Mahalo e Komo Mai (a guest blog)

Mahalo e Komo Mai   (Hey friends of Hawai'i Topher!)

Note: All text and photos from Michael unless noted.

I'm honored to be in the guest spotlight with this post.  Kris actually decided to give up a little control and asked me to write about my travels on O'ahu.  Well, it's immeasurably difficult to condense 2 weeks of legendary travels into one quick blog post.  This was actually my 3rd trip to O'ahu; I've been incredibly lucky to have friends on the islands before Dave and Kris moved there.  Despite this, my hosts found some really beautiful, NEW things to show me.  This was my first visit to Hawai'i during which I felt like a native... well a resident at least.

North shore just prior to sunset.  from left: Luke, Topher, Dave

My trip began with the Obon Festival (previously posted by Topher), then the three of us took a beautiful hike before meeting Luke at the airport (also a previous post by Topher).  The next day, we all went on a circle island tour; if you have the good fortune to visit, I'm sure they will make a point to take you.  I watched the sunrise at Diamondhead, snorkeled, met Dave's turtle buddies, got a really good sunburn (a necessity for us pale folk), and then watched the sun set over the ocean on the opposite side of the island...all in one day!

In case you don't know me... this is me... And I'm very afraid of heights, so this was a quick pose.  

(Note from Topher:  Yes....it was a VERY quick pose)

This was during my first hike with Dave and Kris.  You can see that it was 

windy...but Dave wasn't able to fly like he had hoped.

The elusive Topher... a rare sighting on this blog.  Don't worry, Kris' Dad: I didn't let 

him do any dangerous hikes while I was there.

This is a shot of Topher's camera screen of a picture he just took... quite a tricky shot.  

(Previous post by Topher: Diamonhead Sunrise Time Lapse)

This is the same sunrise with totally different settings, but only about 2 minutes later.

Frequent readers, guess where he is!  Hint, there's a spitting cave behind the camera's POV.

Throughout the rest of the trip, we went to the waterfalls, Dole plantation, beach, Polynesian Cultural Center, and Luke and I even learned to surf and stand-up paddle board.  We were rained on frequently thanks to Dave's sister and her mean-spirited wishes (something about me taking her preferred visiting week?).  And some of you might have been lucky enough to have been called at 4am EST after some of us had one to many Mai Tais at the Dixie Grill.  Despite the crazy sightseeing schedule, I had plenty of time to chill.  We were on Island Time.

Michael and Luke at Waimea Falls.

I love this shot at the Pali Lookout... except that guy wouldn't move and we 

were about to leave so I had to just take it.

Michael with the Tahiti performers.

PCC - New Zealanders showing their moves.

When it came time to leave, Topher asked me what my favorite part of the trip was.  Luke had already left, and he mentioned that the food, snorkeling, surfing, etc. had all been awesome.  My favorite parts of this trip were being able to walk to the beach alone in the morning, reading on the beach, riding the city bus with the locals (Note from Topher: always a great people watching event!), getting lost with Dave while trying to find a bus stop that wasn't where it was supposed to be (platform 9 and 3/4 all over again), and just being able to hang out with friends.

Well, that about wraps up the visit Luke and I too to Hawai'i.  Enjoy a few more pictures below!

Mahalo,

Michael

Pali Lookout

On a ridge trail with another ridge in the background

The Blow Hole

This is a picture of a humpback whale that just went under water.  Ok, so it's 

just a rock under the surface, but it would be better if it was a whale.

This is Dave with his buddy Oakley.

Kris upset the black swan while taking its picture... what a chicken!  

(Note from Kris: Those things are beautiful AND mean looking at the same time!)

Kialua Beach Park with the kite surfers. 

Dave's wondering where the trail went.  It's a typical cloudy day on the ridges, and you could barely see anything past this cliff.  That's supposed to be Kane'ohe or Kailua out there. 

2 Fish are about to hit each other...see next picture.

This is probably my proudest photographic moment.  Two fish just butted heads in the water.  I was trying to get a shot of them squaring off, but got this instead... mid head-butt!

Note from Kris:  Mahalo for reading about my recent visitors time here.  Next post is the Arizona Memorial!