Seeing Nature as Tourists

In this post you will see pictures of nature the way it was intended to be: With a parking lot not far away, landscaper designed plant layouts, and lots of people walking through.  

After a busy day around the island yesterday, we didn't travel far today. After a short couple of bus rides we made it to the foot of the mountain range in Manoa. From there we began our walk up the mountain; Our first stop was at the Lyon Arboretum. 

A picture from the grounds of Lyon Arboretum. 

Unfortunately while we where there it poured down rain on and off the whole time.

This red plant reached out and began to strangle Michael and Luke. Lucky I jumped in and saved the day! (After I took this picture of course.)

There is a lot of flora and fauna in this arboretum.

This is a Bromeliad plant. 

This might be Pink Rhododendron. I am even worse at identifying plants than I am fish. 

I could not figure out what kind of flower this is but I think it is silently yelling at me. 

There are "benches" for sitting when you get to the top of the arboretum.

Next stop is the Manoa Falls trail.

Water was flowing down the stream along the trail as we hiked up so we knew there would be a decent amount of water flowing over the falls. The fact it was raining as we hiked up was also a good indicator. 

Because of the rain I did not take many picture on the way up.Here is the water fall. 

Our happy visitors. 

The next four pictures illustrate how wet and muddy it was. 

Michael getting a drink. 

The next day we headed north to check out a couple places. 

Here we are lost in the worlds largest maze at the Dole Plantation. 

Michael searching for the last two stations in the maze. 

After the maze and eating some Dole Whip (pineapple ice cream) we drove to Waimea Falls to have lunch. This guy decided he wanted to have lunch with us and would not leave us alone. 

This poor tree lost all its leaves. 

Not sure what this is growing out the side of the tree but it is sort of creepy. 

A little pond with cattail like plants growing in it. 

We made it to the falls. 

I think this is the third time this water fall has been featured in my blog and I'm sure it's not the last.