Honolulu Blues, Part 1

Dear T&P readers,

As I promised, I've brought you some photos from my trip to Hawaii.

Here are some images featuring my favorite color, blue. All these pictures were taken in and around Honolulu:

Entrance arch, The War Memorial Natatorium

Koi pond, Sheraton Waikiki

A winning hand?

Zoo sign

Two sisters

Two conduits

Awesome jams

Dumpster steps

Not quite sure what this was....

Window frame

Say cheese!

Honolulu's answer to Hollywood's Walk of Fame?

Five pounds of rice

Dawn over Diamond Head

The view straight down from our hotel room's lanai

Traditional quilt

Folded pieces of paper, I have no idea why, in front of a "buy an oyster, guaranteed pearl inside" booth

Two bikes

Pay phone booth

Hand-painted kukui nut necklace on taxi driver (who insisted I take the photo to include his face, and not just focus on his necklace)

Blue urn on balcony of Royal Hawaiian Hotel

On the beach, early in the morning

"Leis"made of plastic flowers and miniature booze bottles

Hula feet

Squeaky toys

Moon Jellies at the Honolulu Aquarium

Some adorable blue-eyed fish, Honolulu Aquarium

Jelllyfish, Honolulu Aquarium

Ceramic sculpture outside the aquarium

Designer bag for sale

This series, below, may be my favorite memory of my whole trip.

It was morning, before the crowds were out, when I came across this man. He was deeply tanned, clearly a senior citizen but still with the jet-black hair of a Hawaiian native, and he was softly gesturing as he faced out to sea.

Intrigued, I came a little closer and realized he was singing. Eyes closed, at water's edge, he was crooning in Hawaiian and lifting his arms to the ocean. I couldn't make out the melody, or even detect a clear beat, but it seemed like he was singing to the ocean. Praying, even.

I didn't want to get too close, so I stood at a distance and captured theese shots. Behind him, an overbuilt, overly commercial city was bustling to life and bracing itself for a very busy week (the Pro Bowl and the Chinese New Year).

Around him, nothing and nobody. In front of him, the endless blue ocean.

And he was singing an ancient song to it. It was utterly timeless. Utterly enchanting.

Mahalo. Thank you.

I was privileged to be a silent witness to the moment.