KA44

 I apologize for the lengthy delay since my last post. I have been lazy and writing stuff for other outlets. I also need help with the need to be original. This is a small island and we have explored most of it over the years. There is no need every post has to be completely original. I could probably cut and paste posts from a few years ago and no one would know the difference.

Cindy went to Poipu Beach yesterday. I went along and found an open picnic table in a shelter to protect me from the sun. We were all in our places with bright shiny faces. Cindy returned to show me the photo of turtles on the beach. This would have to be the place I would recommend for reliably photographing green sea turtles.

I noticed there was a transmitter on one turtle and also a visible identification number. Because I bring my digital devices to the beach and I am in constant contact with the world I wondered if something might be available online about this specific turtle. So, I did a search for KA44. Strangely what was returned was the NOAA site concerning turtles in Hawaii. You have to admit the search capabilities are pretty impressive. How did Google know KA44 was a turtle and I was in Hawaii? There was nothing specific to KA44 on the NOAA page, but finding the page did offer me some new options to explore.

The NOAA page was about citizen science and the annual Hona count (Hona = turtle). There was lots of interesting stuff about turtles and how NOAA gathers information about turtles from observers and relates the count to issues such as climate change. There was a link to submit new data and while I did not actually see the physical turtle and there were hundreds of other folks around taking the same photo I decided I shout fill out the form just to make certain KA44 was represented among the seen.

Here is the one thing that annoyed me about this experience. There was nothing available about "my specific" turtle. If NOAA has the data and there are folks now taking an interest in KA44, it would seem easy enough to do something with the data collected to offer some informative response, a map, last seen, anything about KA44. 

Just a suggestion in case the NOAA people read my blog.

Cottage 2024

One thing I have noticed about my photos and comments is that I typically fail to record the ordinary. A common oversight is the places we stayed. We spend most of the time in the same place - Pali Ke Kua near Princeville. However, we have not always been able to schedule that location for the entire trip  and I don’t have photos of the other place we stayed last year. We are in the same situation this year so I decided I would make certain I took photos.

This is the Waimea Plantation Cottages 

Levitating Leaf

 I have been sitting on the front porch watching this leaf off and on for the last hour. Perhaps I am too easily amused.

If you don't like the weather

 No, I am not complaining about the weather in Kauai. It is great. I am referring to the common expression "if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes."  I have heard many people say this and I thought it unlikely it could be attributed to anyone, but Mr. Google claims otherwise. If I were to be credited with saying something wise or pithy, I would prefer something with greater depth. I guess that is not how attribution works.

We are staying in Waimea and this places us close to the road leading to the Waimea Canyon overlooks. This a spectacular view and we take anyone who visits to see the sight. The wait a minute part of the phrase about the weather should have been coined here. We have been at the summit completely socked in with fog and people have left in disgust. We learned to watch the clouds and if they seem to be moving to stick around. I have a video somewhere of the fog clearing out allowing a full view of the canyon and then disappearing again within a couple of minutes. Check the archives if you are interested.

Yesterday we didn't see much, but drove part of the way to the top anyway because we are staying so close. I thought the photos were kind of artsy anyway. As always, if you want a better look at my photos, click on the one that interests you and it should enlarge.

Biomass

The amount of vegetation on Kauai has always impressed me. Except for tomatoes which we always have difficulty finding at Farmers' Markets, it must be a great place to grow crops. The challenge would be finding a plot of land as any open space is quickly inhabited. On the other hand, I feel bad for the professional gardeners and the crews who trim back the Guinea Grass by the sides of the roads. Something always needs to be pruned or pulled or picked up and removed. 

According to my quick research on the topic, the amount of growing stuff is due to its unique geographic and climatic conditions. This island’s vegetation is a direct result of its volcanic origin, which provides nutrient-rich soil. This richness is derived from the breakdown of volcanic rock, which releases essential minerals and creates a soil structure that retains both moisture and nutrients effectively. It doesn't look like Iowa soil but it must be good.

Kauai’s climate is a second factor. The island has a tropical climate, characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year. However, the most significant climatic factor contributing is its extraordinary rainfall. It rains a lot everywhere on the island. However, Mt. Waialeale, one of the wettest spots on Earth, receives an average annual rainfall of about 450 inches. This amount of precipitation ensures abundant water resources.

Here is an example.

I was walking on the beach near our cottage and I saw this plant with a long single vine snaking across the sandy soil. Freaky looking. There was an area of open ground and a plant moving quickly to take advantage.

