Welcome to another one of these photo diaries meant as a brief respite from the stuggles of the day and as a reminder that we share this planet with all manner of wonderful critters...
Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe
...and the occasional beautiful human-created space.
(this is an infrared-HDR photo)
Hawaiian Swimming Crab
Despite the name this crab is also found at other locations in the Pacific including the Society Islands (Tahiti).
Hawaiian Daschyllus
This species is endemic to Hawaii. Like most damselfish they are quite bold and will get right in your face, er... mask.
Hawaiian Green Lionfish
Another endemic species, one of two endemic Hawaiian lionfish. Like other lionfish and their cousins the scorpionfish they dorsal spines are venomous.
Stout Moray
These are probably the most commonly seen morays in shallow water. They are generally quite small, their maximum size is about two feet.
Marbled Shrimp
Sometimes called Fuller Brush Shrimp for the female's (seen here) bristly forelimbs.
Harlequin Shrimp
The rare beauties feed on sea stars.
Makaha Caverns
Coneshell Hermit Crab
The flattened body of this hermit crab enables it to inhabit cone shells that other hermits can't fit.
Green Turtle
Our friend the Honu.
Day Octopus
This species is common throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Local people call them "squid". (They also call dolphins "porpoise", and garbage is always "rubbish")
Spotted Eagle Rays
A beautiful "flock" of rays. These rays have plate-like teeth for crushing shells and feed primariy on molluscs.
Yellowmargin Moray
Our old friend Gramps. Still alive and well.
Wreck
The wreck The Mahi off of Waianae on Oahu's westside. This old minesweeper was intentionally sunk in the 70's as an artificial reef.
The following images were taken at Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of Temples in Kaneohe. It is a beautiful space and I highly recommend a visit if you are on Oahu.
Koi
Paper Bark Tree
Thanks for visiting. Feel free to treat this as a community photo diary and please be good humans. If you have a problem with this diary I refer you to the Complaint Department:
Aloha