What a Wonderful Parade.

To say that this is a totally zany parade is an understatement. Welcome to the Pahoa Christmas parade in East Hawaii, where you wont find the typical types of floats, people and Christmas cheer everywhere else.

 

Here, we celebrate the unique, crazy and fun that happens to everyone in this neck of the woods and the parade, really manifests the entire spirit of this community.

 

Don’t you think this is different?

I always love antique cars, especially when they are dressed in beautiful

flowers

 

 

 

Look even Aunty Claus’ sister made a guest appearance today!

 

 

I think this little tot, was going for the best float award in the parade, what a cutie!

 

 

Plenty of free hugs to go around today from the teletubbies.

 

 

 

Whats a parade without our local ukelele marching players?

 

 

one of my favorite troups, Da Puna Wieners all dressed up…

I’m dressed up and still looking for my treat, have you seen it?

 

 

Roller derby is hot in East Hawaii, these are the champion Hilo derby girls.

 

 

Past USO performer and still going strong, doing it for the Toys for tots drive, way to

go!

 

 

 

Horses and tinsel, whats not to like?

 

 

Chicken man is a well known attraction here in Pahoa town…want to buy a souvenir

chicken?

Our local circus group, does a very colorful show with unicycles, twirlers and sweet kids.

 

Our local version of santa on a sleigh, here he comes in a Big Yellow truck, courtesy of our

local fire department.

 

 

That’s the Parade at Pahoa, hope you enjoyed the whole show, it was another

special parade for participants and marchers alike.

Christmas Treat

Where's my christmas treat, i've looked everywhere...

Christmas is Here

Okay, I"m ready....where's the paaaarty???

Peace at a Zen Garden

 

 

 

 

Oh how I would love to come here often and just have some time to be

 

                         quiet, breath

 

                                    and  relax

 

 

maybe just take a moment to contemplate about my life

 

                      

 

 

                     and where I’m going

 

                                      but its too easy to get

 

               distracted in this space…

 

 

 

 

 

 

- its just too beautiful here …

 

 

 

          I love this tactile environment - I want to run my hands all through this beautiful

 

                       moss, then look at all the details

                                                                    up close

 

 

 

                          down

 

                               to

 

                                  every

 

                                     little micro-organism.

                          

 

 

                     Its very green and lush here, a perfect environment for this moss to grow

 

along with these ohia trees with their peeling bark and crevices filled with

 

green fungus

 

              mold

 

                  and bumpy looking bacteria

        

 

                     growing                     

 

                                        on their stong limbs and stems.

 

 

 

                  I look up and see the focal point atop a small mound of lava rocks and moss

 

lies a beautiful and simple buddah head

 

                                               – its sits there so peacefully and

 

                 

 

invites you in to come in and enjoy this welcoming environment.

 

                                  Aaaaaaaah – yes breath in this forest

 

                                              and enjoy the moss!

 

I wish that I could visit here more often…..

The Waterfalls are Amazing

 

With the almost non-stop days of rain in East Hawaii, the plants around paradise are happy.

 

Even with the constant rain, its easy to be outside to do errands and still enjoy the day. Driving to a party at Honomu town, I decided to stop and visit the beautiful waterfalls at Akaka Falls. The falls should be amazing now with the rush of waters coming down from the higher elevations of Mauna Kea into the canyon gulches below before they flow into the Pacific ocean.

 

 

Wasn’t I right?  Its is amazing to see this - sometimes you just need to take a

break from the everyday routines to enjoy the moment and nature around you.

Especially when it puts on such a spectacular display. 

Rainy Day Garden - A Photo Study

Its been raining all week, putting a slight damper on doing fun outdoor activities...

Although being able to photograph some garden vignettes in the rain is still doable as you can see and clouds actually make for a better light for detailed studies like these floral and plant displays.

The colors of these tropical plants tend to become more saturated and vivid....shadows add more detailed focus on the the highlights.

Not the Boogey Man!

Don't be afraid of the Boogey man and have a safe Halloween everyone.

Look Deep into Nature

Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.


- Albert Einstein

Butterflies are Free

There you are sitting on that stunning flower….can you hold for a sec…..



