Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Arrived in Honolulu yesterday afternoon.  This morning we walked the esplanade from Waikiki Beach to Kapiolani  Park where we enjoyed a great view of Diamondhead.  We enjoyed walking beneath the banyan trees. We found several birds that were new to me, the Java sparrow, waxbill, red-crested Cardinal, etc.  Cowboy Joe tailgate here at the Marriott before the game.  Perfect weather, perfect day, all except the final score!

Haleakala National Park, Maui

Today we got an early start driving from Kahana to Haleakala National Park where we took a 3 mile hike with a wonderful native naturalist guide on a Nature Conservancy easement at Hosmer's Grove.  We saw native flora and fauna including the apapane, amakihi and I'iwi.  We enjoyed seeing the endangered Hawaiian goose, the nene, as well.  After the hike we drove to the summit to see the crater and also the Silversword plant.  Saw chukars in the visitor center parking lot, too.  Tomorrow we fly to Honolulu for the football game.  Have really enjoyed our time here in Maui.

Maui, Hawaii

Arrived in Maui the afternoon of the fourth, guess I have been on Island Time.  We took the road to Hana on the fifth, and enjoyed the lush tropical vegetation with waterfalls along the way.  We stopped and hiked to Twin Falls where we saw Palm trees, banana trees, and many beautiful flowers along the way.  Tuesday we visited Kilea Ponds and walked the boardwalk and swam in the Pacific Ocean.  Yesterday we visited Kilea Ponds National Wildlife Refuge where we saw the Hawaiian Stilt and the Hawaiian coot along with shorebirds, herons and egrets.  In the afternoon we visited the Maleea Harbor and the Maui Ocean Center there.  Wonderful exhibits with brightly colored reef fish, green sea turtles etc.  Today we took the Four Winds to Molokini Crater where we snorkeled and saw the fish in their natural habitat.  We also saw the Great Frigatebirds that feed on the Shearwater chicks nesting on the other side of the Sanctuary.  Saw Green Sea Turtles in the ocean on the way back to the Bay.