Shadow Baseball?

Shadow boxing? Well what about shadow baseball? I cloned out all of the players to get my own idea of what shadow baseball looks like. It looks like a phonograph with dark notes of people.

We Have A Dry Spell

There is a dry spell of sunshine throughout the islands and an abundance of wind, rain, and water followed by a bit of zapping lightning and booming thunder. I like it!

On a Sunday

On a Sunday afternoon with not a care in the world, these kids were just enjoying life.

Through the Viewfinder

A shot of the downtown post office was taken through the viewfinder (ttv) of an analogue twin reflex camera. The image is from a digital camera that was pointed though a Kodak Duaflex III. The marks on the viewfinder are desired for the antique look.

Art or Not?

There is a documentary about graffiti and the hip hop culture which I can't remember the title to that I had watched recently. According to the film, graffiti originated with individuals that "tagged" their signs on railroad carts so that many people could see them as they rolled  throughout the country from state to state. One of the more famous international tags was, "Kilroy was here". Other individuals would paint over the tags to show off their painting skills as gang rivalries. Graffiti was meant to be temporary as they faded with time or was painted over by others, until some rich guys decided to buy and sell them as art on canvasses and to hang them in museums and indoor spaces. In Hawaii, the graffiti are usually just scribbles although I can't take anything away from self expression. My question is, is it art or not?

Hanauma Bay Series by Masami Teraoka

There are many Japanese American artists that I am fond of and one of my favorite is painter, Masami Teraoka. I met him several years back at the U.H. art gallery at his Acending Chaos opening show. We also saw his opening show at the Catherine Art Gallery in San Francisco. I am especially moved by his Hanauma Bay series that wason display at the Robin Buntin Art Gallery along with the Ice Cream invading Japan series. His works have political undertones depicting current events from corruption in the Catholic Church, gay marriage, toxic foods, and fast foods becoming mainstream in Japan. The above Hanauma Bay print can be seen at the Hawaii State Art Museum as part of it's permanent collection. His art style follows the Ukiyo-e' Japanese woodblock prints. Classic Ukiyo-e' woodblock prints by masters such as Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, and Yoshitoshi, depict ordinary and fleeting moments. Teraoka is a modern day master using this style in his earlier paintings.

Honolulu Academy of Arts - Anna Cooke

The Honolulu Academy of Arts was originally the home to the Rice missionaries on Oahu. The Rice family had three kids and as they prospered, they purchased works of art for their home on Beratania Street. Daughter Anna Rice married and became a part of another missionary family becoming Anna Cooke. She continued purchasing art and importing pieces from China until there was more art than their home could hold. She decided to have their Beratania home torn down in the 1920's to build a museum for their large collection. The Honolulu Academy of Arts was opened in 1927. The above photo is of the dragon fountain located in rear of the pond.

Bird Watching on a Lazy Sunday

Sometimes it's nice to just bird watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Kunawai, a Natural Spring

Happy Friday everyone! It's been three months since Honolulu Photo of the Day posted it's first photo and your response has been overwhelmingly positive. All I have to do is log on to see some of your posts and I'm inspired to find another unique photo for the day. Thank you for following this blog because it makes it worthwhile to continue it knowing that you see it.

The photo of the day, today is of Kunawai Pond in the Liliha district. This pond is a natural spring that Hawaiian chiefs used to bathe in. The common person was not allowed to touch the water for it was believed to have healing powers. It is a natural spring that water flows from the mountains and down an underground stream, pass this spring and eventually it touches the ocean. I could only imagine that less than a century ago, the surroundings were probably overgrown with vegetation and it was probably a swampy area before it was cemented over without the rock wall. They found whitish gray clay in this spring and in this area that was used to make vessels.

These are Birthing Stones

Kukaniloko Birthing Stones

For many years now, I have wanted to pay a visit to these stones and today I was able to see them. They are not just any old rocks protruding from the ground but they are birthing stones that wives of ancient Hawaiian chiefs used to use as tools for birthing. There are a few dozens rocks that lay here and as a historical site, these stones are protected by the State of Hawaii. Some of these stones were curved in ways that could caress the bodies of the women allowing them different positions of comfort for ease of birthing. I also speculate that other rocks were used to lean on for standing birth. One stone was marked with a faint petroglyph carved on it. They were used for birthing for over 800 years. Click here to see other views of these stone on facebook.

Ilikai 7:45p.m.

