July 6, 2014 Halema`uma`u

Wouldn't be a trip to the Big Island without visiting Halema`uma`u, especially at night.  The crater lookout at the Jaggar Museum was packed!  Being that it was Fourth of July weekend Volcano National Park had park rangers lining up traffic and parked cars down the road leading to the lookout.  I've never seen the lookout so packed!  The vog made for a spectacular sunset.

Sunset illuminated clouds over Mauna Loa.

People were lined up along the lookout wall.

Pele put on quite a show!  Always such a beautiful sight.

Rest of the pics here.

July 4, 2014 Mauna Kea Summit

For July Fourth my Dad and I drove up to the summit of Mauna Kea. It was a beautiful day on the Big Island, with some high clouds and tons of blue sky and sunshine. My rental Jeep handled the unpaved road to the summit perfectly.

A few minutes after we got to the top, a Mini Cooper strolled up! It was followed a few minutes later by some tourists in a Ford Mustang and a couple rental Chevy sedans!

 

My Dad and I took a couple of selfies at the top overlooking the Keck Observatory and Haleakala.

 

Being nearly 14,000 feet high, the air is quite thin! Every movement is strained and we were both getting dizzy from altitude sickness. So we decided to attempt trekking to the summit, only a 200 yard trail.

We made it about halfway before reality set in. Time to turn around.

 

After catching our breath, we checked out the inside of the Keck Observatory.

We drove up to some radar dish looking things then made our way down the mountain.

Rest of the pics here.

Headed out on Mother's Day Weekend for a little holoholo with Sommer and Hōkūle`a. Stopped by Kualoa Beach Park and took some pictures of Mokoli`i.

 

Rest of the album here.

April 26, 2014 Ho`omana`o `Ana o Ke Kaua Lelea`anae (Commemoration of the Battle of Nu`uanu)

In 1795 Kamehameha battled with Kalanikūpule for control of O`ahu.  The battle for O`ahu culminated in Nu`uanu Valley and what is today called the Pali Lookout.

I woke up at 3:30 am and drove up to the Nu`uanu Pali Lookout for Ho`omana`o `Ana o Ke Kaua Lelea`anae,the Commemoration of the Battle of Nu`uanu.  I had only recently realized that the Nu`uanu Pali Lookout opens at 4:00 am.  I arrived just before 4 am.  It was dark, empty, wet, and very windy.

By around 5:00 am the parking lot was packed.  The procession of a few dozen people made it's way from the parking lot to the lookout.

There were oli, hula, and ho`okupu.  Sam Ka'ai also offered a brief history of the Battle of Nu`uanu.

Following the Commemoration, some of the organizers, Nā Papa Kānaka o Pu`ukoholā , paused to have their picture taken.

Offerings were made.

It was a windy and rainy morning.  I felt for the young men who endured the cold in only their malo.

The Pali looked majestic bathed in clouds (looking towards Lanihuli).

After most of the participants had dissipated I stayed to watch the sunrise.

Rest of the pics here:

April 4 & 5, 2014 Halema`uma`u Crater

My brother Robert bought a house in Kea`au so my brother, Kai, my father, Scott, and I headed up to the Big Island to help out around his property the first weekend in April.  We didn't do much sight seeing, but being so close to Volcano National Park I was able to check out Halema`uma`u Crater a couple of nights.  Really love this place.

Rest of the pics here:

 

March 1, 2014 Honolulu Sunrise Time Lapse

February 22, 2014 Koko Crater Sunrise Time Lapse

More pictures here:  http://flic.kr/s/aHsjTbFRV7