Bird Ubering

As I was on my way to Kona Airport to drop off several carriers that Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center was sending to Honolulu, Kyle from HWC called. They had just received a call from the Pride of America cruise ship that had just docked in Kona; there was an injured seabird onboard. He was fortunate that I was just passing through Hāwī so I still had cell reception. We were able to work out a time after my appointment at Kaiser so I said I could pick it up so no one else had to make an extra trip in to transport it; it was only about 15 minutes down the road from where I would be. I met Troy, the Environmental Officer onboard the ship, under the banyan tree at the pier & picked up the bird. I think it is an ʻUaʻu (Hawaiian petrel, Pterodroma sandwichensis); I've never seen this endangered species before.

ʻUaʻu.

Environmental Officer Troy at the Kailua-Kona pier.

Chain of Custody paperwork.

I was in Kona for my annual mammogram. Today was the 1st time I was able to schedule it to be on Hawaiʻi Island; previously it was in Honolulu. I am in the process of changing all my annual diagnostics to Kaiser on Hawaiʻi Island when possible. Later in the year I will have my dermatology check-up here as well. 

Gold Dust Day Gecko admiring the artwork.

They landscape with native plants.

I finished my mammogram earlier than expected, so I went to check out the Kona Seafood Market to kill some time; it is on the way to the pier. While there I got a small poke bowl for lunch & some grilling rubs. As I was getting in to the car, Troy called to say he was now ashore; it takes the launch about 20 minutes to get from the cruise ship to the pier.

The sunrise this morning hinted at a mix of weather. It started to drizzle shortly after I woke up. Then it slowed down & was somewhat clear by the time I headed down to the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center. The drive along the leeward coast was hot & sunny.

Three minutes after sunrise.

The State highway work crew was trimming the sausage trees (Kigelia africana) just outside of Hāwī. They appear to be cutting them back from the travel lane so the ripe fruit does not fall on the roadway or any vehicles passing by. They were still working on the trees when I returned.

On the way to the airport, I had enough time to stop at Kohala Divers. I had originally intended to stop there on the way back to get some sunscreen since I was out of my usual supply, but because I was picking up an injured bird I needed to get it back to HWC as soon as possible & would not be able to stop. I have decided to change to Stream2Sea Every Day Mineral Sunscreen. It is a reef-safe mineral sunscreen that I don't have to have mailed to me which should reduce my carbon footprint. While there I decided to also try their leave-in conditioner that is supposed to help hair that is exposed to saltwater & lots of sun.

The window for the next episode of the eruption at Kīlauea remains at between the 2nd & the 10th.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Roblin!