Haleakala National Park - Hosmer Grove

Located near the park entrance Hosmer's Grove was planted in 1910 as an experiment to see which variety of tree would grow best in Hawaii. tree's from all over the world were planted. The short nature walk has small signs naming the trees and where they originate from. There is a small camp ground with picnic table's, grills and tent spaces. In addition there is a 3 sided covered structure with 2 picnic tables for less than ideal weather. Our family thinks this structure should have our name on it as we always arrive to find it empty and waiting for us :)
This afternoon our friends from Germany accompanied us. Hamburgers grilled on a small weber , Potato salad, watermelon, and fruit salad. It was a wonderful afternoon. Our friends proceeded up to the summit for the evening sunset. We feel so fortunate to have this National Park in our back yard.

Summer is beach time

Beautiful days on Maui. For people, dogs and the birds :)

Summer on Maui

Summer is here! Trades blowing a steady 20 mph or highter, NO rain for quite a while. Temps in the high 80's and dropping to high 60's at night. The ocean has been beautiful. How lucky we are to live on Maui!

Arizona in April

I was gone most of April. Had a great time in Prescott Arizona. It was beautiful weather. Sunny but in the 30's in the morning and warming up to light jacket weather in the afternoon. Toured and saw Montezuma's well and another Nearby Anasazi ruin "tuizicoot" sp? It had amazing walls perched on a hill overlooking the Verde river and the snow capped Mingus Mountains in the distance. Breakfast in charming Jerome. Hiked in the Dells. Taught some riding lessons. Trailer to Phoenix to the Vet. Went to Prescott's museum which was very interesting and the time flew by there. Target shooting out on the range with Annie Oakley and Dead eye. A day of fishing on Lake Pleasant. Zooming across the lake, wind in your hair was fun. Of course everyone was in t-shirts and shorts except for me in long johns, jeans, turtle neck and a vest. It was cold for a Hawaiian! We came across a island where the blue herons were nesting. We emptied the cooler out in the grass that afternoon and the ice didn't melt. Hello I was not imagining the cold! Thunder tolerated giving me a driving lesson. Wait not over the side of the arena! Movies, Italian resturant,good food and most importantly good friends. I had a great time visiting everyone.

Beautiful Spring Day

The Surf is rolling in on the North Shore of Maui. Honolua was crowded. The photo is just a little more north by Windmills on West Maui.

Roosters and Hens

A few years ago the Maui County counsel passed a resolution that no more roosters and chickens could be kept in residential areas. Hawaii has a long tradition of fighting cocks. The little A framed coops "crowded" back yards and many neighbors complained. With the new ordnance thousands of these back yard fowl were simply released. Hence a population explosion. I have been inundated by these chickens. A good point is no more centipedes. But birds and horses are not a good idea due to the birds carrying salmonella. Well about 3 weeks ago the colorful fighting cocks made a raid on "The Big Black Roosters" territory. He has the feed room area. All the Hens like him and I guess I do too. He has a stump foot where I think the horses stepped on his toes when he was young. But he isn't pushy and he picks up bugs and feeds them to his hens.
Well he was bloody, blinded and clearly going to be killed. I threw a towel over him and placed him in the dog cage. After a week of eating cracked corn 3X a day he came out of the cage as the king. He has his feed room area back and all his hens too. Now he sleeps in the dog house and comes to soft clucking. Last week he was in the round pen with Rupert.

A week of Rainbows