Warming Up

Placekicker Scott Enos (#20 lower right) warms up by practicing field goals as other teammates filter out of their locker room through the giant UH inflatable helmet.

Hawai‘i 5-0

The University of Hawai‘i Warrior marching band rehearses their rendition of the "Hawai‘i Five-O" theme song, with this 5-0 formation, while we build one of our tripod cameras.

Commemorative T-shirt

This was a commemorative t-shirt sold by the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow-tique store.  The Rainbow-tique is the official outlet for UH merchandise, which has tents around the lower concourse of Aloha Stadium, as well as a store in Ward Centre.

ESPNZone

Not quite the sports bar chain bearing that name.  This is the compound where ESPN has their broadcast trailers set up.  That big generator on the left provided power to the two trailers, plus a satellite uplink truck behind the trailer on the left. The trailer in the center and the right is where the director, replays, and all of the technical stuff takes place.

With about nine cameras for the game, ESPN laid out a few miles in cables from the truck to the camera positions.

Trojans Fans

This group was part of the several thousand USC fans that made the trip to Honolulu to watch their school battle UH.  They were walking to a special USC alumni party held across Aloha Stadium, at Richardson Field, on the grounds of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.  I took this shot as I made my way to our control room.

Each time that UH and USC play at Aloha Stadium, it always draws a huge number of Trojan fans.  The only other schools that I've seen draw a lot fans are University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the University of Washington Huskies.

Tailgaters

The theme week for October is the "UH Season Opener", the University of Hawai‘i Warriors first game of the 2010 season they played against the University of Southern California Trojans on September 1st.

Today's photo shows Warriors fans setting up their tents, grills, and supplies for their pre-game tailgate parties.  I took this shot as I walked from my car to the video control room. 

Kampai!

Minako and Terafumi pose for a champagne toast shot after their wedding ceremony on the lanai of the Ni‘ihau Room at the Sheraton Waikīkī.

Island Air Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Local regional carrier Island Air  celebrated their 30th anniversary on September 9th.  The maile lei draped on the railings were part of a blessing ceremony in which each of their four Bombardier Dash8 aircraft were given Hawaiian names.

Jet Skier

A jet skier roars along Ke‘ehi Lagoon from the Sand Island Recreation Center, creating a wake in a "No Wake Zone".

Surf Police

On a day when a surf swell hit O‘ahu's south shores, the state's Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) police enforced the body surfers only rule at Point Panic.  There is a zone marked by two orange and white poles (background) where it's reserved for body surfing only between the poles.  All other types of surfing must be done outside (west) of the zone.  When the DNLR police showed up, they chirped their siren and made announcements over their loudspeaker.

A body boarder told me that violators can be cited with a $150 fine plus board confiscation.  To get the board back, violators had to go to court.

In all of the times I've gone to Point Panic to photograph surfers, this was the first time I've seen the DLNR police enforce the body surfing zone.

Re-reflection

Thanks to an ultra wide-angle lens, I was able to get a shot of the sun, its reflection off the First Hawaiian Tower, and a second reflection off of the Cades Schutte Building.

Blue Angels Return To K-Bay

The US Navy's Blue Angels returned this past weekend to Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i to headline the Kāne‘ohe Airshow.  Today's photo shows all six Boeing F/A-18s in a horizontal burst toward show center.

More air show photos on the Blue Wave Pix facebook page

Honu

This one of five honu (green sea turtles) that were feeding on the rocks in front of the Sheraton Waikīkī a couple of weeks ago.  It did not seem to bother them that the tide was rolling in, since the spot they were feeding in was a little calmer.

‘Aweoweo Beach

‘Aweoweo Beach in Waialua is a beach Kat & I discovered through a friend's recommendation.  We've seen even honu feeding on the rocks.

Wing Abeam Waikīkī

Our Hawaiian Air 717 flight courses abeam the Waikīkī shoreline as make our way to Maui, from the trip Kat & I took last November.  Hotels directly abeam off the wingtip are the Halekulani, Sheraton Waikīkī, and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Do Not Cross The Red Line!

