Rail Pylons

The Honolulu Area Rapid Transit rail system is under construction, and is supposed to connect the cities of Kapolei and Honolulu, to alleviate the traffic on the island of O‘ahu. As housing development has moved to the western part of O‘ahu, the freeway infrastructure did not widen to accommodate the amount of cars that travel between the west side and downtown. After decades of debate, the federal government funded this project, along with the state, which is to be completed in 2018.

The original rail plan that was proposed by then-Mayor Frank Fasi in the 1980s, would have spurred into west, central and east O‘ahu, connecting the major locations. Had this come to fruition, it would have already helped out the traffic on O‘ahu.

This system being built now, will only connect Honolulu and Kapolei. Additional routes are planned, but not confirmed.

Sparkles

Sunlight sparkles on the ocean, as the water ripples ...

Metsumiatte!

The title is the photographer's way to tell the couple to gaze at each other in Japanese. This couple was having their post-wedding photos taken on the lawn fronting Ko Olina's Lagoon 4, where the Aqua Veil Wedding Chapel is adjacent to. I took this as we were returning to our car, following some time at the beach.

In For Repairs

This Convair 640F from TransAir was in its hangar for heavy maintenance, and a new paint job. Workers are seen above sanding and priming the fuselage.

Aloha Grey Cup

In 2012, the Toronto Argonauts won the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup championship. One of the key players on the Argonauts offence and special teams is Hawai‘i's own Chad Owens. As part of a mini-documentary, with TSN and the CFL, the was brought to Honolulu with Owens, and taken around some of his favorite places.

Tourists

A group of Japanese tourists take in the view from the Pu‘u ‘Ualaka State Park, most commonly known as the Tantalus Park, that overlooks the city of Honolulu, and the southern portion of the island of O‘ahu.

Kapalua Bay

The view of Kapalua Bay from outside the Ritz Carlton Maui. The big lawn in the foreground is a resting place for ‘iwi, or ancient Hawaiian bones.

Red Dachshund, Orange Pillows

Emi strikes a pose while photographing her on two orange pillows.

Baptism

Last summer, my dad was baptized at Ala Moana Beach Park, symbolizing his new faith in Jesus. His Senior Pastor Elwin Ahu (right) of New Hope Metro did the honors.

The Artist And His Design

Well-known Hawaiian clothing designer Sig Zane was commissioned by Hawaiian Airlines to design a livery for their ‘Ohana by Hawaiian subsidiary. This photo was taken during the unveiling of the airline. ‘Ohana by Hawaiian began service last week.

Happy 5th Anniversary

Today, Kat & I celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary.

Happy anniversary hunny!

Streaky Rain

Caught during a heavy downpour, I set the iris setting as low as could go, so the shutter speed would slow as well to get this shot.

Orchid

One of the orchids in bloom at my cousin's house.

Grazing

One afternoon, while walking Emi, we came across this horse grazing in an empty lot near our home.

Better With Bacon

One of the contestants in a baking contest had these chocolate-dipped bacon strips stuck into cupcakes.

Swirls

Swirling clouds above Honolulu ...

Flower Shower

The guests of this Japanese tourist wedding shower the happy couple with rose pedals as they exit the wedding chapel. This wedding was the one before the couple I was assigned to videotape.

Cheap Sunshade

The flight crew of this former United Airlines Boeing 737-500 used its navigational charts to rig a makeshift sunshade while the aircraft rested between flight segments as it was ferried from the US mainland to Indonesia.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Beer

This Paradise Beverage truck appears to have a weight shift in the beer that it was transporting. The driver was making a left turn from Pu‘uloa Road onto Nimitz Highway when some of its liquid cargo spilled on onto Nimitz closing off a few eastbound lanes as Honolulu Police officers, Hawai‘i State Sheriff's deputies, and others assisted in helping with the clean-up.

Morning Dew On Widshield

An Ölloclip Macro shot of morning dew on the windshield of my car ...

