Operation Aperture

Respect for tagging

2008-11-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

Since I started writing more about art and the artists behind it all, I found a new respect for graffiti as a raw form of expression. It's a gauge on how society is treating it's citizens even if it's profane. I'm not condoning defamation of public and private property, but I do have respect for both sides of the issue.

Cover Shot

2008-06-02T13:58:00.001-07:00

This is the cover shot I used for my under-ground art story in MidWeek. It's a shameless plug, but here's the LINK to the story for those interested in reading. I liked this shot the most because of the vast amounts of color coming from the paintings that break up the otherwise dull surroundings.

Street market in Rio de Janeiro

2008-05-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Thorny Heart

2008-05-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Even the most thorny plants have a heart, and here's a proof of that. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens.

Dog-gonit

2008-05-17T01:22:00.000-07:00

Saw this guy outside a house in Aina Hina. He really wanted to come out and play, but this giant red door was keeping him back.

Spider

2008-05-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

Spider in Teresopolis. Only about three inches long. Wanna touch it?

HDR Tiki

2008-05-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Another attempt at HDR. This is a little tiki statue outside my new place, and I thought the light looked nice.

Surfing Owl

2008-05-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

I found this owl perched on volleyball pole at Barra Beach, in Rio de Janeiro. My lens is not that long. Truth is, as I approached it, this bird of prey kept a defying look. Good thing it was only about a foot tall. I did get as close as two feet before it finally flew away.

HDR Test

2008-05-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

New process I'm experimenting with. It's called High Dynamic Range Photography. I used a free program called FDR tools and I'm not sure it's a quality program, but it's kind of fun to play with.

Turtle Crowd

2008-05-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

Turtle overload in Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens...

Prainha Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2008-04-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

I must say I'm a lucky person. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, the most beautiful and fun city in the world. This is Prainha Beach, where there's always good surf.

Red Leaves

2008-04-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

I've been on hiatus for a few weeks, but now I'm back in a big way. Here's a shot of a plant I spotted at the cliffs around Makapu‘u - my favorite beach. I really liked the hints of red on the leaves and the rocks surrounding.

Through the lens of a Canadian tourist

2008-03-01T02:33:00.001-08:00

Yeah baby! That's me carving a bottom turn at Boilers, Molokai. This Canadian tourist was hanging out at the beach and took a few shots of me.

Me again, doing a cutback. Kinda of a fat wave, but super fun.

Closing of Makahiki at La`au Point

2008-02-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

This dance was part of the closing of the Makahiki ceremonies at La`au Point on Feb. 2. Pilipo Solatario beats the Hawaiian gourd as Matt Yamashita and Josh Pastrana perform for Lono, the god of peace and fertility.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

2008-01-22T00:07:00.000-08:00

This is a series of my favorite museum in the universe. It the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, but when I was a kid it was the Denver Museum of Natural History. Many of the exhibits have changed over the years, but it is still a place filled with many fond memories from my youth and beyond. I always love going back and looking through the old dioramas, traveling exhibits and even the T-Rex Cafe where they served terrible nachos and pizza. So, check out my series and let me know if you think I captured the essence of the place.

Snow Leaves

2008-01-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

A shot of a holly bush in one of the few snow storms I was in Colorado.

More Fish Pond...

2008-01-07T16:32:00.001-08:00

Kalokoeli Fish Pond again. This time at 1 a.m., and the mosquitoes were really after my legs. Aperture priority mode, 20 seconds exposure, f/4.5, 17mm, ISO 400, pattern metering.

Snow Dad

2008-01-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

To go along with Leo's portrait post, I thought it would be a good contrast to show a guy in the snow rather than a woman in the tropics.

Happiness in a cone

2008-01-05T18:09:00.001-08:00

Happiness is at the end of a rainbow... inside a shave ice cone.

Hawaiian Fish Pond

2008-01-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

Kalokoeli, Hawaiian fish pond. Long exposure, set on top of picnic table, shutter on timer, and tons of mosquitoes eating my legs at 5 a.m.

Snow Joe

2007-12-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

I know I ran one of these last year, but I think the contrast of my black dog and the white snow is awesome. Plus, my dog looks adorable covered in snow.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

2007-12-28T22:17:00.001-08:00

Young Hawaiian monk seal taking a nap, Dixie's, Molokai.

Goggles

2007-12-27T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is my sister getting ready for a snorkel session on the west side of Oahu. My family and I took a boat tour of the coast, which by the way is beautiful. I wish I could spend more time there...

