Sunday Stills

It's that time again. I took some pictures this week just did not find the time to post them. But I'm ready for Sunday Stills. The subject this week is texture. Initially I thought, huh?? But then I remembered some pictures I took when I first got my DSLR.

This is a jackfruit. I have two trees in my backyard and they grow huge, up to 3 feet long.

This is the surface of the jackfruit. It's got little spikes all over.


This is the view from the side so you can see the little spikes.

So that's my contribution for this week. And before anyone asks, I don't eat these so really can't tell you what they taste like. They are ripe when they smell like turpentine so I'm just not attracted to them.

Sunday Stills

I've been away for a few weeks, life just got too busy and got the better of me. But I'm back and ready to play. This week's theme is wildflowers. An interesting concept in Hawaii. Since most of our vacant land is lava and the wildflowers that grow are technically weeds. I decided to add my own twist to the theme.

This is the naupaka plant. It grows wild here in Hawaii, although this particular plant was planted. It has little flowers:

Notice the half flower. That is how it grows. There is a Hawaiian myth that talks of 2 lovers who were separated by their parents and forbidden to be together. One was sent to the ocean and one was sent to the mountains. They were in such despair they became naupaka plants. One at the ocean and one in the mountains. Each has a half flower and when you put them together they make a perfect flower.

That is my wildflower contribution. I'm off to see what everyone else did.

A day in the jungle

Today I took a friend up to the ruins of Kamehameha III's Summer Palace. I went there for the first time 2 weeks ago and have been dying to get back with my camera. I did that today. I have to tell you I love history and all historic stuff. I love to stand where the famous and infamous stood and imagine what it was like then. I love it, so bear with me.

This is the trail leading to the palace. It is way up in the mountains and deep in the rain forest through the bamboo forest.

This is the path you would have approached the house from back in the day. You would have walked down that stone walkway while the king waited in front of the house to greet you.

This is looking through the front door into the house. It was not very large and this are would have been divided into 2 rooms with a wooden floor.

This is looking towards the house from the back of the property. This whole house would have been surrounded by fields, in this case taro fields, and it had it's own water supply and everything.

This is the rear corner of the house that is almost completely destroyed.

The young royals, King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, Queen Emma, Prince Kuhio, they all would have come up here as children and learned about the royal ways from the king. Standing inside this building is positively spiritual. You can feel the ghosts of Hawaiians past moving all around you. Absolutely amazing.

Photo Hunt: Pink

I've moved the photo hunt over to this blog. I've decided all photo things will now go here. Today's theme is Pink - my favorite color!!!!




This is from a wall of bougainvillea near my house. I like this one because there is pink and orange mixed together. It's hard to tell if it's the same plant but it sure looks like it is.

I'm off now to tnchick's to see who else played today.

I am back...

I have been away way too long. Life just got so incredibly busy that I didn't have time to think let alone get out and take some pictures. But that has to change. I took my camera to the dog park this morning and I pretty much plan on taking it everywhere this weekend. Here are a couple of the shots I took this morning:

Axl and Lola running in the park

Running with the big dogs. Literally!! That's a Great Dane in the foreground. I love Axl's ears in this shot.

Axl and Lola playing with Indigo an Australian Shepard.

Axl and Indigo

This is the stand-off. They will stand like this for a seemingly long time, then suddenly on some mysterious signal only dogs can hear:

The chase is on.....

These two love the dog park and since I really can't walk them this is a great alternative. I'm working on the walking part but until that works out this is how they burn off their energy.

Okay, that's it for now. I have some things to do. I have a friend visiting this weekend and I'm sure we'll be traipsing all over the island taking pictures.

Sunday Stills: Yellow

Today's theme is the color yellow. Initially I thought of all the regular things:

flowers, fire hydrants, signs, street lights, but those just didn't cut it. I wanted something different, something uniquely Hawaii. All it took was a walk around the town I live in. Heading out with yellow on the brain was all it took for the yellow all around to pop out at me. Here is what I found:

The custom made street sign that the house down the road has.

The yellow of the L&L Barbeque sign. If you haven't had L&L you haven't really been to Hawaii. So Ono!!!

The yellow button to get the walk light.

The yellow halo on St. George at the local Catholic church. I thought St. George slayed a dragon? It looks like he's got a giant gecko there.

The yellow rabbit on the Roberts Hawaii tour bus.

And finally, the emblem on the Waimanalo fire house. This is unit 27 of the Honolulu Fire Department. In a weird setup the entire island is the City of Honolulu, the little towns are really just districts.

Okay, that is it for me. I really enjoyed this one because it got me out and looking at my town with fresh eyes. I'm off to Sunday Stills to see who else played today. You can join in the fun by clicking on the button at the top of this post.

A walk through Waimanalo

Yesterday I had nothing to do. Nothing. So I decided to take my morning walk with my camera. I walk and run this area a lot and just about every time I pass something and I wish I had my camera. So yesterday I went with my camera. It was great fun.

Let's start with my street:

My house is next to the blue one on the right but you can't see it because it sits back from the street.

This is the grocery store at the end of my street:


Doesn't that turtle look pissed?


This is the feed store next to the grocery store:


After just a short walk I see this wall of bougainvillea:


Look at those beautiful flowers;


Across from the bougainvillea is this fascinating coral wall:


This is not really at the entrance to town but it sure is cute. E Komo Mai is Welcome in Hawaiian:


Then you pass over a stream. This is one side:


This is the other side:
Which has lily pads and flowers:


Then I reached the polo fields and it was time to turn around and go home.



But there was one more stop across the street from the grocery store is a little strip mall. In that mall is this:
A statue to Akebono, a sumo champion from Hawaii. He is from my little town of Waimanalo and they are very proud of him.

More of my walk pictures will be posted for Sunday Stills.