Boat Breaks Loose From Mooring, Fire Breaks Out 2012-02-07

I am now contributing to Mauinow.com
I saw this boat that broke loose from its mooring in Lahaina this morning and got a bunch of photos of it and the Maui fire dept. fighting the fire on it. Luckily it did not explode as some of us thought that it might.









We had rough sea's and kona winds today which made it difficult for MFD to fight the fire.
Because the fire was an internal one they had to wait until the waves would rock the boat towards them so they shoot the water into the hold where the fire was.



More news here: http://mauinow.com/2012/02/07/photos-boat-breaks-loose-from-mooring-fire-breaks-out/ (more...)

Portraits of John and Wendy 2012-01-30

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http://lahainaphotography.blogspot.com/feeds/8122077667500911162/comments/default 2011-12-10

A rare and near extinct "Hylaeus assimulans" or Hawaiian yellow faced bee. I found it on the Honolua coastline. They're trying to get this on the endangered species list but the feds are dragging their feet. These guys may be gone before they do it!
Found on the Honolua coastline in an area 75 yards x 30 yards. I could not find them anyway else. There wasn't any other bees in this area either. It was flying between Ohelo Kai flowers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoomaluo/6467187381/
More info here:
http://www.xerces.org/hylaeus-assimulans/


"The biggest threat to H. assimulans is habitat loss. However, collections are so few that it is difficult to determine its precise habitat needs. Dry forest areas have been especially hard hit on the middle islands of Maui Nui and Oahu.

No known populations of H. assimulans are on protected land, with the exception of that on Kahoolawe. None are in immediate danger of destruction due to development, but all sites are highly susceptible to fire. Maintenance of remaining habitat is the highest priority. Research is needed in order to determine life history requirements, including nest sites and pollen requirements, and to search for additional populations, especially on Oahu.
Historic collections of H. assimulans are from Oahu, Maui, and Lanai; more recently it has also been taken on Kahoolawe, and it probably previously inhabited Molokai as well. No recent collections have been made from Oahu, and on the remaining islands it has been found only as few individuals from scattered sites." (more...)

Sandra and family portraits. Laniuopoku, Maui, Hawaii 2011-12-02

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This is a video slideshow of Lisa and Willem. 2011-11-08

The song is "Ka Ipo Lei Manu" - "For my cherished sweetheart"
written by Queen Kapi`olani. Sung by my friend Dennis Pavao. (more...)