Mele Kalikimaka, Molokai style

2007-12-26T11:37:00.001-08:00

This is the main intersection on Molokai. If there is ever a traffic light on the island, this would be the spot for it. Mele Kalikimaka to all!

WAC Champions

2007-11-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

The final shot at the game on Friday. UH Manoa finally beat it's long time football rival Boise State, winning the WAC Championship. The team is have a perfect season and I'm hoping it will beat the Huskies next week.

Queen Liliuokalani Day

2007-11-23T19:01:00.001-08:00

Celebration at Kulana `Oiwi, Molokai.

Starry Night

2007-10-20T04:03:00.000-07:00

I took this last week. It was a close call because rain clouds soon came in after that and I got drenched.

High School Rodeo

2007-10-16T17:47:00.000-07:00

Those Molokai kids were impressive!

Football...again

2007-10-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

Out of all the shots I took this game, I liked this one the most. I could run and get the player's names and info, but I don't think it really matters for this blog.

Tutu and I

2007-10-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

Fine, I didn't take this pic, but this lady I met yesterday deserved a posting. Josephine Lorico, a little over 80 years old. Every year she participates in the Poke Contest during Aloha Week. She won it four times. Although her ahi and opihi poke didn't win this year, the crowd contradicted the judges by devouring her dish before the others.
This lady was the happiest person in the event. She had a smile stamped on her face the entire night. I was curious to find out more about her.
Here it goes. She's the oldest of 20 siblings. Yes, 20! All from the same papa and mama. She's got four daughters, 16 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Oh, there's a little more. She's had three strokes already. She walks using a stick. But don't let that fool you, she's got the energy of a tri-athlete. She was moving up and down the festival last night, chatting, and smiling all the time. I was lucky to find her catching a breath, so she could talk to me.

Surf Auction in Honolulu

2007-10-03T23:43:00.001-07:00

I took this pic a few months ago, at a surf auction in Honolulu organized by Quiksilver. Pretty cool, lots of vintage surfboards.

Sports

2007-10-02T16:09:00.001-07:00

This is my first attempt at sports photography. I used the schools 300mm lens, but I didn't have a mono-pod, so my arm was so freakin sore by the end of the game. I liked it so much, I'm going to the game this weekend too.

Rosa Azul

2007-09-26T13:19:00.001-07:00

Rosa Azul (Blue Rose). The irony is that "Rosa" means rose and pink in Portuguese. So if you spoke Portuguese, you could be reading Blue Pink. Or if it were any other color: Red Pink, Yellow Pink, White Pink, and even Pink Pink!

King Kamehameha

2007-09-19T23:52:00.000-07:00

So this is more of a concept shot, but I think it's a good start. The reason it's off center is because I didn't have my tripod handy, so I strapped my camera to my backpack which was lying on the ground. I like the idea, but I need to go back and shoot with my tripod.

Swiss Vampire

2007-09-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

Just to counter Matt's peeking chameleon...

Lizard

2007-09-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

I had to sit and wait for this guy to come out of his hiding place for awhile; but I think it was worth it.

Eclipse from Molokai

2007-09-13T00:59:00.001-07:00

Eclipse from Molokai. At the time of the picture the moon was fully covered. But it didn't get dark. Instead, it got this orange color, making it look like... an orange!

What a face

2007-09-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

My other roommate Brenden looking fierce. No he is not posing, and yes he usually smiles.

Tiny Che

2007-09-06T22:00:00.001-07:00

That's my boy, Tiny Che!

A face only a mother could love

2007-08-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, this sad self portrait is the product of a long, boring day. I like it cause it shows my inner struggle...or something.

Naked Poetry

2007-08-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Naked Poetry

By by Leo Azambuja

Book Preview

Click on the preview button for a sneak preview of the first 15 pages. Enjoy it!

Krystle and John

2007-08-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

My roomie and her boyfriend, John. They're such an animated couple.

Dawn and Jeremy

2007-08-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Dawn & Jeremy

By Leo Azambuja

Book Preview

Click on the preview button to check out the first 15 pages. I photographed this wedding July 18 at Shipwreck Beach, Kauai.

Aunt Martha

2007-08-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

This is my aunt Martha. She's originally from Mexico, but converted to Judaism when she married my uncle. She now resides in Israel with her children and grandchildren, and is one of my favorite people on the planet.

