Traditional Hawaiian Cuisine

Not often can you experience a local restaurant that was part of your youth. My parents took me to Helena's when I was very young.This past Friday was one lunch that I'll always remember. I revisited that past at this wonderful institution.

What you see above is fried butterfish (sable) collar in the foreground and pipikala ribs in the background. The waitress served us like kings, and the kitchen staff was most accommodating to me when I wanted to photograph the pipikala hanging above the stove. The cook swiped the delicious morsels from the rack and quickly transform them into devourable pieces.

Wish I could return there every day.

Stopping for Dinner

Our first dinner was here at this specialty take-out. Great food. Mostly poke sides with Ahi & Moi mains. See the next picture to see what I mean.

Mm mm mm mm mmmmmm.

Lagoon 4 This Morning

Just a wonderful view, now that morning has risen.

Picture from Wei' iPhone.

Lagoon 4

Here's looking out on Lagoon 4, straight westward. This pucture was taken yesterday in the late evening The vast Pacific stretches my mind across the horizon. Not bad, eh?

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Ko 'Olina

For those of you unfamiliar with Ko 'Olina, this resort is on the west (Ewa) side of Oahu. There are four lagoons in the resort, and we're in Lagoon 4.

Picture sent from Wei's iPhone.

I'm Back again

I've been away from posting for some time now. Been on a travel bent to China, Hawaii, Washington, Reno, Eastern Sierras and now back in Hawaii. I started a blog about my China trip, but I confused some who thought I was now there.

Nope. I'm in Hawaii. So I'll restart the blog with where I am now. Which is not a bad place to be.

Flower in Our Garden

The purple-streaked petals called out to my photo instincts. I just had to bring out my iPhone camera. There would be no waiting for the Macro lens, tripod, flash, and diffuser. Now would be the moment. Flowers don't wait for the calendar spring to arrive. They seem to explode from the ground as quickly as they recede into withered pieces.

........Wei, from his iPhone

Morning Has Broken

Like in Cat Steven's sweet song about breaking open the day, I felt positively uplifted by my mini daffodil rising to meet the sun.

Photographically the iPhone lacks much of the sophistication I'm used to. But the lens flare worked perfectly. And the image worked for me, despite the over-exposed blossom. Winter rains could not slow the energy of this daff. A daff that just blared "Good Morning to You."

........Wei, from his iPhone

Coming Spring 2010

Ducks in Alameda knew Spring was drawing near. They paraded on the inlets like they owned the water. Some expressed annoyance that humans would dare enter their space.

They tolerated me because I was on the bank, not crowding the deserted place near sunset. And I remained quiet and still. Enjoying some moments of solitude.

........Wei, from his iPhone

Shopping - Asian Market

One can always expect freshness and variety from this market we visit. Sometimes composition of found objects is easy. No, I didn't arrange these squashes. The color and volume just worked out.

........Wei, from his iPhone