Lava tide from fissure 8 almost completely fills the Kapoho Bay

Kapoho Bay before the Kilauea eruption. Source: Google Maps

Kapoho Bay completely filled by lava on the morning of June 5, 2018. Source : USGS

Images from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) show that lava tide from fissure 8  has completely filled the beloved Kapoho Bay and destroyed homes in greater part of the Vacation Land.

The destructive fissure 8 flow entered the ocean at approximately 10:30 p.m. Sunday evening to produce a delta that began to fill in Kapoho Bay in lower Puna. According to Jim Kauahikaua of the USGS, the bay already was halfway filled in by noon Monday, and the flow reached the north side of the bay, where Champagne Ponds is located, by Monday evening.

It is estimated that a total of159 homes were destroyed till now, which includes 42 homes recently destroyed in Kapoho Bay.

Janet Babb, the spokeswoman for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said more than 20 square kilometers, or 5,000 acres, have been covered by lava since the eruption in the lower East Rift Zone began May 3.

The ocean entry of  fissure 8 lava is about half a mile wide in some places,  contributing to the high amount of lava haze called laze. Laze contains high amounts of hydrochloric acid along with tiny fragments of volcanic glass which can cause skin and eye irritation and difficulty in breathing. 

Big Island has experienced more than 12,000 earthquakes since the Kilauea started spewing lava about a month back.

Here are some of the recent aerial photographs of Kapoho Bay and Kilauea

HVO scientists captured this aerial view of a much-changed Halema‘uma‘u during their overflight of the summit this afternoon. Explosions and collapse within Halema‘uma‘u have enlarged the crater (foreground) that previously hosted the summit lava lake, and the far rim of Halema‘uma‘u has dropped with continued summit deflation. The parking area for the former Halema‘uma‘u Overlook (closed since early 2008 due to volcanic hazards) can be seen to the left of the crater.

Morning view of Halema‘uma‘u and the adjacent caldera floor from the Kīlauea overlook. Heavy steam dominates the view, and strong winds are blowing the plume to the southwest.

Lantern Floating Ceremony on Memorial Day on Oʻahu’s south shore

 Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Every year on Memorial Day, around 50,000 people gather on the south shore of Oahu in Honolulu to pay homage and tribute to veterans and honoring the loved ones who have gone before us. It an event that signifies remembrance, reflection, and offering gratitude to our family and friends who are no longer with us on this earthly journey.

The event is also live streamed and telecast to be watched by thousands around the world as 

People float special lanterns that are inscribed by hand with prayers and personal messages.

The ceremony starts with the opening of the iconic Hawaiian shell trumpet, or kani pū, followed by Japanese taiko, the ceremony then involves a chant, or oli, which calls in six large Parent Lanterns offering prayers and gratitude. And so on, this wave pattern continues.

People line up early morning at the Ala Moana beach to gather the personal lanterns that are offered free of charge on Memorial Day morning. The lantern distribution starts at 7 AM and continues till the supply lasts. You can then hand write your own special prayers and messages of remembrance on the paper provided and then float the lantern in the ceremony at sunset.

The making of lanterns

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

If you cannot be personally present or choose not to float an individual lantern, you may place your remembrances on the original handcrafted wooden-frame Collective Remembrance Lanterns that will be floated from the canoes or from shore by volunteers.

You may visit the Shinnyo-en Hawaii temple located at 2348 S. Beretania ahead of the actual ceremony to write your remembrances on special paper that will be placed onto a Collective Remembrance Lantern.

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Collective remembrances will also be accepted at the beach on the ceremony day from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m at the Collective Remembrance Tent located next to the Lantern Request Tent.

Hawaii Convention Center provides a free parking for all those who are participating in the ceremony from 7:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m. with a complimentary shuttle and special transport for the physically disabled.

The shuttle runs from the Hawaii Convention Center to Ala Moana Beach from 3:00-6:15 p.m. and then back to the Hawaii Convention Center after the ceremony through 9:30 p.m.

May you take time to pause in remembrance and gratitude for your loved ones creating a moment of harmony and hope amid diversity.

Visit the Lantern Floating Hawaii website for more details and how to submit your messages and for information about live streaming of the ceremony.

A perfect morning in Honolulu

Row of Palms at the beginning of Ala Moana park

Hawai‘i is one of the most stunning places in the world and even a simple morning walk is enough to fill you with joy and positivity. Today was a perfect day after experiencing hot, humid and Vog weather  for 7 days. The breezy happy trade winds were back, with low clouds coming in from mauka side The Sun was shining bright and I just could not sit indoor.

So, I had my Sunblock on, picked my cycle and went out to enjoy the bright, beautiful morning in lap of nature. It was breezy, lush, the temperature was idyllic to enjoy a perfect ride in this tropical paradise.

I headed straight to ABC store in Ala Moana Mall to have a cup of Kona Coffee to make my morning more enjoyable.

The Ala Moana Park was packed with people who were also out like me to enjoy morning walk. I had most wonderful time to paddle leisurely and got some beautiful photos I am sharing with you all.

Capturing the morning shadows

Sleep, Nothing can equate it and you don't need a costly bed to enjoy it. 

