Archive for the 'Hawaii' Category

Oahu 2016

February 09th, 2016 | Category: animals,Hawaii,Hawaii,scuba,Travel

Another work trip, with, of course, a little free time.  Not so much this time – work kind of gets in the way sometimes – but i made the best use of what time I had!  Unfortunately I got sick, some sinus thing, and also was very busy so had to curtail my diving – but I did get to go once.

 

I’ll put a few images up front with captions underneath.  Click to enlarge. To see them all, browse the gallery below.

The California coast

The California coast over LA

Oahu

The island of Oahu, seen at last after hours of empty ocean. Kauai is in the background.

North shore Oahu

Oahu’s north shore, near “the pipeline” which has such great surf waves.

surfer

A surfer on Oahu’s north shore. A few days prior there were record, 40-foot waves, but on this day it was less dramatic.

north shore beachgoers

Beach goers on the north shore. Those waves are something else! The sea is something to be reckoned with here.

 

Near Kaena point

At Kaena point, on the northwest corner of the island where the trade winds hit the shore, the scenery is dramatic and, for the foolish, quite deadly.

Near Kaena point

Near Kaena point, to the north.

Near Kaena point

Near Kaena point, to the south. This wave was 30 feet tall, but since there’s no perspective, it’s impossible to tell. You can stand there without seeing one of these monsters for a few minutes, and it can sneak up and get you. If you go, pay attention to the rocks; is there water in the holes? If so, watch out.

Near Kaena point

Look at the water’s color where the sun strikes through this wave.

Kaena point, looking south

Kaena point, looking south. This is a fantastic hike, specially if you go at a time with few people. There was almost nobody there when I went, and it was magical. I have visited a few times over the years, and it always delivers.

Whale breaching near Kaena point

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, whales started leaping out of the water. later they came very close, but it was too dark to photograph. A pod of Dolphins and a monk seal were also present.

Waikiki sunset

Waikiki sunset

Green sea turtle

A Green sea turtle off of Hawaii Kai, on the southeast corner.

Green sea turtle

Note the specialized nostril lips.

Green sea turtle

This guy has a tumor, poor dude.

Moray Eel

Often seen, always enjoyed – a yellow margin moray eel, looking scary.

Moray Eel

A yellow margin moray.

humuhumunukunukuapua'a

This animal, named the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, is the state fish, and yes I can pronounce this!

Pearl Harbor

At the Pearl Harbor visitor’s center, you can see the Missouri at left and the Arizona memorial to the right. I have visited both of these in the past, but not this time.

Japanese torpedo

A Japanese torpedo, found in the mud in the 1990s. It was intact, but after the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) people finished with it, it was damaged, as they had to blow it up.

USS Bowfin submarine

The USS Bowfin, a highly decorated submarine.

USS Bowfin submarine

Up periscope!

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine’s engine room

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine aft torpedo room

USS Bowfin submarine

USS Bowfin submarine

The 5″ deck gun, used to sink many vessels. DO not forget, if you enjoy this kind of thing – as I do – that these vessels represent not only bravery and performance of duty in the face of hardship, but that also they are the instruments of death, used in a grim struggle. War is hell.

 

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