Sandwich Island Saga 41. Overview

At the end of my first return to the Hawaiian Islands for some 30 years, a recap seems appropriate.  The islands are American without quite being America. Tourism is still their major commercial activity.  Activities that were formally free have become regimented and more exploitative. If anything, the islands seem too dependent on tourism. Tourism itself may well become less acceptable. Many of its young people move to the mainland, being replaced by less well paid immigrants from areas like the Philippines. Interestingly, immigrants seem well accepted here. The Hawaiian Islands are notably prone to some of the obvious dangers of climate change (e.g. sealevel rise, coral bleaching, hurricanes, wild fires, flash floods, heatstroke etc). The flora and fauna of the islands is a hotchpot of rare endemics and a vast array of introduced species, some beneficial, others less so. Hawaii remains a tantalising mix of order and chaos. 

Sandwich Island Saga 40. Brown anole (Anolis sagrei)

This juvenile explored the patio.

Sandwich Island Saga 39. Extreme weather events

It's not, of course,  just flash floods that will increase with global heating. Heat waves, droughts and wild fires will all become more intense, along with violent storms (e.g. tornadoes and hurricanes). Today on Oahu, 75 acres were burning in Nanakuli.

Sandwich Island Saga 38. You Don't Need to be a Mystic!

There's a stark lesson to be learned from the loss of life (around 90 deaths confirmed) at on July 4th at Mystic Camp in Kerr County. In some areas of this Texas Hill Community, more than 21 inches of rain fell in 3-6 hours. This is in an area with an average July rainfall of just 2 inches. Global heating (a real phenomenon) means the atmosphere is packed with more moisture.  What used to be 'One hundred year catastrophes', like this flash  become more frequent and more extreme. People, in areas prone to flash floods, consequently need to become more aware of this increased danger. This applies, of course, to some locations in the Hawaiian islands.

Flowers of Oahu 66. Tropical wild petunia (Ruellio brevifolia)

Sandwich Island Saga 37. Water, Water Everywhere?

The Hawaiian Islands are very dependent on aquifers for freshwater. Their current status is Very Dry. There isn't sufficient rainfall and building reservoirs is very difficult as lava is extremely porous. 

Flowers of Oahu 65. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp)