POW WOW 2018 - 02/25/2018

This year's Pow Wow had more color and more visitors, especially those from Japan, China and Korea.  It is always cool to walk around to check all of the art work out. Some from previous year is still around but there were some really fun and recognizable ones this year.

45th Honolulu Marathon -- 12/10/2017

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and it's that most wonderful time of the year! At least, for marathoners. I go every year to support my friend to see him finish. After meeting him, I'd go around to snap e few shots. Every year, the Japanese tour groups always have a booth for their runners. It is roped off and has large decorations like this one. Santa has arrived under Diamond Head.

Runners pick up their finisher T-Shirt in the tent under this giant balloon.

This year's shirt.
There's a jumbo tron.  Last year there was a 1/2 hour delay, this year, it is broadcasting live.

There is only two smell that permeates the entire park.. the Satohap pain relief spray, and malasadas!!

They make it fresh there right in the park!

Everyone enjoyed the malasadas.

Due to security reasons, I can't get more than some 30 feet away so I can't even see my friend cross the finish line!  It's the sign of the times I suppose.

Work(king) Garden Update - 07/23/2017

It's been a while and the garden at work has gone through some changes.  The old plants were pulled out and the soil was tilled and more fertilizer was added. This time there were some seed planting instead of transplanting seedlings.  We planted on a full moon day in May and we've got some harvest already.

 We grew corn from seed and it got real tall.

I've never seen corn grown before so it was super exciting to see how it grows from some fuzzy 'silk' then form into a corn ear.

 I was surprised it looked like real corn you get from a store.. haha..

 Someone had planted these tiny variety of bittermelon.  It only grew to maybe 3-4 inches.

 Here are the other harvests: Romaine Lettuce from seedling

These giant variety is called Portuguese Cabbage. You have to cook it for a while before it is soft to eat.

 Bok Choy was grown from Seed.

 Lots of Mint.

Even some Large tomatoes.

We have a rotation on watering the garden and I usually water in the late afternoon and came upon a visitor who was not camera shy w/ my iphone.

I've been trying out  the new focus AE/AF lock feature on my iphone camera I recently discovered. I'm not sure when it was updated  with all those IOS updates Apple pushes out, but it's been great keeping my pics focused where I want and leaving a nice bokeh.

HPS Photo Exhibit at Canon Gallery -- 07/09/2017

The Hawaii Photographic Society photo Exhibit is at the Canon Gallery.  The reception was held on 7/5 and I was able to check it out during lunch.  There is quite a variety of photo subjects and also there were cool metal printed photos.  The photos will be on view until the end of July.

King Tide - 5/27/2017

The King Tide is supposed to occur over the next couple of days.  The last time it came last month, I went to take photos on the Ala Wai and Waikiki Beach.  The south swells made it seem even higher and sections of the beach lost all the sand area.

The water in certain sections of the Ala Wai golf course reached quite far.

Several steps were under water.

The reef at Waikiki beach was gone and there were only the signs left uncovered,

Both sides of this breaker was sandy, now only one side is uncovered.  The surf also pushed water up to where I stood.

It almost look like I was at North Shore at times.

Hokule'a Homecoming -- 6/17/2017

Hokule'a ended a 3-year voyage and arrived at Magic Island this morning.  I wasn't able to go and watched it at home.  I decided to take a chance to see if I could still see it just around sunset.  I was lucky she was still there.  I was surprised Nainoa Thompson was there.  He was very humble and gracious as he spoke to the people there.  He explained he wanted to be respectful of everyone that came but they'd have to move Hokule'a closer to the Ala Moana Bridge so they can prepare to bring her to the Convention Center during low tide tomorrow morning. I am so glad I made it.

It started to drizzle w/ the passing clouds and my lens got rain drops so I resorted to using my iphone.

The 6D full frame test.

It got really dark after the sunset and I didn't have flash and even with the high ISO it was near impossible so I tried using my iphone.  

Here's the photo at ISO 1250.  I had to brighten in PSE but it looks a little grainy.

Giant Fireworks - 06/04/2017

A Japanese cosmetic company celebrated their anniversary in Hawaii and put on a giant firework show.  I was lucky I got to see it since it was out at Waikiki Beach.  It wasn't crowded so I had a great seat showing up 1/2 hour before showtime.  It was a good night for fireworks because it wasn't too windy but breezy enough to blow away the smoke.