Found on all continents except Antarctica, and regularly seen on all Hawaiian islands, the common barn owl is often confused with Hawaii’s smaller-sized native short-eared owl, pueo. But barn owls are light in color. They are most active during dusk and nightfall. Their white face is more heart-shaped than pueo’s. Nesting preferably in the holl...
The Kona Coast has much more to offer beyond its rocky appearance. At first glance, you may feel like you’ve landed on the moon and many visitors see little beyond Ali’i Drive and their hotel pools. But for the adventure traveler seeking an authentic experience, the Kona coast has an abundance of tucked away beaches, a breathtaking dormant volc...
The weather on July 8th at Pu’u Wa’awa’a was a comfortable temperature with a light breeze and shining sun. Ideal conditions for tree planting!...
What happens when Hawaii’s top scientists, cultural advisors, students, and business leaders gather at the University of Hawaii at Hilo for three days?
The 23rd Annual Hawaii Conservation Conference offered a place for these stakeholders to congregate and collaborate. Results included passionate conversations about slugs, ohia wilt, lunar cale...
Yesterday's Google Trekker mission took us to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. KAHO, as it's known in NPS acronym jargon, is a real jewel amidst the developed setting of North Kona. Bordered by Honokohau Harbor to the south, the busy Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. and Kaloko Light Industrial to the east, the new Shores at Kohonaiki golf course resort...
Sunday we finally got out with the Google Trekker and collected data! Â Our first Trekker outing was to to Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. Â We started from the Visitor Center then hiked the 1871 trail to the boundary of the park at Kiilae. Â It was hot with the 43 pound pack but lots of fun. Â We had the trail to ourselves until near t...
To most folks, wiliwili trees don’t look like much. Most of the year, they look half dead with a sprinkling of leaves scattered atop an otherwise empty crown. Thankfully, the good folks at the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative understand that Hawaii’s native wiliwili trees, Erythrina sandwicensis, along with other key trees, shrubs and plants...
Why is Rob Pacheco, Hawaii Forest & Trail president and founder, carrying a blue soccer ball on top of his backpack? Because he's super excited about the World Cup next year!
Nah, just kidding. The truth is way cooler than the World Cup....
Kamehameha had inherited the longstanding feud with Maui that had already existed at the time of his birth. After 1791, Maui’s ruling chief, Kahekili, fiercely contested Kamehameha’s rulership. One day, when Kamehameha was at work to secure peace at Laupahoehoe on the east side of the island, rumors reached him that Kahekili had sent an army to...
Who hasn’t heard the name? The story of King Kamehameha infuses the legends of Hawaii. Each year, on June 11, Hawaii celebrates Kamehameha’s birthday with colorful parades and flower lei. But while we all agree that this fierce leader unified the islands under his rule, in 1810, few today will ever really know the entire story of his life, espe...
With its complex, melodious warble and loud chatter call, mostly olive-green feathered, and just six inches in size, red-billed leiothrix is a pretty and attractive bird. You can’t miss its bright-yellow throat, its bright-red bill, the colored edges of its wings, maybe even the yellowish ring around its eyes. It’s sometimes called Peking (Peki...
Found on all continents except Antarctica, and regularly seen on all Hawaiian islands, the common barn owl is often confused with Hawaii’s smaller-sized native short-eared owl, pueo. But barn owls are light in color. They are most active during dusk and nightfall. Their white face is more heart-shaped than pueo’s. Nesting preferably in the holl...
