Hawaiian Flora and Fauna photos

Here are some more pictures of the beauty of Hawaii, flora and fauna. Especially dear to us is the Nene, the Hawaiian Goose which is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It was named the state bird of Hawaii in 1957. The Nene is the world's rarest goose.

Once common in Hawaii (prior to 1778, when Capt. James Cook arrived, it is said that there were about 25,000 Nene), hunting and introduced predators such as mongooses, pigs and cats reduced the population to 30 birds by 1952. The Nene's nest is particularly vulnerable as it nests rather haphazardly on the ground. Thankfully the Nene breeds well in captivity, and has been successfully re-introduced. In 2004 it was estimated that there were 500 birds in the wild (and good numbers in wildfowl collections). It is easiest to see wild Nene flocks on Kauai where there are no mongoose (the only island void of the mongoose).

The "Nēnē" gets its Hawaiian name from its soft call. My husband and I think it sounds like such an endearing tired and sad little 'honk'. We LOVE to meet Nene and hear their voices. We met one at the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo (on the Big Island) that came up to the edge of it's enclosure and just honked up a storm for us for quite some time. She/He was such a sweet little goose, very friendly but probably because it was being kept in captivity.

These Nene can be seen enjoying living at the inner gardens at the Kauai Marriott Hotel. We went there to eat at one of our favorite restaurants in Hawaii, Duke's , named after the famed 'father of surfing' and all around super interesting Hawaiian guy, Duke Kahanamoku. We recommend you try Duke's Kauai location if you go to Kauai. Say hello to the Nene for us!

Anthurium in a beautiful pink color.

Some fishes we were snorkeling with one day while on Kauai (image caught with my new and fun underwater camera). The darker fishes are Black Triggerfish, called Humuhumu'ele'ele in Hawaiian, and are cousins of Hawaii's state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa (Humuhumunukunuku for short, ha ha ha).A gorgeous tree on a golf course on Kauai

One of our favorite little doves in Hawaii, the Barred Dove (introduced to Hawaii in 1922). They have such a sweet little call, that is nice to hear in the morning. We think it sounds like they are sometimes saying "not at all". This is one of the things I miss when I am in Japan. There is something soothing to me having these little doves around everywhere.

Sweet smelling white plumeria flowers, filling up the air with loveliness, another thing I miss when I am in Japan.

A very colorful Gecko which I have only seen in the Kailua-Kona area of the Big Island(where this photo was taken) but it probably lives elsewhere unbeknownst to me . Doesn't it look like it's smiling?