Bracelets

My friend Traci makes these cool wire & bead bracelets, and each one is an original design. I saw her making these bracelets one afternoon, and thought they would make great gifts. I picked up these two from Traci, to give to my daughters for Valentine's Day last year. I wanted to try my hand at small product photography, before giving my girls their gifts.

Traci, this one's for you!

Afternoon In The Park

A couple spends a romantic moment in a park on a Sunday afternoon. I saw this unsuspecting couple having their picnic, while getting shots of plants and a waterfall.

Thought the monochrome sepia effect would add a nice touch.

Answered Prayer

The Lord definitely answers prayers! Our Hope968 worship service was scheduled for a "Sunny Service" at Magic Island yesterday. The weather forecast for Sunday called for rain and Kona Winds. Several members of a mini-church lifted the service up in prayer for clear weather on Sunday. The Lord came through and blessed us, providing clear skies for most of the day. The cloud band seen in the photo kept moving east. The next set of clouds did not roll in until late in the afternoon. Thanks & praise to the Lord God!

Never Thirst

In John 4:14, Jesus Christ said, "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Mahalo to Joel and Colin for helping me out with this shot. It is a concept shot for Hope968 I shot in 2004.

Coconut On A Fencepost

Why?

Why not!

I'm still not sure what prompted me to pose this shot. Temporary insanity? I just thought it would be something humorous.

Sparkler Boy

This lad lights another sparkler at the Hilton Lagoon before the Fourth of July fireworks show.

100% Hawaiian Cotton

I saw this cotton tree, the other day, while walking with a friend in Manoa. I asked her if that looked like cotton. Judging by the one's on the ground we figured it must be. I had to go back yesterday to get shots of this tree.

The Hawaiian variety is called Ma‘o, and has the same yellow flower I saw on this tree, but too high up to get a decent shot.

What amused me was that the first thing I thought about was the southern US, and the pictures in our American history books. I was always under the impression that cotton was a hedge.

Donna, this one's for you!

Baby Pine

I guess you could this a sapling? Whatever the name, this little pine tree is about two feet off the ground. Can you imagine in a decade how tall this tree could be?

Blast From The Past?

Is it 1973? Or are you having a 70s flashback? Well, the photo may look it, but this photo was from Aloha Airlines' 60th Birthday function held this past July at Honolulu International Airport. Flight Attendants Jodi (left) and Chrissy (right) pose atop the right wing of N823AL, a.k.a the "Funbird". Jodi is modeling a 1969-era uniform, and Chrissy models a 1973-era uniform. I thought with a little Photoshop magic, I could make this look like an old photo.

Unfortunately, the un-Photoshopped version of this shot did not make the pages of "Airways" magazine's November 2006 issue, which featured other shots I had submitted of past and present flight attendants modeling uniforms from Aloha's past to the present day.

Thanks to the folks at Aloha Airlines for allowing me to attend their birthday celebration.

The Power Of Unity

Nothing is stronger than a husband and wife going in the same direction, with the same vision.

This photo was taken during Kirk & Merilyn's wedding ceremony in August, while they were taking Communion.

Kahala Dawn

Dawn breaks behind Wai‘alae Iki Ridge on an early June morning of Marcus & Brenda's wedding rehearsal. Their ceremony began at 5:30am the next day. It was the 1st time I have shot, much less been to a sunrise wedding. Everything went well, the Lord blessed Marcus & Brenda with perfect weather on their wedding day. As the ceremony wrapped up, the sun made its presence, rising behind the ridgeline.

Tiny Reflections

The beads of water on these leaves reflect the trees way above them. I like the way matte-coated leaves allow water to bead up when it rains.

Strike A Pose

Sashaying down the runway, this beautiful Korean model wears one of André Kim's haute coture designs for 2006 for the 2006 SBS Open fashion show. André Kim is one of South Korea's well-known fashion designers. The SBS Open is an annual LPGA tournament, held at the Turtle Bay Resort, that is sponsored by one of South Korea's largest TV networks. The fashion show featured LPGA golfers Christina Kim, Paula Creamer (2005 LPGA Rookie of the Year), Natalie Gulbis, and Shi-Hyun Ahn in the finale, wearing dresses inspired by "Romantic"-era paintings.

I was on the camera crew of the video portion of the fashion show, and I took this shot during rehearsals after our camera blocking was done. This was one of the more conservative haute coture designs, there were also some golfwear designs he did, and were modeled. I couldn't get the songs "Vogue" and "Supermodel" out of my head during the duration of the shoot.

One More Year!

University of Hawai‘i Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan will play his senior season for the Warriors, and forego the 2007 National Football League entry draft.

This photo was taken during Colt's guest speaking appearance at a Hope968 worship service, this past November.

We're glad he's staying for one more season! What records will Colt set or break?

Kaho‘olawe

A view of the island of Kaho‘olawe from 13,000 feet. This island had been used by the military as a target platform, but has been returned to the State of Hawai‘i. It is undergoing a clean-up process of unexploded ordinance and hazardous materials.

This photo was taken during the go! media preview flight (YV1200) this past June, on Bombardier CRJ200ER, N693BR. All four islands of Mau‘i County are visible in this shot. The island of Lana‘i is in the upper left, the island in the upper center is Moloka‘i, and the island of Mau‘i on the upper right of Kaho‘olawe.

Blackout Candles

What do you do with no electricity during an island-wide blackout and have only two candles? Photograph them! These candles and glass holders were table favors from Nate & Megumi's wedding. I thought the glass looked cool, and didn't think I'd have to use the candles. I was wrong. I took this photo during the post-earthquake power outage on October 15, 2006.

