Humpback Whale Calves
Humpback whales become reproductively mature when they are between five and eight years of age. They mate during their winter migration to Hawaii, and eleven to twelve months later, upon their return to winter breeding grounds, the mother gives birth to a single calf. A fifty foot mother will give birth to a calf approximately fifteen feet long and weighing around two tons. The newborn instinctively swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first breath. The mother begins feeding her newborn about 100 pounds of milk each day for a period of around six months, then the calf is sustained through a mixture of nursing and independent feeding for six months more. The mother’s milk is pink in color and exceptionally high in fat content (50%) which allows the calves to gain weight quickly. It is imperative for them to develop a thick layer of blubber prior to their 3,000-mile migration back to the cold Alaskan waters. After weaning, the calf has doubled its length and has increased its weight five times, attaining a size of about thirty feet and ten tons.
In Hawaii, humpback whales typically belong to groups consisting of two to three individuals for relatively short periods of time. The longest association between individual whales is when the mother cow, remains with her calf for a year during nursing. The mother generally never lets her calf stray more than a body length away for very long. They spend the first year or so of the calf’s life together, and the calf learns valuable survival lessons in this short amount of time, and is then weaned and separated. In many instances, cow and calf are accompanied by another adult known as an escort. Escorts can be of either sex, but are most often reported to be males, and remain with them for only a short time. Usually, a female humpback will bear one calf every two or three years, with an average life span between 40 and 50 years.
Hawaiian Hula
Hula is the soul of Hawaii expressed in motion and chant. Hawaii’s chants help preserve epic tales, myths, history, and philosophy. Although Hawaiians composed and performed chant and mele (songs) alone, hula was never danced without verbal accompaniment. In ancient times, the chant remained the primary focus with the dance adapted to enhance the chant. Fluid gestures added grace to the dance but did not necessarily mirror the chant’s words in a sort of visual sign language. The deeply metaphoric nature of the Hawaiian language leaves ample room for multiple interpretations. Every movement in hula has a specific meaning, and every expression of the dancer’s hands has great significance. The movements of a dancer’s body might represent certain plants, animals, or people.
The term hula refers to movement and gestures. However, hula cannot be performed without the most important component – mele (poetry). Mele are records of cultural information ranging from sacred mele pule (prayers), and mele inoa (name chants), to topical mele ho’oipoipo (love songs), and mele ‘aina (songs praising the land). Allusion is greatly valued in the poetry, and hula gestures do not tell the entire story but rather interpret key aspects of the mele. While hand and arm gestures interpret the text, named foot motifs are executed continuously. Some motifs are kaholo (stepping side to side), ‘uwehe (stepping in place, then lifting and dropping heels), and ‘ami (circular pelvic shifts and tilts).
Older chant-accompanied dances may be performed in a standing or sitting position. In standing dances, performers are divided into ‘olapa, who execute the dance movements, and ho’opa’a, who chant the text and provide the percussive instrumental accompaniment. The most commonly used instruments are the ‘uli’uli (feather-decorated gourd rattle), pu’ili (split bamboo rattle), ‘ili’ili (waterworn stone pebbles, two in each hand, played in a manner similar to castanets), and kala’au (sticks). Although hula began as a form of worship during religious ceremonies, it gradually evolved into a form of entertainment.
State Of The Birds 2009
The United States enjoys diverse landscapes, a wealth of natural resources, and spectacular wildlife, including more than 800 bird species. Birds are a national heritage we share with people around the world, since billions of migratory birds follow the seasons across oceans and continents. They are beautiful, and they reflect the health of our environment. Birds are bellwethers of our natural and cultural health as a nation – they are indicators of the integrity of the environments that provide us with clean air and water, fertile soils, abundant wildlife, and natural resources.
Wildlife agencies and conservation groups have come together to produce the first comprehensive analysis of the state of our nation’s birds. The State of the Birds 2009 report reveals troubling declines of bird populations during the past 40 years – a warning signal of the failing health of our ecosystems. Where we have been negligent too long, such as in Hawaii, we are on the verge of losing unique and beautiful birds and native plant communities. More than one-third of all U.S. listed bird species occur in Hawaii and 71 bird species have gone extinct since humans colonized the islands in about 200 AD. At least 10 more birds have not been seen in as long as 40 years and may be extinct. At the same time, we see heartening evidence that strategic conservation action can reverse declines of birds. This report calls attention to the collective efforts needed to protect nature’s resources for the benefit of people and wildlife.
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State Of The Birds Hawaii
Kauai History and Surfing
Ancient Hawaiian people did not consider surfing a mere recreational activity, but rather they integrated surfing into their culture and made it an art. They referred to this art as heʻe nalu or wave sliding. The art began before entering the mysterious ocean as the Hawaiians prayed to the gods for protection and strength to undertake the powerful mystifying ocean. The technique of sliding on a wave was popular with men and women of all ages in early Hawaii. Then (same as now) surfers found it hard to resist dropping everything when the waves called. Their excitement peaked in the winter months when big surf came to the Islands and they even had an appropriate word that referred to a state of being stoked, or emotionally excited about something – hopupu.
Early Hawaiians used four main types of boards:
paipo or kioe – 2 to 4 feet (for children)
alaia or omo – 8 to 10 feet
kiko`o – 12 to 18 feet
olo – 18 to 24 feet (for royalty)
Surfboards used by ancient Hawaiians measured five inches thick, and weighed up to 160 pounds. The most common wood used was koa or wiliwili which was particularly buoyant. The extremely long olo was thick in the middle, thinner towards its edges, buoyant, and good for catching large rounded swells. The olo board allowed the rider to catch a cresting wave before it actually broke and the ride could continue long after the wave flattened out. Though these boards couldn’t turn quickly and required stamina and strength to paddle out, the very long rides they afforded are why they may have been reserved for ali`i. Alaia boards were approximately eight feet long, wide at the nose and tapered toward the stern. Alaia were good for skilled surfers riding rough waves. More maneuverable than olo, they were better for steep, fast-breaking surf and wave conditions along rugged coasts. When the surf was up, they would ride the waves on anything handy, even banana trunks. Hawaiians surfed in canoes as well as on boards, using twenty foot long single canoes with an oversized, heavy paddle for steering.
Solar Water Heaters In Hawaii
Hawaii becomes the first state requiring energy-saving solar water heaters installed in all new homes starting in 2010. The bill which took affect January 1st prohibits issuing building permits for single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters. The move to force solar heating is a big step for a state that relies on imported fossil fuels for 90% of its energy supply.
Conventional water heaters are typically the largest electricity consumer in the average household, gobbling up nearly 40% of consumption. This measure was first introduced five years ago when a barrel of oil was much less, and since then, the price has more than tripled. Lawmakers described a government requirement for solar water heaters as a way to protect the environment, reduce Hawaii’s heavy reliance on foreign energy sources, and save money.
Solar water heaters typically cost home buyers about $5,000 extra, but island residents will save thousands of dollars on their electricity bills over the life of their home. Solar water heaters reduce residents’ electricity costs between 30 percent and 35 percent – up to $150 per month for a family of four on Kauai. With those kind of savings, the initial expense is usually paid off in three to four years.
Humpback Whale Peduncle Arch
The peduncle arch is seen just before making a deeper descent. The whale will arch or hump back out of the water in order to breath and make a more vertical descent. This is often a sad thing to see when whale watching because they can stay down for a long time.
