A PIECE OF PARADISE

FEWER TOURISTS-MORE LOCALS

    Around the northern point of Ohau, away from Waimea, the Pipeline and Turtle Bay lays stretches of undeveloped scenic beauty dotted by local communities of Kahuku, Laie and Hauula near Sacred Falls.

    The north shore appeals not only to surfers and fans, but those who like nature, country, local culture, agriculture and a very laid back mood.

   "Keep the country, country" is the call on signs and bumper stickers.  Here, as in communities close to nature, there is the tension between the way it is and the desire of developers. 
    I have preferred other Hawaiian Islands because of the heavy tourist development and building of Honolulu however the local and authentic feel of the North Shore and from here south to Hauula is delightfully pleasing. There is an easy accord between simplicity, balance and allowing the beauty of nature to be dominant. 
    The world has enough high rise condos, hotels and resorts. I'm with those who find favor in true local culture and perspective. Here it is country and it feels to this outsider that is how it should be.

 BATTLE IN PARADISE

 History looms in a strange juxtaposition on a point between Kawela and Turtle Bay. The beauty of paradise interrupted by an artifact of WWII.  The bunker stands at the tip of Protection Point.

 The fortification was one of many along the shoreline, protecting the Kahuku airfield that housed B-17 and B-24 aircraft.

  Here in paradise or on beaches and rises in modern Europe,  I am struck by the paradox and contradictory force of such beauty being the scene of historic and heroic battle.

 LOOK FAMILIAR?

    This banyan forest on the north shore has been a scene in many films and productions, the most recent being Hunger Games.

    Better that such paradise be the setting for only play war.  Were it that way everywhere, huh?

    See you down the trail.

ONLY THE BEST

THE BANZAI PIPELINE

       The north shore of Oahu is one of the world's premiere athletic venues.  Only the best dare try it here.

  Before the sun was over the mountain, surfers were in the

 Pacific, looking for a ride before the "Backdoor Shoot-out" Championship, part of a 50th anniversary tribute to Duke Kahanamoku.  Kahanamoku is the Olympic champion swimmer who created modern surfing.

 As the sun finds the line, it turns the Pacific from gray to blue.

  Team surfing competition begins at 8 AM. The professionals tune up.

  On this day conditions are near perfect and the waves are 20 foot tall.

   The power of the ocean is thunderous. The danger is underscored by the deaths of 21 surfers and photographers at the Pipeline.

    In this sequence we see a shooter deploy for his spot in the big water to capture dramatic footage of the champion surfers inside the shoot or tunnel of water.

   Here he is cut loose where he will attempt to survive the swells as he watches the board artists take on the sea.

 As only the best ball players make it to the all star game, only the best surfers in the world have a chance to survive here.

 At the pipeline, the beach rumbles and explosions roar when some of these 20 foot walls collapse. 

    If you look closely in the frame below you will see a surfer emerge from the curl of the back wave. This perspective reveals how solitary and fragile these athletes are as they compete against a primal force of nature.

MELLOW ON THE BOARDS

   A few miles away in Kawelia Bay, inside the reef, the board work turns to yoga.

ALOHA EVENING

   See you down the trail.

EXTRAORDINARY-FILM & NATURE

REEL THOUGHTS
THE FILM THAT'S GETTING THE BUZZ

THE DESCENDANTS 

This is one of those films that opens by winning awards and creating Oscar buzz. It doesn't seem to be a big

film, nor even an important film until

it has you twisting between pathos and clever humor.

It walks a line and moves with deftness between

those two spheres, like the masks of the Greek muses, Thalia and Melpomene-comedy and tragedy. 

 You also find
yourself realizing that it is a film where "good and decent"

prevail even within dark and morbid moments. 

It is an important film, making points

about behavior and honor.

Even when you know where something may be 

headed, you find yourself either amused or surprised

and always entertained by how it plays out.

George Clooney is brilliant as a befuddled but good guy who must struggle between the poles of grief, anger, love and surprise.  This is probably a break out film for Shailne Woodley, a Simi Valley actress. She is beautiful and authentic as Clooney's eldest daughter.  Amara Miller as the younger sister and Nick Krause as Woodleys goofy boyfriend are superb.  Beau Bridges is enjoyable as Cousin Hugh. Judy Greer as Julie Speer plays a small but powerful role that could be remembered as one of the most elegant on screen portrayals of compassion and honesty, ever.
Then there is wonderful background story of land ownership, history and development in the beautiful Hawaiian islands. We left wanting to get genuine Hawaiian music. This is another masterful directing and 
writing product of Alexander Payne, probably best known for Sideways.  I think you'll see why it is getting
all the talk.  We attended a 4:15 Monday afternoon
performance and they had to turn people away.
Well done!

DAY BOOK 

ROCK AND SEA

There is a space in the interaction of

of the Pacific and those rocky beaches

where another world seems to dwell.

In the tide pools and on the rocks

are scenes of the eternal relationship.

 Tides and conditions must be right for 

the tide pools to mirror back the coastal scene.

 Rock and stone, often underwater, give up a

secret language or code and low tide.

See you down the trail.