Bag Tags

During Pro Bowl week, all bags entering the stadium are subject to inspection. Pictured above, are the daily tags my work pack received after each inspection, from the Tuesday until Sunday.

Father And Son

Matt's dad makes adjustment's to his son necktie, as he gets ready for his wedding.

Super Jumbo

In December 2012, Airbus Industrie made a demonstration call to Honolulu, with their A380 test aircraft. It was the "super jumbo" jet's first formal appearance at HNL, and was used for training for ground crews, as well as a sales call to Hawaiian Airlines. Because of its long wingspan and weight, there are only a few gates that can handle an A380.

While there are no scheduled A380 flights to HNL, it has become an emergency stopover point for Qantas Airways flights between California and Australia.

Bridge Out

A couple of years ago, the walk bridge crossing over Moanalua Road, connecting ‘Aiea to Aloha Stadium was partially taken out by truck that had exceeded the height limit, and it took several weeks to repair.

Spanish Lavender

Spanish lavender blooms.

Chipotle

After hearing so much about Chipotle Mexican Grill, I finally had a chance to try it outside Atlanta, on last year's work trip. I just wish they would bring Chipotle to Honolulu!

Orchids Abound

One of my last orchid plants had one last bloom that had two stems loaded with flowers.

Passengers In Motion

Passengers walk to their respective gates in the Inter-Island Terminal.

Snow Puffy Time

It was snow puffy time, on our drive out to the North Shore. We stopped at Pa‘ala‘a Kai Bakery for these custard-filled, chocolate-topped, phylo dough goodies. Kat, and her nieces and nephew enjoy the first bites of their snow puffies.

DC-8 Nose

One of the distinguishing features of the Douglas DC-8 airliner, are the air scoops on the lower nose section. These intakes were for the turbo compressors for the cabin pressurization and air conditioning systems, as well as air-to-air heat exchangers.

Sunrise Flare

Lens flares as the sun rises.

Kua ʻĀina

After a morning at the beach, we went to Kua ʻĀina, a local burger outlet for lunch.

Amelia Earhart Monument

At the Diamond Head roadside lookout, there stands a monument noting Amelia Earhart's first solo flight from Hawai‘i to the US mainland. A few days ago, a young bearing the same name, completed an around-the-world flight in a single engine aircraft. Amelia Rose Earhart piloted a Pilatus PC-12 on journey that began and ended in Denver, Colorado. During her overnight stop in Honolulu, Ms. Earhart even stayed at the same hotel, The Royal Hawaiian, as her namesake did in the 1930s.

Gold Coast

Waikīkī's "Gold Coast" as seen from Magic Island Park. The "Gold Coast" is on the eastern most portion of Waikīkī, which contains many condominiums along the shore. The Natatorium War Memorial is part of the area as well.

Drummer Boy

Bryan pounds on the drums during worship team rehearsals.

Finishers

These were some of the Spartan Race finishers, resting on the turf.

Finisher's Medal

Each Spartan Race finisher received a medal like the one above, and a t-shirt.

Finish Line

The final 50-yard sprint did not end easily, as racers had to get by three US Marines, who had pujil sticks, and were tapping them as they went by.

Cargo Net

Participants had to go up and over a cargo net obstacle on the field.

Tire Pull

On the southeast concourse bridge, there was a tire pull that participants had to do. The tires were tied to a 20-foot rope, that had to be pulled up, then slowly released down.

Final Part ... The Field

The last part of the race entered from the tunnel (bottom right corner), and went around the turf. The final chute is in the middle of the field.

Rope Climb

Our theme week for July, is the Reebok Spartan Race Hawai‘i that was held this past March at Aloha Stadium. The race started in the old third base bullpen, and featured a three-mile course in, around, and through the stadium, ending on the field, at the 50-yard-line. Participants had challenges along the way, that included rope climbs, wall climbs, hauling buckets of sand throughout the rows of seats, pulling tires dangling from the concourse, and other obstacles.

Pictured above are the ropes for one of the rope climbs, that was located at the front of the stadium, before they were tied to the scaffolding.

Under The Shade

I saw this couple sitting under the large hau tree, that's part of the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant, where we were having breakfast. It looked like they were enjoying their morning at the beach.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 238th Birthday USA!

Over The Edge

A small waterfall in downtown Honolulu ...

Billowing Clouds

Clouds billow over O‘ahu ...

