Lone Palm. Between Kiholo bay and Waikoloa, traveling on HWY 19, there is a turn off with a single palm tree in the parking lot. Here is the start of a pathway that cuts through the treacherous A’A lava field that takes you to a black sand beach with a lone palm tree. Hence the name… Lone Palm. Here is where I have camped several times with my family and knew the reef was still alive and not yet destroyed by the presence of careless people.

I am completely fascinated by turtles, Honu in Hawaiian, and was fortunate to find one swimming nearby. I think I followed him around for a good hour, photographing and watching his habits. As big and bulky as they seem they are quite graceful in the water. Gliding up and around the rocky shore. I shot this last photo of the turtle before leaving the water, which became one of my favorites of the day.

Photograph by Christopher Johnson – www.fromhereonin.com