Cool Rims

I am always noticing the bicycles around town, especially the beach cruisers, because many of them are personalized or just more colorful than the average bike.  This bright orange rims on this one caught my eye.  There is one particular bike that I've spotted several times in Kailua when I didn't have my camera with me.  It's completely covered in artificial flowers - I hope to post of pic of it one day!

Dusk at Ala Moana

Sitting on the sand at Ala Moana Beach Park, just after sunset.  For more sky photos from around the world, please visit Skywatch Friday!

Shipping Containers Stacked High

"Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines" (www.50states.com).

I actually think about this sometimes, and marvel at the efforts required to move enough goods here to sustain over 900,000 people on our island alone.  Here are some more interesting facts:

 Honolulu Harbor offers cargo vessels and commercial interests over 200 acres of container yards, more than 30 berth facilities, and over FIVE miles of mooring.  In 2005 Honolulu Harbor accommodated over 500 thousand cruise ship passengers and handled $3.3 billion US in imports and over $200 million US in exports. Major cargoes handled through Honolulu Harbor include automobiles, overseas cargos, breakbulk, general cargo, dry and liquid bulk, and petroleum products. Among the most frequent cargoes are general merchandise, scrap metal, lumber, vehicles, sugar, molasses, chemical products, cement, diesel, fuel oil, jet fuel, and gasoline (from World Port Source).

Amazing!

O: Oma'oma'o

Oma'oma'o is the Hawaiian word for green, and it's the word that comes to mind when I see this view.  I snapped this while eating at Haleiwa Joe's in Kaneohe.  For more 'O' photos, go check out ABC Wednesday.

Layers

I like the different colors and textures here - soft green leaves, rough grey bark, and crunchy brown leaves. 

Fried Bananas

This is my favorite roadside stand on the island - it's across the street from Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore, and they sell all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Every time we drive by (which isn't that often) I have to get a fried banana... probably the most unhealthy thing they have :)

Fireball

The sun looks like a giant beach ball on the horizon, as if it's just about to bounce off of the dark water and back into the sky.  Of course, it didn't bounce, just kept slipping beneath the horizon :)  For more sky photos from around the world, please visit Skywatch Friday. 

Got Milk?

I just like the colors of these old milk jugs at the keiki petting farm in the Honolulu Zoo (I prefer chocolate soy milk and vanilla almond milk myself though!).

N: New (RED!) Shoes

I saw this older gentleman and his dog resting on the trail to Ka'ena Point.  He was very conservatively dressed in his overalls and hat on this very hot day, but what caught my eye were his brand new bright red tennis shoes :)  For more 'N' photos, please go check out ABC Wednesday.

Kailua Town Hula

At a hula performance here in town.  I love her smile - to me it is the embodiment the aloha spirit!

Ahhh, Spring!

It's in full bloom - in my dining room, that is!  There's no way tulips would grow in my hot, dry, sandy yard, so the next best thing is a vase full of them on my table.  Happy Monday!

Field Trip - Hawaiian Style

I spent most of my day here, at Baby Makapu'u Tidepools, with my daughter's kindergarten class.  Watching a bunch of 5-6 year olds wading through the shallow water, turning over the rocks in the tidepools and then shrieking with delight at their discoveries - hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, even a starfish - was a lot of fun for me.  And the water...well, it was that stunning shade of turquoise that almost takes your breath away as you round the curve of the road and the sea stretches out before you!

For more sky images from around the world, please visit Skywatch Friday.

Solitude

That's what comes to mind when I look at this photo.  As I walked past the fisherman at sunrise, it was obvious that he'd been there for hours.  He had a little tent set up and coffee brewing on his camp stove.  Imagine sitting out there in the darkness, with only crashing waves and the occasional biting fish to keep you company!

U'i

Some of the beautiful ladies of the Hano Hano No Akua Ka Hula Hula halau.  This was taken right after their Easter sunrise performance yesterday, which was quite moving. 

Happy Easter!

Collecting Seashells by the Seashore

Two little friends collect sticks and shells on the beach after a sunrise hula service.  I love the morning light here, and the breathtaking backdrop that the Ko'olau mountain range provides when the clouds ascend and hover just above its peaks.  For more sky photos from around the world, please go visit Skywatch Friday.

L: Lizard Love

Saw this pair when I was weeding my flower bed the other day.  Like so many other animals, the camouflaging ability of these reptiles amazes me!  For more 'L' photos go check out ABC Wednesday.

A told B and B told C...

“Dare, double dare, you can’t catch me.  I’ll beat you to the top of the coconut tree.”  Whenever I see this photo, it reminds me of a popular children's book - anyone remember it?

Sunday Afternoon Sail

Love the red sail on this canoe!