Byron's Drive-In

Last February, Byron's Drive-In closed its windows after 47 years of service on the corner of Nimitz Highway and Paiea Street. The 24-7 local eatery was very popular with airline employees and passengers from Honolulu International Airport, industrial workers from the surrounding area, and military personnel.

During the New Year's season, Byron's was the breakfast spot for Japanese TV news crews assigned to the celebrity watch at HNL's International Arrivals. From 1991 to 2011, I was one of the camera operators assigned to a Japanese TV network to get interviews from Japanese celebrities exiting the doors of the International Arrivals. I miss the fried rice omelet, and had to get one before they closed for good.

This photo was taken a couple of days before their last day. Fortunately, the line wasn't too bad. On the last day, it stretched quite a distance as folks got the last of their Byron's favorites.

Fractured Clouds

A combination of vog (volcanic haze), sunlight, and fractured clouds taken one afternoon a few weeks ago ...

Saint Marianne of Moloka‘i

Mother Marianne Cope, a Sister of Saint Francis nun, was canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in December 2012. She was one of the many nuns that cared for Hansen's disease patients at the colony in Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i. She also cared for Saint Damien (Father Damien), who was instrumental in caring for Hansen's disease patients at Kalaupapa. This statue stands at the entrance of Kewalo Park in Honolulu.

Signing Autographs

Team Sanders' running back Josh Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) autographs a fan's jersey on his way to boarding a bus that took players back to Ko Olina.

Warm-up

Team Sanders' quarterback Nick Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) warms up before entering the game in the 3rd quarter. Foles was also named the game's Offensive MVP.

Note the star(s) above the name plates, that represents how many Pro Bowls that players has been selected to play in.

Halftime Show

For halftime, Fall Out Boy performed a couple of songs, complete with dancers, the NFL Pro Bowl Cheereleaders, and fire knife dancers. NBC, who broadcasted the game, aired the first song, and our crew covered the rest. Today's photo shows some of the pyrotechnics during the first song.

Sideline Interview

During some of the TV Timeouts, I had to shoot sideline interviews. Alan Roach (center) interviews Fullback Marcel Reese (right) of the Oakland Raiders, and Wide Receiver Desean Jackson (left) of the Philadelphia Eagles. I had one of my cable pullers take this photo, and in the upper left corner, you can see what I'm shooting on the second JumboTron.

Helmets

Some of the Team Sanders helmets on the sideline during the pre-game festivities.

Game Day

Each year that I have shot the NFL Pro Bowl, I bought a cap to wear on game day. This year, I bought  the Team Sanders cap, which coincidentally (or not), I was shooting on that sideline. Also, shown is the camera (under the rain cover), my game day credentials, and my XS Energy Shot.

2014 NFL Pro Bowl

Our theme week for March is the 2014 NFL Pro Bowl. This year, the NFL changed the team format from the traditional AFC / NFC match-up, to an unconferenced match-up in which the NFL All-Stars we selected by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders. 

Today's photo was taken from the red section of Aloha Stadium with my iPhone and the Ölloclip wide-angle attachment. 

Photos taken for this theme week were all taken with my iPhone.

Instagram Mainland Trip

After a rather extended break from posting photos ... we are back!

Our Instagram collage this month features photos from a trip I took last March with my Senior Pastor, and others to check out two churches (one in Atlanta, and one in Minneapolis) that specialize in multiple campus broadcasts.

Row 1: climbing out from take-off out of HNL; LAX's Terminal 5; flying toward Atlanta as the sun sets; North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA; one of their video control rooms; burger size comparison at Fuddrucker's.

Row 2: a Delta Air Lines DC-9-50 at ATL; snow on the ground in Minneapolis; driving through downtown Minneapolis; in the country side; Eagle Brook Church in Lino Lake, MN; one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes ... frozen.

Row 3: wearing my slippers in the snow; snow-lined street; a bluesy-Lucy at the Blue Moon; Eagle Brook's control room; snow on a pine tree; looking down the street from one of the skywalks.

Row 4: the IDS Building lobby; pine trees in snow; Lego Store at the Mall of America; video board at the Mall of America; view from our room at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency; making our way back home.