Christmas Lights

The LED Christmas lights on our lanai, photographed with a 4-point star filter.

Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Tree Farm

A snow-banked Douglas Fir Christmas tree farm outside the parking lot of River Valley Church, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Pink Clouds Over HNL

Pink sunset clouds hover over the Honolulu International Airport.

Cal Lee

Saint Louis School Crusaders' head football coach Cal Lee gets interviewed by KITV's Brandi Higa (left) and KHON's Rob DeMello before the 2018 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Football Championships. The Crusaders were slated to face the Mililani High School Trojans on that Friday night; and resulted in a 38-17 win over the Trojans.

Lee is one of the most winningest coaches in Hawai‘i high school football, with a 296-41-5 high school record. He has coached the Crusaders to 19 Prep Bowl or HHSAA Championships. His last game coached was the 2019 HHSAA Open Division final versus the Kahuku Red Raiders, with a 45-6 victory. He has since stepped down as head coach, but remains the Crusaders' defensive coordinator.

Hale‘iwa Beach

A black and white photo of Hale‘iwa Beach, on O‘ahu's North Shore.

Rainbow Warrior Fans

At the season finale of the 2016 Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior football season versus the UMass Minutemen, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts gave out Hawai‘i "H" flags to fans as the entered the gates. This couple had their flags stuck in the back of their caps as they watched the game. The Rainbow Warriors beat the Minutemen, 46-40, to secure their Hawai‘i Bowl invitation.

Bruno Mars

Three years ago this week, Hawai‘i's own Bruno Mars held three sold-out concerts at Aloha Stadium. The massive stage was built in the north end zone to accommodate fans on the field. With 36,000 tickets sold per night, he and his band entertained the crowd during his two-hour-plus show. Much of Bruno's wardrobe (as seen above) was Hawai‘i-themed, as he wrapped up his 200-show "24K Magic" world tour.

United's 747 Farewell

Four years ago today, United Airlines flew their final 747-400 revenue flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, as United Flight 747. The airline held a special event to mark an end of an era, complete with a rain shower (Hawaiian blessing) as the jumbo jet landed and taxied to the gate. Upon its arrival at HNL, this 747 had a orange lei draped over the forward section of the "Queen of the Skies". Today's photo shows a United employee capturing video of the lei-draping on her iPhone. This flight ended a 45+ year run of 747 service with United.

I was fortunate to collaborate with a freelance writer/photographer who was aboard the flight, documenting the pre-boarding festivities at SFO, the flight, and media event at HNL.

I had a couple of flights on United 747s in the 1970s, one going to San Francisco in the summer of 1975, and returning from Los Angeles in the mid-winter of 1976. There's nothing like riding on a 747. The cabin is spacious.

Monarch Butterfly

A monarch butterfly rests on an areca palm leaf in the butterfly exhibit at Pearlridge Center.

Happy Halloween! 🎃

Hula

At the blessing of Island Air's first Q400 aircraft, Hawaiian music by Ho‘okena, and hula led off the celebration.

Icy Feet

One of the seniors from ‘Aiea High School cools down her feet after their morning graduation rehearsal at Aloha Stadium. She stood in the pile of ice that was emptied out from a water cooler to hydrate the Class of 2017.

How Now Brown Cows

A bull and a cow graze in a pasture next to Ho‘okipa Beach, on Maui's north shore.

Clouds Atop The Ko‘olau

Clouds shroud the tops of the Ko‘olau Mountains, as seen from Ho‘omaluhia Gardens in Kāne‘ohe. The gardens feature native Hawaiian plant life, a small lake, and a camping area.

Touchdown!

A running back, #3, from the Pearl City High School Chargers (purple jerseys) football team crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Roosevelt High School Rough Riders in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division 2 game. The Chargers blanked the Rough Riders 42-0.

Flying Honu

All Nippon Airways has a trio of these Airbus A380 super jumbo airliners that have a special honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) livery. This one above, seen seconds from landing at HNL, is the green variant, named "Kai". Up until the Wuhan Corona Virus, these A380s were exclusively flying between Tokyo and Honolulu. Since then, the "Flying Honu" have only had limited service last month.

Couple On A Beach

This couple spends a quiet moment on a north shore beach.

Seattle Skyline

The downtown Seattle skyline as seen from the observation deck of the Space Needle.

Yuki & The iPod

Yuki borrowed my iPod and earbuds when I stepped out of the bedroom.  Not sure what she thought of my taste in different types of music.

Crashing Wave

A wave crashes on the shoreline rocks at ‘Āweoweo Beach.

Sun And Norfolk Pines

The sun peeks through a cluster of Norfolk Pine trees.

787 Landing

This Japan Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is seconds from touching down after its flight from Tokyo Haneda International Airport, with the iconic Diamond Head in the background. With the winds blowing from the south, the air traffic pattern is reversed to an east to west flow.

Country Shave Ice

Country Shave Ice was a small shave ice shop located in Kaimukī. After closing their shop, they mainly do pop-up and craft events. They uses locally-sourced natural flavors. Pictured above is Kat's Okinawan Sweet Potato / Haupia shave ice (left),  and my Hawaiian Orange Dream shave ice.

Sheriff's Deputies

Deputies from the Hawai‘i State Sheriff's Department's Airport Division stand by with long guns for a state Department of Corrections inmate transfer flight.

Rusted Toyota

While walking around Kaka‘ako taking photos of the Pow Wow Hawai‘i murals, I came across this rusted 1970s Toyota Corona station wagon. It sat on someone's property, with the tires flat, but with a current Hawai‘i license plate.

Mic and Monitor Pack

One of the microphones and in-ear monitor receivers for a singer on the New Hope Leeward worship team prior to rehearsal.

