The beach from "From Here To Eternity"

You know the famous scene with the longest on-screen kiss with the couple rolling about in the surf?   Well, OK, it's from an ancient black and white film.  I 'm sure you could find longer kisses on video on the Internet, but this is rated PG-13.   So, anyhow, it's an old movie, but the stars were good and the acting relied on story and dialog and not just special effects.  Yes, the waves crashing on the shore are real.   The sand in the bathing suits is real.   And if you know where it is, you too can roll about in the sand kissing that special someone.  Heck, it might even be a YouTube hit.    But enough of this blather....

The thing is, the "From Here To Eternity" beach is called "cockroach beach" by the locals.  It is a wild place to swim.  The currents are strong and the waves pound against the rocks just outside the cove, sending tons of water ricocheting from one direction to another and finally onto the small beach.
Where is this crazy place?   From Waikiki, take the Beach Bus (22) to Sandy Beach, one of the most dangerous beaches in its own right, and hike back up the road to the blowhole lookout.   After you watch the blow hole do its thing, go to the side of the parking lot towards Waikiki and look over the guard rail.   If you want to go down to the Beach, just go to the edge of the parking lot entrance near the guard rail.   Scramble down the rocks and there you are.

Warning: this beach has no lifeguard.  You are on your own here.  Beware of sharp rocks that will cut you.  Beware of cuts because they will get infected.   Beware of strong currents that can suck you out to sea.   Other than that, have fun.   Oh, and be sure to take your trash with you as there are no trash cans.

Mahalo,

Chet

Things to bring:
Sunscreen
Bathing suit
Towel

Shower after your swim down the road at Sandy Beach.  (That's also where the nearest bathrooms are).

Finally, it's Friday.
Should I:

1. Go camping and watch the waves wash against sand?

2. Go on a quest to get some good snorkeling photos?

3.Go on a quest to get good footage of turtles basking in the sun?

4. Climb up KoKo head to take photos using the kite cam?

Of course, I could just sort of do whatever.
What do you think?

Camping on Oahu Having Fun With LED flashlight

Long exposures times plus LED Flashlight=Fun Photos

So, the sun is down, the moon is out and it's time to just have some fun.  So, I take some photos without flash, just using a small LED flashlight and a long exposure.  Of course, people thought I was a bit nuts.  But before long, they seemed to get in on the fun.

Me holding flashlight behind two dancing beachgoers

My sexy knees just to the right of perplexed gal

People will do most anything if you ask them! 

And here is a shot taken at night.  Funny how the camera sees the sky as blue at night while our eyes reduce the color bandwidth to shades of grey.  Oh, heck, this is getting boring.

Moonlight photo time exposure on Oahu

Too Small Tent...Too Much Fun! 

Anyhow the tent worked out pretty well.  If by well means there was only room to lay down.  Sitting down was not an option, nor was standing.  It is a one person tent and I guess they think that one person would only want to lay down.  So, when the rain starting pouring down, there was no sitting up.
It is almost sardine time inside.   On the positive side, the thing is light and dry.  On the downside, most of your gear has to live outside, where it's not so light or dry.    So, I might pick up a two man tent and give this one to a homeless person as a cruel, cruel act of kindness.   Of course, in Hawaii, many of the homeless seem to be relocated haloes in their 50's.  Which brings up....

When I've got my backpack on and ready to go camping, I look like a homeless person.   Which brings up the question "is camping sort of like pretending your homeless for a weekend?"   Minus the digging through dumpsters part.   Maybe.

On to even more pressing concerns....

Slave to Phone Batteries 

Mind you I was faced with an issue common around the globe.  My cell phone battery died.  It was almost tragic.  I had to limit my calls to conserve the battery and surfing the web was out of the question.  Which was kind of sucky, considering I was laying down in my sardine can of a tent as the rain fell down and the 50 steps to the main tent in the camp seemed a bit far considering the deluge.  At least the homeless are smart enough to go to the library for free high speed internet.  Me, not so much.  But hey, I was camping...


Mahalo,
Chet 

Inside my tent

Only room for camera bag and myself.  subtle orange color makes everything, including my toes, have a jandiced sort of glow. 

Sunrise from my tent

Waking up after a rainy night.   tiny tent huge sky.  posting from my phone.  

Going camping this weekend!

Here in Hawaii folks talk about that feeling of family.  Well, this weekend my circle of friends and family will expand.  I'm going camping with some friends.  
Now compared to winter mountaineering, this should be fantastic.  The weather is fantastic, the water warm...for sure have traded snowshoes for swim fins.  
So, I'm getting my camping gear together...which isn't much these days.  One person tent, ultra light sleeping bag, backpack stove and mess kit.  Oh, and my trusty I pad so I can fall asleep using an app that simulates authentic pine forest sound effects--wait, I'll be on a beach with real crashing waves for sound effects!   Hot diggity!

On a sad note, I heard today that James Gandilfini passed away.  I had the privilege of working with him after the Sopranos.  At the time, he was getting a deal together for a Hemingway project and was really a nice guy.   He was devoted to the craft.

