Well how about that.  I managed a crude collage!  These are some of the flowers we saw on Molokai

Driving west now and the hillside so evidently shows the difference in moisture once you leave the east "rain forest" end of the island.  This was a picturesque private bay that begged to be photographed. 

 

This view is on top after coming out of the rain forest.  I also did a 360 degree video of this area but the wind was terrible and would not have been pleasant to post viewers.  If it weren't so cloudy you could see Maui across the channel.

This was also right along side of the road in the rain forest as the drop of rain on the lens attests to.

I don't know the name of this tree but it was very unique to us with those roots along the ground standing up like that.  We spotted it right along the road as we were driving back from the Halawa Bay.  Still in the rain forest end of the island

Hula exercise classes

This is taking place in the cabana at the Wavecrest Resort.
The 'music' is really just rhythm to do the hula moves in time to. Most seem to be doing exercize but the lady front left is gracefully using her whole body in concert. She is probably getting the most complete benefit.

Halowa Bay

This beautiful little bay is the end of the road and a wonderful place for swimming or getting a sunburn. To the left is the Halawa Valley and steep mountain with a gorgeous waterfall. I know because I've seen pictures. Not because we saw it ourselves. You can hike up to the base of the falls on your own or with a guide, but the weather this day was far from conducive for that. Too bad because that is something I would really have enjoyed and oh the pictures I could have gotten.

The 'jam session' at the Hotel Molekai

If you've seen video of these folks playing their instruments on the web this isn't a very good comparison. But it is mine, and reminder that we were THERE, experiencing it for our selves. I also did a video of a woman doing the hula. She was not young, thin and sexy but she was so graceful and it was a pleasure to watch. The video was too long... 2:00 minutes and I don't think it will upload here.

I suppose this little video of the waves could have been from any shoreline. But it is from Molokai Hawaii and makes it special to us. I must apologize for the sound of the wind across the mic - it sounds ferocious and was pretty strong, but we encountered worse winds on this trip.  After this we did learn about the high and low tides, to a degree. There are two high tides and two low tides every 24 hr. period.

We were particularly noticing the low tide at the condo where it is only a 'fish pond' rather than the waves that reach that shore, still the water level at the shore raises and lowers with the tide.

After a stop at "Coffees of Hawaii" we went to this nut farm (always knew that's where we'd end up). Just made it actually because the lady was just about to close. She is the sister of the owner and very nice, very knowledgeable. I took some video of the little talk she gives in explanation of the operation and the characteristics of the trees, but I know it would be too long to try to upload. The trees don't produce for the first 10 years of their lives but after that they are constantly producing with nuts in every stage of development from flower to mature fruit at the same time. They were delicious. She opened some for us and Bill got his chance to open some as well. He preferred the roasted ones but I liked them best raw.

We had a very interesting time at the old sugar cane mill and museum which we visited on the same day we went to the Kalaupapa overlook. The mill was built and operated by the man who was played by Kris Kristopherson in the movie about Father Damien and the leper colony he started on the peninsula.

The reclining stone in the picture is a birthing stone. Fortunately mats were placed on the stone before the mother would lie down. The small stone at the side is a god to whom they prayed for a safe delivery and healthy baby. The plant on its right is sugar cane.

I'm afraid I don't know much about posting on this blog. I get things arranged the way I want, even with multiple photos and commentary, check the preview and finding it acceptable I "publish" the post. But the post that appears on the blog does not look like what I just approved. Frustrating! So until I learn more I will do one photo at a time.

Vacation Time

On the right is the "pali" (cliff) and most of the peninsula of Kalaupapa. It was the Leper Colony established in the 1800s by Father Damien. Quite a story about the early days of the colony in the book "Molokai". It is so very good. While we were on the island there was so much rain that the only trail and a bridge down to the peninsula got flooded out. That trail is only for walkers and mules - no vehicle can traverse it. Otherwise the only access is by plane or boat.