March 12, 2013 Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4)

Tuesday night I wanted to catch a glimpse of Comet Pan-STARRS as it made it's appearance in the night sky, just after sunset. I took Hōkūle`a with me and we headed up in the hills above Honolulu, to the trail head for the Kalawahine trail up on Tantalus (Pu`u `Ōhi`a).  Hōkū and I enjoyed the sunset and the crescent moon while I set up to try and catch the comet. The view from Tantalus is amazing!

Looking west towards the airport and Kapolei.

We stayed for about 45 minutes straining to see the dash of light in the sky. It was cold (65° F!!!), and I didn't see any comets, just the city lights and the sliver of a crescent moon. But... When I got home and went through some of the photos...there she was! The Pan-STARRS comet!

Click for full-screen.

Click  for full-screen

I'm grateful that I was able to witness this once in a lifetime sighting. Comet Pan-STARRS will not be around for another 106,000 years!

January 12, 2013 - Makapu`u Sunrise

With Sommer being pregnant and Hōkūle`a being in the NICU for so long, I haven't had much time or energy to go hiking.  Sommer and I headed out for an easy "hike" up to the Makapu`u Lighthouse lookout for a beautiful sunrise!  Last time I hiked up to Makapu`u Lighthouse for a sunrise I was all by myself without anyone else at the lookout.  This time it was much different.  There was about 30 people at the lookout all waiting for the sun to shine.

The sunrise was still as beautiful from the lookout.

I love sunrise hikes because when you're done you still have the rest of the day to do what ever you want!  Thanks again to Sommer for coming along with me!

Rest of the pictures here:

Haiku Stairs Sunrise - August 4, 2012 (Coming Soon)

UPDATE:  Haiku Stairs is closed.  Access to the Stairs requires permission from numerous public and/or private entities that currently do not offer access, including the Board of Water Supply, City and County of Honolulu, and the State of Hawai`i.  Please support the efforts of groups like the Friends of Haiku Stairs to educate and pressure the State and City & County to re-open this historic and breathtaking treasure of Hawai`i.

Coming Soon:

Mariner's Ridge Sunrise - July 14, 2012 (Coming Soon)

Coming Soon

Kamehame Ridge Sunrise - July 9, 2012

Brinton called me Sunday night asking for a good sunrise "hike" for the Honolulu Hawaii Stake, LDS Missionaries to do in the morning.  I recommended Kamehame Ridge in Hawaii Kai as an easy hike with an awesome payoff in terms of view and sunrise.  Since Sommer had a 10 am doctor's appointment the next morning, I offered to guide Brinton and the missionaries for the sunrise hike.

We arrived at the lookout just as the sun started to peak above the horizon.

The missionaries lined up to take pictures with each other.

The sunrise did not disappoint.

Rest of the pictures here:

Koko Crater Sunrise - June 30, 2012

Brinton Johnson accompanied me for a sunrise trek up the Koko Crater tracks.

Despite starting early in the darkness, I just barely beat the sun to the horizon.

Koko Crater cast a long shadow as the sunrose.

After the sun topped out over the horizon, we turned back and headed down the tracks.

Makapu`u Lighthouse Sunrise - June 23, 2012

Headed up to the Makapu`u Lighthouse for a quick little sunrise "hike" last month. I started in the darkness before the parking lot was open. Parking on the side of the highway I made my way up the paved "trail" to the Makapu`u Lighthouse and lookout. I was once again all alone on the trail. Someone was camping (I assume fishing) at the tidepools because a moped was parked and locked to the whale watching sign near the top. I immediately wished I had taken my moped up the path instead of walking. I quickly made my way to the lookout and waited for sunrise.

Matt and Rachel locked in their love at the lookout.

The sunrise did not disappoint. The sky was on fire!

After the sun popped up over the horizon I took a quick self shot and admired a sunrise rainbow before pulling myself up the slight incline and rocks to the bunkers at the top of Makapu`u Point.

There was the usual graffiti and tagging in the bunkers.

The view from the top was amazing!

I made my way down the face of Makapu`u Point to Makapu`u Lookout overlooking Makapu`u Beach. On the way down I passed a tourist couple making their way up the face of the hill with no clue where they were going. I directed them to the trail heading up and made my way down to the parking lot and my car on the side of the road. No one was rock climbing, yet.

Thankfully my car was still in one piece! Another Saturday, another sunrise hike!

Rest of the picture here: