12-04-29 OPMUG Foster Gardens & Institute for Astronomy Open House

I have not been to Foster Botanical Gardens in quite some time.  Sunday morning I returned with a group of photographers from OPMUG.  Spent over 2 hours there and never got past the Orchids and Madagascar Day Gekkos we found. 

"Rip In the Fabric of the Universe"

"Hmmm"

"Buddah Head"

"Holey"

"Seeing Red"

"Peek-a-boo"

"Light Saber"

"Monarch"

The University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy held an "Open House " today as well...it  rained. 

Trying to see the sun through the clouds

12-04-28 OPMUG Spam Jam Waikiki

"Spam Jam" where else but Hawaii...the Spam capitol of the United States.  Only Saipan eats more Spam per capita than Hawaii.  We love our canned, processed meat so much that we have a block party every year to celebrate Spam.

Kalakaua was blocked and traffic rerouted the entire length of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.  It was crowded, hot and lots of Fun!  There were two stages at opposite ends with bands playing and the crowd swaying and dancing along.

In between on both sided of the avenue you could but Spam food creations, Spam trinkets, hats & tshirts.  And a whole assortment of products made by vendors that paid a fee for access to the throngs of people gathered to pay homage to this WWII era MRE / K ration.

I have a fascination with tattoos and was so happy when this young lady agreed to let me photograph her tattoo.

I met this lady feeding the fish and birds off of a jetty.  Cool tattoo, yeah.

She's got the sparrows trained to take the bread from her out stretched hand.

Our Zoo entrance.

The Moana Surfrider Hotel

Spam & Egg sandwich w/ nori

Pretty cool, huh.

There was a pretty good swell off Waikiki  Beach.

Almost packed it up and walked away.  It took a while for the sky to light up.

Waikiki panorama up to the Kapahulu jetty.

"Dance Me To the End Of Love" - Leonard Cohen

 

"Dance Me To The End Of Love"
(originally by Leonard Cohen)

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
And dance me to the end of love
And dance me to the end of love

Oh let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Oh let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Oh show me slowly what I only know the limits of
And dance me to the end of love
And dance me to the end of love

La la, la la la, la la, la la la, la la, la la la

Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
And dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We're both of us beneath our love, and both of us above
And dance me to the end of love
Won't you dance me to the end of love

La la, la la la, la la, la la la, la la, la la la

12-04-22 HPS Honolulu Zoo

Had a very difficult time waking up today.  I set my alarm for 6am but could not drag myself out of bed till nearly 7:30.  Not good as I had to be at the Honolulu Zoo by 9am to join the good folk of HPS in a photo outing. 

"Up scope"

It was raining.

12-04-21 IWSSB Kaena Point Hike to Natural Arch Sunset & Frank's Birthday

For the final event of the day, Jeff & I hooked up with the IWSSB gang for a hike on the Kaena Point trail to the natural arch.  We planned on taking sunset pictures there followed by dinner to celebrate Frank's birthday.

We were lucky enough to be able to share a ride with Don, Kelli & Lyle in Don's SUV.  The plan was to meet at Don's place at 3 so it would leave enough time to get to Yokohama Bay and the beginning of the hike by 4pm.  Although we made it on time to the start  point there were some stragglers so we ended up actually beginning the hike about 30 minutes late.  

After sunset we all agreed to meet at Chili's for dinner and to celebrate Frank's dinner.  We had a great time and were stuffed to the max.  

Finally I dropped Jeff off at his hotel and got home around 12:30am.  

It had been a long but fun day and I had a photo shoot with HPS coming up early Sunday morning.

Kyle, Kelli & Wes

Barbara, Don, Adam & Lyle

The natural arch

As the sun began to set I really liked the color the dry grass was turning.

You can see the lighthouse way off on the horizon.

Thought this looks pretty good as a b&w.

Johanna moving to a different location.

Sharon watching the sunset.

Jeff in silhouette.

We went to Chili's for dinner after the hike.  That's Sharon, William, Frank, Steven, Alvin, Johanna & Michelle.

Jeff, Kyle, Alison's 2 sons, Alison, Alison's daughter, Wes & Lyle.

Don & Kelli

Frank with his birthday cupcake.