Only love . . .

"I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

Martin Luther King Jr

Lessons from nature

Amanita muscaria reminds us that all that glitters is not gold.

Savoring the taste of Kona

While hunting through photo files for a specific image I came across memories from the Big Island. This ripe palm caught my eye. Unlike most fruiting plants, mature coconut trees produce their fruits year-round rather than in one specific season. We were there in January. Immature fruit is harvested for its fibrous husks, which are used for making mats, brooms and brushes, while mature fruit is harvested for its nutritious white meat, called copra, which is used in baking and cooking. This shot was taken in the parking lot of the outfitter we hired to take us offshore to swim with spinner dolphins.

There are strict rules about not touching (hands at your sides), but if you are dropped off in the right place these promiscuous little creatures will absorb you into their pod to swim along as long as you can keep up. Spinners sleep only half of their brain at a time while they "hold hands" with a partner, allowing for each to rest the side of the brain that is touching while the outside fins navigate them together. No wonder they launch out of the water and spin. That and they have lots of sex.

Moonset over Oahu

From Molokai's west side, my first moonset, the smallest full moon to slip from 2014 sky.

Gecko gazing

Gold dust day gecko (gets its name from the yellow spots on its neck) is an unusual creature that will grow a new tail if needed. Because they don't have lids their long tongue lubes their eyes. They are quarrelsome (note the scrape between the eyes of this one), they chirp, and they can turn on and off at will rows of what looks like light-colored tire tread on the bottoms of their feet that allow them to walk on vertical and on the underside of horizontal surfaces, even glass. 

Hawaiian rainbows

Because of the prevailing winds the Hawaiian islands are known to have a sunny spot a mile up the road from a downpour. Wherever there is rain and sun at the same time, there is always a rainbow.

Molokai rainbows are a daily occurrence. Most are double. Some light the sky like a call from some pot-of-gold heaven just over the horizon.

Some are quiet like the hillsides and the people in Molokai.