Glow

Greetings from the 29th floor, downtown Honolulu!  For sky images from around the world, please visit Skywatch Friday.

Reflecting in Reflections

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea.

~e.e. cummings

Just To Be Fair..

I had to post a pic of my little boy today, since I showed off my daughter yesterday.  This was him opening his first gift, a size 1 soccer ball - he was SO happy with it that as far as he was concerned the gift-opening portion of Christmas was over!  He walked over and got his shoes and kept saying "Outside, outside!".  Don't worry, his sister made sure the rest of his presents were opened :)

Merry Christmas To All, and To All a Good Night

It has been a good weekend:  Christmas Eve hula performance by my daughter's halau, both kids getting hopped up on sugar cookies and dancing to Christmas music, cheese fondue with my Santa after the stockings were stuffed, pre-dawn awakening for presents, church service this morning to celebrate Christ's birth, delicious dinner with friends, and an evening visit with more friends.  I am worn out, but in a good way.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Mele Kalikimaka

is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you!

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

Tis The Season...

for family photos sessions!  Many people in Hawaii love to have their Christmas card photos taken on the beach.  This was one of my favorites from a session I did last weekend.  I like it more for what it's not - instead of being the obvious posed oceanfront shot (of course I love those too) this candid capture only subtly hints at its location.  Bicycles propped against the wall, canoes jutting out, and beyond them the texture of the sea - no blue hues, no foaming white waves, just the change in texture as sand meets water.

Brody

This is Brody, a beautiful dog I saw playing frisbee today at Lanikai Beach.  He was fast and quite a high jumper...and it was really comical to watch the way he lunged into the water to snatch up the frisbee one time, only to step into the waves with trepidation and wait for just the right moment to reach out for it the next time!

p.s. If Brody's owners see this and would like the other photos I took of him, please email me lisamlim03@gmail.com  :)

Kayak at Dusk

I was envious of this couple gliding across the water as the sun set at Duke Kahanamoku beach!  Doesn't that look like the perfect place to be (or maybe out on one of the sailboats in the distance)?  For other sky images from around the world, please visit Skywatch Friday.

V: Valley of the Temples

Valley of the Temples is actually a large cemetery containing not only thousands of grave sites, but also various temples.  The grandest one, and the main attraction, is the Byodo-In, an exact replica of a 950 year old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan.  The grounds are a very lovely, serene place to visit for a half-hour or so.  For more 'V' photos please visit ABC Wednesday.

Rooms With a Crater View

The curved facade of one of the oceanfront hotels in Waikiki.  I imagine the view of Diamond Head from the balconies is unsurpassed :)

Where the Sidewalk Ends

If I'd happened upon this little girl at Kailua Beach Park, I would have thought to myself "Wow, her brightly-colored bike and brightly colored-outfit almost look like they were coordinated".  But I have to confess, this is MY little girl, and because practically everything she owns/wears is pink or purple, her things always appear to be coordinated!  It was too blustery and cool to play on the beach today, so we decided to enjoy the outdoors with a bike ride.

Fireball

I love it when the sun does this - passes through the clouds on its descent, turning them to a bright orange before it emerges below them in a perfect circle and sinks into the sea.  For more sky photos please click HERE.

Sand-ta

This is a giant sand sculpture at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.  Santa and his elves, ready to hit the water with floats, sunglasses, and snowflake-motif surfboards :)

U: USS Arizona, 70th Anniversary

How fitting that this week's letter in the ABC Wednesday meme is 'U' and that this Wednesday also falls on December 7th, the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  I took the above photo right after touring the USS Arizona Memorial, built directly over the sunken remains which still entomb 1177 service members who went down with the ship on that fateful day.  It is hard for me to imagine that on a sunny weekend morning right here on this beautiful island, 180 planes tore the harbor apart, bringing the United States into World War II.  I hope we never see the UGLINESS of war here again. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

at my house!  Tree is up and ornaments are hung thanks to my little elf helper (aka my daughter Lily Grace).  The Nativity has taken its place of honor on the dining room buffet - my mom gave it to me 15 years ago and I still love it.  Opening the box and carefully unwrapping each piece is the highlight of decorating for me. 

