Cliffs of Kaua‘i

While on approach to the Līhu‘e Airport, our Mokulele Airlines media flight passes abeam Kawai Point and Kipu Kai on Kaua‘i's southern coast.

Cereus

A night-blooming cereus captured in the morning light.

Watercolour Yacht

One of the yachts parked at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor ... with a litlle Photoshop watercolor effect.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Let us all be thankful for all of our blessings and challenges we had over the past year.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name."
Psalm 100:4

Ponderance

A silouhette shot of Kathy, taken one late afternoon at one of the lagoons of Ko Olina, and the second version of a shot I posted back in February.

Mokulele Airlines

Mokulele Airlines began inter-island jet service last Wednesday to give traveleers a third airline option when flying between the Hawaiian Islands. Mokulele has a partnership with Republic Airways, who are providing up to six of these Embraer E170s.

I got this photo while sitting on board the media flight, which went to Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i, and back.

The service and the aircraft was great! They have a great product, and wish them much success!

2008 Grey Cup Champions

Congratulations to the Calgary Stampeders, who are the 2008 Grey Cup Champions of the Canadian Football League. The Stampeders beat the Montréal Alouettes 22-14 yesterday in Montréal's Olympic Stadium, before a crowd of 63,000 plus.

I was rooting for the Alouettes, since quarterback Anthony Calvillo sat out the last part of the 2007 season and playoffs to tend to his wife, who went through cancer surgery, and to care for their three young daughters. Calvillo led the East Division Alouettes to this season's champioship game, after his wife's condition stabilized. Even his teammates supported his decision last season. I thought, by winning the Grey Cup, it would have been a fitting reward, but It was not meant to be. I did get to see Calvillo play back in 1994, when he was a rookie quarterback with the Las Vegas Posse (part of the CFL's US expansion that lasted only two seasons) play against the BC Lions at the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in Henderson, NV. The Lions won, 39-16.

I got the Stampeders mini helmet about a decade ago, and was trying to collect all eight teams ... I got halfway there. I guess someday, I'll get the remaining teams mini helmets.

Happy 45th Birthday!

Another year has gone by ... and how quickly, too!

This year my birthday falls on a Sunday, but I'm taking a day off from shooting the Pop Warner League football tournament. Instead, I'll be spending listening to the CFL Grey Cup on the internet (among other things).

Today's photo was taken last year by a fan for me with my L3. It was right before starting the Boise State - Hawaii game that was on my birthday last year. The camera equipment seen above was replaced this summer by brand new equipment! Gone is our high-tech low-priced camera cover, known as a trash bag custom-fitted with gaffer's tape, replaced with a real camera cover.

Last night's game in which the University of Hawaii Warriors blasted the University of Idaho Vandals, 49-17, I was on the same north end zone camera, but the big difference was the temperature, it was chillier than the game last year. So much so, that there was wind chill even earlier in the day. It prompted me to wear my long-sleeve turtleneck t-shirt, and my BDU pants. I kid you not, it was at least 5-10 degrees colder than whatever the thermometer stated.

I just realized that this is my 700th post ...

JFK

Forty-five years ago today, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX.

Kennedy's likeness replaced Benjamin Franklin on the 50 cent piece, along with the presidential seal replacing the Independence Hall on the tail side of the coin.

Leaving Honolulu

Metro Honolulu in the background as we depart HNL. Ala Moana Beach Park and the Ala Wai Boat Harbor are on the coastline.

This was from one of my west coast business trips a few years ago ...

The blurry spot in the bottom left corner is condensation on the outer glass, which later form into ice crystals.

Red & Green Cactus

While through the community garden near my apartment, I saw this interesting cactus growing in the front of the garden.

6am Moonset

An autumn moonset caught at 6am.

Lizard On Lanai

Found this little visitor on my lanai on morning before watering my plants. Thought black and white would be the best since the lanai surface is grey, and the lizard was shades of brown.

Coral Flower

A coral tree flower from Foster Botanical Garden.

Sun Ray

A ray of early morning sunlight shoots past the clouds.

Loulu

A frond from a Loulu palm.

Sun Wind Waves

Sunlight reflection on the wind-blown surface of the ocean.

Cityscape

Puffy clouds hover above downtown Honolulu.

Different Colors

A coral (foreground) and a fuschia colored rose from an altar arrangement for church. It's not often I get to see roses in these clolors.

Veteran's Day

We honor the men and women who have served our great country this day! We salute your courage and selfless acts in keeping the USA free. Thank you!

A Hawai‘i Air National Guard F-15A "Eagle" departs HNL, south-bound on a training sortie.

Giant Agave

This giant agave is part of Kapi‘olani Community College's xeriscape garden. The very top reached about seven feet.

Afternoon Fishing

A bunch of fishermen cast their hooks at the mouth of the Kalaeloa Harbor.

Hollow Points

Two jacketed hollow point .45ACP bullets: the left, is an unfired Federal Hydra-Shok; and the right is a Hydra-Shok bullet I shot from my Glock into water-filled milk cartons. Hollow point bullets are designed to expand, to help incapacitate the target.

I had seen these test done in firearms magazines, and wanted to try it myself. Some friends and I found a private range on the other side of the island that allowed us to shoot objects. So I saved several half-gallon milk cartons, filled them with water, and lined them sideways.

Remove Before Flight

These long red tags are attached to a parked aircraft, to keep it place, or protect parts from damage. They need to be removed before flight by either the flight crew or ground crew. This tag belongs to the engine inlet of Kamaka Air's new Cessna Super Cargomaster.

Mickey & Minnie

This Mickey & Minnie Mouse knife set belongs to Josh & Sheri, who used it to cut the cake at their wedding reception.

Crystal Rose

I gave this Swarovski crystal rose to Kathy for Valentine's Day this year ...

Exercise Your Right!

What better shot for Election Day, than a voter's stub, mine, for today's General Election. Well, actually I had cast my absentee ballot this past Friday.

I exercised my civic duty ... did you?

Harajuku Lovers

Singer Gwen Stefani came out with a fashion line called Harajuku Lovers, and one of the products is perfume. There are five bottles based on characters Stefani came up with, and each has its own scent. This scent, called "Love" was one that Kathy picked out when we went shopping a couple of weeks back. This bottle was so cute I wanted to get a shot of it.

Tractor Treads

This month's theme week is the "small stuff", or macro shots, extreme close-ups, or small items ... you get the picture.

Today's photo is an extreme close-up of tractor treads from an earth mover I came across on a beach.

Orchid Leaf

A leaf from one of my orchids ...