5th Annual Photo Walk on Maui

This past weekend has been a whirl-wind adventure for me.  I flew over to Maui on Friday for the Scott Kelby 5th Annual Photo Walk on Saturday October 13, 2012.  This years event was lead by Randy Jay Braun a very talented photographer and resident of Maui.  I met Randy and several other photo Pros about 4 years ago when I attended the first Maui Photo Festival and Workshops on Maui.  Randy was one of the guest instructors.

This years Photo Walk drew about 40 people, which makes it one of the largest in the world, to the Tedeschi Winery in up-county Kula.  The setting was  beautiful and the weather was stunning albiet one of the hottest days they've seen at that altitude but we made the best of it by roaming around trying to find interesting subjects to photograph.

Since I came over early I had lots of time on my hands which I proceded to fill with picture taking.  One of the features that I was hoping I would get to visit was the top of Haleakala National Park.  A small group braved the 44f cold ad high winds to photograph the Milky Way as it revealed itself after sunset.

I hope you enjoy what I got to capture during my brief trip to Maui.

The Photo Walk at the Tedeschi Winery

Scenes from the mountain roads on the way to Haleakala

Sunset on the summit of Haleakala

The Milky Way from the summit of Haleakala Maui

Darlene Ahuna Concert

Aloha,

Last night was my 22nd opportunity to photograph legendary Hawaiian artists at the Keauhou Village Shopping Center.  This month the featured artist was Darlene Ahuna.  from Hilo she's a well known singer song writer from the Big Island.  She went through a nice set of her favorites plus the opening Hula Halau of Keiki and Kapuna entertained the crowd until the sun went down.

As an added treat the newly crowded Miss Hawaii Skyler Kamaka helped collect the food donations and giving out the prizes and she finished with a solo Hula near the end of the concert.

I hope you enjoy the images that I was able to capture.

Ka'ea & Skyler

Heidi Lee Hart

Darlene Ahuna

Darlene Ahuna

Miss Hawaii 2012 Skyler Kamaka

A Kona and vicinity Photo Walk

Today was another beautiful day in Kona and the first time that I've been able to put together a local photo walk.  Although there were only 2 of us we still had a great time poking around corners to see where the next subject was going to be.  We started at the Kona Farmer's Market where farmers and artisens from around the area come to sell their fresh produce, flowers and object of art.

I was surprised once I got into photo mode how many venders had the same produce items. Lots of papayas and Devil fruit...

Timing is Everything!

The old adage says that "timing is everything" and today is a prime example of when to choose sleep over getting the shot. This morning I choose to sleep in a little bit longer than usual over driving down to the pier by 7am. Well by the time I got gas, parked and walked to the pier the excitement of seeing the Elite whine and the other 2 classes of female paddlers was all pau...

So I guess I was "all dressed up with no canoes to shoot so I made the best of a good parking spot at the King Kam Hotel. I'll try again tomorrow or I could pack up and go down for the return of the men but ......

Enjoy

The sunrise over Mount Hualalai was spectacular

If I had been there 20 minutes earlier this is what I would have seen. I took this photo in 2009

Here's a good commercial for Red Digital Cameras

Today's paddlers were replaced by the popular Monk Seal that's been
spotted from Keauhou to Kaloko

Just tryin to get a little peace!!

Can you tell that I was getting bored?

The Hilo One Band @Keauhou

The Hilo One (pronounced Oh-Neh, not One) is a local Big Island band with a ton of history:

Russell Jay Keakealani Mauga, was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. After graduating from Hilo High School in 1984, he teamed up with his older brother, John, Walter Tavares, and cousin Nolan Ha'o, to found & form the 3-time Na Hoku Hanohano

 Award nominated group, Ho'aikane. After 4 albums and many successes, Mauga left in 1990 and pursued a solo career, while the group continued to its own stardom. 

In 1996, Russell recorded his first solo album under Shell Records entitled, "He Kakahiaka Nani E (A Beautiful Morning)," which was praised for its vibrant Big Island styling of slack key, and it's fresh interpretation of pop covers. In 2003, Russell released his second solo masterpiece under his own label, Kalo Music Productions LLP, entitled "Here I Am," which featured four original songs, six covers and featured artists such as, Ke'ala Kawa'auhau of Sudden Rush, Pomai Longakit, Jamin Wong, and Bruddah Waltah Aipolani. Recording original and traditional compositions has by far, expanded Russell's repertoire to almost any genre you can think of from Hawaiian contemporary to Country music. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hilo-One/139026482799492)

Photographing the Hilo One band at the Keauhou Village Shopping Center is my 21st assignment working for the center. I've had the opportunity to photograph dozens of legendary Hawaiian bands and artists. I'm happy for the opportunity but most of all I'm impressed with the amount of talent that Hawaiian music has some local and some from the neighbor islands.

I hope you enjoy the opening hula halau and the images of the Hilo One band.

I finally Made it!!

Aloha,

After living on Hawaii Island for a bit over 8 years I finally made it to the Green Sand Beach. It was not from lack of trying!  The last time I ventured down to South Point me and 2 trusty friends were running out of daylight and patience as we gave up searching after about 25 minutes of trudging over mini hill and dale.  This time Kazuyo and I passed on taking rides from the local entrepreneurs and their rusty ole trucks and 4 wheel drive vehicles to walk for 63 minutes in the breezy hot afternoon sun.  The walk back was only 57 minutes but whose counting. When we got to the spot it was a huge relief and a sight to be hold.  It was a pretty cool place, all weather beaten and smooth with clear blue water lapping at the beach.  There were a few handfuls of people either splashing in the sea or sunning themselves on the shore with a few 4WD trucks and SUVs at the top of the view I set out to capture this magical spot. I hope you enjoy what I made..

This is the Yellow Kalaekilohana B and B on the road to South Point

We were lucky to be about 3 hours ahead of the afternoon rain showers at South Point

There wasn't much to see on the way to the Green Sand Beach, just good views on the ocean.

The sky was so clear when we started our 63 minute walk

I found out how people were getting to the beach, theres a pathway on the

right and under the rocks in this shot.

California Family

Way back in June I had the privilege to photography a lovely family from the Bay Area. Here's a sneak peak at what we came up with.