Hawai’i is not known for the sort of mass blooms that occur across large sections of the arid Southwestern US in years of favorable rainfall. But a smaller version does occasionally occur across the younger lava flows around Waikoloa and Kiholo.
Spring storms have brought several inches of rain to the normally arid Waikoloa area, the soils are saturated. A few species of wildflower have taken advantage of the conditions to bloom en-mass.
The primary species is Dahlberg daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba) carpeting many acres in a bright yellow show. Among the rough terrian of rock and mesquite it is rather pretty.
Dalhberg daisy is an invasive, probably imported as an ornamental, but this short lived annual does not seem to have any worrisome ecological impacts and is not a high priority for eradication.
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