Waterfalls on the H-3 and the Koolau Mountain Range

Finally, the rains came and came and came some more. It was a photographers dream day. It rained off and on but I managed to stay dry. There were waterfalls before I made through the tunnel, there are not usually waterfalls before the tunnel, but today there was an exception. I was really pumped up to shoot some great waterfalls and I must say that I wasn't disappointed.They were everywhere on the Koolaus, even a rainy day can be beautiful...aloha

13th Annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony

 This was the 13th Annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony at Magic Island. it seemed as if there were many more people than last year. I was met there by a few of my photo club members to capture this event digitally as we did last year.
I got there after work (just the way I did it last year) and proceeded to the large tent area. There I was given my candle and the floating platform for it. I really didn't expect to get one this year, people line up hours in advance to receive them. I was lucky or maybe I was meant to receive one. It was a moment to remember my brother Michael and my father-in law Bill along with a few others that had passed away. It was quite a moment to reflect upon, I managed to write down some words of reflection. They are all missed and I will always remember them because they each had special meanings to me.
We were faced with getting through the crowd to reach the waters edge, so we side stepped and said "excuse me" a number of times but we ended up in a decent location. One of the members of our group wanted to relocate to a further distance down the beach, we reluctantly agreed. Made our move to a spot that was supposedly better, but we would all agree to not come back to this spot next year. I got to launch my lantern and again say good bye to my loved ones, then I began to photograph my lantern and the many others that were set free around me, it always is a touching moment when everyone around you is saying goodbye to their loved ones and setting their lanterns free. I was a spectacular sunset but it was a secondary event as we all were absorbed in the sendoffs of many, and I mean many lanterns. Until next year, when we will return, we bid all of you farewell......aloha

one of my club members, Cora

Milton, Darcy, and her daughter

another beautiful Hawaiian night 

on the road to Hilo for Merrie Monarch

The long awaited trip to Hilo has finally come, that means that it is time for the 50th Merrie Monarch Festival. The bags are all packed and the reservations are already made. It doesn't seem like it was just last year when we were making the same trip. We all loaded the car and off to the airport we went. Kona was where we would pickup the rental car and drive the nearly 100 miles to Kilauea Military Camp. We got food and drink, there was my ipod and we had each other so let the trip to Hilo begin. It has been quite a few years since either of us had driven on the Saddle Road, it was still crook and hilly road to drive, but now there is a new road that is straighter and a lot more even. It was a decent road to travel. We could see the difference in the sky when we reached Pohakuloa Training Area, it looked like there was a fire, all smoky and stuff but it was a combination of vog and rain. Vog is the stuff that is emitted from the volcano and it is really ugly at times. This was one of those times, it set the tone for Hilo. Here we come. Tonight I will photograph Ilima Hula Studio's practice, they perform at the Hoike tomorrow night. Some of the ladies that will be dancing have danced for the halau since 1960. The younger ladies that danced last year didn't dance. There was a great practice, they look wonderful and I know they will do well on the big stage...redy for tomorrow..aloha.

Classic Car Show at Aloha Tower

Attended a nice auto show at Aloha Tower, there were quite a few cars but I am sure that the rain changed a lot of car owners minds. I even had a change of heart, after attempting to get to Aloha Tower the first time it just didn't happen because of the downpour. I proceeded to the H-3 and made my way to look for waterfalls in Kaneohe. To my dismay, there were no waterfalls. I decided to return using the Pali Highway, always looking for good subject matter to photograph, at the bottom of Pali Highway there was no rain, so the next thing was to continue on to Aloha Tower after seeing that the parking lot was full. There were some nice oldies along with the lowrider clubs. I always enjoy these events and I really like some of the nice old rides....they are kind of like me, older but definitely a classic.......aloha.