Hilo Hawaii's Merrie Monarch Parade...

Merrie Monarch is over for another year... and the response waivers between relief that all of the chaos is over, TO regret that we have to wait another year to enjoy it again! On the very last day we get the PARADE! And as with all parades, the horses are the stars...and in Hawaii we have the Paniolos (Hawaii has had Paniolos since around 1793!), so here are some photos of "Cowboys" and Cowgirls ;)) Hawaiian Style!

The leis that the horses wear are matched by their riders leis and are beautiful beyond belief!

Over the next week or so I will be focusing on more horsey photos, as well as pics of the Hula competition at the Edith Kanakeole Stadium in downtown Hilo.

Yellow Ohias and Happy Honey Bees!

These bees enjoyed this rare Yellow Ohia even more than I did! Usually the Ohia bloom is a bright primary red but Occasionally they come in a few other color variants, yellow is rare but very beautiful...

Ohia trees are used for many things in Hawaii, the new leaves and blooms for Leis and decoration, and the wood itself for fence post, house railings, furniture (similar to twig furniture), and a especially pretty piece of wood (usually the whole tree trunk) about 6-10 inches around, may be used as a corner post or a feature point on a stairway, etc... we also get really tasty Ohia Flower Honey from our friends the Honey bees!

Puakenikeni In The Morning...

This lovely Puakenikeni was just glowing the other morning...this particular plant has the largest blooms of any Puakenikeni I have ever seen! Just the petal spread alone is almost the size of my palm! And the perfume is incredible...

Puakenikeni translates into 10 cent flower, referring when, back in the day, the lei stringers in Honolulu would sell a string of 100 Puakenikeni blooms for 10 cents! Boy, those where the days! At least if you where buying cheap leis, can you imagine trying to make a living of 10 cent leis?

It is one of the few leis that has three separate lives...it always smells wonderful but on the first day it is alabaster white, by the second day it a soft buttery yellow and the third day it is a strong creamy orange. All forms are beautiful, but it is nice to know what the changes are so you can coordinate with your out fit!

You may enjoy a visit to Plant Creations Nursery site, really great resource!

Ruby Red Ti...

This vibrant plant is a member of the Ti family (nothing at all like the drink), Ti is used in many ways in Hawaii;
We wrap offerings in it, we wrap presents in it, we shred the top 12 inches and use it as a fly wisk (similar to a horses tail in theory) at luaus or just in the yard, We wrap pork roast in it to make Kalua pig (yummy!), wrap coffee cans with it to create a beautiful utilitarian flower vase, tie my hair up when I am working in the yard and can't take time to find a elastic, use it instead of flowers in a vase, lay the leaves over a dirty lawn chair (like a towel), wrap sticky rice in them and then steam it, use as a plate at a picnic, so many different things...and of course we use them to make leis.

Properly prepared the Ti leaf can be woven or braided into almost anything...and it is a beautiful contrast when a lei is fashioned from a green Ti leaf and then a Ti rose is created from a variegated or colored Ti leaf and attached to the green Ti, it make a gorgeous lei.

It is considered lucky to plant Ti plants down the boundaries of your home and quite often you will see rows of Ti being planted before the house pad has even been poured! Now that's having your priorities in the right place!