wave

 

It took me 29 snaps to get this shot.  It reminds me of an Aaron Chang.  Whatever happened to him?

Lucky 13

 

13 is my lucky number.  And this cow is very cute.  Two awesome things in one picture.

pink

 

Whatever you call them (Frangipanis in Aus, Plumerias in Hawaii) they are fragrant and beautiful.  This was on a private road in Kona, a road I probably shouldn't have been on, but it was too gorgeous to pass up going down.  I love how you can just barely see the spider's silk on the left.  I was thinking about taking it out with photoshop but I thought it was actually kind of rad.

Na Pali

 

This was taken on a trip into Kalalau Valley on Kauai.  The mountains are covered with vog, which is volcano runoff in the air.  These cliffs or "NaPali" coast is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth, not just by me but by National Geographic, and those people know what their talking about!!

Red Sands

 

At the end of the road in Hana, if you are feeling adventurous, lies this enclosed beach covered in red sand.  Hawaii is so amazing, we've got white sand, black sand, red sand, green sand... (insert really witty Dr. Seus phrase here).

Purple Mountains Majesty

stripes

 

Some of us girls like our guys a little thicker... oh and covered in tattoos.

a quick flip

 

The wind in Hawaii is what makes our islands special.  It's our own personal A/C.  Sure we have our hot days but those tradewinds are magical.  And on a day like this, Dani, really appreciates a little breeze.  (at Kaka'ako beach park)

plumerias

Chinatown

 

One of my favorite places to go out and have a drink is not Waikiki.  My heart belongs in Chinatown.

I'm flying, mom, look...

A misty mountain top can make you feel like a new person.  Trust me.  Nature this pure is a natural high.

swing life away

 

Looks like a pretty amazing spot to swing life away.  I was trespassing onto this hillside so I didn't want to press my luck but the view below the swing (you'll have to take my word for it) was beautiful.

One road in, one road out

 

Yes, this is still Hawaii.

The Big Island can be like visiting a place far, far, away from Hawaii.  I love that it's so desolate, deserted, and solitary.  This Mauna Kea in May. 

charm

 

On the way to Akaka Falls

cloud coverage

 

Have you ever driven through a cloud?  The air up here is crisp and clean and the views are breathtaking.

Napua

 

Napua: translation: the flowers

a small breeze

Side of the road between Kona and Hilo.  

The drive from one town to the next added a few extra hours for the simple reason that whenever I'd see something picture worthy I'd turn around, pull over, or attempt to put to use that "stop on a dime" theory set out by car companies.  Needless to say, the breaks of my obnoxious Plymouth model Q worked very very well!  :)

--Napua

fall

 

442 feet of falling water... 

Going on a trip by yourself is something I feel like everyone should do.  It forces you to be more outgoing, you get to do and see really what only YOU want to do, and you can take your time getting there (I'm not even speaking metaphorically to the journey of life, here, but it does apply).  This trip to the Big Island was intoxicating and beautiful.

miles from anywhere

big island boud

 

A head clearing experience occurred on a solo mission to the Big Island which is not so secretly my favorite island.  One of the many perks of working for the inflight magazine, innov8, on go! Mokulele airlines means island hopping.

 

With lava rocks stretching from the road to the ocean (miles away) you get a sense of how powerful an active volcano really is.  Then you go from porous lava rocks to fields of green.

 

And roads that you need to down shift for.

 

Then with long stretches of road between towns you get a true sense of solitude.

 

And you begin to be amazed that there are snow covered roads and mountain tops,

and black sandy beaches, and then mai tai colored sunsets all in one beautiful place.

Does life get better than this?

Many thanks to go! and Nella Media Group.  More photos to come.