Naialani

The ocean on the North side of Oahu has announced winter is here... Its hard to believe these two pictures are the same beach! Over the weekend the flat beautiful blue waters of summer have turned grey and wild! As i do each year I settle in for ther next 5 months hoping I can find somewhere to swim.. I wonder where the turtles go? I am an island gal.......

The North side of the island of Oahu is beginning its winter season. Waves are staring to show up and the currents are becoming stronger. I headed west to the little beach i call heaven.. Once i am here its real hard to leave. The water is amazing! I swim around taking pictures like crazy. Here's the thing I'm so busy clicking ,I sometimes miss the most amazing! The rainbow that is across this turtle i missed. Somehow i get the idea HE KNEW. I wondered why he stopped and turned to look at me in the water. Another lesson for me... I am sometimes so busy looking, I just DON'T really SEE!!

As if the Ocean sensed my deep sadness over the turtle BBQ... It sent in all its grandness... dolphins.... The short time I spent in their presence Monday has help to lift my spirits.. I cannot save the world... i can only try the best i can to do the right thing, one day at a time.... I am an ocean loving island gal.....

There is something magical about your presence being recognized by a wild animal. I always remember they are wild and no matter WHAT kind of animal they are, its best to respect their space.. I do ask this question quite often," I wonder what they think of us?"

I paid a visit to turtle rock... on my way to the showers to rinse off the saltwater.... my nose was assaulted with a weird BBQ smell.... I'm pretty sure a man there was cooking a turtle on his BBQ grill. He saw me staring and covered it... Its been a long week.... To think that some of the turtles I take pictures of are no longer alive saddens me. Ive called every single authority I could think of. They are working to make sure it was not a turtle. The residents who live in the Big homes on the beach where turtle rock is were horrified when i let them know what i saw and smelt. They have hand made signs on the beach to make sure people KNOW even touching a turtle is not legal! I really hope I was wrong..... God Bless our Ocean friends...

I watched this guy haul himself out of the water... Little by little, about a half hour it took him to finally come to rest next to his friend. Are they then that different than we humans are? Step by step we reach our goals... In the end, we find togetherness with our friends... I am an island gal......

In nature all things work together.. This turtle resting agaisnt the rock on shore.... The rain in the distance turned golden by the sunset..... Sometimes, no, all the time Mother nature is the ultimate artist! Sunset Sept 5, 2010..... I am an island gal...

August and September are the months of hot and humid here in the islands. There is no reason to complain we can hit the water and ease the heat. This turtle was not letting the heat stand in his way of food. He hauled himself out of the water onto the reef, to bury his face in the seaweed growing on the reef and feast. He was really chomping down on the food! He was out of the water for maybe 10 minutes and then he slid back into the water. I wonder if he noticed the heat?

The wind in her glory was whipping up the ocean... the water was milky... i was in a safe place... this big turtle came for me head on, like i was a shark or something... scared me silly... I floated on the water, straight, respectful.. they passed under me... i expected to feel a crunch somewhere on my body...WHOAAAAAA, "just breath easy Lani"... .... all was well... this was a big turtle! I am an island gal............