taken by Pastor Goode

and the occasional

very proud rooster

Fine wild friends 

in Hanalei

*

Bali Hai

*

Bali Hai

 

Most people live on a lonely island,

Lost in the middle of a foggy sea.

Most people long for another island,

One where they know they will like to be.

 

Bali Ha'i may call you,

Any night, any day,
In your heart, you'll hear it call you:
"Come away...Come away."

Bali Ha'i will whisper
In the wind of the sea:
"Here am I, your special island!
Come to me, come to me!"

 

Your own special hopes

Your own special dreams

Bloom on the hillside

And shine in the streams

If you try you'll find me

Where the sky meets the sea

"Here am I, your special island

Come to me Come to me."

 

Bali Hai
Bali Hai
Bali Hai

*

Excerpt of Bali Hai from South Pacific,
Rogers and Hamerstein


*