Emerging Buds

One of my orchid plants recently had this bud stem emerge from the center of the stalk. These buds has since bloomed, and I'll post a photo of some of the flowers after the May theme week.

Send Off

One of the KC-135R Stratotankers from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 203rd Aerial Refueling Squadron departs after the last three Hawai‘i ANG F-15C Eagles made its farewell flight to the US mainland. The Stratotanker supplied fuel for the three Eagles, and each fighter received six refuels during its flight from Hawai‘i to Nevada.

Personnel from the 199th Fighter Squadron wave as the tanker takes off.

Oahu Market

Oahu Market is one of the largest markets in Honolulu's Chinatown. It contains about a dozen small merchants that sell fresh fish, meat and vegetables.

Ripples

Water ripples in a pool.

Lake Las Vegas Landscape

The view from the Loews Lake Las Vegas toward the mountains.

Looking Up

Looking up from the bottom of the stem ...

Easter Duck

Happy Easter!

I saw this Easter Duck in the window display of a Hallmark store ... Looks like Donald Duck wearing bunny ears.

Desert Drive

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert along Interstate 15 East ...

Bearing The Cross

"And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27

A group from Hope Chapel Kahuku did a "Perimeter Walk" around the island of O‘ahu with one of its members bearing a Cross. Members from other Hope Chapels joined in on the walk as well. I came across this group as I was driving to the New Hope Leeward office, as they were walking down Farrington Highway. I caught up with this group two miles from where I saw them to get this photo. They said that they began that day's journey in Wai‘anae, and were planning to walk to downtown. They attached a skateboard truck to the bottom of the cross to alleviate the some of the weight.

After I took the photos, I thought this had to be my Good Friday photo!

Chinese Lion

One of the concrete guardian lions at the Mānoa Cemetery ... the coins on the lion were put there by passers-by for good luck.

Media Pool

This was part of the media folks that were at the festivities before Hawaiian Air's inaugural flight to Incheon, Seoul, South Korea. I took this shot shortly before the ceremony began.

Narrow Alley

On a recent visit to Chinatown, Kat & I passed by this narrow alley between two buildings on North King Street. There was a sign above it that advertised a pho restaurant down the alley.

Spotty

I came across these spotted orchids in Mānoa Valley.

Oil Lamp

During a break between weddings at St. Peter's that I was videotaping, I got this shot of this oil lamp that is always remains lit. 

Surf Session

A surfer takes advantage of waves on the south shore.

Engine Start

Hawai‘i Air National Guard pilot "Odie" begins the start up procedure of his F-15C's two Pratt & Whitney F100 power plants, with his crew chief standing by in the foreground.

Steel Guitar

The steel guitar is another instrument synonymous with Hawaiian music, especially from the early 20th Century era. I took this photo during the unveiling and blessing of Hawaiian Air's Bellanca CH-300. The Royal Hawaiian Band provided the entertainment for the festivities.

Vegas Moon

A one-second exposure of a full moon rising through a palm tree at Lake Las Vegas.

Snipers

Snipers from the Honolulu Police Department's Specialized Services Division set up their perch in the light bays of Aloha Stadium for the NFL Pro Bowl. 

Haiku Gardens

Adjacent to the Kāne‘ohe location of Hale‘iwa Joe's is Haiku Gardens. This is the view of the gardens from the lanai of the restaurant overlooking the garden and the pond. Family members took Kat & I out to dinner at Hale‘iwa Joe's recently, to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Leopard Prince

I decided to go for the fine art look with my Leopard Prince orchid blooms by setting the flower pot in front of my black background cloth.

Cake Cutting

Island Air CEO Lesley Kaneshiro cuts the cake commemorating the airline's 30th anniversary. The cake was for the HNL station employees.

Lei Greeting

On September 9, 2010, Island Air celebrated its 30th Anniversary. As part of that day's festivities, each passenger boarding flights out of HNL were given an orchid lei as they approached the ticket counter by one of their flight attendants.

Day One

On its first day of inter-island service, the flight attendants and pilots of this Mokulele Airlines Embraer E170, pose in front of the jet several minutes before our media flight to Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i.

Finishing Touch

Marine artist Wyland waves after signing his name with a paintbrush at the main entry door of "Koholālele". He is joined by Kahu Danny Akaka Jr, and Aloha Airlines CEO David Banmiller. This was the last part of the media unveiling and blessing of the specially painted Boeing 737-700.

Interview

Hawaiian Airlines President and Chief Executive Office Mark Dunkerley is interviewed by a local TV station after he and his wife returned to Honolulu on Hawaiian's inaugural flights to and from Tokyo-Haneda International Airport in November 2010.

Hula

At the festivities for Hawaiian Airlines' inaugural flights, the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders perform hula and Hawaiian music. The Serenaders are Hawaiian Air employees who volunteer their time for events like these. Today's photo was taken during the pre-boarding festivities and blessing for Hawaiian's inaugural flight to Haneda International Airport (Tokyo, Japan).

Flower Power!

The theme month for April is "Airline Media Events". Over the past few years, I have been photographing and writing articles about local airline media events for domestic and international airliner publications, and this week will feature some of the events I've documented.

Aloha Airlines flight attendants Chrissy and Kaipo pose in the uniforms of the early 1970s atop the wing of the "Funbird" to celebrate Aloha's 60th anniversary in 2006. A few days ago, on March 31st, former Aloha Airlines employees gathered for an annual reunion, since the airline's demise in 2008.

This post is dedicated to the former employees of the Aloha ‘ohana.

Small World

The front of the popular Disneyland attraction "It's A Small World" at night.

... And You Thought Prices Were High

This was the price of gasoline on Maui, last Wednesday! 

Unfortunately, this ain't no April Fool ...