Natural Arch

Love these 3 pictures with bright, red Gulmohar flowers framing the frame.

It's about to rain 

Three friends on beach 

Let's talk 

Enjoying the morning at evening of life. An old women enjoying the solitude 

The winding path 

The winding path 

Bench to have breakfast on the beach 

The shot is ready 

A Visit to Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden: Connect with Nature, Connect with yourself

Nestled beneath the majestic Ko’olau mountains lies picturesque, lush, verdant 400-acre rainforest garden and flood-control facility that is home to many plants from tropical regions across the globe.

Jon Hennington, public information officer for the Department of Parks and Recreation said, “You can walk around the world in a couple of miles. Ho'omaluhia is a place to connect with nature, with the beauty of the place, and it's also a place where you can connect with yourself."

"Ho'omaluhia" means "to create peace and tranquility". The garden is only 2 miles from Kaneohe and provide a place to relax, away from freeway noises and mundane routine of day to day city life. It provides many facilities like guided nature walks, camping, hiking trails, botanical drawing and painting, art exhibits, fishing and a keiki fishing derby and a preschool nature hour.

The garden has many plants that are native to Hawaii and is not found anywhere else on the island of Oahu and also from other tropical areas of world like Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Melanesia, and Polynesia amounting to 2,683 types of plants.

Each plant has an interesting story about how it found a place in the garden. Some are native to the island, some are donated or exchanged and others arrived in a canoe with the early Polynesian settlers.

                                                          Buy Hawaiian plants here

loko waimaluhia

loko waimaluhia

loko waimaluhia

Wild life at the lake. 

Connect with Nature 

There is also a 32-acre freshwater, flood-control lake named "loko waimaluhia," which means "peaceful freshwater" and is home to many of Hawaii’s endangered wildlife Hawaiian coot, ducks, egrets, turtles, bullfrogs, dragonflies, mongoose and a variety of fish.

Kapani Wai: A dam for flood control 

Information about vanishing freshwater wildlife 

The garden and the lake was built in 1981 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect people of Kaneohe from floods that destroyed their home, property and lives in 1965 and 1969. Construction began in 1976 and was completed in 1980.

The lake collects water from many small streams which pour down the Ko’olau mountians, mainly Kamo’oahli’i stream  and prevent sudden flooding of Kaneohe area. During rains, the excess water can be diverted to other side of lake so that the level is maintained at 152 feet.

The garden gets about 165,000 visitors a year varying from few 100 on weekdays to 1000 on weekends. It is also famous for group activities it offers and people come in groups from churches, schools, community groups, boy scouts, girl scouts and the YMCA.

It is also the youngest but largest of five botanical garden on the island of O’ahu. The others are Foster Botanical Garden, Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden, Koko Crater Botanical Garden and Wahi'awa Botanical Garden.

Hours

Open daily from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm except Christmas Day (December 25) and Closed New Years Day (January 1).

Location

45-680 Luluku Rd. Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi 96744

Group Activities at the Garden:

Several  group activities are offered at the park to increase environmental awareness and create a love for nature.

Fishing

Saturdays & Sundays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

This catch-and-release program is fun for the whole family.   The garden provides bamboo poles with barbless hooks and you bring the bait -fresh white bread works great!   You may also bring your own poles with barbless hooks.  Fish commonly seen: tilapia and midas cichlid.

• Please check in at the Visitor Center.   It is a 20-minute walk to the fishing area.
• Bamboo poles may be borrowed from 9:30 am until 1:00 pm, on a first come, first served basis.
• No casting allowed
• Recommended: walking shoes, insect repellent, rain gear
• Please call 808-233-7323 for more information

Drawing & Painting

Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

You can  paint and draw the wonderful plant life and scenery of our largest botanical garden with others in this self-directed opportunity! Plants, flowers and seeds are provided from this rainforest garden. Bring your supplies; watercolors, pencils, and paper. Some art experience is helpful.

No fee required. Call 808-233-7323 for more information. 

Camping

9:00 am Friday through 4:00 pm Monday

Camping within the garden is a wonderful natural experience for families, individuals and groups.

Find and Reserve a Campsite

Nature Hike
A two-hour nature hike is offered only on Saturdays,  courtesy of the City and County of Honolulu.

Some beautiful pictures of the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden.

Tranquil and peaceful 

Let's  eat 

shades of green 

The chocolate tree 

Hawaii is famous for authentic, gourmet chocolates and truffles made for locally sourced  Cacao trees. You can  Buy authentic Gourmet Hawaiian Chocolate here 

Flood control dam 

Hawaiian Taro 

Water color paintings at the garden 

Water color paintings at the garden 

Water color paintings at the garden 

Roots of Hala tree 

Sealing Wax Palm

Majestic Bromeliads 

Heliconia 

Heliconia 

Heliconia 

Heliconia 

Every tree is a work of art in Hawaii 

The buttress roots

The buttress roots

Barbed tree trunk 

Panama Flame Tree, Rose of Venezuela 

Panama Flame Tree, Rose of Venezuela bud

The candle tree

Hawaiian Ti leaves 

Buttress root