Liberty High

This is something you don't see every day in Hawaii:  a traditional high-stepping marching band, complete with bagpipes!  They are Liberty High School Marching Band, and they traveled all the way to Honolulu from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to participate in the annual Holiday Parade.  There were over 30 bands there, quite a few of them from the mainland. 

Sails

On most evenings there is a parade of sailboats making their way back to the marina near Ala Moana as the sun sets.  Their translucent sails always look so pretty  with the light shining through them.   For more sky photos from around the globe, please go take a look at  Skywatch Friday.

T: Talking Bird?

Not on this day...he was more interested in preening his feathers than saying any words!  For more 'T' photos, please visit ABC Wednesday.

To The Infinity Pool and Beyond

Okay, I know that was a really cheesy title for this post, but I couldn't help it :)  This was the stunning view from the infinity pool at the Sheraton Waikiki - I wish I could have been in the water, but sadly I was just walking through the resort.  I would love to stay there one night just to watch the sunset while soaking in the pool. 

Hapa

I met Hapa's owners down on Waikiki Beach - they were sitting near us watching the sunset, and my kids loved watching her catch the frisbee.  What a sweet dog she was (and VERY energetic!).  Oh, and her frisbee also lit up so she could keep playing as it got dark.

Water Lilies

I love seeing these purple water lilies blooming at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu.  It is worth a trip there just to walk around the resort and see the varieties of birds, plants, and flowers on the grounds.

THIS Year

This is the picture of pure joy on a child's face (my child's face) when her daddy returned home from deployment, having spent many important days away from us.  I am thankful that THIS year all four of us get to wake up under the same roof in the same safe country, sit down at the table together, and eat a meal that many in the world could only dream of.  We are blessed beyond comprehension.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

S: Surfing

It's that time of year on the North Shore - surf is higher and traffic backs up on the two lane road that runs parallel to the water, as rubberneckers try to catch a glimpse of the waves.  For more 'S' photos please visit ABC Wednesday.

Red-Vented Bulbul

I had hoped to get a photo that showcased a little more of the RED on the Red-Vented Bulbul, but the best I could do was a few feathers sticking out!

Why

is this canoe under a tree, so far away from the water?  I always wonder that when I walk past it at Waimea Bay Beach Park.  It's assumed a permanent position there, right beside the lifeguard tower.  It could be part of the "decor" - since there are also old fishing floats hanging from the tree and an antique wooden surfboard nearby.  Or maybe it's a relic from the days before they rescued swimmers and surfers on wave-runners here?

Free and Clear

Pa-Honu Pond, home to the CLEAREST seawater I have ever seen!  It is such a beautiful place to swim, and the scenery as you look back from the water toward shore is breathtaking.  For other sky image from around the globe please click on over to Skywatch Friday.

R: Rolling Waves

I love it when the waves are coming ashore in quick succession and the wind is blowing, creating a trail of mist.  For other 'R' photos please visit ABC Wednesday.

Bronzed

You know what I noticed first about this photo?  The incredible tans that the three gentlemen in the back of the canoe have!  They are out here day after day, paddling tourists (like the young Japanese couple in the front) across the striking blue waters off of Royal Moana Beach in Waikiki. 

Look Closely

and you will see a tiny sand crab.  They blend so perfectly with the sand that you can be walking along the beach and not even notice dozens of them scurrying into holes.  Check out Macro Monday to see other close-ups and cool macros. 

Makua and Kila

The famous Makua and Kila statue, depicting a young monk seal swimming alongside a surfer boy, sits at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.  The statues in this vicinity are draped with lei at almost all times - I always wonder who does this?  Is this the way passing tourists discard their lei when they no longer need them, or do residents routinely go out and purchase the flowers? 

My Hawaii

This photo encompasses much of what I love about Hawaii:  the greens, the blues, the foliage, the water, the beauty, and the contrast. 

Gone Fishing, Number Three

I was walking along this deserted North Shore path last weekend, and when I rounded the bend I saw a couple fishing there.  This looks like the perfect place to spend some time fishing - except that they weren't catching anything on this rough, windy day!

Sunset Silhouette

I walked past this little girl blowing bubbles in the doorway of an oceanfront wedding chapel right after a ceremony.  What a gorgeous place to get married!  It's Skywatch Friday, and you can see more sky photos from around the world by clicking HERE.

