This lovely example was growing through a crack in an old cement foundation on an abandoned lot near the Modesto Junior College.

A few miles in either direction from the city of Modesto you will find yourself in the country surrounded by farms. I have been told that this region, Calfornia’s central valley, provides America with most of the domestic fruits and vegetables that we consume as well as a large percentage of nuts.

If you get there early, as I did, you can watch the players prepare for the game and even snag an autograph before settling into your seat with a hot dog and your beverage of choice.

Getting stretched out for the game…

Gloves on the field waiting for the players to finish loosening up…

Signing autographs on the way to the dugout…

This is the minor leagues, they use a shopping cart to move the small mountain of balls needed for batting practice and infield work. I guess the classy Colorado Rockies ball bag gets pretty heavy to lug around and wheels are just more practical…

The manager with an sharp eye on his team…

The pink lady, the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel, is not so pink in this black and white portrayal of Waikiki. The hotel, although central in this image, is dwarfed by the newer and much larger hotels that surround it and line this famous beach on Oahu. It’s never really dark in Waikiki and the streets and beaches are never completely empty…

A friend and I decided that a visit to the carnival on Magic Island in Honolulu was the perfect opportunity to pull out our cameras for some night shooting and long exposures. It was my first serious attempt at both and I’m pretty pleased with the results…

The lights, rides, games and food are a feast for the senses.

It’s an experience of pure joy for the children and one of nostalgia for many of the adults. I couldn’t help but notice how many of the rides, games and food offerings haven’t changed much over the years.

And the food! Peanuts, popcorn, candied apples, hot dogs and, of course, funnel cakes, but how about a soft pretzel or tropical slush?

And did I mention those intense colors…

Where to go and what to do next? It’s hard to decide…the carrousel, the Ferris wheel, or bumper cars? Or, shall we take a break and watch the scene unfold as we get a ‘sipper’ from the bathtub?

My only unfulfilled wish from the evening was the desire to fall asleep in the backseat on the way home dreaming of all of the fun and fantastic things that I got to see and do, just like when I was a child…

The Izumo faith, known as “Izumo Taishakyo” or “Oyashirokyo,” is an independent sectarian Shinto sect that established a branch in Hawaii in 1906 to provide spiritual guidance to the first generation of Japanese immigrants who arrived in Hawaii. The present Shrine structure was erected in 1923 and renovated in 1968.

During WWII, while the Bishop and his family were interned on the mainland, the Shrine property was seized by of the City and County of Honolulu. In 1953, a petition with more than 10,000 signatures was presented to the then Board of Supervisors for the return of the Shrine. Hearings and court actions followed but it was not until 1962, almost 10 years later and 17 years after the end of the war, the court finally ordered the return of the Shrine property to the organization.

Read more about the mission in the archived Honolulu Advertiser article titled “Shinto sect to mark 97th year in Hawai’i”.

A lone tree sits proudly on the rugged Ka’iwi coastline in East Honolulu. This coastline offers scenic views, sandy beaches, great surf and arid landscapes dotted with volcanic rock to those who make the time to explore this area that is slightly off the beaten path.

The Ka’iwi Coast is a rugged volcanic landscape on the eastern shores of Oahu. Koko Crater sits prominently on the coastline and is one of many extinct volcanoes that dot the island and offers a dramatic change of scenery from the sandy beaches and palm trees that are prevalent in the minds of many when they think of Hawaii.

Nestled within this landmark is the Koko Crater Botanical Garden that encompass 60 acres and is home to many native plants and trees as well as species from other tropical regions of the world.

Named after a princess, this native Hawaiian shrub blooms in common along shorelines and in coastal area. When in bloom, delicate white ‘half flowers’ are said to represent the broken heart of Princess Naupaka who, by tradition, was not permitted to marry the commoner that she loved. Legend has it that when they last separated she took the flower from her hair and broke in in half as and gave it to her love as she sent him down a mountain to live far away at the beach.