Tag: oahu

The Shores of Oahu – How the sun hits Haleiwa in all the right ways

Posted on by Keane Li

To be honest, I’ve only been up to Haleiwa and the North Shore no more than ten times during the 12 years I lived on Oahu. Located up along the northern coast of the island, getting to and from the town requires a bit of a drive. It’s a beautiful place though, a colorful rendition of country living in Hawaii. It’s quiet but not secluded. Tourists now flock here to score some local culinary favorites like shave ice and Kahuku shrimp plates.

If I had to choose any image of home to take with me, shots of Haleiwa would rank high. The way the sun hits the buildings near sunset is really unforgettable.

Photos include the eastern and northern coasts of Oahu:

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Nu’uanu Pali Lookout – Hawaii’s Violent Past & Pretty Views

Posted on by Keane Li

The Pali Lookout, a scenic viewing spot along the cliffs of the Nu’uanu Pali, has been a staple in my family’s guide to Oahu for many years. Whenever visitors from out of town would come to our home, I’d find myself back up here again, gazing down upon the Kaneohe Bay and fighting back the incredible gusts of wind that come with such amazing, elevated views.

I wouldn’t learn about the Pali Lookout’s violent history until later, when public schooling would have us study Hawaiiana. It was here that King Kamehameha I (or King Kamehameha the Great, as some called him) drove Kalanikupule, chief of Oahu, and his men off these cliffs in an effort to unite the Hawaiian Islands. It was kind of like that scene in 300, except with fewer chiseled abs and a lot more dead bodies.

Several ghost stories live within these mountains, as they do with many of the holy and historic sites throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Superstitions often involve Pele, the volcano goddess who always seems riled up about something or another. Anyone carrying pork through the Nu’uanu Pali would find themselves deterred until said pork was removed, an effect rendered by Pele’s dispute with a hog-human demigod…

It occurs.

Nu'uanu Pali Lookout Photo
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Entrance Courtyard of the Honolulu Museum of Art

The Beautiful Honolulu Museum of Art in Photos

Posted on by Keane Li

Few museums are as peaceful as the Honolulu Museum of Art. On days of reflection like today (read: too many parties last night), I like to mentally revisit the time spent there, wandering through the courtyards and diving deep into its collection of fine art. It may not compete with the Met or even the Legion of Honor, but it’s beautiful and impressive in its own right. It’s ironic that a place so quiet can instill so much energy inside. Continue reading “The Beautiful Honolulu Museum of Art in Photos” →

Exploring Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii

Posted on by Keane Li

I recently visited Disney’s new Aulani Resort in Ko Olina, located in a beachside community thirty minutes west of Honolulu. I had been coming to this beach since it first opened when I was a kid, back when the water was absolutely clear and didn’t even sting your eyes when you opened them. The addition of the Aulani Resort definitely makes this area more happening. Free parking is virtually non-existent, though the crowds aren’t anywhere near Waikiki levels. With a lazy river, water playground and a snorkel pool with tropical fish, there’s plenty here to keep kids and adults occupied. And while the Disney presence is existent, it’s not overly expressed.

Good show, Disney.

Disney's Aulani at Ko Olina
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Honolulu International Airport Gardens - Girl on Bridge

The Beauty of Honolulu International Airport

Posted on by Keane Li

I spent the past ten years of my life arriving and departing “home” with Honolulu International Airport. The most difficult time I had leaving Oahu was during the end of my first winter break of my first year in college. Having to leave family and familiarity was particularly hard, but the gardens in HNL served as a mild comfort.

While HNL may not be the most updated of airports, it exudes a quiet elegance that I hope these photos can demonstrate. For the complete collection, visit my Honolulu International Airport photoset on Flickr or view them in the slideshow below.

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Christmas Trees at Ala Moana Center

Christmas in Paradise – The Honolulu City Lights

Posted on by Keane Li

Merry Christmas! Here are a few photos I took during the past week exhibiting what Honolulu looks like during the holidays. For the complete collection, visit my Christmas in Paradise – Honolulu City Lights photoset on Flickr or view them in the slideshow below.

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Sunrise on Oahu

Merry Christmas from Hawaii!

Posted on by Keane Li

When I look into the future, I imagine life with faster computers and smarter phones. I see myself in an office, generally happy, and suppose I may or may not be married. If I happen to have kids, I wonder what they may look like; more like her or more like me? Or, perhaps, I grew them in a future petri dish kit I bought from future Walgreens for $15. Because, at this point in the future, we still don’t have flying cars but we finally do away with non-whole-number price tags.

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