Honolulu Daily Photos

Foot Steps

2008-07-13T18:38:00.001-10:00

I took this photo yesterday evening as this girl was walking along the shore. The silhouette with the soft colors of sunset made this a photo interesting to me.

Sweet Shore Break

2008-06-24T22:20:00.000-10:00

This is a picture I took a couple of months ago but since I haven't taken any new ones in the last couple of days, I hope you will enjoy this just as well!

Definitely "Lost"

2008-06-22T21:57:00.001-10:00

Here's another photo from the same days exploration!

Indiana Jones or Lost?

2008-06-21T21:45:00.000-10:00

Could not figure out where I was at - on an episode of Indiana Jones of Lost

Surf Hawaii

2008-06-17T10:15:00.000-10:00

An advanced apology since I took this photo back in late February and never got to post it - I don't have anything special for today, so here is a photo I took a couple of months back. South swells hit the islands last week but did not get to capture those awesome waves so heres one from the North Swells.

This is Hawai'i...

2008-06-16T21:36:00.003-10:00

...well, one part of Hawai'i anyway, with its beautiful green lush mountains and deep blue oceans and cool trade winds swaying palm trees! Breathtaking indeed! Imagine seeing this in person!

Clouds and things

2008-06-15T19:27:00.002-10:00

Clouds passing through as the Ko'olau mountains stand in the background

Circular Rainbow

2008-06-14T19:00:00.000-10:00

Only once before have I experienced seeing a circular rainbow - the other time, while I was paragliding above 4000 ft (1219.2 meters). This time, I was only about 2500 feet elevation and did not have to set both feet off planet earth when I saw this circular rainbow with an angels silhouette right in the middle! Tomorrow, I'll show you some other pics from the hike.

Thanks for ALL your patience - kinda busy with life but trying to post as I can!

Peace and Love!

Sunrise - Kahana Bay

2008-05-26T20:47:00.002-10:00

Six paddlers, one canoe, and one ocean.

Anchored off shore in Kahana Bay, the sun begins to rise in the horizon as the start of the second days journey begin for this canoe, as it travels a route around the island of O'ahu in three days.

Lucky 13

2008-05-25T20:46:00.001-10:00

From Electrical Post number 13 is a splendid view of the back side of Koko Crater with the Botanical gardens and surrounding community

Mountain Goats

2008-05-23T20:41:00.001-10:00

Just when I thought I did not have any photos to show for, look closely enough, and I discovered mountain goats on the cliffs edge as Kate stands on the facing cliff.

Below is the close-up

And below is the image from kate's camera as they scurried down the steep face

Doris Duke Shangri La Estates

2008-05-22T20:32:00.001-10:00

Finally, posting my follow-up to the previous post - this is actually the back side of the Doris Duke "Shangri La" Estates. She was a collector of Islamic and South East Asian art. Duke University was named after her father, James Duke. Doris Duke owed numerous properties, this being one of them. She was a philanthropist, and donated much to medical research and child welfare programs. She died in 1993. Today, visitors may tour her estates through the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

An abandoned prison...

2008-05-18T00:23:00.000-10:00

well, not quite - I'll show you what this place really is tomorrow! If you think you know what this place is, give it a shout!

Honolulu Triathlon

2008-05-17T00:16:00.001-10:00

This past Sunday was the Honolulu Distance Triathlon, a 1500 Meter Swim, 40K Bike, 10K Run, starting at Ala Moana Magic Island - This photo was taken the day before as the lifeguards prepared the swim buoys for the first leg of the triathlon. From the photo, you can see the vog in the air due to the lack of trade winds - Sunday proved to be one of the hottest days for this time of the year in a long time, reaching 90 degrees!

Hiking in Hawaii

2008-05-16T22:54:00.002-10:00

One of my two favorite playgrounds - the other being the ocean, the mountains provide spectacular views, a sense of tranquility and complete peace of mind and spirit. These two photos were taken last Sunday along the Ko'olau trek.

Canoe Paddling

2008-05-08T00:30:00.002-10:00

This may not seem like an appropriate photo for a city daily photo blog,but if you spend time in the islands, then you too will perhaps understand how the Ocean is very much a part of our culture and lifestyle. Much of our everyday quality of living depends on the land and the ocean - Malama i ka wai - to take care of the waters that feed and nourishes us - mind, body and spirit.

