Streaks

Streaks of high altitude clouds fill the sky over Central O‘ahu.

Honolulu Fish Auction

Early each morning, fish buyers from restaurants and markets head down to the Honolulu Fish Auction on Pier 38. It's the only one of its kind in the western United States. Pictured above are bidders looking at ‘ahi (yellow-fin tuna) to purchase. The fish for sale are all fresh from fishing boats that unloaded their catch hours before the auction's start.

We had an opportunity to go before the New Year. In Hawai‘i, ‘ahi is in high demand during this time of the year, as it a Japanese custom to have sashimi (raw tuna slices) included in the New Year's celebrations. This also drives up the price to over $40 per pound (retail) for premium grade ‘ahi.

Moonset Pines

A full moon sets between a pair of Norfolk Pines.

Celebrity Interview

Each New Year's season, TV crews from Japanese TV entertainment shows gather at the International Arrivals exit at the Honolulu International Airport to get interviews with Japanese celebrities.

For the past three years, I have been off the assignment, but I stopped by the airport a couple of weeks ago to chat friends who were on the camera crews. The photo above, shows the one interview that happened while I was there, was with professional wrestlers Kensuke Sasaki (white t-shirt) and Akira Hokuto (white hat) and their children.

Happy 9th Birthday!

Last weekend, our home church, New Hope Leeward, celebrated it's ninth birthday. Pictured above, is Pastor Mike Lwin on stage, with the balloon decor behind him.

Bug's Eye View

Almost a bug's eye view from the blades of the new UBU Sports Series S-5M synthetic turf at Hawaiian Airlines Field. I took this photo while doing pre-game set-ups for a University of Hawai‘i Warriors football game.

Strawberries Flambé

With one of my brothers-in-law and me having birthdays a few days apart, my mother-in-law decided to celebrate both birthdays as one dinner event. We went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and my brother-in-law and I both got these Strawberries Flambé as birthday desserts. The blue flame is from the alcohol burning off.

Dawn Colors

The sky turns various colors as the sun comes up behind me, as the moon sets.

Wolfpack

A football helmet of the Pac-Five Wolfpack on the turf of Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. I took this photo during an injury time-out, while shooting the on-field camera.

Pac-Five is a sports amalgamation of 13 small private schools on O‘ahu, where students combine to form teams in 13 sports. The original five schools that make up Pac-Five are: Maryknoll High School, Hawaii Baptist Academy, University Lab School, Lutheran High School, and the Mid-Pacific Institute.

Wāhine Volleyball

One of the volleyballs of the nationally-ranked University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wāhine (Women's) Volleyball team during their pre-game warm-ups. Na Wāhine finished off the season falling in the NCAA Regionals.

I've been on the broadcast TV crew that covers Hawai‘i home basketball and volleyball games at the Stan Sheriff Center at the Mānoa Campus.

Happy Birthday Cobe!

Happy Birthday to our nephew Cobe!

Kaukonahua Road

The theme week for January is "iPhone Photos". Leading off, is a shot Kaukonahua Road, as we ventured to Waialua. This portion of the road is lined with pine trees, that almost forms a tunnel.

Komoda Store

During one of our recent Maui trips, a magazine writer/photographer was doing a profile of Komoda Store, in Makawao. While we were there, the writer gathered the Komoda Store people to get a group shot, and I jumped in to this photo as well.

The store is known for its super-delicious baked goods. Folks come from all over the "Valley Isle" to get their breads and pastries. Locals who visit Maui from other islands, like us, make it a point to stop there for breakfast and snacks. Komoda Store is a must-stop when on Maui, and you need to go early! 

Turn Here

A ramp worker from AirServce Hawaii marshalls this Virgin Australia Boeing 737 to its overnight parking spot, after arriving from Seattle-Boeing Field.

Rear Axle

A car's rear axle and wheels abandoned in an empty lot.

Blue Crabs

A box full of soft shell blue crabs for sale at a Chinatown seafood vendor.

Croton Flowers

A close-up of tiny croton flowers in bloom.

Bang The Drum All Day

One of the drummers on the New Hope Leeward worship team bangs the drums while rehearsing the song "Deep Cries Out".

Instagrams 4

Happy New Year!

Leading 2012, is our monthly Instagram collage. Here is the January edition ...

Row 1: cupcakes from Let Them Eat Cupcakes; Kaukonahua Road; sunrise clouds; traffic on HNL's South Ramp; 

‘Aulani aquarium; sun through twin palms.

Row 2: a beach in Kāhala; moonset pines; lazy river pool at a house; morning traffic; Pac-Five Wolfpack helmet; multi-colored rose bouquet.

Row 3: Diamond Head back view; soccer ball on the Waipio Soccer Stadium pitch; closed Borders store; replay machines in a production truck; fountain at Ala Moana Center; early evening weekend traffic.

Row 4: ‘Aulani coaster; Japanese tourist wedding at St. Peter's Church; Radford Rams vs ‘Iolani Raiders; pumpkins; sunset over the ocean; EFP camera for a soccer game.

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