Camping "Bellows" Style

Another great fun filled weekend! We love camping so much and we (along with our friend Felecia) have decided to camp out one weekend every month on Oahu....Every month we will choose a new spot to camp and relax!
This weekend we went to Bellows Beach on the windward side of Oahu (our favorite side of the island and the one we also call home!)
There was beautiful weather all weekend and we enjoyed campfires and great conversation with friends. Luckily it was the same time as the full "harvest moon" and we were amazed every night watching the full moon rise out of the ocean right in front of our tents! Only to awaken in the morning to a beautiful sunrise!
On the 2nd night I was so lucky to capture a MOONBOW! A rainbow over the moon...a very rare phenomenon!

After enjoying the full moon rising we decided to walk the beach and found bioluminescence in the water! (little glowing orbs) they are planktonic organisms that glow in the surf....I touched one and had it on my finger and it glowed and twinkled like a star! It started to fade away so I touched it and it re-charged and became bright again! Such an amazing thing to see and experience under the magical full moon!
Another great camping adventure with many more to come!

Honu Love

Saturday was one of our "honu duty" shifts at Laniakea.
For those that dont know we volunteer our time a few times a month with the local non profit oranization "Malama Na Honu".
We are there to help watch over the turtles when they come up on the beach to bask. Visitors come from all over the world to see the beautiful and amazing creatures crawl up onto our beach. They do not come ashore to lay eggs but to bask in the afternoon sun. They also love this paticular beach because it is rich in "Limu" their favorite food and also love the safety of the cove.

This is "Kulihi"...one of our newest baskers at Lani's. Finally got to see him bask this past weekend.

He is an adult male weighs about 210lbs and is about 25-30 years old. He was first noticed on the beach awhile back with a large hook in his neck. After several attempts, he was finally rescued by a honu guardian, NOAA rescue program, a vet and a fireman!
His name in Hawaiian means..."hooked but got away"

I have always loved Turtles since I was a small child but never imagined someday I would be able to be a part of such an awesome volunteer group and get to help keep these beautiful creatures safe and sound.

If you know of anyone who would like to volunteer or even donate $ to this organization here is the website

http://www.malamanahonu.org/

Mahalo!

Enjoy the below video clip from last weekend :)

Pele's Chair

Went to Pele's Chair today  (here is some info on Pele for those that do not know)
On Makapu’u point sits a lava rock formation known as Pele’s Chair. It is said to be the place where Pele departed from O’ahu to do work on other islands.

When fiery lava flows down a volcano in Hawai’i, ancient Hawaiian mythology explains that Pele, the goddess of fire, is very much alive. Considered a feisty, charismatic, and volatile being, she is also the goddess of lightning, dance, and violence. Pele is one of the most recognized of all Hawaiian deities. According to myth, Pele resides within the Halema’uma’u crater of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawai’i. However her presence is felt along the entire island chain: many hula dances are performed in honor of Pele, islanders still speak of ghostly encounters with this hot Hawaiian legend on the Big Island, and on the eastern-most point of the island of O’ahu is her chair.

Rudy & Brooke on Pele's Chair

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Set timer on camera for our group photo :)

Brooke Climbing the chair

Sunrays shining down on Brooke & I :)

Camping Fun

We have had some great camping experiences but this latest camping trip was the best by far.

3 days of relaxation, good food, campfires and great friends. I highly recommend camping at Malaekahana campgounds on the North Shore.

Camping right on the beach and being lulled to sleep by the ocean waves and waking up to the amazing sunrise was beyond relaxing.

Days were spent talking story with friends, napping in the sun and swimming in the ocean. No need for TV or electronics here!

Nightime was filled with laughter and campfires! Also got to see some amazing glowing orbs in the ocean waters, not sure what the heck they are called but they were so cool! We were also lucky enough to have been here when the Perseid meteor showers were going on and we saw many shooting across the sky!

Didnt want to leave here and you can probably see why.

Going again for my 40th birthday in December, cant wait!

Welcome

Its been amazing living here in Hawaii and I wanted a place where I could document our life and share memories with friends and family. I will try to post regularly and update everyone on our adventures!