Aloha: Be Back in Two Weeks!

We are going to the mainland for two weeks - it will be our first trip to the east coast in two years!  I will not be posting to my blog during that time.  I will leave you with this image of a double rainbow and my warmest aloha.  See you in August!

Lazy Sunday

A very large green sea turtle sunning itself on a sandy stretch of beach on the North Shore.

Water Safety

Water safety is important in Hawaii for obvious reasons, and the local YMCA branches offer a variety of classes.  Here kids are getting a lesson in what to do if their boat capsizes. 

Tranquility

Watching the sun set over the Pacific was the perfect end to a perfect Saturday afternoon on the North Shore.  The hour before dusk is my favorite time to be on the beach.  For other sky images from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Fleeting Footprints

Tiny waves were swirling and filling the footprints I'd just left behind in the wet sand at Waimea Bay.  The sand here is quite light and powdery, but the combination of water and rays from the setting sun gave it a nice orangey-brown glow. 

A: Aoki's Shave Ice

It's time for another round of ABC Wednesday and to kick it off I decided to start with one of my favorite island treats - Aoki's Shave Ice.  I love the cherry flavor with ice cream on the bottom and condensed milk poured over the top - Mmmmm!

Kualoa Sugar Mill Remains

Oahu's first sugar mill was built in the 1860's, near the present day Kualoa Ranch.  Coral bricks were among the materials used in its construction.  The mill closed in the 1870's because there was not enough rain in this area to sustain the sugar crops.

Hide and Seek

This guy kept popping in and out of the cracks in the large rocks at Papailoa Beach - this is as close as I got to a full shot of him!

Surf Lesson

A father and his kids waiting to hit the water for their surf lesson while vacationing at Waikiki.  This strip of the beach, in front of the Outrigger Reef and other resorts, is a perfect place for beginners to catch long, gentle rides. 

Ft Hase at Dusk

We stopped by Ft Hase Beach to watch the sun go down - the water was choppy and churned up.  I think it gives the appearance of a chilly day, but really it was quite warm that evening.  For more sky photos from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Textures in Nature

I love the contrast in texture and color created by the lava rock and beach sand - a nice backdrop for the driftwood!

Nostalgia

There is something sentimental about this photo - perhaps it reminds me of my own childhood summers, when my cousins and I spent so much time in the water (particularly at Hunting Island, South Carolina where we often camped with our families). 

Plumeria Buds

Plumeria buds opening in the morning sunlight.

Surfboard Parking

Surfboards locked up for safekeeping outside of Duke's Canoe Club Restaurant in Waikiki.

*We are in the process of moving into a new house here on Oahu, so I have not had many opportunities to take photos or post them recently.  I am looking forward to getting back into daily photo blogging and catching up on all of my friends' blogs!

Waimanalo Canoe Club

Moments after I snapped this photo the canoe was filled with competitors, oars slicing through the crystal waters of Waimanalo Bay. 

Brrrrrrrrrrrr.....................!!!

Know what follows a LONG, HOT day at the beach?  A SHORT, COLD freshwater shower to knock some of the sand off before you get into your mom's car and head home :)

Y: Yellow Tang

I love snorkeling!  This particular day was a lot of fun because there were so many Yellow Tang fish in the area.  I snapped this photo with my point-and-shoot waterproof camera, so it's not the best quality but the fish still look so colorful.  For more 'Y' photos, visit ABC Wednesday HERE.

Skywatch

The water was crystal clear and exceptionally beautiful on this day at the old Pahonu Pond just south of Waimanalo.  The blue in the sky rivaled the turquoise in the water.  For more sky photos from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.