Haleakala Crater

Just got back from two days/nights in the national park that is Haleakala Crater. It was supposed to be just one night at a rented park service cabin but weather kicked our asses into staying another night courtesy of the woman that had rented the cabin. She asked us to stay, Mr. Park Service Enforcement Ranger, yes she did!

When Norm didn't call his mom the day we were supposed to come out, she called in the posse. We got a lecture when we topped out at the switch back exit...but I'd dare them to say they'd have hiked out in the gale force winds that were down there. I know they were just doing their jobs and they deal with idiots year round unlike our Alaska parks but I will cut them slack about one minute after they cut us some.
The real rescue party, ready willing and able to come to our assistance.
Breakfast of champions our first morning in the crater at the Kapalaoa cabin...note the brilliant sunshine coming in the window. Not giving us a clue as to what lay ahead, good thing we fueled up!

The silversword are cross pollinating with another native plant up there, and we saw a couple of the hybrids as we crossed the valley floor. The hybrids are more green than the silversword and take on the yellow flowers of the other plant.
Here we were able to get both plants to pose carefully to demonstrate the difference between the two.

Everywhere there's a possibility of encountering the other critically endangered species (the silversword are endangered) the Nene, there are signs that say not to feed them. This inspired much Marlin Perkins style amusement when we got to our cabin and were accosted by a pair of birds.
They are related to Canadian Geese, don't migrate and are shameless beggers. Not a bad life soliciting snacks from tourists, but that "tame" quality nearly caused their extinction and they're still not able to reproduce quickly enough to keep their numbers up. Captive breeding is still going on, but we saw a baby at the second cabin!

The parents were a little less aggressive, they were busy guarding junior while he nibbled his way around the yard. They chased off a second pair that landed that evening.