Swamp Stomp Music Festival @Jimbo's

Jamaican Paul. Jimbo's local.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2009/04/saturday_night_swamp_stomp_mus.php

Hilltop Hawaii.

The view from Rhyan and Matt's place. That's Mauna Kea (the mountain) in the background, with the giant telescopes on top. Mauna Kea is the world's tallest mountain, if you measure from the sea floor.

Waimea hills. The weather up here is thirty degrees cooler than at the beach. Very refreshing.

Locals Rule. Al Lasiter. A good man.

End of the rainbow. Waimea, Big Island.

I forgot the name of this really nice beach. Sunset was amazing.

Stand-up Boogie Skimming.

You see people riding shore pound waves on boogie boards every day, but not like this...these guys were ripping it, stand-up skimmer style. Just wait for the wave to jack up, then run full speed and jump on your board, pumping for speed to perform surfing maneuvers and jumps. I got a bunch of great shots this day. Here are a few.

Catching air.

Shredding the wave.

growing up on the big island.

sigh.

A humpback whale breaches.

friends.

Hawaiian Brew of Choice.

Maui Brewing Co.'s Big Swell IPA. A sure winner.
mmm.

Hike down to a Secret Cove.

Just park next to the mules and hike down 2000 ft. to a secret cove and pine forest.
And then hike back up...phew.

Jurassic Park.

We found a few of these ultra heavy duty hammocks made from fishing nets and tree branches.
I was ready to move in.

Memorial stones.

Big Island, Hawaii.

South Point, Big Island, HI.

We camped overnight here with our local fisherman friend Al Lasiter. South Point is the southernmost peninsula in the Hawaiian Islands, and the southernmost point in the entire U.S. When the winds blow, they blow right across the barren landscape, sending giant waves crashing against the jagged rocks. The scenery at South Point is so massive it practically absorbs you. Especially sleeping under the stars. The few times I awoke during the night I opened my eyes and swore I was in space. Asteroids streaked across the brilliant night sky.

A good road.

Barbie the jeep came through in a bind with her trusty 4x4 abilities. Thanks to Lily who graciously lent us her wheels for the entire trip.

Tourists.

Locals. 40 ft. drop into known tiger shark territory. Only way back up is a rickety rusty metal ladder with a rope up to the first rung. I opened my eyes and swam around underwater a bunch but didn't see any tigers. The water was crystal clear looking at the cliff base and dark brilliant blue looking out into the beyond. Make sure you hit the water right, it's a decent drop.

Attn: Dodge marketing dept.

Gnarly. Not only unrideable, but breaking right on razor-sharp lava rock. Ouch.

Trade winds play in the hardy hillside grass.

The water is 600' deep just off the cliffs here, making it ideal fishing for tuna and mahi mahi. Fishermen like John use inflated garbage bags as bobbers, and watch the lines from their trucks up on the cliffs.

God light, Hawaiian style.

Evening entertainment.

Camping at South Point with Al. Good times.

Surfing Honoli'i

Honoli'i is a river mouth surf break just outside of downtown Hilo, on the rainy side of the Big Island. Early in the morning, the wind is calm and the waves are glassy and clean. They were lining up all the way down the beach the whole time we were there.

The first day we paddled out here the waves were a good 3-4' bigger. Not epic Hawaii by any means, but pretty darn fun for a Florida boy.

waves are the pulse of the ocean.