Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, United States of America

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 1 — located on the northeastern side of the island of Hawaiʻi, Hilo offers breathtaking natural beauty plus all the amenities of a vibrant town; is the largest settlement in, and the county seat of, Hawaiʻi County

With a population of around 40,000, Hilo is the largest settlement in, and the county seat of, Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii, United States of America.  “Located on the northeastern side of the island of Hawaiʻi, Hilo offers breathtaking natural beauty plus all the amenities of a vibrant town.  On the geographic flipside of the volcanic Kohala Coast, the region is blessed with dramatic waterfalls, fertile rainforests and blooming gardens.  It’s also home to Hilo International Airport and is a convenient stop on your way to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, located 45 minutes south.  A busy farming and fishing area in early times, Hilo evolved into a commercial center for the sugar industry in the 1800s.  Downtown Hilo was built around its crescent-shaped bay and became the seat of county government.  Today, Downtown Hilo is a charming town offering museums, art galleries, shops and restaurants.  The Lil’uokalani Gardens is a peaceful respite and features Japanese-style fishponds, pagodas and rock gardens on its 30 acres.” — www.gohawaii.com  Lil’uokalani Gardens

Our second day in Hilo was spent at the Lil’uokalani Gardens , with a nice luncheon in downtown Hilo at Café Pesto, followed by a meandering shopping and sightseeing walk around town, with late afternoon stops for shaved ice at the famous Wilson’s by the Bay, the local farmers’ market and the local grocery store for some provisions for the eight day crossing after our final port of call in Hawaii, Honolulu.

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 2 – the Mauna Loa volcano looms over Hilo in this view of the city from the ocean, looking southwest from Hilo Harbor

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 3 – Torii gates mark the entrances to Lil’uokalani Gardens in several places; a torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine

“Replicating a Japanese garden and overlooking Mokuolah and Hilo Bay, Lil’uokalani Gardens is a beautiful tribute to the island’s first Japanese immigrants and the largest Edo style ornamental garden outside Japan.  We spent the morning strolling through its lush landscape complete with red arching bridges, pagodas, stone lanterns, and a beautiful tea house.  We observed that it is a favored spot for morning running, yoga, tai chi, and outings with infants and young children (not is school).

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 4 — Lil’uokalani Gardens is a peaceful respite and features Japanese-style fishponds, pagodas and rock gardens on its 30 acres

“Queen Liliuokalani donated the original five acres of land to create a public park in 1907.  This was increased to seventeen acres by the Legislative Committee concerned with management of public lands in November 1917.  Named for Hawaii’s last ruling monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani, the garden opened in 1919 and was styled as a tribute to the first Japanese immigrants to the Big Island who helped build its agricultural history starting in 1868… Liliuokalani Gardens features Japanese imported stone lanterns, sculptures, arched bridges and gazebos from as early as 1916… Liliuokalani Gardens highlights plant species and building styles drawn from traditional Japanese temples and gardens.  As you stroll along Waihonu Pond, crossing arched red bridges over koi ponds to pagodas, and a Japanese traditional teahouse named Shoroan, you might feel like you’re transported to the incredible temples of Kyoto.” – www.bigislandguide.com/liliuokalani-gardens

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 5 – a traditional Japanese stone bridge in the gardens

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 6 – the size of this gigantic banyan tree in Lil’uokalani Gardens can be gauged by the people in the front, posing for a friend’s photograph

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 7 — downtown Hilo is a charming town offering museums, art galleries, shops and restaurants

Hilo, Hawai’i Island, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 8 – our afternoon treat (replacing desert at lunch in town) was a three-flavored shaved ice from the hole-in-the-wall, but iconic, Wilson’s by the Bay

Legal Notices: All photographs copyright © 2024 by Richard C. Edwards.  All Rights Reserved Worldwide.  Permission to link to this blog post is granted for educational and non-commercial purposes only.

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica (2023

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 1 – our first view, from the Zodiac landing site, of part of the impressive Gentoo penguin colonies that Cuverville Island is famed for

Lying at the north end of the Errera Channel, Cuverville Island (or Île de Cavelier de Cuverville) was discovered by Gerlache’s Belgica expedition in 1898 and named for a vice-admiral in the French navy.  The island, off the west coast of Graham Land in the Antarctic Peninsula, at the entrance to the Errera Channel, is topped by a steep-sided dome, two-thirds of which is covered by a permanent icecap and surrounded by glacial icebergs.  We rode in Zodiacs from the ship to a cobble beach landing site that afforded access to the largest gentoo penguin colony in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 2 – a gentoo penguin

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 3

At both ends of our landing site were the impressive Gentoo penguin colonies that Cuverville Island is famed for.  We could clearly see the trails (“penguin highways”) they use to make their way to and from the water and other trails leading across the shore and uphill.  There are other colonies and nesting sites on the higher ground behind the beach, and throughout the island.

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 4 – the penguins didn’t seem bothered at all by the inclement weather; they also are right at home in the ocean waters at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius)

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 5

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 6 – penguins “racing” along the “penguin highways”

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 7

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 8 – the remains of a South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccomicki, a predatory seabird

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 9

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 10

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 11

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 12

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 13– the well-worn top of an iceberg reminiscent of the curve of a Japanese torii gate, most commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 14

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 15 – the weather started to clear about 3.5 hours after we returned from our landing on the island; this was the first blue sky in a few days, and we were all hoping it would continue

After our return from the island to the ship, we had a rare sighting of 10+ Orca whales (“killer whales”) who may have been stalking (and trying to wear out) a humpback whale, hoping for a “kill” and a feast of a dinner.

Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 16 – Orca whales, photograph courtesy of EYOS Expeditions

Legal Notices: All photographs copyright © 2023 by Richard C. Edwards.  All Rights Reserved Worldwide.  Permission to link to this blog post is granted for educational and non-commercial purposes only.