Cook Pines

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Kone, Hawaii, Hawaii

The first time I went to Hawaii, I was surprised to see Pine Trees there.  I have always called these beautiful trees Hawaiian Pine Trees, because they are so tall & stunning and such a part of Hawaii, but their correct name is Cook Pines.  They are so regal as they reach heavenward!   I love the touch of the red trumpet vine in this photo.

The Sun At Sunset

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Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

We were driving to meet up with our son and his family and we saw this beautiful sunset, so my husband pulled off the road so I could take this photograph. It’s a good thing, because by the time we met up with our family the sun had already passed below the horizon!

Sun Setting On The Pacific

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Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

As the sun was setting over the Pacific Ocean sun rays shone thru the clouds. Sunsets are beautiful but with added sun rays they are awesome!

Nothing Like Chillin

IMG_5565Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

There is nothing like CHILLIN in the Pacific Ocean! Try it sometime, put your feet up (much harder than it looks) and RELAX!

 

Good-bye

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Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

It’s always hard to say good-bye, even to a turtle!

Photo taken with a Fuji XP

Surfacing

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Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

I meet some fun people while I was taking photos of this beautiful Hawaiian Green Turtle.  There was a young couple from Japan, honeymooners.  They were really cute!  Here the turtle is surfacing for air.

Photo taken with a Fuji XP

Hawaiian Green Turtle

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Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

After snorkeling in a man made fish pool, that was really cool and had large fish in it and you knew you were safe, I decided, as we returned to the beach, to go into the ocean and see what there was.  I am so glad I did.  I hadn’t been in the ocean for very long when a couple called me over, there was a Hawaiian Green Turtle, I got some fun photos of him.

Photo taken with a Fuji XP

Watching On The Beach

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Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

I ❤️ sunsets and sometimes they are ‘ok’ other times they are spectacular!

Photo taken with an iPhone 5s

Sunset At The Beach

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Kailua Kona, Hawaii

What more could I want, the ocean, the beach and a sunset, put them all together and you get a great place to RELAX!

Photo taken with an iPhone 5s

A Hawaiian Green Turtle

IMG_4813Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

There is something gracious about these beautiful, gentle creatures and this was the perfect spot to put my feet up and RELAX!

Photo taken with an iPhone 5s

Along The Beach

IMG_5268Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

I went for a walk and along the way I took a number of photos with my feet, there were so many opportunities for me to put my feet up and RELAX!

Photo taken with an iPhone 5s

I Never Tire

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Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

I never tire of taking photos of Hawaiian Green Turtles.  This one was fun to take photos of, at one point he went right under me, I could feel his shell against my stomach.

Photo taken with a Fuji XP

Coming Up For Air

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Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

This Hawaiian Green Turtle  was fun to photograph.  Here he came up for air, because sea turtles are mammals, they breath air like humans do, so they have to come up from time to time to get air.  Having said that, they can stay under the water for a lot longer than we can!

Photo taken with a Fuji XP

Swimming By

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Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

I ❤️ snorkeling, particularly when there are turtles! There is a lagoon we go to and there has always been at least one turtle there, this time there were three. They are such amazing creatures, strong yet so gentle.

#FIT9a-0716

Coming Towards Me

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Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

There is a lagoon in Ko Olina and every time I go snorkeling there, we find turtles.  They are so fun to swim with and they are friendly and gentle!

#FIT9a-0716

Polynesian Cultural Center

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Laie, Oahu, Hawaii

Whenever we go to Oahu we always go to the PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) if nothing else to support them for the great work they do! They not only share their cultures with us, they give scholarships to the students at Brigham Young University Hawaii, allowing them to work at the PCC and earn money for their education. What a great thing! Now, I haven’t even mentioned the shows, the delicious food and of course, the fantastic night show! We had a grand time!

Photo taken with a Canon 50D

PCC

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Laie, Oahu, Hawaii

I ❤️ the PCC! It has beautifully manicured grounds, very entertaining shows, delicious food and the evening show is inspiring!

Photo taken with a Canon 5s

Secret Beach

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Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii

The other day I was at ‘My Lagoon’ relaxing as I read a book. I noticed some people had followed me to ‘My Lagoon’, they stayed around for a while and then they left, but they didn’t leave the way they came. They climbed up some rocks, about 15′ high and then walked across the top of them, turned a corner and disappeared. Some time ago, I had seen some other people do this, so I decided that this time I would follow them. Up I went and carefully I walked across the rocks and as I turned the corner I was surprised at what I saw, a secret beach, (which I have since found out the locals call it) that is beautiful! Yesterday, I took my family there and for most of the time, we were the only people on this beach, it is now known to us as ‘Nonni’s Beach’. Oh, by the way the snorkeling is great!

#UHAO58a-0716

Sea Life Park – Birds

IMG_1435Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii

There is an area at Sea Life Park where there are all types of birds, they are gorgeous with their bright colors! You can go in and feed them, take photos of them or just RELAX with them! I chose the latter and slowly sat on this bench, put my feet up and RELAXED! I got a bit nervous as a bunch of them took off because someone was coming towards us!

Photo taken with an iPhone 5s