Chupacabra potential victim in Hawaii

2007-08-19T03:10:00.001-07:00

The cabras (goats) seem to be safe Hawaii. There are no known cases of chupacabra (goatsucker) attacks in Hawaii, yet. But rumor has it that chupacabras are already in Hawaii. In fact they have been here for a while. Just look carefully at Governor Linda Lingle. Some say she is a he. I say she is a chupacabra in disguise. Have you ever noticed the five o'clock shade she/he has?

All the Pretty Flowers

2007-08-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

Continuing with my obsession with flowers, is this beautiful poppy found in my mom's garden. I've always appreciated the simplicity of poppy's, and how delicate they truly are.

Jewish Wedding

2007-08-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here are my picks from the dozens of shots I took at my cousin Jack's wedding. Have a gander.

Mom's Raspberries

2007-08-08T17:09:00.001-07:00

This is one of the freshest raspberry you might ever taste, grown fresh in my mom's garden in Colorado. It's the only fruit or vegetable grown in the garden, mostly because my mom like flowers more than produce.

More Sea Asparagus

2007-08-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

This is another from my shoot on the north shore in Kahuku. This is Wen Hao and he is the main provider of sea asparagus on the island. I'm almost certain when people find out how valuable the herb is, it will be more popular all over the U.S.

Wedding on Kauai

2007-07-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

I photographed a wedding two weeks ago on Kauai. Among many beautiful shots, this is one of my faves. She's the groom's niece.

Shrimp and Sea Asparagus

2007-07-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

This is a sea asparagus pond that also has shrimp. They both work together to make a sustainable herb that's used for garnish, salt substitute and a million and a half recipes. So, should you pass some in the store, pick it up and try it in your next dish.

Turtle Power

2007-07-17T23:39:00.000-07:00

These turtles reminded me of Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo and Raphael from my favorite show as a kid "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." It's funny how they re-emerged as a lamer version and still got a movie.

Roping tournament

2007-07-15T04:05:00.001-07:00

I took this pic about a month ago during a roping tournament. We published it at the Molokai Dispatch. I really like this picture, and it sort happened by mistake. I aimed at the steer running on the other side of the horse. I didn't think the horse would be so fast. My misjudgment created this amazing shot.

Penguins!

2007-07-13T23:33:00.000-07:00

I got the oppertunity to shoot penguins ... in a good way.

My favorite subject was a penguin named Icarus. She is around 21 years old ... one year younger than me.

Enjoy Coca-Cola

2007-07-11T19:45:00.001-07:00

We'll all return to dust...

CJ's New Ride

2007-07-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

My buddy CJ bought this car on Oahu and shipped it back to Kauai a week later. The thing is so much fun to cruise around in on a hot summer afternoon with nothing better to do.

Shroom

2007-07-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

I don't think it's edible...

Blockage

2007-07-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

This is a veiw from the side of my house. If that house wasn't there, I'd have a clear view of Diamond Head.

Hunting trip in Wailau Valley.

2007-07-07T02:17:00.001-07:00

Wailau Valley. History of this place on www.themolokaidispatch.com
Chanting before hunting.
It' not water, it's blood.
Dead boar.
Hunting prize.
The jaw is mine!
Mission accomplished.
Blue. The most vicious of the dogs. But it came at a price - a two inch gash on his back leg.
Like father, like son. Keoni, holding the inferior jaw, and his father Junior.
Peaceful retreat. Part of the trail leading to the hunting grounds in Wailau Valley.

Proud hunter

2007-07-05T12:36:00.001-07:00

Proud hunter and his pig. This was the first of four pigs caught in one trip. It is gory and gruesome. But the pigs need to be controlled, they are a pest in Hawaii. Although hunting pigs is a Hawaiian tradition, this tradition developed after Capt. Cook. The pigs the Hawaiians brought to Hawaii were domesticated and weighted only about 50 pounds. This boar is from Europe and was introduced after Capt. Cook.

View from the top

2007-07-02T22:25:00.001-07:00

I was fortunate enough to go on a tour of the new Keloa Lai building in Honolulu for the magazine I'm interning for last Thursday. It was so awesome to go up so high and see what goes into a newly constructed giant building.

Hawaiian Hut

2007-07-02T04:00:00.001-07:00

Hawaiian hut on Wailau

Coffee

2007-07-01T05:24:00.001-07:00

Boiling water for coffee in Wailau campsite.

Day to day essentials

2007-06-27T02:32:00.000-07:00

I know I can't go through the day properly without my wallet, keys and cell phone. If I need to, I can ditch the phone; but I need my wallet and keys to survive.

