Wiliwili Update

As noted yesterday, while driving past the native wiliwilis near Waikoloa and in Kaupulehu, near Puuwaawaaa Ranch, they looked remarkably good, considering the fact that the State has announced that they're DOOMED to extinction from a nasty little wasp. Anyway, even from medium close they don't look that bad.

Up close, however, the damage is clear: The "galls" from the gallwasps are pretty ugly. But the natives appear to be more resistant than the Indian Corals at Keauhou, which have few if any normal leaves. The natives had 50% or maybe more normal leaves. "Resist!"

Kona's Native Hawaiian Flowers - Puakala

Just a few miles from Waimea along the upper road to Kona I found this patch of Puakala, the native poppy. Pua=flower, Kala="rough" as skin of Kala(Unicorn) fish. The scientific name is Argemone glauca. Note also the baby a'ali'i left front and center. The few days of rain we've had (in contrast to the rest of the state, which has had lots more) have brought the arid parts of the island to life. Even the wiliwilis at Waikoloa and Kaupulehu looked very good. Amazingly good. Is someone treating them? I'm pretty sure that the answer's "no" as regards the Ka'upulehu plants. I'll try for a closer inspection tomorrow.
The flower.

















The new growth is pretty cool too. The fat pods are going to be flowers.

Hiking in Kona - Scenic Lookout on the upper road.

Eleven miles or so from Kailua, on the upper road between Kailua and Waimea, is a scenic lookout, announced with pretty blue signs. There is good, relatively easy hiking on either the makai (ocean) or mauka (mountain) side of the highway. However, on the mauka side, there is a fence. The fence has been accordianed, and is easy to get over (just to the south of the south end of the lookout), but it is a fence. On the makai side, however, there is no fence.



The easiest way to access the hike (there is no trail) is to go over the rail at the far southern end of the lookout, between the end of the concrete barrier and the power pole. Go down the little embankment, turn left and walk along the retaining wall until you've crossed the lava channel. Then proceed downhill. There is no trail, but the lava along the rim of the channel is wonderfully smooth pahoehoe and is easy to walk on if you follow the simple rules of walking on lava: 1. Always, always watch where you are putting your foot; and 2. Concentrate on observing rule 1.

The hike features lots of intricate and cool lava formations, and, when we've had rain, lehua blossoms on the ohia trees. When the weather is clear (not today) you'll have a view of the coast from Kona airport to North Kohala and also Maui.

Kona's Native Hawaiian Flowers - U'ulei

U'ulei, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, is the indigenous Hawaiian member of the rose family. This plant is in the Ka'upulehu native plant enclosure next to the mauka road between Kailua and Waimea, in the makai/ka'u corner. The recent rains have the U'lei and Alahe'e blossoming already, and the A'ali'i is ready.






The plant isn't exactly a bush or tree. The branches grow long, curving and sprawling.
It is the actual Hawaiian rose, though.