June 16, 2016 (Post)
This blog is dedicated to my sister who loves to hike and who has been my most frequent houseguest in Hawai’i! It is also dedicated to a dear teaching friend and partner with whom I worked for years.
 |
| Nesting Laysan Albatross / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
She was a great mentor and is still a great friend. She first taught me about this hike, and the environmentally important treasures found there. She also got me involved in sharing such natural experiences with our students.
Although the photos are from December 26, 2014, I have been meaning to use these Kaena Point photos for a long time. They are too wonderful to not share. As Hallmark will soon promote, let us just say it is “Christmas in July;” although it is not quite July yet.
 |
| Monk seal, on the way out / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
 |
| Ohai, bush/ Kaena Point / December 2014 |
December was obviously a wonderful time to go, but the hike is always beautiful. If you go in summer, be especially careful as the hike is very hot. You must take a lot of water, lots of sunscreen, and a hat!
For me, the greatest attraction of this hike has always been to see the two species whose existence is threatened, the Laysan Albatross and the ohai plant.
 |
| Laysan Albatross sign/ Kaena Point / December 2014 |
 |
| Laysan Albatross, flying / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
The modifications to the trail have helped the species there. Until hiking in 2014, I didn’t realize it would be a good place to also see the threatened Monk Seal too!
 |
| Monk seals, at the point / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
 |
| Monk seals, at the point / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
One of the threatened species is on the endangered species list, the ohai. The ohai is a lovely looking symmetrical plant with a pea-shaped flower. Information about the plant
 |
| Ohai, bush/ Kaena Point / December 2014 |
 |
| Ohai, flower / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
[Note: As always I am continuously learning because as I did research I found there are many more endangered plants on the trail for which I should be looking!]
For me, the best threatened species to see at Kaena Point is the beautiful, sedate, and powerful Laysan Albatross.
 |
| Laysan Albatross, on nest / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
The birds remain in place when you walk by because, like the penguin, they normally have no upright predators. When we took the hike in December, the birds were nesting.
 |
| Laysan Albatross, looking / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
 |
| Laysan Albatrosses, on nests / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
Unfortunately recently, the Laysan Albatross’s trust led to the death of some of the birds. Why would anyone do that? I am so sad and sickened when I think about the deaths of those beautiful and endangered birds!
Note: if you want to see the Laysan Albatross, you must go in the winter months.
 |
| Laysan Albatross, on nest / Kaena Point / December 2014 |
So hopefully over the summer you can “watch out for nature” and see some of the threatened species or at least some Hawai’i native plants or animals!
No comments:
Post a Comment