Birthday Girl

Our Yuki celebrated her 11th birthday yesterday, along with Independence Day. This photo was taken on her 1st birthday.

Pineapple Drop

While New York City has the ball drop at midnight on New Year's Eve, the town of Mililani in Central O‘ahu has the Pineapple Drop on New Year's Eve. Prior to development beginning in the mid-1960s, the land from the Kīpapa Gulch to Wahiawā, consisted mostly of pineapple fields.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Baptism

It's been almost a year since my Dad graduated to Heaven. One of the proudest moments I have as his son, was when he decided to get baptized about a year after receiving Jesus. Dad is pictured with Pastor Elwin Ahu of Metro Christian Church after his baptism at Ala Moana Beach in 2013.

Also, we wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Conch Shell

Kahu Danny Akaka Jr blows a conch shell during a pre-boarding blessing before Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated a new route. Kahu Akaka is the son of the late US Senator Daniel Akaka, and is the Kahu Hānai at the Auberge Mauna Lani Resort in Kailua-Kona.

A couple of decades ago, I videotaped a few Japanese tourist weddings in which Kahu Akaka was the officiant, and he also performed the blessing of the Aloha Airlines 737 that was painted by Wyland.

Happy Birthday Peanut

Our miniature dachshund Peanut celebrates his third birthday this week.

Finale

The finale for The Chainsmokers Dream Weekend concert featured a myriad of pyrotechnics, with butane flame columns, and fireworks.

Wishing you all a Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)!

Hang Loose

Hang Loose was one of the monster trucks that performed at the Monster X Tour event that was held at Aloha Stadium in May 2019. Hang Loose made its debut at Monster X Hawaii. It's seen in the parking lot a few days prior to the event.

Sparky Cloud Blast

During one of The Chainsmokers songs, the cold spark machines and the CO2 blasters fire. The carbon dioxide cloud columns blast over the crowd then dissipate, while columns of cold sparks rise at the front of the stage.

Happy New Year! Wishing you all a blessed 2024!

Media Pool

The lineup of television news camera operators for the 2016 Hawai‘i Bowl press conference. This was one of the very few times that the press conference was held at Aloha Stadium, instead of Waikīkī.

In previous years, this game was played on Christmas Eve afternoon, but this year it was played a day earlier on the 23rd.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

That 70's Look

These United Airlines stewardesses pose in front of the 747 Friendship poster during the post-arrival media event. They were dressed in their 1970s-era uniforms to mark United's final 747 flight.

Paying Tribute

The USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) pays tribute to the USS Missouri (BB-63), USS Arizona (BB-39) Memorial, and the memorials of the other ships sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The guided missile destroyer was returning from deployment, and took part in the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.

DDG-112 was named after US Navy Lieutenant Michael P Murphy was a SEAL Team special operator who posthumously earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Red Wings, where he and two other SEALs were killed in action in Afghanistan.

DJ Anit

Local DJ, DJ Anit, was the opening act for the Dream Weekend 2017 concert at Aloha Stadium, which the Chainsmokers headlined.

Lei Draping

United Airlines ground crews use a snorkel lift to place a commemorative lei around the forward section of this Boeing 747, as this was the final passenger flight of this aircraft type. The flight arrived from San Francisco under rainy skies, but the rain did not dampen the celebration.

This flight was a 1970s-themed flight, as it marked the end of over 45 years of Boeing 747 service by United Airlines to/from Honolulu.

Sir Richard Branson

Virgin Group's founder Sir Richard Branson addresses the media and airline employees at the launch of Virgin America's service between San Francisco and Honolulu. Sir Richard was one of the passengers aboard the inaugural Airbus A320 flight from San Francisco.

Virgin America was a sister airline to the airlines in the UK and Australia. It was later acquired by Alaska Airlines a few years after.

Happy 110th!

This week would have been my Grandpa's 110th birthday. He lived to 106 years of age. This photo was taken at his 100th birthday party. 

Happy 19th Birthday Emi!

This week, our feisty, little miniature dachshund, Emi, turns 19! According to a pet age chart, in human years, she is going to be equivalent of a 92-year-old. This photo was taken while posing her for a Christmas photo.

Hawaiian Blessing

A maile lei draped across railings, and ti leaves atop a koa bowl filled with water, sits on the steps of Island Air's new Dash8-Q400 before it receives its Hawaiian blessing before the aircraft was put into service.

During a Hawaiian blessing, the minister will offer a prayer, usually a Christian one, for those of the airline, and of the aircraft. The minister will then walk around and inside the aircraft sprinkling water with the ti leaves. Finally, the maile lei is untied by someone from the airline, usually the CEO, and the lei is placed on top of the instrument panel in the cockpit.

Service Rehearsal

The hula and worship teams from New Hope Leeward rehearsing for their Good Friday service. I was on the low-front camera, which was on a tripod-dolly. We on the Tech Team, were doing our camera blocking for the service elements.

The Boss And The New Plane

At the introduction and the blessing of their first new Airbus A321neo, N202HA "Maile", Hawaiian Airlines President & CEO Mark Dunkerley poses in front of the new airliner prior to the open house, blessing, and media event.  After I took this photo, he asked if I could take one with his camera. It turns out that after the blessing was done, he announced to the media his retirement from the airline.

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.