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.

C: Can You See It From Here?

I snapped this bird's eye view of the offshore islands from the top of Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail.  In the foreground is Kaohikaipu Island, and rising up behind it is Manana (Rabbit) Island.  Farther in the distance are the Moku-lua, or twin islands as they are also called.  In the background you can see Ulu-pa'u Head with the islet of Mokolea off of its shore.  If you look to your left from this spot the VIEW of the Ko'Olau Mountain Range is equally stunning.  For more 'C' photos, please visit ABC Wednesday.

Almost Like Camoflauge

I was at the top of Makapu'u Trail when this military helicopter passed by, at a lower elevation than me.  On this day, the aircraft and the ocean were almost the same color.  This trail is a also a great place to watch hang gliders and, in the winter, humpback whales.  It's Skywatch Friday, so click HERE to see sky images from around the world. 

Pig, Pacific Island Style

I sure hope I don't offend anyone with this photo (ie. my vegetarian friends) but I couldn't resist stopping and asking for a pic when I saw these guys roasting a pig on a spit at Makapu'u Beach!  They had set up camp for the day, and even had a generator to power the spit so that it rotated continuously.  I have to admit that I love the skin after it's cooked like this, and gets very crispy and crunchy :)

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

After watching this young fisherman at the Makapu'u tidepools bring in several varieties of fish, I had to ask him if I could take a photo! The fish on his line is a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, or "humuhumu" for short. Interesting tidbits about the humuhumu: it has enjoyed an on-again off-again status as the state fish of Hawaii, it has two spines, and BLUE teeth!
p.s. Young fisherman, if you'd like the other photos I took of you, please email me at lisa_lim03@hotmail.com and I'll be glad to send them to you.

R: Rabbit Island

Rabbit Island (also called Manana Island in Hawaiian), as seen from the Makapu'u lookout.  The smaller, flatter island in the foreground is Kaohikaipu Island.  For more 'R' photos visit ABC Wednesday HERE.

M: Makapu'u Lighthouse

To see the lighthouse, located on the easternmost point of the island, you have to walk about 1 1/4 miles up a paved trail. The elevation here is 520 feet, so you get sweeping views of the Pacific. It's ABC Wednesday, so click HERE to see other 'M' photos.

G: Gliders

I saw this hang glider soar past after walking to the top of the Mokapu'u Lighthouse Trail.  Makapu'u is a very popular gliding area, so it's possible to watch take-offs and landings whenever the weather is good.  It's ABC Wednesday, so click HERE to see other 'G' photos. 

Bird's Eye View

There are plenty of scenic hikes on Oahu, and if you take the Makapu'u Trail to the top you will be rewarded with a sweeping view of the Kaiwi Channel, from Manana Island to Ulu-pa'u Head. It's Skywatch Friday, and you can see other skies from around the world by clicking here.