Hawaiian Visions Landscapes

[Kawainui Marsh 5095] Formerly a lake and part of the eroded mouth of a volcano, the Kawainui Marsh is a beautiful wildlife preserve on the windward side of Oahu. Kawainui translates literally to mean The Big Water. Preserved as a means of flood control for windward Kailua town, the marsh ajoins the Hamakua Marsh which nestles next to bustling streets and stores. The 830 acre project is the largest wetland in the state of Hawaii. It was completed in 1966 and includes a 9400 foot canal and a 6800 foot levee. Home to more than 60 species of birds and fish, the marsh is surrounded by ancient heiau (Hawaiian temples). Please note the Hawaiian Hawk (I'o) high in the sky above the marsh.

[Heavenly Light 4567] Sunlight pours through a gap in the clouds on a rainy Hawai'ian afternoon; illuminating a portion of the Ko'olau mountain range on the island of O'ahu. The Hawai'ian Islands were formed during the last 30 million years as a result of a hotspot in the Pacific plate which moves northwest at a rate of 3 to 4 inches a year. The islands form an archipelago of 1332 islands, atolls, reefs, shoals, and seamounts stretching over 1500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the southeast to Kure atoll in the northwest. Loihi, a new island has already risen from the depths to 3,250 feet below sea level at a distance of about 22 miles south of the big island of Hawai'i as the Pacific plate continues to move.

[Good Fences 9920-B] The view of the Parker Ranch on the island of Hawai'i, always reminds me of the Robert Frost poem "Mending Wall" and the line... "good fences make good neighbors." The ranch covers 150,000 acres and is the largest privately owned cattle enterprise in the U.S. John Parker was only 19 when he jumped ship to the big island of Hawai'i in 1809. He developed a friendship with Kamehameha I, who employed him to control wild cattle. Parker later married the lovely Kipikane, a granddaughter of King Kamehameha and was awarded two acres of land for $10.00. Parker continued to buy more land over the years and the ranch prospered and grew to the present size.

[Island Silhouettes 3048] I took this photo on a late afternoon near Waikiki beach. This is a typical scene as the day begins to end and surfers and swimmers end their activity and pause to wait for the usual sunset show. Waikiki is a popular beach with 5 great surfing breaks: Castles, Cunas, Queens, Canoes and the popular Populars. These breaks are active in the summer months and each is different in size, distance from the shore and power of the waves. From Castles, almost a mile from shore and can be 25 feet on a big day, to Canoes, named for the tourist canoes that ply this 3 to 6 foot break. The north shore is the place in winter for the giant and powerful 30 to 50 foot waves suitable only for experts and daredevels.

[Kahana Bay 2802] Surrounded on three sides by the green majestic Ko'olau mountains, Kahana Bay is one of the best-kept secrets of windward O'ahu. The lovely crescent shore is set against a beautiful backdrop of ironwood trees. The sandy beach is a great spot for sunbathing and the many trees provide plenty of shade for picnics and barbeques. Local residents like to camp overnight on the bay during weekends and Permits are required.

[Windward 1529] Take a short drive from busy Honolulu over the mountainous Pali highway to the lush country landscape and white sand beaches of O'ahu's windward coast. On the way be sure to stop at the historic Nuuanu Pali (cliff) Lookout where Kamehameha I in 1795 drove rival cheiftans and their army off the edge to their deaths 985 feet below. Gusts of wind blowing up the cliff can reach 80 mph and on slow days 40-50 mph. Please hang on to your hat! The view of windward Kailua and Kaneohe towns and down the coast is gorgeous and there are many beautiful places to stop along the way.

[Manoa Meditation 3689] This is the view from our street in lush Manoa Valley. We have lived on the Diamond Head side of the valley for more than 41 years at about the 600 foot level. Directions on O'ahu are very different than the mainland U.S: Diamond Head is East, Ewa is West, Mauka is toward the mountains and Makai is toward the ocean. There are 21,000 residents in Manoa and many are retirees and educators from the University of Hawaii and Punahou (K-12) private school. Our view of the Ocean is halfway between downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, looking southwest. The flagship of Hawai'i university system is located in the lower part of Manoa valley, UH Manoa with 19 thousand students from all over the world, more than 6% from southeast Asia and the Pacific islands.

[Mauna Kea Sunset 2948] The top of Mauna Kea is one of the premier astronomy sites on earth. At 13,695 feet it is above most clouds and with low humidity and ocean distance from city lights. There are 13 telescopes operated by 11 countries with 484 astronomers and support staff on the summit. Technically the tallest mountain on earth, if measured from the ocean bottom it is over 33,000 feet. The island of Hawai'i has been formed by 5 volcanos over the last million years; Hualalai, Kilauea, (the most active, erupting continuously since 1983) Kohala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa which is the largest land mass in the world. Mauna Loa is a shield volcano that produces very liquid lava flows rather than the explosive action of most other volcanos located at plate tectonic junctures like the Pacific Rim of Fire. The day we went to the top of Mauna Kea was almost windless and 40 degrees; perfect for photography.