Monday, April 6, 2009

Seasonable Neighbors

Click on Photos to Enlarge!Anuenue (Ah-Neway-Neway) The Rainbow


The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.”
John Vance Cheney



Ka Iwi Coastline - A Stark & Spiritual Place


“An enchanted life has many moments when the heart is overwhelmed with beauty and the imagination is electrified by some haunting quality in the world or by a spirit or voice speaking from deep within a thing, a place, or a person. Enchantment may be”
Henry Louis Mencken




Gargantuan Child Circumnavigates Oahu Map


“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”
Elizabeth Lawrence





Even here in the middle of Earth's widest ocean, we have neighbors who are seasonal residents. Soon the humpback whales, the kolea (golden plover), and the dear Canadians (Neighboris Northis) will be returning to their winter grounds.




The Whales continued their long economic contribution to Hawaii as stars of film, TV, and tourism - which they undoubtedly enjoy more than the old days of whale hunting. The gentle Canadians too, contribute much to the economy and ecology of Waikiki. These affable creatures often return to the same nest (condo) year after year, building warm relationships with us year-rounders. Then you wake up one morning and they've taken wing!



The Kolea arrive from Alaska as skinny as homeless men, spend the winter foraging, and leave fat and happy in the Spring. Thanks for nothing, freeloaders! In Hawaiian Olelo (Sayings, Proverbs & Aphorisms) the Kolea is representative of an interloper who takes & takes without contributing to the common welfare - you know, like Wall Street bankers. . .




This Winter's theme? Whales gone wild! Our visiting cetaceans flipped, flapped and slapped the waters rather close to shore this season. Visitors to the Diamond Head Lookout, or the Lanai Lookout beside the Blow Hole by Sandy’s Beach (Ka Iwi, above) have been treated to some extra exuberant displays this winter. Glad the visitors AND the humpbacks enjoyed their Hawaii winter sojourns! The little girl in the picture above was too busy running around Oahu to notice. . .




The Canadians seemed to have a lovely time this year as well. The Kolea? Who cares? They keep to themselves. Hope you won't! Please stop by here often. E Komo Mai - You Are Most Welcome.


A L O H A! Cloudia

20 comments:

the walking man said...

So uhhh do me a favor, as I sit here in Detroit looking at two inches of fresh fallen snow...would you send your winter visitors home? It may be their return to their summer lands that spring is waiting for.

Anonymous said...

Good morning-- beautiful clouds. Hope your day is beautiful as well.

Akelamalu said...

I wish I could have seen the whales. I love the quotes today m'dear. x

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I love the quote about enchantment! 'An enchanted life ...' And the garden which is 'an enchanted place ...'

Daryl said...

Ahhhhhhhhh .. sunshine .. not here, here its RAIN

pattinase (abbott) said...

I'm with the walking man in Detroit. We do not live in paradise, that's for sure.

DT ~ RDH said...

Aloha! I so miss the beautiful rainbows of Hawai'i...
I can so clearly remember all the details of my childhood ~ I often think of walking on the red dirt and grass on days when they were burning sugarcane,trying to catch the black ashes as they drifted down...so much in my heart! I hope you have a wonderful week!

ps.I just started Alan Brennert's Honolulu and am very much enjoying it! He's such a great writer.

Lyzzydee said...

Beautiful photos as always!!!!

Travis Erwin said...

And we get migrating buzzards.

Wanna trade?

Charles Gramlich said...

Yeah, I guess, given my druthers, I'd druther be a movie star than rendered for my fat content into lamp oil

David Cranmer said...

To see a whale up close must be incredible!

Heff said...

Very nice, but you're gonna have to get rid of that "Gargantuan Child" before I think of visiting there !!!

Deborah Godin said...

That was fun! Say hello to all the Canuck snowbirds, and tell them it's not quite safe to come home yet - snowed here all day, more on the way.

Barbara Martin said...

Hawaii is definitely an enchanted place.

Cloudia said...

MANGOS
are the
mystery
Fruit
!

Thank you ALL for visiting today-
A L O H A

magiceye said...

you sure have very interesting neighbours dropping in!

Terrie Farley Moran said...

I love the whale references and had no idea that so many Canadians wintered in Hawaii.

Terrie

Junosmom said...

We have a returning visitor - a red cardinal who fights with himself in our window. Though I've tried to cover the window with paper, he still does it. He will go away again soon.

Grace Flores said...

nice photos you have..

Feisty Crone said...

I hope you are having a great week, Cloudia.