Molokini crater, Maui, Hawaii, USA Aug. 6, 2024

Today we"re in Molokini Crater. This pleasant crescent in the Pacific Ocean lies in the "Alalākeiki Channel between the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kaho"olawe. The islet is all that remains of a volcano that erupted about 230,000 years ago. According to Hawaiian mythology, Pele the fire goddess was in love with a man named Mo"o. The trouble was that Mo"o was in love with another woman. Pele"s revenge was typically violent: she cut her rival in two, her body becoming Molokini, while her head became Pu"u Olai, a cinder cone on Maui.

© Douglas Peebles/eStock Photo

palette

Today in History

A mirror reflecting natures beauty
A salty situation
Aug. 6, 2025Ring-tailed lemur

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar. 2, 2026Harbour and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand
May 21, 2025International Tea Day
Dec. 13, 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Sep. 11, 2023French River, Ontario
Feb. 28, 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Aug. 29, 2023Zelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia
An ocean of stars above the desert
Jan. 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Jun. 5, 2024World Environment Day
A city so nice, they made it twice
Oct. 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
Shell-ebrating sea turtles
Jan. 11, 2026Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Where buffalo roam
Apr. 4, 2026Black grouse males, Estonia
Dec. 23, 2024Celebrating Festivus
Apr. 27, 2025Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Apr. 13, 2024Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Jun. 4, 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Bardia National Park, Nepal
Jan. 25, 2025Porto, Portugal
Jul. 10, 2024Collared aracari
Dec. 14, 2024Christmas Bird Count turns 125
Jul. 26, 2024Summer Olympics begin in Paris
May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day
Underwater underground
Feb. 27, 2024International Polar Bear Day
Widespread and long-eared
Preserving Alaskas natural beauty