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Morabeza79 posted a photo:

alahe'e, 'ōhe'e, walahe'e.

I looked forward to plant this much-loved native plant. Mature plants between 3-6m produce small fragrant white flowers. These are easily spotted along hiking trails here in the Ko'olau and Wai'anae Mountains as one ascends through dry shrubland, mesic and then wet forests.

The wood it produces was valued by ancient Hawaiians for its durability and density. The leaves also were used to make a black dye.

Indigenous to Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Marquesas, Pitcairn Islands, Society Islands, Tuamotus Islands, Tubuai Islands, Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, New Caledonia, and all the main islands of Hawai'i except Ni'ihau.

Supspecies arnhemica, australiana, buxifolia and formas foveolata, parviflorifera and subnitida are all endemic to various regions of Australia.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Any mild fear of heights that I had before were banished the previous day. I'm pleased with how nonchalent I look in this one :D

Photo by Sheri Christian.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

On the way down to Down Ah Gord, Pitcairn. This was relatively easy...

Photo by Sheri Christian.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Looking down on St. Paul's Pool, you can see how clear the water is. It is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful tidal pools anywhere in the world.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Huge breakers crash into St. Paul's Pool, where even the strongest swimmers are advised to stay away from the areas - where strong current can easily wash you out to sea.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

A rock wall shields the kaleidoscopic waters of St. Paul's Pool from the South Pacific Ocean. Even on calm days, the pool can suddenly be swamped by freak waves, which can wash people out to sea.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

A plaque at 'The Edge' commemorating the arrival of the Bounty on Pitcairn. Written in Pitkern dialect, it reads:

"Bout ya 200 years ago, January 1790, dem Bounty mutineer en dems Tahitian gerl cum orf ar Bounty. Uwas descendency start ya! Path of uwas ancestors...

Wi unvall dae plaque in memory of awas proud sullum orn the 23rd January, 1990, during Pitcairn Island's bicentennial celebrations orn behalf a dem Pitcairn Island descendants en families from all about."

It was dedicated by Norfolk Islanders, who themselves are share the history of some of their Pitcairn cousins, who were moved there from their homes some hundred years ago.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

leo_phillips posted a photo:

The only shop on the island, the Pitcairn Island General Store is surprisingly well stocked with essential items. And a huge fridge full of chocolate.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

One of Pitcairn's most famous exports, these stamps in Adamstown museum tell of the opening stages of the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

The landing, at the only (tiny) bay on Pitcairn - which has been substantially enlarged from the time of the Mutineers, who couldn't come ashore for three days due to rough seas. This picture is taken from a bench near the top of the 'Hill of Difficulty'.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

The public hall in the Main Square in Pitcairn's 'capital city', Adamstown. It is big enough to house the island's entire population. It was used as the Courthouse during the infamous trials of 2004.

The building itself sits atop the old cemetery, where the remains of Fletcher Christian's wife is believed to be.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Just past the banyan trees, Tom and Betty - themselves descendants of Fletcher Christian - live on a site where their ancestor lived over two hundred years ago.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

One of four cannons raised from the submerged wreck of the Bounty, this now resides outside Len's house in the 'suburbs' of Adamstown.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Rosalind Amelia Young was, and remains the only Pitcairner to have written a book about the island's history.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Three-week old Yoda, and Ummerulla (meaning 'clumsy' in Pitkern) take a break from wrestling and cleaning.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

leo_phillips posted a photo:

The main road, from Adamstown to Tom and Betty's house. Fletcher Christian's first island home was said to be past these trees.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Perhaps a thousand years old, these petroglyphs were drawn by ancient Polynesian settlers on Pitcairn. Experts still have no idea what they mean.

leo_phillips posted a photo:

Just after fishing, but just before our picnic!