              
Oh too fast – I just want to take a pict….

                  Again too fast for me to get you in focus
                       
                                  please stay awhile.





Ah -  you are a pretty one – will you pose for me please?
                   Thank you
                       you are a beauty




             
           Wow you are stunning with your orange wings -

                                the light is magical

                                       and that flower does look so inviting…..






                                Okay, there’s enough for two to share – take it easy now…
                                                                I do want get both of you in for your portraits!



                Beautiful, now hold the pose for me.
                                      Its perfect …. you’re a natural.




I’m enjoying the time visiting and just watching you sitting there.

                        this just made my morning, thanks for dropping by and greeting me.

Peek Into a Beautiful Garden

     

  Tell me…..



                   Where do you lead to?

                You draw me in completely

           with your colorful bouquets and exotic displays

I want

                                                                                  to

                                                                                    see

                                                                                     more

                                                                                         please…..

don’t keep me in suspense – I know there’s more exciting things to see beyond

this magical entry

                                         am I right?

                                                                                Aaaaah yes…..

- it is beautiful here……

Everything seems to be in bloom.

And the colors are all so vivid and glorious!

Jewels in a sea of green.



        It is a beautiful world here – thanks for letting me visit and take a



                peek – I hope my friends visiting also enjoyed the tour.

Hawaiian Lifestyles, Just a Slice of it.

Lifestyle Portfolio - Images by Noel Morata

A few favorite photos I’ve uploaded to my website, showing how we enjoy the outdoors, activities and the simple life here in Hawaii.

Vivid colors seem to predominate in all the photos. From the clothing, the colorful environments and tropical florals, to the various shades of blue in our ocean. Nothing seems to be out of place here.

The Farmers Market at Maku'u in East Hawaii

It’s farmers market day at our local market at Maku'u in East Hawaii….


   Aaaah, I smell something good cooking at the food stalls just around the corner.


                        What do you think, anyone for some fresh huli huli chicken?




No, that’s not the good stuff

                    - here’s the real deal below!

In Hawaii, we say ‘ Its Da Best ' !

A Black Sand Beach at Punaluu and Turtle Refuge

 

I love going to this beautiful black sand beach at Punaluu on the southern part of Hawaii island. It is a turtle refuge and sanctuary for endangered Green and Hawksbill turtles. Punaluu means fresh water with underground fresh water flowing into the bay. Ancient tribes living here utilized the underground streams for survival in this mostly arid and dry region of the island.

The area is also a sacred area filled with ancient temples or heaui complexes used for rituals by the ancient peoples living in this area. It is a very special place and an amazing area to visit on the south side of the island.

Hawaiian Tropical Gardens, A New Gallery Collection

Hawaiian Tropical Gardens - Images by Noel Morata

 

Aloha,

 

Finally I have my gallery photography site up and running. Here’s a quick preview of the gallery of Hawaiian Tropical gardens. If you have time, please drop by and visit my photowebsite, there’s a lot of garden, plants and landscape oriented photography.

 

Enjoy the visit.

 

For other Sunday scenes go visit http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Hilo in Full Bloom with the Rainbow Shower Trees.

 

 

(click on image for full view and the slideshow)

Hilo is in full bloom again with the rainbow shower trees or Cassia x nealiea lining most of the major roads coming in and out of town. These beautiful trees are showy with their long cascades of red, yellow and orange flowers in large clumps dripping down their many branches.

Beautiful blooms next to huge monkey pod trees and the large bandstand.

 

It’s a beautiful time to see this in town and even just to enjoy a brief moment to really see them in their full glory, wouldn’t you agree?

Witnessing a New Day at Pu'ukohola

Experiencing something new in Hawaii is always something I cherish while living here .

Seeing a new day begin with a special Ceremony at Pu'ukohola – a sacred heiau (temple) in

west Hawaii was one of those new experiences for me.

This event marks an annual right for the Hawaii nations to commemorate their ancestors, rights of passage, their history and this ancient heiau.

The ceremony is quite intimate and grand at the same time, a authentic event celebrated by the participants and viewers alike.

To see other views this sunday go visit http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/