Valley and Upward

The Flames Reach For The Green World

The Wall of the Nights Watch

The Story of Beau and the Indians

So, this was an interesting addition to our visit to the Bay Area... only compounded by the mystifying story of what happened to remainder of this goat.

The Christmas Menace

Here on Black Friday it's almost hard not to look at Christmas as a menace...

It's Hard To Believe That Someone Could Be In A Rush While This Is Happening

This is the picture I spoke of in my last post. This was the last picture I took before we dashed off to the car to catch a train to catch a bus to catch a plane. We were supposed to fly out the night before, but our flight got canceled due to weather so we had to stay one more night. After all the stress of the night before and the impending stress of trying to leave again, I found this moment of solace out on the side of the hill outside of Dave and Kathy's house at about 6:30am. As I stood out there soaking in the beauty of the morning I wanted to sit down and breathe in the beauty and not rush away. I could hear the humming freeway not to far away and thought about the beauty we miss every day as we rush on with our lives. It was wonderful to take a moment, and this picture is the epitome and summarization of our trip. I would like to thank all of my friends who were able to attend (and have attended similar gatherings) for being willing to take the time out (then and now) and share in the beauty of being with friends both old and new. People who you are always happy to see, especially as the years move us apart on the map, and people who are always happy to see you. A quiet cheers to those people, you don't want to wake the neighbors, but if you did, hopefully they will see the beauty in people united.
P.S. And most fittingly... A Happy Thanksgiving to All.

Toward the Pole

I've been gone for a couple of days, and before I left I meant to post this picture, but things got hectic and I forgot. So, I post it upon my return and I might still be a few days away from the blog scene, since we arrived back in town with guests already here. (Long story, might share it some time, maybe when I get to the picture I took this morning) But we went north, not this far, but north from where we are now. Here is one of my favourites from my recent visit to Montana.

Looking Down the Well

Point Loma Steps

The Face

Properly Warned Ya Be, Says I

Moose

There were two animals I really wanted to see on this trip, one was a Bighorn Sheep (saw them, but from pretty far away) and the other was a Bull Moose (saw him quite a bit closer). This guy was with a female and a baby and there was another Bull harassing them. It was quite an interesting hour or so watching them act territorial at each other. I really wanted to seem them charge each other, but sadly this never happened.

The Sticks

A Break

Compare and Contrast

Alright, this will be my last post of the Islands Restaurant for a while unless something truly photographic catches my eye or until some real progress has been made worth showing... I walked around in the ruins of the restaurant as the first real day of demolition begins (the other days were simply the removal of furntiture and tiki artifacts, railings, lights, etc...). Walls are coming down already, which meant that last night I was asked by the General Manager to relocate the entire liquor stock, since the current liquor storage room is being demolished to help with the expansion. It has been a hectic couple of days, coupled with the fact that the owner has been on property for a military pilot reunion that he is hosting and a part of... So, it is with a great sigh of relief that I have tomorrow off and that things will sort of return to normal (except for the sound of jack hammers as a dull backdrop for the next few weeks as well as one of my most used walk ways being blocked off by the demolition crew, so everything has to go the long way around).
I don't usually post a picture twice, but I decided to do a compare and contrast on some pictures today. First the centerpiece waterfall as it was and how it is as of 2 hours ago.
Next I tried to stitch together some panoramas of the restaurant from before and after. I don't know how these will expand when I finally publish them, so this is just kind of a trial balloon on panoramas here on blogspot for me. The photographs were kind of hastily taken so they could be better, but I tried to take them both from the same spot.
Tomorrow will probably return to my usual programming of photos. If you have any questions about the remodel that I might be able to answer feel free to send them my way. This whole thing makes me sad. They really mean well with this remodel, but I think it is going to suck, and they just don't realize it yet...

Islands Drop Lights

These lights originally came from the Luau restaurant and came down on Sunday and I don't think they are going back up again: another victim of the remodel. I found out that yesterday's post was noticed by some Tikiphiles and I share your sympathy in the loss of one of the few remaining Polynesian Oases. You can find the article as well as some more pictures at Humu Kon Tiki. As a quick note, the waterfall pictured at the top of the article is being rumoured to survive the remodel. However the beautiful clamshell waterfall and the waterfall on the opposite exterior wall by the pool are scheduled for demolition. The waterway that used to snake through the dining room will also be filled in. The Dragon Room, a picture of which can be found in one of the picture links on Humu Kon Tiki is to be demolished, which is too bad, but the real draw of that room was the ornate chandelier which was broken beyond repair by some drunk firemen (true story) two summers ago. The dragon room will be expanded and become some variety of coffee nook. Since there is an apparent interest in the demise and rebirth of the Islands I will try to remember to keep people abreast of the work as I hear final plans and see the work firsthand.

Goodbye Islands as I Once Knew You

Today was the last day of business for the Islands Restaurant at my hotel as I new it. The Hanalei is undergoing extensive remodel in the next 6 months and the first stage is the remodel of the hotel's signature restaurant. This waterfall is one of the victims of the remodel. It has been there for decades along with priceless tiki artifacts as well as Monkeypod tables (which is a now endangered wood native to the South Pacific). The tables are supposed to return, since they truly are priceless at this point, but the fate of many of the artifacts is in question. Most are supposed to return, maybe not to the restaurant, but around the property. But there has been rumour that they may not return and simply be liquidated at bulk to some collector. There are also many pieces and furnishings from the long defunct Luau restaurant. I will miss many of these things and hope they make a return when the restaurant reopens. But sadly 2-3 of the popular waterfalls on property will meet their demise with this remodel as well as tons and tons of lava rock, imported to San Diego when the restaurant was built. To see old pictures of the Luau and the Islands (and actually other parts of the Hanalei Hotel) you can find them in the Book of Tiki. I will probably post a few more pictures of the restaurant in the next few days or I might save them and then do a compare and contrast with the restaurant when it reopens.

The Best You Can Do When Cindi is Screaming About Buffalo

After A While It Begins To Lose Context

Firelight and The Great Beyond