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 ...

Jackass Ginger

This variety of ginger is quite common in people's yards.

Cauldron

One of the fiery cauldrons at the top of the waterfall at Loews Lake Las Vegas.

Watching Raptor

Some of the VIP ticket holders watch and photograph a US Air Force F-22A Raptor do its solo flight demonstration at the 2010 Kāne‘ohe Bay Air Show.

Dove On Wiper Blade

This dove landed on my windshield wiper blade while I was waiting to photograph an airliner.

Maui

Last weekend, Kat & I got away to Maui to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. This was the view of Haleakalā from Kehalani in upper Wailuku.

Castle Building

A dad watches his kids build a sand castle at one of the lagoons at Ko ‘Olina.

Hitching A Ride

The ground crew from Castle & Cooke Aviation tows out this Lion Air International Boeing 737-900ER from their ramp, after its fuel stop at HNL. A narrow alleyway sits between the active taxiway and the Castle & Cooke ramp. Normally, 737 pilots will taxi to (and from) the ramp on its own power, as its wingspan will not be a factor as long as they stay on guideline. The Lion pilots, however, request to be towed out, though they taxi in on their own.

The woman in the purple on the tug is one of Castle & Cooke's concierges. The crewman walking is watching the starboard winglet.

This Lion 737-900ER is a brand new airliner that is making its island-hopping delivery flight from Boeing Field (Seattle) to Jakarta. The fuel stop at HNL lasts only a couple of hours. Lion deliveries like to make brief fuel stops along the way, instead of making two overnight stops.

Lettuce

Kat & I came across this decorative looking lettuce plants at Disneyland and the Loews Lake Las Vegas ...

Rain On Windshield

Heavy raindrops pelt my windshield during a recent rain storm. In the center of the shot, is a raindrop exploding after hitting the windshield.

Reeds

These reeds and tall grass blow in the wind at Loews Lake Las Vegas.

Happy Anniversary!

Kathy & I celebrate our second wedding anniversary today!

We took this photo while standing line for "Toy Story Mania!" at Disneyland's California Adventure Park during our trip this past November.

Cooling Off

This young Denver Broncos fan checks to see how this "Big Fog" water fans works on the AFC sideline, before the start of the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl. Each sideline during the game had several of these Big Fogs to keep the players cool, with temperatures reaching 80°F, and humidity in the 80% range at game time. The fans have a water hose hooked to it, and sprays a fine mist. It does work, I spent a few minutes under one before we went live. 

Swoon

While doing Kisa's senior portrait session, I shot a few photos of her sister Ellie, and caught this pose.

Rappelling From Helicopter

Federal Law Enforcement Agents practice rappelling from this helicopter at the Waipio Soccer Complex.

Four-Leafed Clovers

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I took this photo of these clovers that were on sale at a local hardware store with my mobile phone.

Tsunami Damaged

Several boats and piers in O‘ahu's Ke‘ehi Lagoon were damaged as a result of this past Friday's tsunami triggered by the M9.0 earthquake in Japan's Tōhoku Region. Though the surge on O‘ahu did not reach the forecasted six feet, it was enough to dislodge piers and boats, and moved them throughout the lagoon. Another several boats even sank because of collisions. According to reports nine of the ten small boat harbors across the Hawaiian Islands suffered damage to some extent. The state is trying to assess the dollar amount the damage caused.

Today's photo shows one of the damaged sailboats listing to its port side, that are being worked on. I took this photo from Ke‘ehi Park yesterday.

Malasadas

Being that Fat Tuesday fell during our theme week, we moved the photo to today. In Hawai‘i, Fat Tuesday is also known as "Malasada Day", because of the Portuguese population that emigrated here. This was the scene at the Leonard Jr's malasada trailer near at the Waikele Center on Fat Tuesday. When I got there, the line was about 15 deep, and when I left the line doubled in length (above).

Candles

Candles and hurricane lamps in the lobby of the Loews Lake Las Vegas.

Kōlea

This kōlea, golden plover, has made the medial strip in our parking lot its home for the winter after migrating from Alaska.

Vaihi

For the second straight year, local music group Vaihi was the headlining act for the post-race "Stadium Party".

Also, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of Friday's earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and Pacific-wide tsunami.

Tahitian Dancers

A couple of dancers from Manutahi Tahiti perform Tahitian dances during the post-race "Stadium Party".

Top Brass

US Army Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon (left) received a koa bowl trophy from Great Aloha Run foundress Carole Kai. LTG Mixon is the commander of the US Army Pacific. The trophy was for largest participation by a military branch, which went to the US Army.

Top Finishers

The top three mens and womens finishers pose for photos with two Alaska Airlines employees (far ends) and Connie Comiso (2nd from right, whose name the womens trophy is named after). Flag bearers from the military units line the background.

Winners, left to right (from second from left): Brandon Laan (M 1st), Thomas Puzey (M 2nd), Ahrlin Bauman (M 3rd), Lanni Marchant (W 1st), Cynthia Anderson (W 2nd), and Sarah Raitter (W 3rd).

Only 40 Yards To Go!

From the start of the field's warning track, to the finish line is last 40 yards of the Great Aloha Run. The Sounds Of Freedom finish line on the left is set for military runners that as a unit. Those sitting in the stands are runners that finished the race.

The Finish Line

A ground level view of the finish line, and the north end zone tunnel where the runners enter the stadium.

Sunrise Clouds

The theme week for March is the "2011 Great Aloha Run". It's the annual run that starts at Aloha Tower and ends at Aloha Stadium that's held on Presidents' Day.

Today's photo shows the pink sunrise clouds behind the stands of Aloha Stadium as race officials make final preparations before the start of the race, and we make final adjustments on our three video cameras.

Do You Take ...

A high-angle fisheye shot of Owen & Belyn's wedding in a courtroom officiated by the Honorable Steven Alm, that I shot with a Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens.

Stairway To Surf

This is the stairway that leads to surf spots fronting Kewalo and Kaka‘ako Parks. This is the easy way to enter the surf. Others choose to jump from the rock walls at these surf spots.

Rough Terrain

An aerial view of the desert mountains surrounding Las Vegas, NV.

Rosebuds

Several of the dozens of rosebuds that New Hope Leeward gave to moms for the Mother's Day weekend services. Today would have been my mom's 80th birthday, so in honor of her ... roses, her favorite flowers.

Sayonara "Queen Of The Skies"!

Yesterday, Japan Airlines flew the last passenger Boeing 747-400 flight. After 40+ years, JAL will be saying a fond "sayonara" to the Boeing Jumbo Jet family, that began in 1970 with their first 747-100. Monday's JAL75 to NRT (Narita International, Tokyo, Japan) with 421 passengers, was the final 747 flight. At HNL, the JAL HNL Station held a send off for the passengers and crew of this historic flight. A couple of dozen members of the Japanese media was aboard this historic flight.

In today's photo, a balloon arch with a photo banner was put up for passenger and crew to take pictures under, and a 747-400 model was brought out and adorned with lei. Also, the 747 photo on the banner, was one of a few photos I submitted to Japan Airlines for the event, as part of the 747 service to Hawai‘i.