Phish Phaces...

2007-06-25T12:20:00.001-07:00

We lived together for almost a year, and we had a lot of fun. Might seem stupid, but it was fun @ that time to impersonate fishes eating fish @ a Japanese restaurant. By the way, why is fish so expensive here on Molokai?

From a distance!

2007-06-23T23:08:00.001-07:00

The sign said to stay 150 ft away. But the kids didn't bother to read it, and hung out only about 50 ft away. The monk seal kept lifting its head, checking out the kids, and finally took off. One of the kids yelled: "Bye monk seal!" But all right, I'm a culprit too, as this shot denounces my guilt.

Pressed pennies

2007-06-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

You always need to have something to show that you've been somewhere. Whether it's a photo, a nic-nac or a pressed penny it's nice to be able to show off your travels to your friends.

Burned lands

2007-06-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

Burned lands on Molokai. The brushfire burned 3,000 acres!

Smell good?

2007-06-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to stop and smell the flowers.

Oscar

2007-06-20T01:29:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's Oscar. He lives a few homes down the street.

Wedding Shoot!

2007-06-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

I got to shoot my friends wedding on Kauai over the weekend. It was so much fun being able to run around getting unlimited access to everything going on. I think I snapped off over 400 shots filling up both my 1gb cards, never done that before. If you want to see more, check out my flicker account.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matttuohyphoto/

Hercules, Hawaiian pueo

2007-06-18T11:52:00.001-07:00

This is Hercules, a Hawaiian pueo (owl). I saw him perched on a dead tree, perfect composition. I stopped my car across the highway, but as soon as I opened my door, he heard it and flew. I already had my camera on, and snapped a bunch of pictures. But when I got to the office, I realized that because there was low light, the camera needed a flash, which I had but didn't turn on. However, looking at the pictures later, I realized I'd much rather come up with this than just a flat representation of an owl flying. This guy is usually hanging out by the Monsanto (GMO villain) headquarters. I call him Hercules because he looks like a Hercules C-130, a U.S. bomber plane that's been around for decades. There's another smaller pueo that hangs around there, and I call him Ernest, because he looks like a Filipino bus-boy who used to work on my first restaurant job on Hawaii, back in 1993.

Tico Drums

2007-06-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

I was at the grand opening for the California Pizza Kitchen in Waikiki with Jason, my co-worker at Trade Publishing, and I was pleasently surprised to find Kalakaua (the main strip through Waikiki) closed to traffic. People crowded the streets watching several different bands, enjoying the food vendors were selling and enjoying the sunset. This guy was hitting that drum really hard and pumping up the crowd while his fellow drummers pounded other beats, screaming out chants and words in Japanese. It gave me chicken skin (that means goosebumps to all you mainlanders).

Tiny!

2007-06-14T13:21:00.001-07:00

Here's my friend Tiny. He's my negihbor's landscaper; a sustainable solution for global warming.

My neighbor Tiny

2007-06-13T23:04:00.001-07:00

My little friend Tiny, who lives a couple houses down from mine on Molokai.

Published onThe Honolulu Star Bulletin!

2007-06-13T14:44:00.001-07:00

The Honolulu Star Bulletin bought this photo I took last week, and published it on Wednesday, June 6. This is from that infamous brushfire on west Molokai. It's the first time I get published on a major newspaper. Notice the chopper flying into the smoke on the right side of the picture.

Jedi Mail

2007-06-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

I guess the Jedi Council was tired of their light-speed video-message system and wanted to try something different. Not sure why they went to the U.S. Postal Service where the price for stamps keeps going up.

I know, it's supposed to be a photoblog. But I wanted to vent, so here it goes, against the rules.

2007-06-07T00:39:00.000-07:00

Finally I experienced the kind of fierce localism many told me about before I moved to Molokai. It’s too bad I was in the receiving end. I swallowed my pride and walked away from a confrontation. The only words that came out of my mouth throughout the whole episode was “I’m sorry,” even thought I had nothing to apologize for. Or had I?

I was reporting in a brushfire that burned possibly three thousand acres on Molokai’s west side. A few Hawaiians were watching the fire from a vantage point, parked on a ledge off Maunaloa Highway. I had seen them there earlier. I needed quotes and good pictures, but as tempting as it was I decided no to talk to them, yet.

As the fire progressed, pushed by strong winds, several people stopped their cars on the side of the highway to watch the spectacle – the fire was getting dangerously close to the road, and two fire dept. choppers kept flying back and forth, dumping water over the fire.