New Hope Leeward

Our July edition of the Instagram collage features my time as a staff member of New Hope Leeward, as I ran the Broadcast Video ministry for a couple of years.

Row 1: looking at Pastor Mike Lwin through the camera's viewfinder; the old Leeward Ministry Center at 5:00am, as I walk to work; Pastor Mike Lwin gives the message; the worship team rehearses; my desk with a Subway sandwich for that day's lunch; and the view from the video control area, and the master control screen.

Row 2: hula dance to celebrate the opening of the ‘Aiea Campus; Isaac and Patrick doing their "Chicken Flight" skit; the video switcher; the worship team during the Christmas Eve service, where they used iPads as instruments; Ava learning to shoot hand-held; and Pastor Jon, Kalani; and Hoku ham it up during one of our staff work days.

Row 3: Music Director Bryan plays drums; the Epic high school worship team took over the first service of the year; food is a major component of some of the meetings and fellowship time; Pastor Mike Lwin at the church's 11th birthday bash; radio personality Dawn O'Brien is a frequent guest speaker; and Justin runs through the production grid/script for the weekend's services.

Row 4: Lehua and Cindy during worship rehearsals; Julie ran the Sound & Lights Ministry; worship team members (Ervin, Hoku, Argee, and Bryan) who are also members of the US Army; youth pastor Josiah Nordgren during the Youth Takeover weekend; selfie during a video shoot; my desk on my last weekend on staff.

Grains Of Sand

Grains of sand, as seen through the Ölloclip macro lens for the iPhone.

Keilana

Keilana, is one of New Hope Leeward's worship team members, leads the team during a worship set.

Dad & Bride

Jacenia's dad walks her down the aisle ...

Monument

The monument pictured above commemorates the Naval Air Station Barbers Point. Currently, the former base houses the Kalaeloa Airport, the Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point, the FBI FieldHouse, the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, and several private businesses.

Opening Day

Today marks the start of the 2014 Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts facing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 2012, the Argonauts won the 100th Grey Cup. A few months after, the Grey Cup accompanied Argos Slotback / Returner Chad Owens home to Honolulu, along with a TSN (Canada's ESPN) video crew. They documented some of Chad's stomping grounds while growing up in Honolulu, as well as his time with the University of Hawai‘i Warriors. Owens also won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2012. He also holds the record of three consecutive seasons with 3,000+ total yards. One of the last public appearances was at Chad's favorite eatery, Good To Grill.

Sheriff's Department

One of the Hawai‘i State Sheriff's Department SUVs that blocked off the water main break (see theme week), with its lights flashing.

Spin

This bodyboarder does a spin move while riding a wave.

Bug Catcher

The State Department of Agriculture has placed a number of bug catchers around the island of O‘ahu to trap a few invasive species.

Sunflower

One of the sunflowers Kat received from one of her students.

Fresh Catch

While at the beach one day, we came across free divers who were spearfishing in the reef about 50 yards off-shore. This was one of the divers and his catch.

Nok Air

Thailand's Nok Air has their fleet painted with birds beaks on the nose cone, and vary in colors. "Nok Petchnaamngern" is Thai for the Blue Diamond Bird.

Tree Branch

This tree branch appears to have been stuck in the sand at water's edge.

Voggy Day

When the winds blow from the south, it brings up volcanic haze (vog) from the Big Island. On this particular day in late 2012, the vog layer was quite thick, and obscured the Honolulu skyline.

Wild Lilikoi Flower

I came across this tiny lilikoi flower while walking Emi.

Afternoon Clouds

Cottonball-like clouds blanket the afternoon sky ...

Dad's Day

Happy Father's Day!

The above photo was taken on Father's Day last year ...

Down The Drain

Fortunately, there was a storm drain nearby for the water to escape, but at the height of the break, even the drain could not handle the volume of water.

Remnants

As the water supply was begin shut off, these coral rocks were remnants left on the sidewalk.

Over The Cover

Some water flowing over a manhole cover.

Shower

At the height of the break, the water lifted the asphalt even higher.

Surge

As the break worsened, the amount of water flowing intensified.

Rocks From Below

Rocks from below were forced up with the water.

Water Main Break

This month's theme week features a water main break I came across back in late 2012, where I go to photograph airliners.

Today's photo shows the beginnings of the break of the eight-inch main, as it churned up the crushed coral under the asphalt layer. The portion of asphalt raised by the break, was from patch of a previous break near this eruption.