Restricted areas around military flight lines are marked by a red line (seen above).  As the painted sign says, security forces are authorized to use lethal force if they see someone crossing the red line.  Off to the left of the sign is the controlled entry point, marked by a thick white line.  I got this shot while doing a media event with the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Sandbar House

In Ke‘ehi Lagoon, there are several sandbars, and a few are large enough to support houses.  This house above, is one of several on a sandbar at the mouth of the lagoon.

Happy Birthday Kat!

To my wife,
Happy Birthday Kat!


Just for fun, and out of curiosity, here are ten famous folks who share September 21st birthdays with Kathy:
• HG Wells (author)
• Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes animator)
• Larry Hagman (actor)
• Stephen King (writer)
• Bill Murray (actor/comedian)
• Faith Hill (singer)
• Ricki Lake (actress)
• Rob Morrow (actor)
• Cecil Fielder (Detroit Tigers outfielder)
• Grant Fuhr (Edmonton Oilers goalie)

Gas Tank Bell

This bell was made from an old gas tank, and was found at the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City.

Huapala

The huapala, or orange trumpet vine, has these bright orange flower clusters that bloom in the beginning of the year. This bunch was one of many along a wall on Kamehameha Highway, in Waipio Gentry.

St. Andrew's Cathedral

St. Andrew's Cathedral is Honolulu's largest Episcopal church, and neighbors St. Andrew's Priory School.  It's also a popular church for weddings for locals and Japanese tourists.  In the back of the church is a floor to ceiling stained glass work of art.

Under The Wing

While I was waiting to photograph a Boeing 737 delivery flight that was departing for Majuro to taxi by, I took shade under the wing of Kamaka Air's Super DC-3.  In the distance is the HNL control tower, and behind that is the Wai‘anae Mountain Range.

Lunch Break

This couple takes their lunch break (Subway sandwiches and Starbucks coffees) on the back gate of a pickup truck in a parking lot.

Surf Shooter

This surf photographer watches the action at "Ala Moana Bowls" off of Magic Island Park, as a wave explodes against breakers.

Koki‘o Kea

Three white hibiscus flowers (Koki‘o Kea) in bloom at He‘eia Kea State Park.

Money Grab

This woman participated in a money grab sponsored by a local bank at the Made In Hawai‘i products expo a few weeks ago.  She had 30 seconds to stuff as much money as she could into the box on the outside of the booth, through a thin slot.  She won $50 for her efforts.

Pup & Cup

This pup found a cup full of water to drink, but some spilled out as he carried it.

Surfer Girl

This female surfer was one of those who braved the six-foot faced waves.

Trashed

This surfboard looks like it was the victim of a crushing wave.  As you can see the nose is severely dinged up, as well as the sides.  When I looked closely, the board had a few major cracks throughout its surface.

Cutback Spray

This surfer creates a large amount of spray as he cuts back on the top of this wave he's riding.

Tugboat In Channel

This tugboat, and another behind it, make their way through the Kewalo Boat Harbor channel which flanked on both sides by popular south shore surf breaks.  "Kewalos" is on the far side of the tug.  The surfer in the foreground is returning from his surf session.

Kewalos

Two surfers catch the same wave over at "Kewalos", which is across the Kewalo Boat Harbor channel.

Watching The Surfers

A father and son (lower right corner) watch the action at "Point Panic".  The bodysurfers take the left side of the break.

Bodysurfing

This month's theme week is "South Shore Swell".  In the beginning of August, there was a surf swell that hit O‘ahu's southern coast, in which  waves reached face heights of eight feet.  On the day I went to a surf spot called "Point Panic", wave faces reached six feet.  "Point Panic", in front of Kaka‘ako Park, got its name because of the short ride before reaching the rocky shoreline.

Todays' photo shows bodysurfer attacking the left break, with two others ducking out of the way.

Honohono Orchids

A couple of years ago, Kat's mom gave me a honohono orchid plant, but it took a while before it finally bore a few flowers.

Game On!

The 2010 University of Hawai‘i Warriors football season kicked off yesterday with their opener against the University of Southern California Trojans at Aloha Stadium.  The Trojans escaped with a 49-36 victory over the Warriors.  Today's photo shows the Warriors players tunnel shortly before they entered the field from my camera platform, and we were about to go live.