I took this photo tonight during a break in my ocean training run and noticed the rain squall passing up ahead as the sun was setting and canoe paddlers seemingly paddling into the sunset. Malama i ka wai - if you smoke, don't throw your cigarette butts on the ground because it goes down the drain system and back out to the ocean, polluting the ecosystem we so cherish and depend on =)

Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

2008-05-06T20:41:00.006-10:00

One of the United States' most endangered mammal, the population of these beautiful Hawaiian Monk Seals (`Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua) are on a steady decline of about ~10% a year. There is currently about a little over a thousand left, spread throughout the Hawaiian islands as well as the NorthWestern island chains. The first official sighting and documentation of these animals started in the early 1800s and presumably originated from ancestors that date back in time and are the most primitive living members of the Family Phocidae, having separated from other true seals perhaps 15 million years ago. This youngster kept coming by me just begging for a picture, so here you go Ms. or Mr. Monk Seal! Going to a park attraction to see these animals is one thing but to see them out in the wild open ocean like I did here is quite an experience, esp. when it keeps wanting to hangout with me. By law, you are supposed to stay within a certain distance so as not to disturb them so I tried my best to keep away.

Here's a recent Monk Seal story in the news:
http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/06/news/story05.html

Heads Up!

2008-05-05T00:00:00.002-10:00

This is one of those photos that I did not realize what I captured until after looking at the full image on my computer screen - two guys, wide eyed and jaw dropped, looking at the sheer size of this wave that just popped up. I am certain te wave is probably much more intimidating from their vantage point, but nonetheless, this was a very impressive display of mother nature.

Another colorful Sunset

2008-05-04T01:45:00.000-10:00

Yet another Sunset - I contemplated whether I should post yet another Sunset photo but I just enjoyed the colors too much and could not resist, so here is a Sunset from Sunday evening.

Velvet Sunset

2008-04-27T08:44:00.001-10:00

I hope you all don't mind that I have posted another sunset photo. This was another photo of the sunset during vog Saturday with the haze in the horizon as the orangish sun is setting above the blue Pacific Ocean. My friend and I had returned from a hike and relaxed at the beach on this beautiful evening. Shortly after this photo was taken, the sun disappeared into the vog and so you could not see the complete ending of the setting sun..

Vog Day!

2008-04-26T22:38:00.000-10:00

The heavy vog that blanketed O'ahu these past couple of days caused the sun's colors to be reddish orange creating this beautiful colored sunset. The vog is caused by the volcanic smoke on the Big Island that moves its way to O'ahu and lingers in the atmosphere when the trade winds drop.

Brookville Inspired

2008-04-25T16:49:00.002-10:00

I was doing a run along the coast about a month ago when I came across these birds and immediate thought of Abraham Lincoln - not the President, but his relative of the same name from Brookville.
I'm not sure what type of birds these are but they have the best life! They can fly where ever they want without having to worry about rising fuel cost and airfare prices. Prices for round trip plane tickets to the mainland U.S. have risen several hundred dollars in the last several weeks since Aloha Airlines shut down passenger flight operations.

"Ladies First"

2008-04-24T11:14:00.003-10:00

I've gotten back on the training track this year, paddling on the water seven times a week, running, biking, weight training, hiking, kayaking, breathing, sleeping and eating in between, and forgetting to blog! Hence my absence from posting so thank you for your patience as I try to balance it all. I have been taking photos, just haven't gotten to downloading them to the computer.

This photo was taken about a month ago at Mt. Olomana's third peak - Ahiki.

Sunrise!

2008-03-11T23:11:00.002-10:00

I photographed this for my friend, Leslie, a couple of mornings ago but I decided I would post this on here as well - hope you will enjoy a hawaiian sunrise from my lanai!

The Impossible Climb

2008-03-09T17:46:00.003-10:00

A hike/climb up the Ko'olau from the east facing side of the island with an elevation gain greater than eight football fields and physically challenging to climb and even more difficult to descend. Hiking in the islands is unlike any hikes I've done elsewhere ... if you have some great hikes, let me know!