New Year, New Website, Hawaii and Other Resolutions
New Year's Day has come and gone, and we find ourselves half-way into January already. Time flies, indeed. This is my (gasp) first post in 2013, but I have my reasons and I'll share them with you in this blog post... among others, I've been working on my website, www.alinaoswald.com. Check it out whenever you have a moment.
As it happens at the beginning of each year, we start (or at least try to start) fresh, revisiting our to-do lists for the year, hoping that this is the year when we'll keep our resolutions. Intentions are all good. Yet, soon, reality kicks in...
The New Year is also a reminder that, at least in some places, winter is here to stay. It is the time when we realize that holidays are gone and summer is months away. Snow or not snow, some of us are in for a long cold season. That always makes me think of Hawaii and the Aloha spirit that wears off quickly the farther away we are and the longer we stay away from these magnificent islands.
There are eight Hawaii islands:
Nihau, the Forbidden Place, is located west of Oahu and is a private island.
Oahu, the Gathering Place, and home of Hawaii's capital, Honolulu, and also Pearl Harbor City and Arizona Memorial.
Kauai, the Garden Island, located 90 miles west of Oahu. Kauai is known as the "separate kingdom" because its king resisted King Kamehameha's efforts to unite the islands of Hawaii. In Kauai no building is taller than a coconut tree.
Molokai, or the Most Hawaiian Island is, like Lanai and Molokini, located across from Maui.
Molokini, which is only a crater peaking out from the water.
Lanai, the Pineapple Island, also known as a different kind of paradise.
Maui, the Valley Island, was formed by the union of two volcanoes. One of these volcanoes is Haleakala, which rises 10,000 feet above sea level. This dormant volcano is said to be the size of the Manhattan Island, and it holds several other craters. Haleakala National Park is home of Ahinahina plant, or "very gray" in Hawaiian, and a place from where one may catch the unique optical illusion known as Brocken Spectre, or specter of the ghost. (Its name comes from the place where it was first obseved, Brocken Mountain, in Germany.) The city of Lahaina, Maui, is home of fantastic art galleries showing work by local and other artists.
Hawaii, the Big Island, the only Hawaiian island with live volcanoes and the closest to the West Coast of North America. There are two main cities on the Big Island: Hilo and Kona. The Big Island offers all but two weather seasons known on earth. Off the eastern coast of Hawaii island, connected to Hilo by a small bridge, there's a place called Coconut Island.
Hope you enjoyed the read and pictures of Hawaii. As always, thanks for stopping by and hope you'll visit my new website, at www.alinaoswald.com.
Many thanks!
Alina Oswald
Writer/Photographer
New Year's Day has come and gone, and we find ourselves half-way into January already. Time flies, indeed. This is my (gasp) first post in 2013, but I have my reasons and I'll share them with you in this blog post... among others, I've been working on my website, www.alinaoswald.com. Check it out whenever you have a moment.
As it happens at the beginning of each year, we start (or at least try to start) fresh, revisiting our to-do lists for the year, hoping that this is the year when we'll keep our resolutions. Intentions are all good. Yet, soon, reality kicks in...
The New Year is also a reminder that, at least in some places, winter is here to stay. It is the time when we realize that holidays are gone and summer is months away. Snow or not snow, some of us are in for a long cold season. That always makes me think of Hawaii and the Aloha spirit that wears off quickly the farther away we are and the longer we stay away from these magnificent islands.
There are eight Hawaii islands:
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| Full Hawaii Rainbow with Hawaii Islands Written on It. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved. I took this image from the hotel where I stayed in Maui. That's when I realized I needed a wider lens. The left end of the rainbow touches Lanai and the right end of the rainbow, Molokai. Later on, I had the idea of adding the Hawaii islands by their known names and by the Hawaii islands other names, for a full spread of my Island book. |
Nihau, the Forbidden Place, is located west of Oahu and is a private island.
Oahu, the Gathering Place, and home of Hawaii's capital, Honolulu, and also Pearl Harbor City and Arizona Memorial.
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| Couple by Hawaiian boat watching the sunset from Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved. One night I took a stroll in Honolulu and walked along a street, parallel to Waikiki Beach, when I noticed the sun was just setting and stepped closer to check it out. That's when I saw this young couple watching the sunset by the Hawaiian boat. (Note: When working on the image, I added an orange filter in post.) |
Kauai, the Garden Island, located 90 miles west of Oahu. Kauai is known as the "separate kingdom" because its king resisted King Kamehameha's efforts to unite the islands of Hawaii. In Kauai no building is taller than a coconut tree.
