Yesterday I was in Lahaina making my normal rounds of deliveries to the Front Street retail stores. There is a stand of coconut trees which have alwave captured my curiosity over the years, but I never really took the time to get my camera out and make an effort to photograph them.  Typically, Lahaina is too hot and sticky for me to actually walk with my camera bag, and set up a tripod. Yesterday I made the time and, yes, ended up sweating profusely. The image is cool, though. Sort of avant garde. Any thoughts?
~r

Everybody knows that UpCountry Maui is famoud for the color purple during the month of May. Here we go again! The Jacarandas are exploding into color from Makawao to Kula to Ulupalakua. Come see for yourself.

Oh, by the way, I am handing out free avacados for the next couple weeks at the gallery. Enjoy!

Boy, there was a really long recovery period for me after Merrie Monarch hula festival this year. The event itself is totally draining — emotionally, I mean. There are 4 days of constant ups and down, and deadines, and meetings, and appointments, and …

During Merrie Monarch Hula Festival you see so many old friends, and make many new, as well. It is an experience that can bond people for life. This was my sixth straight year to photograph the event, and my tenth year overall to attend. Man, this one drained me.

Following the week in Hilo, I headed to Hana. I go to Hana frequently to re-charge my soul and get my feet back on the ground. In Hana, I hung with dozens of people whom are my friends, my hanai ohana, and my cultural kumus. Whew, the energy out there was strong — something I rarely say, or think, but it was.

I spent a night in my timy tent in Oheo.  How wonderfully freeing that can be to wake up in a lightweight tent that is little more than a mosquito net; next to the crashing waves, with the sun gently rising directly from the ocean between the cliffs of Kipahulu and the Big Island.

I have fallen way behind with my normal daily tasks such as attending to my retail stores, and writing blogs, and sending newsletters. My mind is becoming more occupied with a few books I hope to publish. I finally met with one of my card publishers (Island Heritage, and the Madden Corporation) and had a great meeting about the prospects of making my first jump into authoring. This is really exciting for me,  I have to admit.

Also, I am gearing up to present 3 or 4 classes at the first annual Maui Photo Festival in September. i am already starting  to work on my class outlines and can’t wait for this event. So much is happening. Oh, if you are interested in more information about this event, just go to www.mauiphotofestival.com.

Wow, summer is nearly upon us. The gallery has survived the down period (April & May) and we are looking forward to a fantastic summer vacation period on Maui. The airline prices are at an all-time low, at least what I see on Travelocity.com, so try to take a break and come visit us in person!

Also this month, a very important family on Maui — the Kaina ‘Ohana — had to say farewell to soon to Hokulani, their beautiful, young, shining star. Not to be forgotten.

Sometimes a good storm is just the right “kick in the pants” for a photographer.

I had a good storm. As luck would have it, I took my first voyage on the Hawaii Superferry, with my car, to O’ahu last week. Right after I got there all of the government warnings started popping up all over the news. “extreme wind, thirty foot surf, all schools closed!” I suppose Iit was exciting, but I was on O’ahu to photograph tranquile scenes in paradise.  Oh well.

So, I went with the flow and headed straight to the very famous North Shore! Waimea Bay! Sunset, Log Cabins, Back Yards, Pipeline! I spent three days there hoping for the wind to die, and for the waves to become surfable.  They called for the Eddie Aikau Big Wave contest to be ready!  It never happened, the waves were too dis-organized.

I waited in my car (completely covered with a salt layer) for the sun to peep through the clouds. I, and waited longer than the herd od other amature and pro shooters. THEN! THere it was, for thirty minutes the sun lit up the North Shore, illuminating the exploding tons of water! The noise was thunderous. The croud was cheering as though each monster wave was a firework creating a blinding and overwhelming display of light!

Was it worth my wait in my van? You betcha! Can’t wait to return!