Surf Riders /  by Dave Hileman

As I type this in the Seattle Airport I have been up for 27 hours. My text will likely be even more jumbled than usual. However, getting home - in the midst of a hurricane - at 6 this evening will add another 6 or 7 hours to the total and clearly syntext will be completely gone, so posting for October 1 this morning.

We enjoyed watching the surfers off of North Beach in Maui. The best waves are here and most of the serious surfers seem to be as well. The photos were tough. I was on a high cliff a long way from the action and from where they would catch a wave and then a bit more toward shore the light changed dramatically. And I did not have my trusty 100-400 lens. So with all that complaining out of the way, two of the many surfers from our last day in Hawaii.

Leaving Hawaii /  by Dave Hileman

Two weeks really sped by. We are exhausted - no restful vacation for us, just up in the early morning hours, go until dark - or occasionally well after and repeat the process. But “What Fun.” (Miranda fans only) I will be processing many of the 4000 photos I took, doing posts on the six National Parks, taking about the food, the people, the history and culture and the lovely islands for a few weeks so stay tuned. Also I will recap the sad true tale of a Moose who fell in with a rogue band of Hula Girls on vespas and, well, it is a short trip to the depths of a jail cell.

The close of a fabulous time in Hawaii sailing on the horizon into the setting sun. Except we flew:)

Ginger! /  by Dave Hileman

I have a very poor sense of smell. Lots of things just have a faint or even non-existant odor and that lack of smell is related to how much you enjoy lots of foods. It has been speculated by people that choose to speculate on such things, that my dislike of cheese is related to the fact it has little aroma to me. They jump right past the awful taste:} Anyway, one spice I have always liked is ginger. In nearly any form: candy, mints, cookies, cakes, drinks, Thai food and more. A couple of days ago we were hiking a trail in the rain forest and came across a large grove or bunch or whatever, of wild ginger. It was a delightful smell and I began to appreciate why people’s memories of certain smells are so evocative. It was just brilliant. I would love to live in a grove of ginger. Plus it has a gorgeous flower.

Waimoku Falls /  by Dave Hileman

The Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park is past Hana on the famous “Road to.” It is the coastal portion of the more famous volcano crater that is 10,000+ feet above you as you hike this area. We left a little late in the day so it was a bit dark in the forest on our return but nothing too difficult. We met a nice couple from NC - he is a very good photographer (RRNphotograhy.com) and they own an Oliver Trailer! So the walk back with them included interesting conversations about travel and trailers and photos. The falls were spectacular reaching a height of more than 400 feet. Impressive indeed. We were not permitted to go to the pool at the base so had to be content with almost. I loved the wild orchids growing along the trail close to the falls. And the stately grove of light colored trees to the left of the falls were also very neat. Great hike of about 2.3 miles each way with an elevation gain of 800+ feet.

Sun-kissed /  by Dave Hileman

The clouds that fill the Haleakala Crater evaporate quickly after the sun rises but for those few moments, especially the first rays of sunlight on the clouds it is magical.

Waxing Moon /  by Dave Hileman

At 5:14 this Saturday morning we were already perched on the edge of Haleakala Crater at Haleakala National Park. We arrived at 3:12 AM after an almost two hour drive from our room on the coast. (Yeah not much sleep!) Not too far but very slow travel if you stick to the speed limit (and I was really close:). We were all alone on the mountain for a bit before others arrived. Most came after five thirty and missed this experience with the moon rising just above the cloud layer. I have not seen anything quite like this before with a whole moon visible while ordinarily it would be a mere sliver. Mesmerizing.

Enchanting /  by Dave Hileman

The flora at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden on the east side of the Big Island north of Hilo was a visual feast. Tall palms, a cascading stream, ocean overlooks, flowers everywhere all sizes and colors and several quiet spaces to sit and just inhale the atmosphere. Nice way to spend a couple of hours and it was right down the road from the What’s Shaki’n where they grow on property most of the fruit in their smoothes. Super good.

Green Sea Turtle /  by Dave Hileman

I almost walked into this fellow which would have been a serious faux pas because you are not supposed to get closer than about 20 feet from a sea turtle. I just arrived at the beach, it was so pretty and there were small fish jumping and a Black-crowned Night Heron fishing on a rock 10 feet from shore. So I was taking photos and moving left to get a better frame when about 4 feet from said turtle I stopped and looked to my immediate left and there he was. So I backed off a few feet and shot several photos of him and the beach. There were also 4 in the water. Going back early Friday morning before our flight to Maui.