The spot where the Hawaiians were became a prime spot. Another truck loaded with Hawaiians drove up the ledge and joined the small group there. Not only was the ledge a perfect vantage point to photograph, buy at least half of the small group was there for a couple hours, watching everything from the beginning.

I tried to talk to the fire captain earlier, but they were too busy to talk to a reporter. So right there in front of me I had the perfect scenario to finish gathering all my information and head back to the office to put it on paper.

Still, I was concerned about how a dozen or so Hawaiians would respond to a blue-eyed Brazilian, pretty much a haole on their turf. I’ve been through every imaginable social, economical and racial scenario before. Even though I know not to prejudge, I know better to be cautious.

When I saw a lady and her son climb the ledge and watch the fire, standing by the Hawaiians, I decide it was OK to go there. Besides, it was only a matter of time before the police would come and kick everybody out, as the fire kept getting closer. What I didn’t pay attention to, was that the lady and her son were also Hawaiians.

So there I was. After climbing the ledge, a big fat Hawaiian, with an even fatter smile walked up to me. “Mean fire, hum?” he said. Immediately I thought that I hit the jackpot, as I was going to befriend them and get great quotes and photos. I could never be so wrong.

Almost immediately an old Hawaiian, probably in his sixties, ran toward me asking what the (not publishable words) I was doing there. Took me a half-second to realize he was talking to me. In the following half-second he told me leave, to tell him my name, to come closer to him, to leave again, come closer and leave again. All weaved in those same not publishable words. Who knows what he wanted? In that one half second I had an encyclopedia of thoughts fueled by almost two decades living on Hawaii, mostly on Kauai, and years of studying journalism focused on race and ethnicity at the University of Hawaii.

So what did I do? I walked away apologizing. I realized right off the bat that he wasn’t directing that anger toward me, but toward foreigners who came to Molokai and try to profit from the island without regards for the Hawaiians.

I’m just a reporter who happens to work for the newspaper that best mirrors the island population, The Molokai Dispatch. In the short two weeks that I have been on Molokai, every time I say I work for the Dispatch doors and smiles open for me.

Back at the office, the owner and editor of the paper, Todd Yamashita, told me that all I had to do was to mention his name and they would treat me differently. I knew that, but I had no time for it. It all happened quickly. How could I have explained in that short time that I come from a country that is constantly oppressed by richer countries, especially the United States.? How could I have explained that I was the only reporter present in the important meeting between the Molokai community and the State of Hawaii Office of Planning, a meeting which exposed serious concerns regarding the future of the island being threatened by a foreign corporation? No other reporter in the entire state of Hawaii was there. The only article available is the one I wrote.

I was on their side, and he was mistakenly attacking one of his own. But I’m glad I realized that quick enough. Robert Fisk is a British reporter who lived in the Middle East for decades, always defending the population there. Yet, following 911 and with the escalating hatred for U.S. citizens, he was almost lynched by a mob there. Speaking about the incident, he said that the mob wasn’t attacking him, but all things Western. I feel the same. In the same token, I feel that had I responded defensibly and got into a fist fight with the Hawaiian, it doesn’t matter who would win it, I would still lose. I would lose because I wouldn’t be fighting an individual. I would be fighting all things Hawaiian, something I have been striving to defend on my reporting.

However, I’m a professional. I have not been partial on my reportings. But I have been more than willing to give voice to the Hawaiians, who have been shutdown over and over on their own land.

As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner for years, I had no fear of getting into a fight. I know well how to subdue a man avoiding a punch or a kick, even though it’s not always the case. But I knew that I had two things at stake and I couldn’t take both at the same time, my pride and my morals. No physical contact had taken place, only words. So I chose to relinquish my pride, and walk away with my morals intact.

In the end, I feel like I have to apologize for a few things. I apologize for living in a world segregated by the color of our skin, by economical greed and by social status. I apologize for living in a world segregated by political lines, lies and parties. I apologize for living in a world charred by wars. I apologize for all the ignorant and evil things that all humans do. And last, I apologize for having to apologize for all those things.

###

Jagged

2007-06-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

I was out on a photo shoot for the magazine I'm interning for and my associate and I stopped under this building. The jagged edges and sharp points are Japanese designs. they are supposed to send negative Chi to competing businesses. Neat huh?

Surf on Molokai

2007-06-01T01:59:00.000-07:00

Howz that? Not bad, hum?

