Congratulations Tiff!

It's hard to believe how fast time has gone by ... my daughter Tiffany graduates from high school today, and takes her first steps into adulthood.

Today's photo was actually taken a couple of years ago when I was helping Tiff and her sister Chel do their homework at a Starbucks.

Congratulations Tiff! And congratulations to all the other graduates of the class of 2008!

Winglet Over Southern California

Returning home to Honolulu from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA aboard an Aloha Airlines 737-700W, N751AL ("‘Aukele"). It was one of those days where the winds were blowing toward the ocean from the surrounding mountains. So our departure path took us toward the Santa Ana Mountains, then had to make a 180° right turn to head back to Hawai‘i. Down below is the Orange Country coastline, right before we begin the journey over the Pacific.

This plane I was on, was recently leased to Sun Country Airlines from the leasing company that had originally leased to to Aloha.

Twisting Water

Water from a waterfall twists away from the sheet before hitting the pond.

Spotted Orchids

I found these spotted orchids at Foster Botanical Gardens ...

Is This Hawai‘i?!?

With the recent vog attacks that have been plaguing the Hawaiian Islands, I thought this shot reminded me of a smoggy day in L.A., and the palm trees reminded me of the type that line the street of outlet malls in southern California. The vog was so bad this day, that the Wai‘anae Mountain Range can barely be seen.

Memorial Day

Today is the day we honor our fallen veterans, who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us and our country free. They gave their lives in defense our rights and freedoms given to us by our founding fathers, and the laws of God.

Today's photo is of three US Air Force Lockheed/Martin F-16C "Fighting Falcons" in the missing man formation to honor their fallen comrades. The fourth F-16C, the second from left, made an upward break toward the heavens before passing over the show site.

Surfing Couple

This couple spent the afternoon catching waves in front of Kewalo Park. They are paddling out to catch the first set of waves.

Flowers In Cup

Kathy got this cup of flowers as a gift for Teacher's Appreciation Week.

Nose View

The head-on view of a Boeing 737-700 Business Jet (BBJ) while its owners play around in Hawai‘i.

After 2005, all of the new Boeing 737s built had the eyebrow cockpit windows eliminated to reduce construction and maintenance costs. I thought, cosmetically, that the eyebrows gave the face an expression, but with modern navigation technology, they really have no use for them.

Railings

The railings of a footbridge at the entrance of Kahala Beach Park, facing out toward the ocean.

Breaking Wave

This little wave is milliseconds from crashing into this rock.

Stadium Silouhette

The sun rises behind the Ma‘uka (mountain-side) and ‘Ewa (leeward-side) sections of Aloha Stadium at the beginning of the Great Aloha Run.

Looking For Miss Naughty

Kathy & I saw these t-shirts at a store in the Ala Moana Shopping Center one evening, and had a laugh talking in British accents asking her "Are you Miss Naughty?" ... "Yes, I'm Miss Naughty." We found it so amusing that we had to go back and get a photo of us with the t-shirts ...

By the way ... Kathy's a good girl!

White Orchids & Blue Sky

Some of my orchids against a blue sky background ...

Armed Forces Day

Paying tribute to those serving our country in our armed forces ... thank you for defending our freedoms!

Today's photo is of a US Navy Sikorsky SH-60B of HSL-37 (Helicopter Anti-submarine - Light) "Easyriders", which is based at MCAF Kane‘ohe Bay. 162348 is the squadron commander's helicopter, hence the colorful tail markings. The "Easyriders" were formerly based at NAS Barbers Point (now closed, and known as the Kalaeloa Airport) before moving to "K-Bay" a few years ago. Their mission is to provide air support against submarine threats to a carrier or battleship group when traversing the oceans.

Skyline Rainbow

Gotta love those liquid sunshine mornings ... where the sunlight and rain mix to form these rainbows ... with the downtown skyline in the background.

Boogie Boarder

This body boarder catches a wave off of Magic Island during a mid-summer south swell.

Moku ‘O Loe

Moku ‘O Loe, or Coconut Island sits in the middle of Kane‘ohe Bay on O‘ahu's windward coast. It houses the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, which is part of the University of Hawai‘i.

I got this photo of Moku ‘O Loe from a roadside lookout of Interstate H3, and coverted it to black & white.

The classic TV series "Gilligan's Island" used a shot Moku ‘O Loe as the island they were shipwrecked on for their scene breaks, and the opening and closing credits.

Bamboo

The bamboo grove inside the courtyard of the University of Hawai‘i's Art Building.

Night Departure

An evening inter-island flight departs from HNL's Runway 8L heading south, destined for either Maui or the Big Island, with Honolulu Harbor in the foreground.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the moms ...

Happy Mother's Day!

Aisle Markers

Rose petals line the aisle for Kirk & Merilyn's wedding ceremony.

Fisherman On Rock

This fisherman found his spot on some concrete scraps on the beach at Malaekahana State Park, while some inquisitive kids stop by.

Columbia River

Departing from Portland International Airport's Runway 28L, our west-bound flight path takes us over the Columbia River, which runs parallel to PDX.

Sunset Clouds

Clouds all over shroud a beautiful sunset, yet become canvas for the sunlight's color temperature as it continually changes as the sun sinks toward the horizon.

This is this blog's 500th post!

Reflecting Birds

Reflections of birds in a water puddle, with a couple of other birds watching from the edge.

Leahi Moonrise

A vert shot of a moonrise over Leahi (Diamond Head) from last summer.

Today is also Boys Day in Japan, and Cinco de Mayo in Mexico.

Cool Colours

This month's theme week is vertically framed photos, or as I call them "Verts". Why? Why not ... :-P

Today's photo is from the Kahala Hotel & Resort's orchid wall. For as long as I have gone to this hotel ... from the Kahala Hilton days in the early 70s, through the Kahala Mandarin Hotel days, to the recent name & ownership change, there has always been a rock wall with many types of orchids on them. The rock wall is next to the staircase that leads from the lobby to the lower lobby. I got this photo while making my way to videotape a wedding at the hotel, and had my trusty L3 point-and-shoot with me to get some orchid shots.

Back in the day, the Maile Room was one of the most upscale restaurants on O‘ahu, and the food was awesome. We used to go to the Sunday dinner buffet every so often, for family dinners, all dressed up. It's too bad the Maile Room was converted into a ballroom ... but the food's still quite good.

Two Falls

Two of the waterfalls at the front of Harbor Court.

Aloha ‘Oe

This Sydney-bound Qantas 747 departs from HNL's "Reef Runway" with Diamond Head in the background. It will soon make a sweeping 75° right turn to begin its journey Down Under.

When Qantas used 747s for their SYD-HNL runs, their pilots would always make long take-off runs then make the right turn as they overflew Ke‘ehi Lagoon, past the end of the runway. Pilots from other airlines that fly 747s out of HNL normally have a shorter take-off run, and will make their turn as soon as they gain a bit of altitude

Lei Day

May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i!

These are lei that Kathy got from her students for the school's May Day festivities last Friday.