On a brighter note...
This is probably a strange thing to bring up-- this being Hawaii and all.  Now there are times where you want the option of jumping in the ocean at a moment's notice,but you don't want to wear a bathing suit around town. So, instead of cotton shorts which stay wet for hours, even in the tropical sun I'd wear some microfiber shorts. So the shorts would dry pretty fast, but the cotton underwear would remain soggy for considerably longer.  My tropical crotch was, well, humid.   Well, miracles of miracles I discovered microfiber der wear.  There ya have it.   Of course, this will take some testing, but I think it might work.

Mahalo,
Chet

Sugar Processing Plant Ruins and Chinaman's Hat Island

In my recent island adventures I came across the very first sugar processing plant on Oahu.  It's a very cool ruins located right off the road.   Also took a photo of Chinaman's hat on the same adventure.

This side of the island is a bit cloudy in the afternoon.  My next quest will be to take some photos with mixed shadow and sunlight.  It's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.  

Mahalo
Chet

Shrimp Stand!

Today I visited one of the Shrimp Stands on the windward side of the island called ROMY'S.   The price was $20 bucks for the combo which included 

 shrimp, rice, small salad, piece of corn on the cob and a small soda.   It was good and like all meals, good conversation added spice and the friendly folks made it that much nicer.  The cool thing is they raise the prawns in the ponds behind the stand, so they're very fresh...although slightly bland unless doused with garlic butter.   If your diet doesn't include shrimp, they  also serve fried Sunfish--whatever a SunFish is...other than a bit bony (but then again if I was so picky about bones I could have had Chicken Nuggets at the McDonald's next to the Polynesian Cultural Center).  

Besides napkins, the covered seating area to the right has a sink with soap to wash your hands before and after eating.     You can check out their website at www.romyskahukuprawn.org

Mahalo, 

Chet

Waterfall Hike

So, imagine you see a cemetery and decide to walk past the graves, past the yard where the equipment is kept...uncovering a thin path through tall grass...into the forest, alongside a stream, and finally coming upon a deep pond filled by a waterfall.   If you didn't know it was there, you'd never find it.  

Obviously, some folks know it's there.   Which got me thinking about stuff that I have to think more about.  But on the stuff I'm certain about...the people of Hawaii are some of the nicest.  I hope I return the favor everyday while I'm here.  

Mahalo, 

KITE KAM working out the bugs

I've been perfecting the whole kite kam thing.  What do you do when you want to have a different view of things but can't afford a helicopter or giant crane.   Well, with the trade winds in Hawaii, I figured a kite might do the trick.   So, with that in mind I've attached a small camera to a kite in an attempt to get a nifty shot.

Quite honestly, with my current set up, the kite moves too much for a motion picture, so for the time being, I'm limited to stills.  I'm working on some ideas to correct that situation.  

What I like about the kite method.
1. It is fun.
2. You can get some neat shots.
3. It is cheap compared to other aerial camera platforms.   Heck, $40 for the kite.  Add some clothes hanger wire and a gopro.   Well, maybe with the gopro it isn't so cheap....but you can probably pick up an older one on craigslist.  

Here is the first useable photo that I can live with showing.   The movies would leave you nauseous.





Mahalo

KOKO HEAD CLIMB

Yesterday I had the adventure of climbing to the top of the KoKo Head crater.  It was an interesting trek up some 1200 or so steps...errrr railroad ties from a track laid during WWII to supply a radar station high atop the crater.  Now train tracks is only relevant in name because this train was pulled up the hill using a winch and a steel cable.   The winch and steel cable are gone, leaving only the iron rails and the railroad ties.   It takes about an hour to climb for the average person.  So, it took me an hour and a half. At this stage of my life, I like to sit, catch my breath, reflect upon the silly notion that this was a good idea and such.   The good news is that I made it to the top, intact.
The best thing was the view.  Amazing.   It was worth the climb, even with aching thighs the next day.

So, if you're going to go for this climb, a few thoughts.

1. Lots of stairs.  Not the even type either these are varying height and width so climbing each is a mini challenge.
2. Take the bypass around the bridge section.  You'll have to scramble on some rocks, but it's better than falling through the gaps in the ties.
3. Water.  Bring a good sized bottle.  If it's a hot day, bring a couple.
4. Shoes.   Leave your slippers at home.  You'll need something with tread.  Going up not so much...coming back down is another story.
5. Time.  This shouldn't be a race.  There are too many ways to hurry and get hurt.  And if you're on top of this, the only way back down with a broken leg is via very expensive helicopter.
6. Stop and enjoy the view on the way up and down.  I stopped at each power pole.  It set a series of goals that made getting to the top easier.
7. Bring a camera or a camera phone.  The views are pretty nifty.
8. Have fun.  Stop and say hello to folks going up when you're coming down.  Offer a bit of encouragement.   If you see that someone is low on water, offer some (another reason to bring two bottles).

Would I do it again?  Yep.

Mahalo