One of the Best Beaches in the North Shore of Oahu

Three Tables Beach, a photo by Oceanic Chic on Flickr.

Right at the foot of Puu O Mahuka Temple, dedicated to the war God Ku and known for human sacrifice, there is a beach called Three Tables.

This area was famous for the abundance of sandalwood trees, natural spring waters, salt collection, and great fishing.

During the summer months this beach is a very cold, natural pool. The coral reefs are full of colorful fish and the occasional turtle, making it a popular snorkeling spot.

The entire beach is surrounded by almond trees and there are plenty of wild chickens around.

The abundant wildlife and marine life, as well as the lack of large waves in the summer, make this beach one of the best on Oahu.

Hickam AFB Beach at Night.

 

Hickam AFB, a photo by Oceanic Chic on Flickr.

After living in Hawaii for 3 years and visiting the same places over and over, we had to find new ways to make family outings seem different and entertaining. So we decided to visit our beach but at night instead of day.

It was a big surprise to discover that just changing the time of day can make a big impact not only on how our pictures turned out but also how relaxing the place was.

After a few nights we learned that just laying down and looking at the stars in the sky makes a great past time. Finding shooting stars can make a great competition. And if you take pictures, it will be a great learning experience. You'll get to know your camera better than ever before. You'll notice that the presence of the moon, a small town close by or clouds can make your picture totally different each time.

Long Vacation in Oahu, Hawaii

Hickam AFB, a photo by Oceanic Chic on Flickr.

As our long vacation comes to an end, we wanted to find a picture that would sum up the last 4 years living in Hawaii.

For us, this picture does a great job at showing our 4 years on the island of Oahu. There were a few dark moments, a few light ones, many airplane rides, the illusion of paradise, many challenging moments, ups and downs and above all a big bright future.

Sometimes we all get caught up trying to hurry things along but nature has a way to show us that most of the time it is very important to stop and take it all in. I'm just very glad that there's plenty of nature in Florida. To Hawaii I bid a fond Aloha.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach, a photo by Oceanic Chic on Flickr.

This legendary beach at the North Shore on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu has many important surfing competitions.

This particular day we went to watch the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Competition. As the surfers were still trying to do their best, a few steps away nature was stealing the show.

Every day we have seen the sunset on this side of the island, we are always surprised at how different each one is. The clouds, the sun and the ocean seem to come to life every afternoon in completely different ways.

Honolulu - Kawaiaha'o Spring

Honolulu - Kawaiaha'o Spring, a photo by Oceanic Chic on Flickr.

Kawaiaha'o means "the freshwater pool of Ha‘o". Ha'o was a Hawaiian Chiefess that used to frequent this natural spring a long time ago.

It has a long and colorful history and it happens to be in Downtown Honolulu. It is right next to the first Christian Church built in Oah'u, which is across the street from City Hall.

Surrounded by historical buildings, it is one of the most magical spots in Honolulu. Even though it is right next to a very busy corner of the modern city, you can feel the serene atmosphere as soon as you enter these gardens.

It is one of the few spots where ancient and modern Hawaii have joined in perfect harmony.

Mamala Bay

                                                                Hawaiian Beach

This is our local beach, but we call it our muddy watering hole. There are hardly any waves since it has a big reef that makes it into a giant natural pool. It gets really crowded and the water is always cold. However, we have used it to sail and kayak. 

                                                           Sunny Hawaiian Beach

One of our favorite things to do is finding out the ancient legends attached to the places we visit. This is Mamala Bay and it is full of folklore and local stories. This land used to belong to the Queen of Hawaii not so long ago, and it was her favorite place to get away from the busy streets of Honolulu.

                                                                   Hawaiian Shoreline

Mamala was a Hawaiian chief of Ancient Hawaii that loved to surf, play Hawaiian checkers, and drink 'Awa, a drink made from the roots of the Kava plant that relaxes the nerves without disrupting mental clarity. She was a beautiful woman that could change into a giant lizard or a shark. You can almost imagine her walking around the ever changing color of this beautiful bay.

Pink Hawaiian Flowers

 

Pink Flower

     Flowers are one of my favorite things to photograph. Very few things look better the closer you get. That's exactly what happens with flowers. The closer you get, the more details you can find. There are many different colors and shapes. Almost everywhere you go you can find a flower, and if you get close enough, it can give you an amazing photograph that could spark dreams and feelings. The color of the flower and the time of day can make a big difference in your final picture.

Shades of Pink Plumerias

    
     A local trail, a state park or your own backyard could be a great place to find the most amazing photographic potential. Some flowers are so bright you'll need to take the picture early in the morning or at sunset.

Pink Calla Lily

     I have found a few choices when it comes to pink flowers in Hawaii. However, they are so bright that it makes it almost impossible to take their picture on a sunny day. I have found that cloudy days or shady spots make the pink flowers of Hawaii smile in just the right way.

Plumeria

     But if you find a pink flower in Hawaii with just enough filtered light, it will give you an image with a very special and unique character. 

Pink Plumerias