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.All Trips / Hawaii / North America
Wahiawa Botanical Garden, Oahu
I’m fond of exploring parks and libraries in the cities I visit, for different reasons. Libraries are fun because I love and collect books, and because the quality of a city’s libraries tells me a lot about that city’s priorities. Parks are places of escape, especially appealing in largest busiest cities because I quickly tire of wall-to-wall concrete. An oasis of green is an amazing balm for the soul.
While visiting Oahu recently we stopped by the Wahiawa Botanical Garden situated in a small town on the outskirts of Honolulu (and a convenient stop on the way to the Dole Plantation or the North Shore). It’s one of five small parks under the supervision of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens and is …
Tagged garden, Hawaii, Oahu, Wahiawa Botanical Garden
.All Trips / Hawaii / North America
Signs of Waikiki
There’s a lot you can tell about a city simply by looking at small things, like its signage or public art. Every city has unique and interesting shops and landmarks that add to its personality.
Today I’d like to share with you some of the signage and street art we saw in Waikiki Beach on a recent visit. Waikiki is a fairly unique place. Almost exclusively catering to tourists, the facilities and services are aimed at its thousands of visitors. Still, you’ll see some of Honolulu’s many citizens enjoying the sand on the beach, or having dinner at one of the restaurants, or walking by the beach. Surfing and paddle-boarding are especially popular because of how sweet the waves are as they break on the coral reef …
“Pic of the Week”, December 19, 2014: Ferns, Hawaii
The vegetation around the Visitor’s Center in Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island is in a cool tropical rainforest. Situated at 4000′ above sea level (1220m) there’s a lush growth here including ferns of several varieties. Some ferns are only inches tall, struggling for survival in the volcanic rock. Others are up to 35 ft (10 m) in height, the size of a small tree.
While walking to the visitor center, I came across a thick patch of ferns, one of the larger ones including a lot of new growth that we in Canada like to call “fiddleheads”. I’m not sure about this variety, but fiddleheads can make excellent eating. Regardless of their culinary value, I’m fond of walking in forests rich in …
Dec 18, 2014
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.All Trips / Hawaii / North America
Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, Redux
I’m a huge fan of National Parks, and one of the most amazing parks anywhere is Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island. When you visit, you’ll know why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site! I’ve previously shared some of my experiences here, which you can read at this link if you’re interested.
I recently revisited Volcanoes NP (something about the volcano draws me back again and again). Kilauea is still active, currently only to a limited extent within the park boundaries itself, although this could change at any time as volcanoes are notoriously unpredictable. Where Kileau’s lava flows are most active right now is outside the park in the southwestern part of the island …
Tagged Big Island, Hawaii, lava, UNESCO World Heritage Site, volcano
.All Trips / Hawaii / North America
Hapuna Beach Prince Resort, Hawaii
One of my favorite places to travel is the Big Island of Hawaii. Where else can you find the tallest mountains in the world, the most active volcano in the world, and a surreal landscape of lava flows, desert vegetation, coffee plantations and tropical jungle? The Big Island and its welcoming, friendly people never cease to amaze me.
I try to visit or attend medical meetings on the island whenever feasible. One of the meetings I enjoy and learn a lot from is held regularly at a wonderful resort known as the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. This resort was opened on the Kohala coast (rainshadow side of the island) 20 years ago, twinned with the Mauna Kea Resort on …
Tagged beach, Big Island, Hapuna Beach, Hawaii, resort
.All Trips / Hawaii / North America / Travel Talk
Coping with Hurricana Ana, Kauai
It’s not every day a traveler has to deal with a hurricane — especially when vacationing in the South Pacific. My first brushes with one were exciting in a way, but tedious in most respects.
I’ve experienced a number of “natural disasters” in my life, ranging from significant earthquakes while living in California to brush fires that were close to our home. And, of course, Canada is known for its blizzards and severe cold weather. But I’ve never had to deal with extremes of tropical weather before.
While attending a medical meeting on the Big Island of Hawaii, I became aware that tropical storm Ana was forming and gaining strength hundreds of miles southeast of the Big Island and moving on a …
Tagged Hurricana Ana, Hurricane, Kuaui, Pacific Ocean, Tropical storm
“Pic of the Week”. May 16, 2014: Honolulu, viewed from Diamond Head State Monument
As most everyone knows, the Hawaiian Islands exist because of land created by volcanic activity. The newest of the islands, the Big Island, is the only one still showing active volcanoes but on the rest you’ll find remnants of that activity.
Diamond Head State Monument on Oaha, adjoining Honolulu, is a dormant and partially collapsed volcanic crater. Used by the U.S. Military during the second World War for the strategic position and great views it provides, it’s now an interesting state park. You can hike up the crater, including a portion through a rather long tunnel, and besides seeing some of the residua of its days as a military post, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of Honolulu as did …
May 14, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”, Sept. 13, 2013. Volcanoes National Park, Big Island of Hawaii
I love visiting the Big Island — it’s such an awesome destination! Where else can you walk on the tallest mountain in the world (Mauna Kea, as measured from it’s base on the ocean floor) and watch lava flow from an active volcano (Kilauea), all in one day?
This photo was taken in Volcanoes National Park on the Chain of Craters road. Over the years lava flows have completely obstructed what once was a loop drive, but it’s still very interesting to see. Park near the end of the road and walk out on to the hardened lava shield for a great view — Pacific Ocean on one side, and endless acres of recent lava on the other.
I love …