Q: Quarterback in Training

Check out this little guy in his #7 Pittsburgh Steelers jersey - just like their quarterback wears.  Looks like he's ready for game time to me.  For more 'Q' photos, please visit ABC Wednesday.

Banyan Tree

Can you believe this is all one single Banyan Tree?  It is amazing, and I've wanted to see it for awhile - finally found it this past weekend.  Like Papailoa Beach, it was also used as one of the filming locations for "Lost".

Surfer Girl

I thought it was about time I posted a photo of a girl surfing - seems like almost all of the ones I've taken so far have been of the guys.  It's great to see these strong women out there taking on the waves!

Turtle Bay Getaway

I haven't posted for the last three days because I took a little road trip with my family.  It was only 30 miles away - but that's about as far as you can go on this island!  We stayed at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore, and had a great time just hanging out.  This was the view from our balcony and I had to snap a photo as soon as we arrived on Friday afternoon. 

A Hula Pic - Because It's Been Awhile

Isn't she a lovely woman?

P: Papailoa Beach

I've posted photos of Papailoa before, because it's one of my favorite places on the island.  During the summer, tons of sand are deposited on the shore, nearly covering most of the rocks and making it one of my son's favorite places to play with his toy dump truck.  Swimming with sea turtles is almost guaranteed.  Contrast that scene with winter, when the sand is sucked back out into the ocean, the waves crash violently onto the exposed rock, and the turtles are nowhere to be seen. 

An interesting fact about Papailoa (that I can't remember if I've mentioned before) is that the beach and grove of trees behind it were two of the main filming locations for the TV series "Lost".  For more 'P' photos, visit ABC Wednesday HERE.

Lining Up for the Parade

For the last three years we have taken our kids trick-or-treating in the Kaimalino neighborhood here in Kailua.  We love to go there because lots of residents gather for a costume parade, walking around the block together before circling back around to collect candy.  The homeowners go all out in decorating and the kids just have a blast running from driveway to driveway. 

Happy Jack

Published

Awhile back, author Christine Webb-Curtis contacted me about the possibility of using one of my blog photos on the cover of her book.  Of course I happily agreed, and today I got my own copy of the finished product in the mail - can't wait to read it!

Daddy-Daughter Duo

A day at the beach with some friends:  I love the expressions on their faces :)

O: Orange Glow

It's not the orange glow of a jack-o-lantern we see this Halloween season, but the the flaming color of a brilliant sunset over the ocean.  For other 'O' photos, please visit ABC Wednesday.

The Great Pumpkin Race

My daughter's class went on a field trip to a popular local working farm today.  We've been here before and the "pumpkin patch" always cracks me up, because it's actually a dirt field (notice there is NO vegetation) in which pumpkins are placed after being unpacked from boxes.  The kids run over excitedly to pick, or in this case pick up, the perfect one - they don't seem to care that the pumpkins are flown in from California!

Avocados

My next door neighbor's trees are producing giant, delicious avocados right now, and she shared some with me!  For the past few days I've enjoyed avocado and turkey wraps, bacon stuffed avocados, fresh guacamole...I'm sure you get the picture :)  At our previous house here we had our own tree, and I've decided it's time to plant one at our new house too. 

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. 

N: Night Streetscape

I took this photo of busy Ala Moana Blvd. from my hotel balcony when we spent the night in downtown Honolulu.   I like the fact that, even in the middle of all the traffic and tall buildings, there are palm trees swaying in the night breeze.  For more 'N' photos, please click HERE.

Movie Night, Aloha Style

The city of Honolulu hosts this cool ongoing event called "Sunset on the Beach" where they show family-friendly movies on a 30 foot screen set up right in the sand at Queen's Beach.  The movie this past Saturday night was "In the Hearts of Africa."  There is live music on the stage before the movie, and food vendors set up in the area as well.  What a great way to spend a Saturday night - lying on a blanket in the sand, swaying palms and stars overhead, watching a movie!

Macro Monday

We got a lot of rain a couple of weeks ago, and I always love the way the drops are suspended from the palm fronds afterwards.  Head over to Macro Monday to see some great macros and close-ups today!