Sea of Palms
When we first moved on island, the one thing that stood out to me more than anything else was the absence of palm trees. Now I’m not saying they don’t exist here, but in Kohala, they aren’t as prevalent as they are in other parts of the island. There are parts of Kona that remind me of all the images I have grown to know as what Hawaii looks like or at least what it is being sold to look like. When I first walked along this volcanic edge of existence, starring out at all these palm trees, I thought to myself, this is what I think of when I think of Hawaii. My thoughts of Hawaii have changed since then. Island life looks different to those who call this ‘home’ and for those of us who aren’t simply visiting, the struggles of many kind are present daily. Yet it’s the joy found in the simple moments shared with friends and loved ones that backdrop this beautiful landscape. Hawaii is made up of many different climates and ecosystems that can make every day an adventure. I can confidently say I haven’t felt island fever despite not having left island since moving here.
A Place of Respect
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, also known as the place of refuge, is a sacred place and is meant to be respected. It’s a beautiful spot to visit but also requires the right frame of mind. I personally like to walk into places of history with a humble open mind to take the experience as it comes, naturally. Unfortunately, the first time I visited was with my family who wanted to snorkel next door more than visit this special place. We had plans to experience both, only after a long drive with a back seat full of hangry children, we didn’t exactly look like we were planning on entering with the right frame of mind. The park ranger was polite yet direct with us to make sure we leave our beach gear behind before entering this sacred place. That day eventually got better with me visiting the grounds while the rest of the family splashed in the water. I took this shot a few trips later, when the VOG was filling the atmosphere due to a recent eruption. Blocking out most of the harsh mid-day sun, I was able to capture far more details than I would have expected under normal circumstances. Framing this shot was not easy, but the results remind me that persistence pays off.
Finding Joy Upstream
For me, each adventure has a goal in mind. It doesn’t have to be realized- whatever it may be, the idea is to be found. This adventure, a hike upstream, was to greet what could be a waterfall of any kind. I knew it existed so my aim was to find this hidden gem. It’s part faith and part curiosity to discover the unknown and to capture the beauty that isn’t routinely seen. To bring Mother Nature home - without the soggy shoes, minor cuts from overstretched branches, and the entanglement of crab spiders and their webs. Pursuing this waterfall and capturing its essence was pure joy for me. I hope you enjoy the view.
Valley of Zen
The stillness found here is only a one sided, single layered perspective. The placid waters meeting trees of green that climb the valley’s heights, disappearing into the rolling fog are juxtaposed to howling winds whipping between here and Maui. With raging currents and endless rows of wind chop, this peaceful perspective’s counterpart is one of many reasons I love this place. All is calm in the valley below, one can find peace in this place or at least for a moment. The energy emitted here is sacredly powerful, moving, and raw.
Sunset At Old Airport
Lava rock among a sandy beach can create a wonderful contrast and blending in the color pallet of the setting skyline can enhance that effect. With the vibrant hues of what makes a sunset memorable and drawing out the long exposure to bring the lapping coastline into a drawing mist rounds this shot out nicely. Usually the placement for many couples or family photoshoots, this is one to enjoy without a showcased figure. Instead the focus is on the details found in each ripple and fold of the present lava rock. As a cruise ship brightens the fading sun with its night lights turned on early, I put my focus on escaping its presence in the frame. This is what I captured, a mildly accidental shot, yet one worth savoring.
Lava Tree Monument
Found on the Lava Tree State Monument trail loop, this lava tree itself stood out to me above the rest. It exudes character while being consumed by the nature around it. At one point, the lava flow made its presence know and from its destructive and reconstructed nature of life, life over time, found a way to reestablish itself. This reminds me of life on the island, nature will always consume, over time, the nature of this place will always find a way to not only exist but to dominate and thrive in this environment.
A Glowing Warmth
On most family outings I bring my camera just in case, especially if we are going for a long drive to a place we rarely visit. For this trip to Hilo side, and like most trips, we end up lingering long enough to see the sun go down. That always makes for a difficult nighttime routine but creating memories should never be rushed. On this evening stroll after a fun filled day of errand running and dining out, a luxury we try to avoid if possible, we decided to add this last stop before embarking on the long journey home. A peaceful place to center your thoughts around the tranquility that can be found around each bend and curve. Sharing this space with many makes it hard to shoot and keep all the distractions around out of the frame. The focus can be anything, even the aging beauty found in the artifacts of yesterday. A warm glow from the sinking daylight beyond the looming giants is a fleeting moment and capturing it brings warmth to the things that typically feel cold due to its materials. Changing the complexity to anything can bring light to a different perspective, anything is possible, sometimes it takes the right frame of mind to notice these subtle wonders.
A Thanksgiving
It was our first Thanksgiving on island, and as much as I’ve wanted to capture the church we attend, I also wanted to be mindful of timing and lighting. I don’t like to pull the camera out at gatherings unless it’s absolutely necessary and there is a window of time to do so without feeling rude or disrespectful. Church and the fellowship that surround the services are meant for those attending to be present. I was able to sneak off during a lull between first and second helpings. The sun had not set yet and as the fading light sank in the distance, an ever so delicate glow radiated a lovely warmth upon the church. Highlighting the seasoned steeple along with the clouds blowing up in the backdrop. For me, this is still my favorite shot of the church or at least that I’ve taken. We have attended service at this church since the first week we moved to Kohala. From our very first visit, this church has felt like home, especially due to the welcoming congregation. This multigenerational church is made up of those who have lived in Kohala through its many changes. The conversations and the wealth of wisdom found in each story told and each meal shared reminds me of what a community should look and sound like. Spoken word can paint a picture that you can believe without seeing it. Keeping the faith and finding a way to be a light wherever you find yourself is a beautiful reminder and one I am thankful for.
Trail Of Ferns
Hiking is a pastime that has become one of my favorite ways to adventure and explore the island as a family. From the blustery plains meets rocky bluffs in Kohala to the volcanic Mars-like landscape of the west coast, from the jungles of Kona to forests of Hamakua, from the waterfalls of Hilo to the ends of the earth along the Puna and south side, every adventure is worthy of its own unique beauty. And for this picture, the journey began at Kalopa State Park, in search of whatever we could find. The trails are great and every time we find ourselves up here, we find a way to take different routes and explore more of the park itself. Every adventure becomes a journey into an awestruck wonder of what could be next. On this hike in particular, we came across ferns of all shapes and sizes, and especially the multiple shades of green. The green scale seen in each unique fern makes them all special in their own right, it was finding a way to frame the ones that stood out to me that became the biggest challenge. Lighting was great, being that there was cloud cover over head to minimize the shadows, but shooting under this canopy of foliage did require me to adjust more than just my shutter speed. Overall, I was pleased with the results and I feel like this image captures the true nature of the trail we found ourselves on.
Sea Of Green
Taking in the botanical beauty that surrounds me at times can be overwhelming. The feeling of seeing too much and being drawn in too many directions can make it difficult to focus and capture the individual plant amongst the plethora of varieties present. In this case, the various shades of green jumped out at me. It wasn’t some kind of flower of vibrant colors or even an exotic plant I’ve never seen before, it was simply the scale of green found in the lighting along with the layering of each leaf and the shadows they casted. Depth created in a simple form, vibrant enough to pop right off the screen or paper.
