Carnival

Bright lights, festival atmosphere...and abandoned. I took this picture this past October, beneath the Space Needle in Seattle. It was a decidedly cheery atmosphere...except for the fact the place was deserted.

Summer

In Living Color

With the story of the Paia Sugar Mill below, I felt it was only fair to show some of the colorful life that still reverberates in the quaint seaside town. Some refer to the current Paia as a "hippy town," but spend an afternoon there exploring the shops, dining in the restaurants and enjoying some of the best people watching on island, and I think you'll agree...Paia is a true "melting pot." In less than an hour you'll see tourists, surfers, artists, paniolos, students, retirees, athletes, beach bums, the clean and spiritual, the tattooed and pierced....and "yes," hippies, too.

Where The Wild Things Are

Olinda, Maui

Paia Sugar Mill

In the 1880's, Paia became the most important community on the North Shore of Maui when the Alexander & Baldwin Company built the first sugar mill on the island just outside of town. The sugar industry pushed the population of Paia to over 10,000 residents during the 30's and 40's. At it's commercial "peak," the small town had multiple movie theaters, a hospital, hotels and more.

Though the 1950's saw a downturn for Hawaii's sugar industry, the Paia Mill optimistically continued operation for several decades, Sadly, the tide never changed, and in September of 2000, HC&S (Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar) closed the mill. After 120 years of service, what you see above is all that remains of Maui's first mill.

The Basics

Just $5 (or less), and you're set...no need to keep up with the Joneses...basic is good. Someone once said to me, "In Hawaii, never dress in such a way that it would take longer than 30 seconds to be beach-ready."

Good advice...and "slippers" help.

Ala Hele

Silver and Gold

If you've visited this site before, you already know I fell in love with Seattle this past October. This was taken just a few blocks from the world-famous Pike Place Market.

Extra Lucky

Handwritten

Seaside

Half Moon Bay, California

Technicolor Memories

The Santa Cruz area was a regular hangout for me growing up. Whether surfing at Pleasure Point near 41st Ave in Soquel, hanging with friends all day (and night) at the Boardwalk, or eating pizza in Capitola, the memories are so vivid, it feels like yesterday.

I recently had the opportunity to revisit these areas and I'm happy to say the magic is still there; maybe even more so, as this time I was able to see it through my own kid's eyes. It's always been a special place to me...and now I know it is to them, too.

Retired

Though the license plate indicates elsewhere, this old fire truck is now located in the hills above St. Helena, California. For the better years of it's life, it served the public. It still does...but now as a "jungle gym" for kids (of all ages).

Timeless Beauty

Sculpture detail, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco