Hawaiian Visions Plants

Please scroll down to see each image's corresponding description.

Black Lace 2695
[Black Lace 2695] This photo was taken at the Panewa Zoo just outside of Hilo, on the big island of Hawai'i. While I did photograph many of the animals, what I found most interesting were the beautiful plantings. This photo is an excellent example. The black lace is actually a large catapillar-eaten leaf with bright red Ti leaves in the background. One of the senior editors at Popular Photography magazine told me that this shot would make a lovely textile design. Do you agree?
Cactus Colors 8366
[Cactus Colors 8366] This colorful cactus was found along the 2 mile loop trail inside the Koko Head Crater Botanical Garden. The cactus is at least 10 feet high and this photo has not been manipulated by software to enhance the colors. Set in a 60 acre basin within the crater is a lovely garden featuring a dryland collection of plants that is a model of xeriscape concepts in a drought-tolerant landscape. The 643 foot summit of Koko Head is actually 2 craters formed by the outpouring of a fountain of lava.
Cactus Shades 1351
[Cactus Shades 1351] This cactus cluster was found in the Teraoka Cactus Garden on the grounds of the Kapiolani Community College near the entrance to Diamond Head Crater. What I found interesting about this plant was the range of green colors on a single cactus. From very pale to very dark, the colors are monochromatic and beautiful. This garden was planted and is still cared for by Mr. Moriso Teraoka, a veteran of the famous 442nd battalion that fought in Italy and Germany during World War II.
Cane Wind 2375
[Cane Wind 2375] When Captain Cook came to the islands in 1778, sugar cane was already grown in every village; brought 1000 years earlier by the first Hawai'ians on their great voyaging canoes, along with other plants and animals for sustanance in a new home. Polynesians were the greatest explorers in the world, crossing the vast Pacific ocean by navigating by the stars and tides when European sailors were still hugging coastlines. When sugar was still 'king' in Hawai'i it was widely grown on 4 of the islands. Before foreign competition ended the era of sugar in Hawai'i, after reaching maximum growth the cane was burned to leave only the sweet stalks, which nearby households did not appreciate when the smoke drifted into their homes.
Color Contrast 1366
[Color Contrast 1366] This palm located on the campus of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa is nicely counterpointed by a background of brilliant Bouganvilla flowers. The campus is on 300 acres with 19,000 students from all 50 states. Six percent of all students are international. One of only a handful of universities nationwide to hold the distinction of being a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution, UH Manoa is ranked in the top 50 public universities in research expenditures by the National Science Foundation.
Fern Fantasy 4669
[Fern Fantasy 4669] This cluster of ferns was found growing on a lava rock wall in Wahiawa Botanical Gardens. The garden is a wonderful place to visit if you want to be transported to a lush tropical sanctuary. This 27 acre garden is located in a deep ravine with wide sidewalks and railings and sometimes steep declines and inclines. Plants, flowers and trees from all over the world are scattered throughout the area. The garden was opened in 1957 as an experimental arboretum.
Leaf Lines 1294
[Leaf Lines 1294] This close up photo of a blacklighted section of a Monocot leaf shows the beauty of the veins and ribs as an abstract pattern design. Backlighting is a favorite type of photograph for me, as I love the light, shapes, and shadows that are revealed when the light penetrates leaves and flowers. Backlight photos can be tricky as you have to be sure that flare is not introduced into the picture (unless you want flare). Modern lenses are specially coated and ribbed to help control this problem and sometimes a polarising filter will solve this effect
Twist and Shout 9510
[Twist and Shout 9510] Found in the Haiku Gardens; a premium location for weddings, the 23 acre site is in a gorge with a large fishpond surrounded by tropical plants and flowers. Above the gorge Haleiwa Joe's restaurant overlooks the garden and serves delicious seafood and prime rib. What I like about this photo is the contrast between the gleaming leaf tops and the translucent glow as the sun glowed through the undersides of the leaves. Also the way the leaves twisted in multiple directions was delightful and contributed to the design.