November 24, 2016 (Thanksgiving)

Day started in the early morning (4:00am) with my good photography friends Brandon and Stanley in hopes to catch the great sunrise at Āwawamalu (a.k.a Sandys Beach) on the Eastside of the island of O’ahu.

Since this was just a couple days in the planning, we decided to go early enough to find a spot where we could set up our cameras. Yes we had concerns about the weather.  We asked ourselves, will it be too cloudy, too rainy or perhaps the surf would be too large for us to get to great spot?  Upon arriving at our destination, it looked like it may be all of the above.

We sat in the car talking our “what ifs” for what was perhaps 10 minutes when the rain stopped.  We were happy to finally get out of car and was feeling good as looked up to see the stars which meant, the rains and clouds have cleared… for now.  The surf was up just a little bit, but with the tide going down it looked okay for us head out and find our spot to set up and wait.

And it was worth the wait…

Āwawamalu first light

The Glow

Admiring the beauty from the protection of the rocky shelves

The sun rises from the east

The beauty of the sunrise and the power of the sea

And the sun has risen

It was definitely just a great early morning adventure! Thanks to great friends Brandon and Stanley for making this day possible.  We are so lucky to live in a place so full of beautiful places and people in the middle of the wide pacific ocean… a place we are happy to call home, a place called Hawai’i.  Most call it Paradise and I am sure a lot will agree!  Aloha

Friday – April 8, 2016

It was a perfect day at Cromwell’s Cove located below Doris Duke Estate (Shangri La) at Ka’alawai.  A nice stretch of beach that looks great for swimming, snorkeling and fishing just ma ka hikina o Le’ahi.

Public access to Ka’alawai and Cromwell’s cove

Cromwell’s Cove just around the corner

man-made Cromwell’s Cove… fence and security cameras were put in place to keep people from jumping or diving off rock wall and protecting them from injuries.

Great view of Ka’alawai beach and Le’ahi

Beautiful Shangri La above… will be back to take a tour of Shagri La soon.

After an awesome time here at this beautiful area of this place of paradise I call home… we made a quick stop to Kaimana beach (a.k.a San Souci) to pay a visit to:

“Rocky” who was resting there for most of the day

She (Rocky) paid no attention to all the foreigners on her one hānau as she was under the watchful eyes of volunteers and the lifeguard.

Big mahalo again to an awesome good guy and brudda Chris Young for taking me along on this fun journey.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Thanks to a great friend and photographer Chris Young for the opportunity on this awesome afternoon visit to  beautiful Kūpikipikiʻō Point (aka Black Point) for the first time since moving here from Kaua’i in 1980.

Black Point is a gated community known for the Eternity Saltwater pools built sometimes in the 1930’s on the waters edge.  Sadly the pool(s) are privately owned by the homeowners of the  Black Point Association.

One of the eternity saltwater swimming pools

Another eternity saltwater swimming pool – Christian Young

How inviting does this look? Sorry, but it is a private pool with motion detectors and camera to keep non-residence out.

Great view of Wai’alae bay.

Fishermen’s fishing pole block.

A little blowhole – Christian Young

Besides the awesome eternity saltwater pools, Kūpikipikiʻō  Point is also home to the Hawai’i Audubon Society’s Freeman Seabirds Preserve.  A place where hundreds of migrating seabirds come to nest sometime in mid-March through December.

Signs marks the area of nesting birds

The birds view 😉 Freeman Seabirds Preserve

I am so grateful that I got this chance to visit this amazing place that not everyone gets to.

Nalu ha’i o Ehukai

Dreams… we all have them, dreams of being better, or wanting things or someone, of doing more in life.  We look to it, believe in it and we try to interpret it.

Never be afraid of it!  Your dreams can make all those troubles in your day fade away… Dream the dream, live it!  It gives hope when you feel lost.

Sometimes we don’t have the answers to a great deal of things… and one day your answer comes to you in your dream.  LOOK TO YOUR DREAMS.

#Aloha

Friday, February 12, 2016

Eleven days ago today we lost P2 in the waters of Kawaihoa.  Thanks to a scuba diver for finding her in the sandy bottom of the ocean three (3) days after she went down.  P2 is now at home although lifeless.  I have not flew my drone since that incident… today we decided it is time to hit the air again with P1.

Off to Ala Moana Beach Park we go… day seemed nice enough with a mild breeze and clear skies.  Started in the middle of the park with nice wide open spaces and not too crowded.  All is well and fun once again!

A nice aerial view of the Diamond Head side of the park…

Pretty empty on the beautiful day…

Looking in the Ewa side of the park… almost a great cloudless day

Drone master Chris having his hand sending P1 high and away

All the construction still going on at the Ala Moana Center

P1 going up!

