We had mai tais tonight at Duke’s next to the Moana Surfrider Hotel. For some reason I always feel like I should drink a mai tai when I am with Marina. It’s probably because she has a setting named mai tai that does amazing things to photos.

This couple lucked out and got us to take their christmas card photos for them, after watching us with our fancy cameras photographing each other around sunset (see other recent post).

(Thanks for that extra round of drinks, guys. Send us that photo and we’ll put it up here. What are your names, anyway?)

A long exposure from our seats at Dukes. I set my camera on the ground, with the fisheye lens, and left the shutter open for 20 seconds.

We did a concept shoot today in Waikiki. Thanks to Caleb and SamiJo for helping us out in a NERDY TOURIST shoot.

These photos are from each of us taken during the same five minute period.

Day005 is the day Amy and I flew over to the Big Island to hang out with James Rubio, Hilo’s own premiere wedding photographer.

I love Hawaiian Airlines. They know how to treat people.

What a treat to get a chance to hang out with and photograph alongside the Big Island’s premiere wedding photographer James Rubio! James had a super cool rainforest location to share with us, and connected us with Kanoe, who rocked it out in a bridal gown. Yesterday we hiked down through a tropical forest trail and to the oceanfront near Hilo, Hawaii.

Special thanks goes out to Baba, who was essential in helping Kanoe get around the tricky terrain. Three cheers for rad boyfriends!

Day004: Leaving the Benedictine monastery in Waialua, I was given a warm sendoff with a sung blessing and prayer. After mass, Sister Mary Jo gave me the tour of the grounds – it was a sunny morning and I loved learning about the history of the monastery, the evolution of their buildings from Matson containers, and seeing the plants and animals around the grounds. I was even given an introduction to honeymaking and beekeeping!

After leaving the grounds, I had lunch with my friend James. He’s great.

After spending the afternoon with Marina’s boys who are currently obsessed with Star Wars, we picked up Amy from the airport.

We had fun today.

On day 003, I had a good conversation with Sister Agnes about her home country of Micronesia. Breadfruit is a staple of the Micronesian diet, and she told me all about it. I got to try some she had fried with salt.

I ended the evening admiring the constellations and playing around with long exposures of the starry night.

For the first several days of my visit, I stayed with the Hawaii Benedictines in Waialua on the North Shore. It was refreshing and wonderful.

I woke up to the sound of a wild peacock outside my window.

Below you can see the view outside my window.