I took a closer shot and used Plantsnap (an app on my phone) to request an identification. The common name is Beach Morning Glory.

Kalamata Olives

 

Just for the record - I did not bet someone I could write a blog post about any topic they could name. This is a legit issue in my life.

I am a big fan of olives. Kalamata olives are my favorite and I eat them with pretty much any type of meal. I found the brand of Olives I show here in Costco and have been buying them there for several years. I like the price and the large jar. At one point they had an even larger jug which I kept in the beer fridge and used it to refill the jar of this size I kept in the house.

The last few times we went to Costco in the Twin Cities I could not find my beloved olives. This sometimes happens with the big box stores because they expect providers to offer products at a low cost and pressure the providers with the potential of a big order. They also do not keep products that do not sell well to prioritize shelf space. The Kalamatas seemed a stable product and then they were gone. There is no Kirkland olive so I don't know what to think.

I come to Kauai with its high prices and limited selection and what do I find in Costco but my favorite oliove. Now I am puzzled. Should I be concerned that Costco Kauai has yet to get the memo or maybe they are just selling out their remaining stock to make room for more Spam. Should I make a return trip and purchase more bottles? So many difficult decisions. 

Hanging with the farmers

 There is always something interesting to do in Kauai even though it is a relatively small place and we have spent quite a bit of time here. Farmers' Markets are a personal favorite. I don't buy that thing about "if you ate today thank a farmer." There are farmers and then there are farmers. I knew from personal experience a little bit about hogs, cattle, and corn, but that doesn't really offer insight into what you eat or what you should eat. Farmers' markets provide a more realistic look. These folks produce the food that come directly to you. Hence, the expression farm to table. Corn, the staple of Iowa farms, comes to you in the form of meat after processing by a hog, corn syrup a nasty ingredient in too many things we eat and alcohol for consumption by your car. Riding a combine that costs more than most people's home does not provide the same insight as buying some carrots from a hippie at a market.

OK, that was a remnant of my farm background and we did have a huge garden and I did raise chickens but we ate that stuff ourselves. My point - it is just more complicated and the "thank a farmer people" are not the Hmong with their small plots outside of Minneapolis or the people who person the markets we frequent here.

The farmers' market scene in Minneapolis and on this island are different, but the vibe of small growers is still the same. We actually have gone to purchasing more from CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) for some of what we buy in Minnesota. We get a giant box of mixed produce every couple of weeks. So much stuff and so many unusual items that we have more than we can consume. Reminds me of the Costco issue. We visit the Minneapolis Market for the show.

Kauai has a market somewhere most days. I have no idea how the prices compare to Costco, but it is great fun and the people are fascinating. We went to a very small market yesterday (maybe 8 stalls), but found plenty to purchase (Cindy had to arrange the stuff to take a pretty picture.) I am not a big avocado fan, but they do taste different here, I suppose there are many varieties and what you get in the supermarket is a poor sample. The size is also impressive. Those are not small watermelons.

MN Market

Assorted interesting people found at the  Minnesota market. A brat. I know it is not a vegetable, but the brat guy is my number one reason for visiting the market. Makes me hungry just looking at my photo - a thing of beauty. 

Kama Aina (2024)

Kama Aina translates as “people of the land. I think of it as the equivalent of “locals” because in practice it includes more than the indigenous people of Hawaii. For tourists, even those of us staying several months, it also translates as “you pay full price” which can be difficult to predict in many cases until you see the bill. There can be fees you don’t expect or at least are not part of the stated price. One of my favorite Kama Aina stories is from an earlier stay on the Big Island. I frequently visited the Green Flash Coffee Shop and became familiar enough to the baristas that I was granted Kama Aina status and received the local rate. It could also have been my advanced social skills and witty humor which I expect brought in additional customers, but that is only the way I choose to remember the special treatment.

Tourists shouldn’t complain. This is a very expensive place to live for many reasons and being able to stay here is a privilege. We feel very lucky and hope others have similar opportunities at our ages. You really learn a lot about others and yourself when you travel. 

We are back in Kauai for our winter retreat and I am back writing on my Grabe Travels blog. I have little to say because of extreme jet lag and a messed up sleep cycle that caused me to wake at 4 even though I missed my nap yesterday. So, this will be short. We are staying at Waimea Plantation Cottages for a few weeks until our favorite rental in Princeville opens up.  The sun just came up, but it looks like a very interesting place and I will have more to describe after I have had more coffee and had a chance to look around a bit.

Oh ya - ALOHA