Kōlea

Today I saw a Pacific golden plover wandering around on the grass near our apartment.  This is not a new occurrence.  For the last three years that we have lived here, various golden plovers have been winter residents at the apartment complex.  There's usually two or three on the grassy mound outside our apartment building.  They seem to set up territories where they feed on little insects and become quite agitated when another plover comes near.  I've seen two in battle presumably over who lays claim to a particular spot of grass.  The plover I saw today is the first one for the Fall and I expect heralds the onset of colder weather in places where it gets cold.  

The amazing thing is that I noticed.  I haven't noticed a lot here.   Although I have appreciated the beauty of  the islands, I've felt disconnected  ever since I arrived here.  Part of this feeling I am sure is that I left a place that was very familiar and comfortable.  Also, conditions here always seem to stay the same.  Same temperature, same rain, same puffy clouds sliding by in the sky, same plants, and people, and birds, and bugs.  I am overstating the situation of course.  There are subtle changes here.  It does get a little cooler at different times of the year and sometimes it rains more than others.  The living things change as well.  I want to say those changes are minor, insignificant, unnoticable.  But none of that would be true.  They are noticeable if we care enough to pay attention.

I have continued to be an observer of my surroundings.  But, even so the things I probably noticed more here were all the invaders: weeds, mongoose, rats, alien birds, and insects.  These are commonplace and visible in the urban environment.  And admittedly I have tried to seek out native environments so I can experience those.  But, I wonder if I've noticed the non-natives more because I too am an invader or at least felt like one.  Maybe, by noticing the plover, I am starting to care about this place more and connect with the natural cycles.  Does this mean I, like other invasives, am becoming naturalized.  Does this mean Hawai'i could become home?

Or perhaps I am like the golden plover, a seasonal migrant, a temporary resident that gains respite from harsher conditions.