Upcountry Flora and Fauna, Maui

Protea in full bloom

Bromeliad Bloom

  The last few days have been spent part way up Haleakala Volcano on the island of Maui in an area locals simply refer to as 'upcountry.' The weather ranges from mild to downright cold, and it boast a wide range of flora and fauna to go with it.

Lavender Garden, Maui

Looking down at the valley

  Our first spot to check for unusual plants was the beautiful lavender farms in Kula. Blooming jacaranda trees and rows of different species of lavender showered the garden in shades of purple. And with all the other blooming flowers of proteas, bromeliads, and others there was a rainbow of colors.

  We searched high and low for the resident Jackson's chameleons in the area but could not find any. A couple of purple finches watched us hungrily as we enjoyed our lavender tea and scone but we did not share.

Juvenile I'iwi

I'iwi, not too close

  Next we were off to the last remaining stronghold of the honeycreeper birds on Maui, a grove about 6,500ft up the volcano called Hossmer's Grove. The climate is too cold for mosquitoes up here so honeycreepers, which are several species of finches all descendant from one finch anscestor, have survived where their lower elevation cousins did not. It was my goal to get a bright red I'iwi on camera, which I did but still not too close.

  For the first time I did managed to capture a photo of the rare Maui Amakihi, a yellow honeycreeper with a medium size curved beak. He landed very nearby and stayed in place just long enough for me to snap this picture before fluttering off again.

My best pic to date of the rare Maui Amakihi