I have my first ever guest poster today!

My husband is here to tell you a bit why we're here.  (well, I'm just along for the ride.  I don't actually do anything.) So I guess my husband is here to tell you why he's in Hawaii.   
Here are a few pictures of science related things I have taken since we've been here because you can't have a blog post without a photo!

Take it away Ernie... 

Emily, Dan O, and I are out here looking at freshwater fish in Hawaii.  There are only 5 native freshwater fish species in the islands, and numerous exotic species have been introduced.  All native species have an obligatory oceanic stage.  This means that as larvae, they spend some time in the ocean before migrating back into freshwater to mature and eventually breed.  We are interested in impacts of land use, habitat, and introduced species on the native fishes.  We are also using genetic and microchemistry techniques to explore patterns of dispersal and migration. 

The native fishes are all gobies.  Local term is o`opu.  When the larvae return to freshwater, they are called post-larvae, or hinana locally.  Here I am near the mouth of a river trying to catch these little guys, which are only about 15-25 mm, or ~1 inch in American.  I made the net out of a fishing pole and window screen.  Not long after this photo, I lost my net while climbing down a waterfall.  Pele giveth and Pele taketh away.

Here's a little feller of the species Sicyopterus stimpsoni or O`opu nopili.  This is the species featured on Life, the tv show.  They are excellent climbers, using a suction-cup on their chest (really a pair of fins fused into a disc) to stick to wet rock faces.  They'll also stick to your finger when you hold them. 

Just like fish in a bucket.  Only these guys will climb out if you let them. 

Hinana.  This little booger just recruited from the ocean.  He has not yet developed the markings of the adults.  In fact you can see through his skin.  We've collected lots of these guys from each of our study streams.  A group at Tulane is comparing genetics of hinana to the adults in the same stream.  We are trying to find out whether these fish return to streams they are born in, or disperse to other streams/other islands.  I'm told they're great in scrambled eggs.

a lot of this happened...

a lot of tipsy girl talk happened around these...

he's not always so gracious about letting me take his photos...

this is one of my favorite places in Hilo.  The farmers market.  It's the biggest in the state of Hawaii and always full of fun and new things.

Claire and her bounty.

Sitting down to dinner to eat on that bounty.

Sorry, I nerd out on those reflection photos. 

Claire and I headed back to the botanical garden while she was in town.  What can I say?  It's one of my favorite places here on the big island. So much so that I have a season pass.

So what did we do?

We stood there!
but not for long- that sign is no joke.  It's like tiny little torpedoes falling from 100 feet.

This is our unfortunate interpretation of the tour group in front of us.  

It's mean, I hate to out myself as a big meanie like that. 

(but Claire does look cute and sweet) 

ok, the interpretation ends there.  The next 2 are just us being doofuses.

For my birthday we went back to Waipi'o valley.  (cause that's what I wanted to do and that's how I roll) (also, some science needed to happen there) 

anyway... we had a lovely time and got accosted by the "wild" horses. They're supposed to be wild but they sure are awfully friendly and very very inquisitive. 

so... yeah.  Inquisitive.  The horses wanted to know what we had in the back of our car...

at least they're really sweet...

hey, what's in yo pocket?  Let me get a taste!

Claire drinks a margarita and gets cozy with a pony.

nothing like being run off from where you're relaxing by a team of ponies...

black sand beach. ahh...

My dear friend Claire came to hawaii this week to
a- have a vacation and
b- celebrate my lil ole' birthday.

We had such a great time and I will be posting pictures all week.  Here are a few of the beautiful Claire standing in front of what is for sure my favorite place on the big island. This is the rim of the Waipi'o valley and where I chose to spend my birthday.  Lucky for me the boys had some sampling to do here so we all got to go together.  

I will have more pictures tomorrow of our close encounters with the wild horses.  

And I do mean close- we had to heckle a horse to get Claire's shoe back...

Forgive me if I am a little absent this week.  My friend Claire is coming to town and it's my duty to show her a good time, so blogging may slip by the wayside.
 