Every Friday evening at 7:45p.m. for the past many years, the Ilikai hotel in Waikiki faithfully launches a firework show. In the summer, the beach is packed with families, children, tourists, and surfers who become mesmerized by the booms and the bangs of the rockets that illuminate the sky and  cityscape. The smell of bar-b-que linger and groups of beachgoers bond with food. Tonight, the crowd was sparse and the weather was cool. Perhaps most were indoors at the malls.

University of Hawaii Lo'i (taro farm)

 

Driving down Dole Street next to the University of Hawaii, a lo'i (kalo/taro farm) at the Center for Hawaiian Studies was tucked away and nestled on the right hand side heading eastbound. It is named Ka Papa Lo'i O Kanewai, and it is a learning center and also a sanctuary. I appreciated that they gave me permission to walk around, take a few photos, check out the lo'i, and was invited to a Hawaiian cultural gathering tomorrow from 10a.m. until 2p.m. to take more photos. Above are young taro plants that was planted in one of the revived irrigation ditches. Click here to see more photos of the Kanewai lo'i.

Searching for Poi

Happy Black Friday! Since everyone was at the malls on this first day of Christmas shopping, I was hoping to get a Hawaiian plate with fresh poi at the Waiahole Poi Factory and avoid the mad rush. Unfortunately, the crew was probably at the malls too so I'll have to make another trip there the next Friday that I have off. We ended up at Ono's Hawaiian Foods on Kapahulu to satisfy my palate for some laulau, kalua pig, lomilomi salmon, chicken long rice, pipi kaula, and of course poi.

The Braids of Ku

Passing this farm in Waianae Valley today, I noticed a statue of Ku that was standing at the front gates. Ku is famously known as the god of war and most attribute the energy of bloodshed with this Hawaiian god although there are many other peaceful attributes that Ku was also known for. The original statues were on display at the Bishop Museum for a short time and was lucky enough to see them. I was told that if the braids of Ku touches the ground the people would be prosperous since Ku was also compassionate. Click here to see a short video on Ku and notice that the middle statue has long braids that touches the earth.

Hands, Feet, Mouth, Toes and Ears

An art student at the University of Hawaii sculpted hands, toes, feet, mouths, and ears in an entire set of rocks that are used as a walkway for as part of the project to get a MFA. They were interesting to find and more interesting to find out about.

Murphy's Bar and Grill

I wanted to be the first to wish everyone happy holidays. Today's photo of the day is the follow up for my November 17, 2011 post with the lucky clovers. As mentioned then, I was treated to lunch at Murphy's Bar and Grill on Merchant Street and I thought that for those who have read the post you may be wondering what it looks like. So, here it is.

University of Hawaii Art Gallery

 

Happy Sunday everyone! I was at the University of Hawaii art gallery today and they are featuring a ceramic show called "East-West Ceramic Collaboration V"with artists from the Pacific Rim until December 9, 2011. The show is free to the public and there the artists are internationally known. One of my favorite pieces is the above cup for it's simpleness and because it is a functional piece. Other works are detailed sculptures and other vessels. One artist used a paintball gun to shoot the glaze on his plates for a splash finish. Influenced by Hawaii's shaved ice, the colors on these plates represent the rainbow of flavors. The holiday season is now in motion and the traffic in the U.H. gallery has been slow, thus if you live here, feel free to take a peek at no charge! Click here to see some of the other pieces on display on facebook. 

Click here for the map to get to the U.H. gallery

UPW Mural- Jean Charlot

The tile murals on the wall of the United Public Workers (UPW) Union's building is a creation by Jean Charlot the famous french painter. Although at first glance, I once thought it was created by Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Located in Kalihi on School Street, it is another one of Honolulu's little treasures for all to freely enjoy. It worth seeking out since it is a block or two and walking distance from the Bishop Museum. The art depicts hard labor as it recognizes blue collar workers who are usually the unsung heroes of the community. A bunch of young volunteers were laboring in the area by picking up trash, and they walked in between the mural and my shutter for this picture.

Bird on a Wire

 

 This mornings sky was painted by the breeze that moved clouds into swirls and bold streaks that was tinted by the sunrise. The silhouette of a bird on a wire captured the moment of darkness to light and the new beginning of a new day.

Lucky Patch of Clovers!

It was an overcast and cool morning, and it would have been nice just to have slept in but work called and took over. Passing this patch of clovers on the way in, I imagined what it would be like to find a four leaf clover. Without really looking I took this quick shot. As the day progressed I counted my lucky charms and as it turned out I scored a free meal from a co-worker who took me to lunch at an Irish Pub called Murphy's Bar and Grill where I was treated to an Irish burger with blue cheese! What a lucky patch of clovers!