Team Aina Wins 61st Hula Bowl

Team Aina pulled off some fourth quarter heroics to win the 61st Hula Bowl. In their defeat over Team Kai, 18 - 10, Aina scored 15 unanswered points in the last couple minutes of the game. A few players from the BCS National Champions University of Florida Gators made the trip to play on Aina.

Team Aina, seen here in their green jerseys, huddle during their pre-game warm-ups.

Tribute To Warrior Seniors

Here's a tribute to the University of Hawai‘i Warrior football team seniors. Seven Warrior seniors made the 2007 Cornerstone Bancard Hula Bowl roster, and will be playing in today's game for Team Kai. Mahalo for a season well-played, guys! We will miss you! Much success on your future endevours!

Mahalo to Senior Defensive Lineman Lawrence Wilson (#99) for allowing me to use his helmet for this shot before the Warriors 42 - 35 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers.

Naked As A RareBird?

What do you say to a naked airliner? Your guess is as good as mine. This unpainted Boeing 737-700 is actually destined for the Royal Australian Air Force as an early warning aircraft. It's headed there for some test flights, then will return to the Boeing plant outside Seattle for final installation of the military gear, and getting painted.

Aircraft enthusiasts consider this jet "green" for the protective coating over the aluminum skin, or naked for not being painted.

This shot probably belongs on my other blog HNL RareBirds.

Friday Night Lights

Yeah ... I know it's the title of a movie & TV series ... but some schools have great turn outs for their games at Aloha Stadium.

Football season is winding down as the NFL continues through its playoff run. High school football ended in early December with the King Kekaulike Na Ali‘i blowing past the Kaua‘i Red Raiders 33 - 20 for the Division II title. In the Division I finals, the Kahuku Red Raiders took the state championship, barely beating the Saint Louis Crusaders 7 - 6. The University of Hawai‘i Warriors capped off an exciting and record-breaking season with a 41 - 24 victory over the Arizona State University Sun Devils in the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl on Christmas Eve.

In today's photo, taken from the press box, it's the pre-game warm-ups before the state Division I semi-finals between the Wai‘anae Seariders (white jerseys, left) and the Saint Louis School Crusaders (navy jerseys, right). Saint Louis won the game 10 - 7.

Sunflower Butterfly

Ever get those "still-small-voice" moments? This is one of those times. Yesterday, I went back to the downtown community garden hoping to find a new shot. As I was about to leave, I saw this butterfly pollenating this sunflower. I could not go without getting a few shots. I had to time the shot to get it with its wings open ... a test of patience and a fast shutter.

Funny thing ... I did not notice this sunflower on Sunday. This was definitely one of those God moments! He gets all the credit and glory for this shot! :-)

Dash8 Moonset

In this 30-second exposure, an Island Air Dash8-100 takes off from Runway 8L as the moonsets behind downtown, and the Wai‘anae Mountain Range at 5:30am, last February.

A view of HNL was a major selling point for me when I got my condo ten years ago. However, that view has come to an end. Capitol Place, a new high rise on the corner of Beretania and Queen Emma Streets has blocked my view. Oh well ... that's life.

Mizuna

In keeping with the New Year's theme, I saw this mizuna plant (Japanese mustard greens) in a downtown community garden plot, and was captivated by the shape of the leaves, and each one different from the other.

Mizuna is a vital ingredient in ozoni, the New Year's mochi soup for good luck.

Reika, this one's for you!

Moloka‘i and Lana‘i

The islands of Moloka‘i (bottom) and Lana‘i (top), as seen from 13,000 feet. This was photo taken during Island Air's media flight this past March. The flight previewed its new Bombardier Dash8-Q400 airliner (N539DS). We are making our way back to HNL after a low pass over the Kahului Airport's (OGG) Runway 2.

Six Pack

All six buds of my orchid plant have bloomed! Orchid number 6 opened up yesterday morning. :-)

I wanted to keep the shot simple, and thought the black duve would provide a good amount of contrast. The original plan was to upload a color shot, but had a brainstorm to shift to black & white. It's the first (and certainly not the last) monochrome shot to be posted. What could be simpler? :-D

Water Colour

The Board of Water Supply's fountain on Beretania Street got lit up by coloured LEDs placed under water for the Christmas season. In this shot, I mangaged to catch all of the LEDs lit at one time.

Girl Watching Sunset

Shiho watches the sun set from Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park, in this photo I took of her and this sunset 2 years ago this week.

Media Circus ... Part Deux

Here we are, waiting to do an interview with some celebrity couple from Japan at Honolulu International Airport's Foreign Arrivals. Who they were? I have no idea. At least, we are lined up in an orderly fashion. This is an annual event is normally covered by 4 major TV networks, and several press photographers from Japan. During the NewYear's season, we wait to catch interviews with Japanese celebrities.

The reporters are off-screen to the right. What's not seen as well, are Japanese people (mostly tourists & students we called "groupies") hanging out at HNL, waiting to catch a glimpse or photo of any celebrity we that we get shots of.

Mahalo Johnny, for taking our group photo with my L3!

New Year's Rainbow

The clouds and light rain rolled in during the late afternoon on New Year's Day casting a rainbow somewhere over Kaimuki.

Here's one shot where I'm glad I had one of my cameras with me to capture a moment like this. I saw the palm tree frame the rainbow, and could not resist spending a few minutes to get shots of it, before going out to dinner. About five minutes after I took this shot, the shower band arrived, and I made it to my car in time.

Remember This?

Everyone who has gone to elementary school here in Hawai‘i has had to make "plumeria" leis cut out from colored construction paper, drinking straws, and string for Lei Day (May 1st), or any other special occasion.

Can you imagine the size of the sheets of construction paper to make these flowers? :-D

It's 2007!?!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! May your 2007 be full of blessings.

It seems like we just ushered in 2006!?! My, how time flies by!

Photo taken during the Aloha Tower New Year's fireworks show.