Eruption at Sunset /  by Dave Hileman

This is the Kilauea Volcano erupting at sunset about 6:50 on September 20. We spent the entire day at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park -park number 322- leaving our garage apartment (in a coffee plantation) at 5:45am we arrived back at 9:40pm. We did several hikes and started with those on the plain next to the Pacific because you walk on lava fields and it is very hot and dry. So we finished those about 10:30 and worked our way back the 19 mile drive to the top of the caldera. I will do a full report on the parks but we have been going before sunrise and getting back late, I’m just exhausted every night. However the sights at HVNP were just amazing. We did not see eruptions of great height or lava rivers but it was still neat to peer into an active volcano and watch the lava bubble and change intensity. It was a great cap on a day of wondrous sights, sounds and even smells.

Royal /  by Dave Hileman

This is the only royal palace in the US. It was the seat of the Kingdom of Hawaii for several years. This is also the site of the statehood ceremony held on the grounds to the left of the palace in 1959. My Aunt Carrie attended that day along with two of her friends. I still have the program, first day stamp and one or two other things from that day. It was cool to see it.

And more of the turtles... /  by Dave Hileman

Sunday was a moving day. We did one last walk on the beach in Waikiki - and one more Kai Coffee, took the shuttle to the airport, flew on Hawaiian Airlines to Hawaii, the Big island. Arrived about 1:00, neat airport with the rolling stairways as you exit on the tarmac. The airport has a few open air buildings. Shuttled a short distance to our rental car and after a stop for some food and groceries arrived at our super cool apartment over a garage on the top of the hill with a nice view. All we then did was unpack, finish shopping locally and planned the next four days. Off this morning to two or three National Park units.

Seems an Odd Photo for Hawaii...But, Here's the Rest of the Story /  by Dave Hileman

Our friend, Claude Hitchcock, Hitch, was stationed at Pearl Harbor in the submarine service on 12-07-1941. They were out at sea. Hitch’s responsibility was to plot and determine when to fire a torpedo. He did this so well that in 1943 they moved him to San Diego to teach others. But back to the gun. We toured a WWII era submarine, the Bowfin, at Pearl Harbor. This gun is mounted on the conning tower of the sub. There are two larger guns aft of this one. Hitch’s sub was surfaced in the South Pacific somewhere. This was a necessary practice as the batteries had to be recharged and diesel powered subs could only do that surfaced. They would travel often on the sea and submerge for attacks or to evade an attack. It was a calm day where no enemy ships had been spotted and the captain let a lot of the men on the deck to get fresh air etc. Suddenly a Zero appeared. It spotted the sub made a big turn and dropped to do a strafing run. Emergency horns sounded and the men were scrambling for the four hatches and the captain was preparing to dive. Hitch climbed into the tower, manned the machine gun and shot down the zero. He was not formally trained in the use of the gun but in the submarine tradition you are given a primer of every other man’s responsibility. Hitch was awarded his first Silver Star for saving the boat. He would earn a second later. It is one of the highest honors the service presents.

Hitch was a wonderful man and a joy to be around. He spoke often of the submarine service, less about his role, but always with respect toward the submariners. His wife, Dottie, is nearing her 100th birthday. Hitch is buried at Arlington Cemetery. Our country was blessed to have men and women like this farm boy from Minnesota who joined the submarine service, cause they ate real well.

This day was really special. I wish everyone had an opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor and soak in the atmosphere of this memorial. More photos soon for National Park unit #319

Special Moose Bulletin - Hawaii Edition 2 /  by Dave Hileman

The official welcome was overwhelming. They were so grateful that i navigated the crisis successfully that they awarded me the Legion of the Shell. I imagine it is their highest award. It is a lot busier than I expected from my research. Maybe Gilligan’s Island is one of the other ones here cause this one has huge buildings. I need to rest up for my big day tomorrow. A-Low-Ha as they seem to say a lot. I need to get a translation.

First Sunset at Waikiki /  by Dave Hileman

We watched Hula Show with dancers and musicians along with a history of each dance, at Kulio Beach last night. Walked the beach, explored one of the historic hotels (where my aunt stayed in 1959 for the statehood ceremony) and enjoyed our first shave ice. Not bad for two rather exhausted people.

Its All Relative (part two) /  by Dave Hileman

The photograph is from the Hockaday Museum of Art’s collection and is of Two Guns White Calf. I copied it from their web site. They have a number of albums and larger prints by T. J. Hileman. I hope to spend time there as soon as we are able to get back to Glacier.

I did not know anything about Tomar Hileman until Cindy and I visited Glacier National Park a few years ago and went into a small restaurant at the entrance village to Glacier that is not part of the park. We opened the menu and there was a Hileman Salad. I knew what I was eating. I asked the waitress and she pointed me to a hall of photographs by T. J. Hileman. fascinating.

So today we are in Hawaii. It will be our fiftieth state and while there intend to make photographs from at least 6 and possibly 7 of the National Parks located on three islands. After all, NP photography runs in the family:) If all is going according to plan and the myriad of reservations required, we should be touring Pearl Harbor today a place I have wanted to visit for decades.

More about T. J. Hileman https://hockadaymuseum.com/artist/hileman/