Wild Hawaiian life

Chickens are everywhere on Hawaii. From a car rental parking lot (like the picture) to the deepest jungle to just outside the hotel room, chickens go about their business. Roosters start to crow at 4 in the morning, and it's common to see hens scurry around with their chicks. These chickens are said to be escapees from back yard chicken coops, and they have spread far and wide. A few years ago, a hurricane blue them even further afield.

A praying mantis entertained us while we were enjoying a shave ice, a most delicious treat we had every day. Finely shaved ice sprinkeled with exotic flavours such as coconut, passion fruit, lichee, "shark's blood" and lots of others I can't pronounce.

Big green sea turtles nibble on algae growing on rocks in shallow water.

While we were hiking along the Wailua River in Kawaii, we lost the trail but found lots of frogs.

The birds are amazingly tame. They come very close, love handouts while we ate outside or in an open-air restaurant. This is a Brazilian Cardinal.

Why would anyone go to Hawaii in the summer? That's a question I get a lot. Since it took 20 hours to get there, you need to stay a while, and I don't have time off work during the winter. Plus, the waves are much higher and rougher in the winter, and it can be dangerous to swim. It was not too hot, there was always a breeze, and every day was an adventure.