Rejoice

At HILT’s Waihee Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge the dry, dusty earth, and wilted plants are waiting for reprieve from the long run of hot, sunny days. The kolea are appearing again, winter is arriving. Soon will follow changes in wind and rain.

With wind comes the northern surf swells. With the swells the nearshore reef brings about a constant blanket of sea foam over the water’s surface. Closer towards Waihee stream where the shoreline lacks the protections of the shallow reef the waves pound on the rubble of rounded stones sculpting crests and rumbling like thunder. Lofted by these interactions are clouds of sea spray which drift in a haze onto the nearshore lands killing the leaves of the plants ill-adapted to such saturation. The wind, waves, and their associated storms far off beyond the horizon also bring a new flotilla of marine debris to band the shoreline in plastics, foams, rubber, and wax.

With rain comes rejuvenation. Rejuvenation for plants, rejuvenation for the wetland habitat of the aeo. Green will abound again at the rains seep through the soil into roots and catalyze the assembly of nutrients which will build their way as they reach up towards the sky. When the soils have their fill the rest of the rain will wander down into the bottom of the bowl that is the wetlands of Kapoho and gather together to form a body to reflect the gaze of the clouds from which the rains came. From that body will be pushed countless insects to feed the coming flocks of migratory birds which themselves will fly up beyond the tops of the trees and hillsides.

Winter is arriving. Rejoice.

— James Crowe, Land Stewardship Manager