Lazing about Lahaina

My Auntie's pretty condo... We got a chance to play tourist for a day. Our one outing without the family.

Coffee Berry Tea.

I was inspired and made my own

from my dad's yard. Yum. Antioxidants!

Peaceful Sunset. Same Pacific Ocean.

Can you believe it? I say the ocean is my favorite thing,

but maybe it is the sky above the ocean.

Sir Wilfred's, the cigar and coffee joint of my youth, is now on Front Street.

My mom's artist friend Karen, featured herself in this piece, sitting on the bar.

This creative spirit, passed away over 10 years ago. Rainbow Kelly, aka "Uncle Bo"

also looks over us with his Santa Beard. He introduced my parents 30 years ago.

A radio personality with a hearty laugh. These were the characters from my childhood.

Both gone now, but I discovered them again on Front street, among celebrities, in this old painting.

My handsome boyfriend, I mean husband. I don't know when I will get used to saying HUSBAND.

Someday, I guess. He is my favorite date. We hung out under the giant banyan tree and listened to the

myna birds squawk.

Ma'alaea Beach, Maui

I have been taking thousands of pictures on my iphone. I love my iphone so much and am thrilled to always have a camera onhand. I haven't been processing these photos on my computer though, just filling up space. I've barely even looked at them. I might be a digital hoarder.

I took these on Christmas Eve, on my brief (and last minute!) trip home to Maui. I hadn't seen my family in a year. That was my main motivation... Maui's beauty is just the bonus.

Sugar beach.....a long stretch down. I always had the impression this was kind of a crappy beach. But I developed a new apprecitaton for this area. You can enjoy the beauty of West Maui without the drive.

Our chihuahuas approved as well. They walked two miles with us.

Starfish in the tidepoools. We also saw a puffer fish, hooked, dead and dried up on the beach.

Winter clouds make for playful lighting. I love that you can always drive to a sunnier spot on Maui.

Are you guys happy I started blogging again? I know consistancy is important....is anyone out there still? I will revive this blog--which turns five years old soon!

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park, Maui

Exploring in the country...

A Chinese Lion.

Sun Yat Sen Memorial park. Dedicated to the father of Modern China....

Seeing islands from the island.

Goodbye, Grandpa

My grandpa is gone. He passed away the day before I turned 30. We said goodbye to him formally Dec. 7, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetary. It is the end of an era. I feel so lucky that I knew him and loved him. He always liked us...he'd say, "You kids are neat." "Your just marrrvelous." He had a way with words. I visited my grandparents in DC last summer. Grandpa was ill, but he was still himself. I feel really lucky for this time.

It feels a little odd to take pictures at a memorial. I taught the day before, took a red eye, and then a cab straight to Arlington National Cemetary the next morning. I wanted to be present in spirit and not too carried away picture takings. But also, grief (and travel) can be numbing. I appreciate having pictures to reflect on later.

Arlington National Cemetery is a very moving place. Grandpa gave a lot of us life to the US Navy, as the captain of a submarine. He was an optics major in college. He was an amazing photographer! I have so many wonderful pictures to look at from his 89 years on this planet.

Though it was extremely soggy out, it was unseasonably warm. The cherry blossoms were confused.

A Nest. Blossoms blooming. Life. Death. Seasons.

Hi Blog (Favorite Beach)

I miss this neglected blog. Sorry, audience. I take at least 1000 pictures a month, share favorite them with an audience of 5 on an iPhone app called Instagram. I like the simplicity of limited edit options. I sometimes link my instagram to my twitter feed. Note: emilyoctober has 13 followers.

I FINALLY started playing with pinterest (I was inspired to try the print-on-gray nail polish thing, seen above). I love pinterest as much as someone who loves pictures and physical objects and ideas might. I don't want to get that yucky-gross-self-esteemless feeling which may develop after looking at lots of glossy magazines gives you. I try to look at things like teaching ideas and pretty natures scenes so I don't fill my mind with perfectskinnyexpensivepolished (yet probably uhappy, right?) people and stuff.

I am getting some control over working madenning hours. I went into work everyweekend and barely saw daylight last year. I am working hard to be extremely efficient with my time at my job so I have time for an enriching life. These pictures of my favorite beach need little captioning, but they prove I have had made time for beautiful things in my life outside of my job.

Big Sur, California

A little recap of a camping trip last month... This is probably the most photographed waterfall in the state of California, just a short walk off of Highway 1. This is a pretty dry state though, so there aren't tons and tons of waterfalls to go around. I really really wanted to go play under the waterfall. I was born and raised in Hawaii where you are supposed to be IN the waterfall, not just take a picture of it like a tourist.

I've seen sparkling black sand and olive sand and every shade of tan...but this pink sand really made an impression on me. There were a lot of seals in the water and a bank of redwood logs we had to hop along to get to this little cove.

I have really been enjoying the simple editing of Instagram on my new iphone (yes, I KNOW. I am now in that club--it is awesome!) But now I am realizing the ease of sharing on my phone is making me less apt to blog. Blogging is different though. I will keep it up! This blog is getting up there in age... 4 years old!

Most of the coastal sites were full, so we camped 11 miles in from the coast...we drove up and up, overlooking the ocean and fog. I loved the views. After the long winding road (in our 21 year old car) we made it to Nacimiento Campground. It was quite lovely. There was no running water but a stream ran by, which helped muffle out the sound of the party boys camping near us. I plunged into this stream to wash that campfire soot of my skin and really feel alive. The friends we were with had told us about a spa in Cancun where they went on a Water Journey. This was our makeshift water journey.

San Francisco Trails

Seeing Oahu cousins visit their parents' old stomping ground.

Stinson Beach photoshoot. My cousin Jan (and her fellah Joe) were incredible in-city hosts.

The colorful Castro....where we ate several meals. I felt at home (even though I'm far from Ken-doll esque)...I am from Rainbow Land (Hawaii) and the rainbows reminded me of my kindergarten classroom.

The skyline from Dolores Park. I'll be back soon SF...I love you!