Bougainvillea

Closing out our posts for  2011, is a shot I took of a bougainvillea plant with a Nikon 10-24mm ultra-wide lens outside the T-Hangars at HNL.

The Kick Is Up ...

Placekicker Danny Hrapmann of the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles attempts a 39-yard field goal during practice for the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl that was played on Christmas Eve against the University of Nevada Wolfpack. The Golden Eagles practiced at Hawaiian Airlines Field in the mornings leading up to gameday. The Golden Eagles beat the Wolfpack 24-17.

Pictured above is #63 DS Lance Schuffert, #78 LS Jonathan Guerry, #60 DS Adam Weathers, #39 P/H Peter Boehme,  and #25 PK Corey Acosta. QBs Rickey Lloyd (#8) and Arsenio Favor (#6) warm up at the top of the photo.

Aloha ‘Oe John Heckathorn

I was saddened to find out that Hawai‘i Magazine Editor John Heckathorn passed away yesterday. I had the privilege and pleasure to work with Mr. Heckathorn on a media flight that Hawaiian Airlines held on their Bellanca CH-300 "Pacemaker" that we were both on, in May 2010. Pictured above, is John posing with the CH-300 after our media flight. 

The flight had turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as I was invited by Hawaiian Airlines to photograph the media flight for my own article that I was working on. Upon arrival to the fixed base operator where the Bellanca is kept, I was introduced to Mr. Heckathorn, who was also going to be on the flight. He asked who I was shooting for, and I responded that I freelance for airliner publications. He then asked if he could use my photos for his article, to which I obliged. I was surprised that he was going to use his iPhone to photograph the flight, since his magazine did not have a photographer available. They ended up using four of my photos for his article that appeared in the August 2010 issue. THat flight was a definite blessing.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Heckathorn ‘ohana. John was truly a force in the publication scene here in Hawai‘i, and will be truly missed.

Highway Inn Mural

A few weeks ago, a mural outside the Highway Inn restaurant was dedicated with a Hawaiian blessing and prayer. The mural was painted members of 808 Urban, and it depicts the history of the town of Waipahu, and the many ethnic groups that make up the former sugar cane plantation area of O‘ahu.

Annuals

Some of our annuals in bloom on our lanai.

Rock Wall

One of the rock walls forming the Lagoon 1 at Ko Olina with Kahe Point in the background.

Mele Kalikimaka

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Angel Ornament

A crystal angel ornament shot with a four-point cross filter.

Engine Check

One of the pilots from this China Southern Airlines 737 delivery flight inspects the main fan blades of the right side engine shortly after arriving at HNL. The other pilot holds a "Remove Before Flight" pin, that will be placed in the intake to prevent the fan from freely spinning in the wind. The delivery flight crews usually do a post-flight walk-around after they arrive at HNL.

Waterfall

An abstract black & white shot of the waterfall at the entrance to the Honolulu Country Club.

Wine Selection

The selection of wines at the Aulani's ‘Ama ‘Ama Restaurant.

Spanish Lavender

A selective color shot of Spanish Lavender at the Ali‘i Kula Lavender Farm in Kula, Maui.

Film Truck

This film truck had two second unit cameras and crew shooting a car chase scene on Lagoon Drive for an upcoming episode of "Hawai‘i Five-0".

Boogie Boarding Toddler

This little guy rides a tiny wave on his boogie board with his big sister alongside.

Wedding Cake

Jeff and Farrah's wedding cake seen through a fish eye lens and Lightroom effect. I photographed their wedding a few months ago as a referral from a close friend.

Tailgunner?

This Ilyushin Il-76 of the Russian Air Force was brought over President Dmitriy Medvedev's limousine and entourage vehicles for last month's APEC2011 Conference. Many of the cargo aircraft built during the Soviet-era had navigator's windows in the nose, and gunner's ports in the tail cone. It appears this IL-76 had its guns removed, but looks like the station can still be manned.

Cookies

A selection of locally-made cookies seen through a fish eye lens, from one of the vendors at the Made In Hawai‘i Festival.

Paddler

This man paddles in the waters around Ala Moana Beach Park ...

Firehouse Door

A close-up of the Hawaiian tribal artwork on one of the three sets of doors for the Honolulu Fire Department's Station 1 in downtown Honolulu.

Makiki Rainbow

A rainbow hovers over the Makiki part of Honolulu.

Royal Palm Drive

In the Central O‘ahu town of Wahiawā, is Royal Palm Drive. This street is lined with royal palm trees from begining to end. Above is the view looking down hill, with the Wai‘anae Mountains in the background.

M-I-C-K-E-Y ...

We had a chance to get our photo taken with Micky Mouse, while he and Minnie hung out by the pool area.

Floating Glass Ball

In the ‘Ama ‘Ama Restaurant, there is this small pool with a running spigot and a floating glass ball. The ball moves as the wind blows. Lagoon 1 "Koholā" is in the background

Splashdown

This girl is seconds from ending her slide ride at one of two Aulani's water slides.

USS Arizona Memorial

Taking a break from our theme week to commemorate the 70th anniversary on the attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. At 7:53am, waves of fighter-bombers from aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the naval base and neighboring Hickam Army Air Field. The attack resulted in over 2,400 killed, and several battleships sunken while moored at Ford Island. Other military bases on O‘ahu: Wheeler Army Air Field. Bellows Army Air Field, ‘Ewa Marine Corp Air Field, and Kāne‘ohe Marine Corp Air Field were also attacked.

We pause to remember those who lost their lives on the "Day of Infamy". To this day, there are still sailors and marines who are entombed in the sunken hulls of those battleships. Over 2,000 survivors made their way back to Pearl Harbor to mark this anniversary. The Hawaiian name for Pearl Harbor is Pu‘uloa.

My mom told me that a Japanese fighter plane was shot down and crashed a couple of hundred yards from my grandparents' house in Wahiawā, as planes were attacking Wheeler. My grandfather, on my dad's side, was at work near the naval base when the attacks began.

Poolside Dance

Minnie Mouse and one of the Aulani cast members lead hotel guests in a dance at poolside.

Pool Area

The Aulani pool area with the east tower in the background.

MIckey & Minnie

The theme week for December is our lunch outing and stroll at the Disney Aulani Hotel & Resort.

Leading off, is Mickey and Minnie Mouse, decked out in aloha wear, strolling down one of the walkways at the Disney Aulani Resort. Several Disney cartoon characters make appearances around the grounds of the new resort.

Paradise Cove Chapel

An exterior shot of the wedding chapel at Paradise Cove in Ko Olina. I took this photo for the packaging of their wedding DVD I shot for Chason & Emily.

Neon On Water

Neon lights reflect off of the water's surface.

Instagrams 3

December's Instagram collage ...

Row 1: sunset clouds behind Norfolk pines; end zone view; homemade pizza; hand-held TV camera for a volleyball match; Ko Olina Lagoon 1; clouds

Row 2: pink mannequins; morning traffic; sunrise colors; sand dunes; BC Lions cap logo; guppies

Row 3: rainy side-view mirror; cheesesteak from Chicago Eatz; guppies in waterlily; Disney Aulani glasswork; orchids; waterlily

Row 4: Tetsuo Harano tunnel (Interstate H3); polished turbo shells; Chinese lion dance; EVS remote controller; succulent flower; 9/11 Memorial at Honolulu Hale