Aloha ‘Oe Eagles

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron bid a fond farewell to the McDonnell-Douglas F-15C Eagle yesterday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.  The Eagle is being replaced by the Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor.  78-0509 is seen above departing the Reef Runway for Nellis Air Force Base, NV.

Bathroom Sink

I was walking through a Home Depot bathroom department, and came across a display of glass bathroom vanity sinks.  Today's photo is a close-up of one of the designs I took with my cell phone.

Bishop Street

Bishop Street is one downtown Honolulu's main thoroughfares.  It was used in the film "Don Juan DeMarco", and was supposed to be New York City, but one of the city buses was in the background, and gave it away.

South Shore Swell

In the beginning of the month, a south shore surf swell hit the southern coast of O‘ahu.  This is a little spot where surfers go out to hit the break at a favorite spot called "Bowls", on the left of the mouth of the Ala Wai Boat Harbor.

Team Impact

Team Impact was invited to perform for five nights, two weeks ago at New Hope Leeward.  They performed several feats of strength, as well as offer their testimony, and their walk with Christ.  Among their feats, they blew up hot water bottles, ripped phone books, bent steel bars, and broke baseball bats.

In today's photo, Team Impact member Siolo Tauafea (from Honolulu) breaks this stack of 14 concrete tiles with his bare hand.

Watching The Bride And Groom

Bridesmaids from Kirk & Merilyn's wedding wait while the couple is photographed before the wedding ceremony.

Orchid Railing

In celebration of the arrival of its first Airbus A330-200, Hawaiian Air held a blessing ceremony for the new addition to their fleet. The stairs leading up the main entry was door were draped with orchid lei.

Old Staples

Old, rusty staples left behind from old sign postings, in a wood utility pole ...

Injured Player

During this past Saturday's Interleague High School game between the Wai‘anae Seariders and Saint Louis Crusaders, Seariders wide receiver Niko Camacho (#87, on the stretcher) was knocked unconscious by a member of the Crusaders return team while Camacho was chasing down the Crusaders punt returner. The replay showed helmet to helmet contact to the side of Camacho's head, and he crumpled to the ground after the hit. No penalty was called.

From my field camera angle, I did not see the collision, since I was focussed on the returner. The game, only in the opening few minutes, was delayed almost 30 minutes as an ambulance was called to take Camacho to a hospital. Fortunately, he did show movement in his legs and hands, while the firefighters, paramedics, and Wai‘anae training staff secured him to a backboard. They also cut away his jersey, and removed the face mask from his helmet. Camacho's condition was not known after both games were finished. To make things worse, the Crusaders trounced the Seariders, 42-3.

In my seven seasons on the Aloha Stadium video crew, this was the fourth time I've witnessed a football player carted off in an ambulance. Hopefully, Camacho will make a full recovery, and return to playing football.

Surf's Up!

Last week, another south swell hit the south shore of O‘ahu with wave faces as high as six feet. Though not as big as the 15-feet-plus winter north shore swells, the south swells draws many surfers. Point Panic, in front of Kaka‘ako Park, is a top surf spot which also attracts body surfers and body boarders as well.

Today would have been Duke Kahanamoku's 120th birthday. He was instrumental in bringing surfing to the rest of the world.

GIant Flower

The flower of the monstera deliciosa plant measures over eight inches in height. It's a common landscape plant, and there are quite a bit where we live.

Today's photo shows one of the flowers that bloomed in front of our townhouse.

Canoes & Waves

Canoes and waves along Waikīkī's eastern end ...

Bear In Chair

This teddy bear was a gift from a parent of one of Kat's students. I took this photo a couple of weeks after we re-painted our bedroom.

Climb Out Rays

The sun's rays cuts through clouds over Honolulu as we climb out in a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. I was invited to go on a media flight during the 2010 RIMPAC exercises, in which we would perform an air drop over the Pohakuloa Training Range on the Big Island. For the departure out of HNL, I was selected to sit in one of the jumpseats in the cockpit. The C-17 must have one of the roomiest flight decks around!

We had some rain showers as we taxied from the Hickam ramp to the Reef Runway, and can see more rain in today's photo.