Happy Independence Day!

Wishing you all a Happy Independence Day! The United States celebrates its 245th birthday. 🇺🇸

Today is also Yuki's birthday! She turns six, and this photo was from her first birthday celebration. She has grown into a smart and humorous dog.

Matching Sunshades

The flight crew of this Gulfstream V business jet covered the cockpit windows with Gulfstream-branded window sunshades as the aircraft remained in Honolulu for several days. For the cabin, the windows have powered sunshades, and the flight crews will usually close them if the jet will be parked for more than a day.

Kaimana Sunset

Sunset, as seen from Kaimana Beach, with people enjoying the last of the sun's rays.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

Pavilion

The pavilion at Hale‘iwa Beach Park, as photographed in black and white, with an Ölloclip iPhone Fisheye Lens Attachment.

Kimié & Kalani

Hawaiian music artists Kimié Miner and Kalani Pe‘a pose together during their rehearsal of the 2018 SoFi Hawai‘i Bowl entertainment acts. Kimié sang Hawai‘i Pono‘ī in pregame, and Kalani sang two songs during halftime.

SUP Silhouette

A black and white silhouette shot of a stand-up paddleboarder at Ala Moana Beach. This photo was taken a decade ago while on break from working on the 2011 Lantern Floating Hawai‘i event.

Anuhea

Hawaiian music artist Anuhea, performed at the grand opening of the Mokulele Airlines Terminal (Terminal 3) at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport. She performed several songs for the Mokulele staff and waiting passengers.

Guideway Installation

The Honolulu Area Rail Transit is an above-ground mass transit rail system that has been under construction for the past several years that will extend from East Kapolei to the Ala Moana district. The photo above shows the guideway being laid in at the Aloha Stadium Station.

The first operational segment of The Rail will run from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, and should begin service later this year.

The Rail is now several years behind schedule, and a few billions of dollars over budget. The first operational segment, from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, is scheduled to begin in the fall of this year. They estimate that the full system will not be in operation until 2033.

"Hi Neighbor!"

Yuki and Emi look over at the new neighbors and bark.

Copper Strands

A portion of this power cable was cut, and the end stripped to expose the copper wire strands so a terminator can be attached.

Breaking Free

A running back from the Mill Vill Trojans [white helmet] breaks free from the defense of the Ewa Beach Sabers during a Jr Prep Sports (JPS) youth football game. He gained another five yards before being tackled.

Today's post is dedicated in memory of the late Patrick Mauga, who was the voice of the JPS games at Aloha Stadium. He suddenly passed away last year. JPS games won't be the same without hearing Patrick's gregarious voice, and enthusiastic announcing over the PA system, and on the game recordings.

Marina Dusk

Dusk approaches at the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. Hundreds of small boats are moored at this marina, at the west edge of Waikīkī.

Are We Done Yet?

One of the pilots that making the delivery flight of this Jiangxi Air Boeing 737-800, watches and waits as jet fuel pumped aboard for the next flight leg to Majuro (Marshall Islands).

Blue Irises

Happy Easter!

A trio of blue irises in bloom.

New Turf

In the summer of 2016, the Aloha Stadium had to replace its UBU Speed Series S5M Sports Turf. The installers had less than eight weeks to tear out the previous turf, inspect the ground beneath, then lay the drain pads, turf panels, and the sand and rubber in-fill. The job was completed in time for the fall 2016 high school and college football season. Today's photo shows a shot from turf blades level as players from the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors arrive to hold their pre-season Fall Scrimmage.

Kawainui Canal

The Kawainui Canal cuts through part of Kailua. Homes and businesses line the edges of the canal that begins from the Kawainui Marsh and Stream, and flows out to Kailua Bay. People have been known to ride dinghies or stand-up paddle board up and down the canal. The view above looks toward the beginning of the canal, and the Ko‘olau Mountains further in the distance.

Veni Vidi Bici

A play on Julius Caesar's famous phrase "Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) ... the bicycling community has taken the phrase for the mode of transportation. In Kaka‘ako, bicycling is encouraged to move around what has become the arts district of Honolulu. There are bike racks on every sidewalk , and fronting many businesses. Adrian decided to pose for this shot for her senior portraits session.

Sunflower Farm

One of the sunflowers at a sunflower farm in Waialua, captured with a honeybee collecting pollen.

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon, on the island of Kaua‘i, is one of the island's biggest natural tourist attractions. On a clear day, the view of the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" is majestic, including the Pacific Ocean at the end of the canyon.

Stewardesses And Surfboards

A pair of Virgin America flight attendants pose with specially-made longboards on the event stage before the arrival of their inaugural flight from San Francisco.

Emi Playing With A Toy

In a rare moment, Emi plays with one of Yuki's toys.

Tomorrow marks Emi's 9th anniversary of her "gotcha day".

Happy Valentine's Day!

Pacific Rim Cup

The Pacific Rim Cup soccer tournament is an annual event at Aloha Stadium, hosted by Blue United, and features two J-League and two Major League Soccer teams. Unfortunately, the 2020 and the 2021 editions were canceled due to the China Corona Virus pandemic. Today's photo shows an Under Armour match ball and the champion's trophy at the press conference of the inaugural event.

Gum Wall

The gum wall at the Public Market in Seattle. Yes, we left our mark on the wall as well with a hashtag #ivankatsea2014. I read that the walls in the alley were scraped clean a few years after we left our gum. Of course, people resumed leaving their gum wads on the walls.

Yuki And Her Toys

Yuki's toys gather over her as she falls asleep for her nap.

Colored River Rock

Colored river rock on display at Geoubunga. I raised the saturation levels to boost the colors.