P1’s view of the shoreline of the infamous Ala Moana Beach

 P1 during the descent I believe caused by a freak head wind

Yup… the water looks great from this height

This is the last shot of this day before P1 took a dive into 3 feet of the warm pacific water… I did recover her in last than 5 minutes and cleaned the saltwater with clean plain water.  Hoping for the best… if not, I am hoping something can be salvaged as spare parts for some other drones that may need it…

Just like P2…

REST IN ALOHA P1

Mahalo Drone Master Chris for your support!  To be continued…

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Another early morning visit to ‘Ehukai (Bonzai Pipeline) before work with buddy Chris.   We were hoping to catch the last of the surfing competition but found out that it ended yesterday.  But than again, it is always great getting away from the “hustle and bustle” of the city to the “hang-loose” country… even if it is for a short time.

So, we checked out the scene and noticed there were some massive swells still coming in.  There was still a large crowd of spectators, photographers and drone pilots (no drone flying during competition) around the shore as well as a great amount of body boarders and surfers in the water.

Signs are up “No Swimming” and “Strong Currents” to remind those that needed reminding!

Even the Ānuenue (rainbow) made its presence…

Some awesome “Aerial” surfers made a show on the smaller sets while waiting on the bigger swell to roll on in.

Sharing the ride

There are power even in the much smaller waves…

and some as clear as glass.

On this day the ocean can be rough

or calm

But, whatever day it is… it is just great to get away for the city… even for a little while.  I could have easily spent the whole day here if I didn’t have to work.  Thanks to my buddy Chris for taking me along for this ride to the country!  Aloha

Monday, February 01, 2016

It looks to be an great early morning visit to Kawaihoa located in Hawaiʻi Kai, Oʻahu on the easternmost point of Maunalua Bay also know as Portlock Point. Winds and th ocean seems calm enough… a perfect day  for sending out our drones in the hopes of catching a glimpse of a  few breaching Koholā (humpback whale),  swimming honu (turtle) or basking ʻĪlio-holo-i-ka-uauaj (monk seal).

“Spitting Cave” was calm today

A little B/W to change it up…

Koholā (humpback whale) swimming by…

Flight of the big bird with good friends and drone masters Chris, Roger and Elliott

The big bird is up and away…

“Spitting Cave” from a drone’s view

Coming in for a landing…

RIP P2

It wasn’t as happy in end on this day as P2 did not make it back from her flight of whale watching.  She grew tired and tried to make it back to shore… but her battery gave out and now she is resting in peace beneath the waters of Kawaioha amongst the beautiful creatures of the sea.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The day started at 6:30am with a great friend Chris as we headed out to the northern side of O’ahu island in search of the large swells that were predicted to arrive.  With our drones and cameras in hand we start the drive to our first stop just at sunrise…  Banzai Pipeline, or simply “Pipeline” or “Pipe,” located off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea.

Looking for a spot to set up at Pipes

Sunrise Swell at Pipeline

Chris’ drone above the massive surf of Pipeline

View from drone at Pipeline

After spending time here at Bonsai Pipeline, we than made our journey to our next stop about a 10 minutes drive to the famous Waimea Bay located in Hale’iwa.

The massive shore break of Waimea Bay

Surfing Waimea’s offshore breaks

Lifeguards patrolling the shore making sure people stay out of harms way…

Drone on top of Waimea’s power…

Another drone capture of the power of Waimea

A wipeout at Waimea

I could have spent the whole day here as the waves were to grow larger later in the day, but, all good time comes to an end as I had to head to work.  I did have a great morning being witness to these monster swells and in good company with my buddy Chris Y.  I am even much more luckier to be able to call this place… HOME.

On the northern side of the island of Kaua’i is a place that I have always loved and visited every year to date. ‘Anini Beach (also known as Wanini or Wainini) has the largest stretch of reef on the island. Certainly a playground for windsurfers, snorkelers, fishermen, campers, smaller boaters and artists.  It is my very place of inspiration as I sit to watch the beauty of its sunrises, sunsets and calm crystal clear waters.  It is my special place to spend with families and friends during our camping gathering once every year, a time for me to re-energize and take in the beauty that I call home…

A beautiful early morning after the sun rises…

Life relaxing in the early morning before the other people are out can be just an amazing thing…

One of may “golden” sunrises can be seen…

Spending time with family members is like the best feeling to have…

Catching the big one…

Age does not matter…  enjoy!  We all are like little children when we relax…

An awesome day

A nice time to just reflect on a beautiful life…

Crystal clear

It is crystal clear that I will return to this place…

Sunset at low tide

Take a walk out to sea at low tide…

An end to a beautiful day…

And so the day has ended only to start again and it will for sure be even more spectacular… Aloha ‘aina

Spent a wonderful afternoon with the great Kainoa (my nephew) on the west side of O’ahu island.

The wonderful view of Mākaha …

View of Mākua…

Wonderful healing waters of Mākua 😉

The rains of Mākaha Valley in the distance…

Nature at its powerful best at Mākua…

A favorite place to spend a day or night…

I have not even begin to scratch the surface of what the westside of O’ahu island is… it really starts from the Ewa plains passing around Ka’ena point to Mokulēʻia and Wai’alua, It is a place that is rich in history and mythology of its peoples and places… still much more to explore and see… “To be continued” 😉