Molokai, or the Most Hawaiian Island is, like Lanai and Molokini, located across from Maui.
Molokini, which is only a crater peaking out from the water.
Lanai, the Pineapple Island, also known as a different kind of paradise.
Maui, the Valley Island, was formed by the union of two volcanoes. One of these volcanoes is Haleakala, which rises 10,000 feet above sea level. This dormant volcano is said to be the size of the Manhattan Island, and it holds several other craters. Haleakala National Park is home of Ahinahina plant, or "very gray" in Hawaiian, and a place from where one may catch the unique optical illusion known as Brocken Spectre, or specter of the ghost. (Its name comes from the place where it was first obseved, Brocken Mountain, in Germany.) The city of Lahaina, Maui, is home of fantastic art galleries showing work by local and other artists.
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| West Maui photography by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved. While in Maui, I took a trip around the island. That's when I discovered West Maui, a beautiful place full of vegetation, waterfalls and volcanoes crowned by fog and clouds. |
Hawaii, the Big Island, the only Hawaiian island with live volcanoes and the closest to the West Coast of North America. There are two main cities on the Big Island: Hilo and Kona. The Big Island offers all but two weather seasons known on earth. Off the eastern coast of Hawaii island, connected to Hilo by a small bridge, there's a place called Coconut Island.
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| Coconut Island, near Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii. Hawaii Images by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved. As I arrived in Hilo and discovered Coconut Island right across from the hotel, I also noticed a wedding taking place on this island, next to some teenagers taking a leap of faith and jumping in the water. |
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| Aerial photo of Hilo, Hawaii, by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved. I took this image from an open door (no door) helicopter, on our way back to the heliport. This images is an aerial image of Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii. One can see the enforcements built in the water, to keep Hilo safe from tsunamis, and also Coconut Island, which I marked later on in post, when working on my Hawaii pictures. |
Hope you enjoyed the read and pictures of Hawaii. As always, thanks for stopping by and hope you'll visit my new website, at www.alinaoswald.com.
Many thanks!
Alina Oswald
Writer/Photographer
Alina, very insightful. Truly. Ah, Hawaii....I'd love to go, but I'm not a very good flyer. I hate flying. If I knew there was a possibility of crashing, I'd much rather do it with the ground beneath me instead of the ocean. How grim!! Sorry. :) And yes, resolutions. Don't get me started. I have more than I care to think about. Write, exercise, write, be a better friend, write. Did I mention write? Keep up the good work. I'm going to check out your website RIGHT NOW!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sean! Appreciate your post. Fear of flying?... I entirely understand it, but sometimes we do need to fly. If you think airplane is bad, try open door helicopter. But fear goes away when up in the air, either taking a closer look at lava fields, feeling the heat and smell, or flying over the craters and pineapple plantations. Just don't drink or eat anything (only solids anyway) before you get on the helicopter. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAs for resolutions, hope I can keep them this year. Sounds like your list is a long one. Hope you'll keep them (know you will) and look forward to reading all that wonderful writing you're doing :-) Keep me posted!
Thanks again for stopping by!
Alina, I would easily resolve myself to the idea of flying for the sake of nature and its beauty - lava fields, mountains, lakes, all of it - I would do it in a heart beat. That's what dramamine is for. :) There are things we must do despite our fears. I like to think I'm relatively fearless when it comes to taking chances, or trying new things. Of course, that depends on how much alcohol is in my system. Keep up the good work. And I think you're as bad as I am when it comes to posting new blogs....I want to read more!!
DeleteLOL! Thanks! I needed this. You are so right. Yup, I used to post weekly or almost weekly. But I'm going through a spell right now. Needed the nudge. I will post something soon... sooner than later that is. If nothing else, I'll use more pictures than words (words take more time).
ReplyDeleteYou are... "a breath of fresh air" my friend and appreciate it. Agree with your comment--everything you mention. Fear can paralyze us and, gosh, sometimes I feel I've been paralyzed for too long (hence my New Year resolution to undo that)
Well... stay tuned for posts soon to come! And I'll do the same with your blog.
:-)