On Halemau'u Trail

Halemau'u Trail, Haleakala National Park, Maui

Narrow Trail is winding along the precipitous edges of Ko'olau Gap. On my Right: Open views of Haleakala Wilderness. On my Left: Greetings from the Life on Rocks. Right to Left. Left to Right. Different scale. Same world. And this Post Sign: Please Stand Quietly On Trailside When Horses Are Passing. How in the world do I stand on trailside and stay alive? Looking into distance. I pause, asking myself: Am I a Bird? Ready to fly off? NOPE. I cannot be a Bird. If for nothing else but my FEAR of heights. Stands in the way.

Meet Nene

Nene, Haleakala National Park, Maui

NENE. What a lovely Name! Probably a descendant of Canada Goose. Who, at some point in the past, decided to fly over Pacific Ocean. A LONG, LONG TRIP! Canada Goose is used to fly over long distances. But never over large expanses of water. Why did she do it? A mistake? An adventure? We will never know. But she landed safely and made Hawaiian Islands her Home. Adapting and Living in peace for many, many millennia until... and then somehow barely surviving tumultuous times with humans. For ALL of THAT, She is awarded the Title: The State Bird of Hawaii. And still critically endangered.