Waikīkī Natatorium

On this day, we honor all veterans of the US Armed Forces who dutifully served our country, and to those who laid down their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

The Waikīkī Natatorium War Memorial stands at the east end of Waikīkī, as a memorial dedicated to those from Hawai‘i that were killed in World War I. Built in 1918, it featured an ocean water swimming pool and concrete bleachers. Duke Kahanamoku, Johnny Weismuller, and Buster Crabbe were among the notables who raced in the 100-meter-long pool.

The memorial pool has been closed to the public for years, due to the eroding concrete. It has been the subject of intense debate, on whether to demolish the entire Natatorium, or preserve some, or all, of the 90+ year old structure. Currently, there is work being done to preserve the west end seawall.

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas ornaments made from sea shells, and taken with a fish-eye lens.

Crowded Aisles

In the opening hours of the festival, hundreds of people line the aisles of the Blaisdell Center's Exhibition Hall to look over the goods the merchants have to sample, and for sale. Today's photo taken with a fish-eye lens.

Cake Pops

One of the vendors had these decorative cake pops on display, and photographed with a fish-eye lens.

Pidgin Overdrive

The Pidgin Overdrive booth is one of the most popular booths at the Made In Hawai‘i festival. It sells products with Pidgin English (also known as Hawaiian Creole) words on them. Today's photo was taken with an ultra wide-angle lens.

Waiting In Line

The theme week for November is the "Made In Hawai‘i Festival". It's a product expo of Hawai‘i-made products held every August at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. For this theme week, I also shot every thing with either a fish-eye lens or a ultra-wide angle lens.

Today's photo shows the line of people waiting to get in as opening time approaches, along with the sun peeking though the top of the tree, shot with a 10mm fish-eye.

Coming Home

The Lifetime Network recently taped an episode of their series "Coming Home" at Aloha Stadium. The soldier in his BDUs is also a member of the University of Hawai‘i Warriors marching band, who was deployed to the Middle East. The producers of the show brought their crew to tape this homecoming that would take place during halftime of the season opener against the University of Colorado. The episode is due to air sometime this season.

Engine Table

What happens to an aircraft engine that's reached its end-of-life? Most are sold for scrap metal. For this DC-3 engine, most of it was re-painted, and will be made into a conference table.

Pet Deer

During one of our drives around Up Country Maui, we came across a property that had this deer as their pet. The run the deer had was pretty big, and included a shed for it.

Cloudy Day

Clouds extend from the Ko‘olau Mountains to Ke‘ehi Lagoon.

Instagrams 2

The November Instagram collage ...

Row 1: H3 tunnel (1 sec exposure); lavender flowers; high school football; king protea bunch; Indigo forks; old-liveried Hawaiian Air miniatures.

Row 2: Ailana Shave Ice sign; robot at Nordstrom's; moon through palms; Island Air Dash8; serial killer?; boarding pass and camera for a media event.

Row 3: guppies; Hawaiian Air A330; Baldwin Avenue (Makawao, Maui); "Eat The Street"; frog fountain at Indigo Restaurant; Kat's mom's birthday cake from Roy's.

Row 4: Udom Blue Angle orchid; musubi from Tanioka's; stuck in traffic ... ; corner of Nu‘aanu Ave & Hotel St; red rose bouquet; Old Glory.

Happy Halloween!

... or as how Scooby-Do would say it, "Appy Alloweeeeeeen!" 

I got today's shot of this Scooby-Do plush at a local Hallmark store.

Return Of Kolea

The kolea, or golden plover, are making its winter migration to Hawai‘i from Alaska. A few weeks ago, I photographed this kolea that has settled near our home for this winter.

Beach Photo Pix

This Japanese tourist couple has their wedding photos taken on the shore of Ala Moana Beach, amidst the beach goers. I took this between blocking rehearsals for last year's Lantern Floating event.

Pre-Production

Last Friday, the production crew from the hit TV series "Hawai‘i Five-0" met under the tail section of this Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-800 parked on the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp, before setting up the production gear. Production trucks lined the street outside the hangar, while the cast members were at another location. The episode should air in the next couple of weeks.

Initially, I thought this Sun Country flight was a federal prisoner transfer charter, since the airline does "Con Air" flights to and from the US mainland. I was mistaken. The 737 was used by the production crew for two days, before it returned to the mainland.

Momo Burger

One of the newer food trucks in town is Momo Burger. Their burgers are one of the best on island. Today's photo was taken at a recent Taco‘ako Tuesday weekly food truck event.

Sunrise Clouds Through Trees

Orange and yellow clouds as the sun rises through neighboring trees.

Sundial

This was the sundial that was outside of our cottage at the bed & breakfast we stayed at on Maui.

Chrysanthymums

Part of a bunch of magenta and white chrysanthymums ...

Kayakers

These two boys head toward me as they return to shore at Ko Olina's Lagoon 1 "Koholā". These kayaks are part of the Aulani Disney Resort's beach activities.