It's also my birthday!!! I LOVE a birthday (I love any excuse to throw down) and I probably shouldn't think mine is as big a deal as I do.  (but I do)

Thanks for checking in on us here.  I really appreciate it!! I just know that my 28th year is going to blow my mind. 

peace and love to you all and I'll be back in a few days- with lots of lady hawaii adventures to bring to you. 

ps- we upgraded to a convertible from an economy car.  It is SO on...
 

here's the second and final set from the Merrie Monarch parade. 

this is my friend that I met at the parade.  She told me that:

St. Joseph's is the best school ever.
There are over 100 kids that go there.
They learn about Jesus and God and that's the most important thing ever.
All mermaids are named Ariel.
Ballet is her favorite thing.
Then I did a demi plie for her and she did one for me and then we both twirled.

Then Ernie said he wished he was a 6 year old girl because everyone kept giving and throwing her candy.  

(don't worry about Ernie, I'll buy him some candy this week. Although he eats plenty anyway)  

umm... I think you're riding a rabid horse.  Might want to be careful on your dismount. 

damn, all this time I thought I was the princess of Hawaii.  Way to break the news to me via a parade. 

harsh! 

I think the body of christ could work on their signage.  (is that mean?) 

of course, what's a parade in Hawaii without a ukulele band?

I am sorry that I don't have a whole lot of thrilling things to bring to the table but just being in hawaii should be thrilling enough.  right?... right?

Here's a few from the Merrie Monarch Hula festival.  One thing is for sure- I love a good parade! So please enjoy.     

crowd gathers...

best view in the house.

This band came all the way from Wisconsin to Hawaii.  

Who's a band geek now?... 

these flute players are light on their feet!

being given out from the float.  Thanks Mauna Loa!

try it again but with feeling this time...

he's waiting for a parade to start and you're waiting for me to post the pictures. You'll both have to keep on keepin' on.  

Parade pictures to come tomorrow. 

This week Hilo has played hostess to the world Hula festival. (yes!) It's a week long event culminating in a hula competition and parade.  It's a HUGE deal here and I had so much fun.  We weren't able to get tickets to any of the three nights of performances and competitions but we we're able to go to the free expo night.  We got there right when it started so we actually had to sit behind the stage. bummer.  So the pictures aren't totally amazing but we had a great time. 

I just feel pretty blessed to be a part of such an old and unique tradition! 

the one good thing about being behind the stage is my glimpse of the dancers getting ready.  

dancers from Tokyo.

we took a little road trip to the north side of the big island.  The boys took fish samples and I lollygagged. 

hey crabby!

these are all taken at a beach park somewhere north.  I've been here before and I think it's my favorite of all the beach parks I loiter at.  

As Elizabeth Gilbert said in her book Eat, Pray, Love
"the mosquitoes here are big enough to rape a chicken"  
I mean seriously- if you're not armed with Off then you might as well go home.  

yeah, I don't know either...

jazzy!

there's our car.  isn't she a beauty?  notice the duct tape holding the molding on...

this right here is my argument for going to college.  Because maybe if you go to college (and work real hard) then someday someone will pay you to do the very thing you most want to be doing. 

ta da!  
played out? maybe...
Seems like you guys liked them though and I just love getting life advice from a raisin box. 

I promise that I will do something interesting this week (like go to the Merrie Monarch world hula festival) and bring you some pictures of some interest.  

on Sunday we went and snorkeled in the tidal pools in a lava field.  You really have to know about this place because it is hard to find and way out of the way.  I didn't actually snorkel so much (I got a little freaked out) but I really enjoyed climbing all over the big lava produced boulders that separate all the pools.  Really a very cool place. 

eels may become aggressive...
you see why I didn't want to get in? 

lagoon that stays a solid 90 degrees all year long.  Heated by volcanoes.

Yes please!!!! 

The only thing missing for me was a floaty and a cocktail. 

most of the time I delight in the joyous union that is marriage. 

other times, not so much... 

hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Today we snorkeled in the tide pools in the lava fields outside of Pahoa.  Very beautiful.  I'll be bringing you some photos this week.  

hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.  Went to the farmers market this morning and basketball is happening this afternoon (although what basketball I am not sure, clearly I am not a devoted fan) 

If the rain stays at bay then tomorrow  we're going snorkeling in the Kapoho tide pools. What a lovely way to spend an easter sunday.

peace and love to you all.  

okay, here's the last of the botanical garden photos.  I'll have to plan something super fun and exciting this weekend so I can keep you entertained next week. 

this is a loooooong post.