A hike on Molokai

2007-05-31T02:03:00.001-07:00

A hike on Molokai. What started as a simple hike almost turned out to be a nightmare. I thought I was going to Kalaupapa, but I went on the wrong hike. I actually went on a hunting trail and got lost, all by myself. Four hours later, on a hike that wouldn't have to take more than 30 minutes, I emerged from the jungle. In the end, it was fun. I'm glad I'm sleeping on my bed tonight...

Home

2007-05-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

I took this on the tiny lawn of my new house in Palolo. I used my trusty 18-55mm lens with a slow shutter speed.

Ala Moana Bowls

2007-05-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

The one place I never got tired of surfing. I miss it a lot. Ala Moana Bowls, the last time I saw it, from the window of the plane going to Molokai.

Memorial Day celebration @ Molokai Memorial Park

2007-05-29T04:04:00.001-07:00

It all ended with a great lunch, where the main dish was Portuguese soup, which "took two weeks to prepare," joked one of the main announcers. Look for Wednesday's issue of The Molokai Dispatch (www.themolokaidispatch.com) where the story I wrote about this will be publish. But in true Molokai time, it'll probably be up on the Web Thursday or Friday... Aloha, Leo.

Self Portrait

2007-05-27T13:47:00.002-07:00

I got a whole mess of new equipment, including this flash, so I can shoot my friends wedding in mid June. Hopefully I can get some more practice shots in before then. Any tips?

Memorial Day celebration

2007-05-27T12:23:00.001-07:00

All right, I didn't take this picture, I know. But the camera was mine. I covered the Memorial Day celebration at Molokai Memorial Park. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, attended as a guest speaker, more like a star-speaker. I've got some awesome shots that I'll post tomorrow. Of course I had to get my picture taken. She's very charismatic, outspoken and charming.

You figure

2007-05-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

Yep, bored on Molokai...

My backyard on Molokai.

2007-05-26T11:18:00.001-07:00

From my door step, on my second night here on Molokai.

Beauty...

2007-05-25T13:38:00.001-07:00

Amazing how beauty can go unnoticed. On my way to my car last morning I heard a buzz from bees, looked down and spotted this. Screwed my new 100mm f/2 on my camera and came up with this picture. No bees, but the honey source!

Flower or grape?

2007-05-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

In my quest to take a picture of every flower on the island, I came across this one while wasting some time in my dorm. I'm not sure what they're called (surprise, surprise) but I think they resemble grapes.

Monsanto and GMOs

2007-05-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Today I have to report on a Chamber of Commerce meeting in which one of the main guest speakers is the big wig on Molokai for Monsanto, one of the most controversial companies in the world.

Monsanto manufactures GMOs. What most people don't know is that it also manufactures Roundup, the popular weed killer. GMOs are genetically engineered to resist herbicides, especially Roundup. GMOs are not engineered to fend off bugs, but to take on more pesticides withoug dying. In summation, we are ingesting more pesticides.

Monsanto also holds the power to sue any farmer in the world (yes, the world) who grows their GMOs, even if those farmers crops got cross-polynated by accident or chance, such as wind carrying seeds, birds, or whatever else. A farmer may be unware that he has a few GMO plants in his crop, and be served with a lawsuit by Monsanto. And most likely he will lose, as it has happened in the past.

Perhaps the most absurd claim by Monsanto is the domestic pig patent. Yes, you heard it right: domestic pig patent. Monsanto engineered a pig and patented it. The problem is that the pig they allegedly engineered is almost exactly the same as the domestic pig. Virtually any domestic pig could be claimed as property of Monsanto and the owner could get sued to pay licensing fees, and be stopped from mating his pigs to produce more offspring, thus violating copyright again.

When all the oil in the world is gone, we'll probably use ethanol to fuel our cars, like in Brazil, where half of their automotive fleet is powered by ethanol produced from cane sugar. In the United States, the newly boosted ethanol program uses mostly corn. Monsanto is fiercely dedicated to the production of drought and pesticide resistant corn, especially on the island of Molokai. One can only imagine where it could end up...

Fight for your rights, it's a right in the U.S. constitution!

Arriving on Moloka`i

2007-05-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

West side of Moloka`i. I just arrived here yesterday. I was thrown straight into the pit. After giving me a crash course on "Molokainess," Todd took me to a meeting held by community leaders who are fiercely opposed to land development. From there we went to the office, where I picked up 11 news from around the world and Hawaii, edited them to about a quarter of the size each (thank you Ann for all those boring editing exercises) and today it's going into print. It was a really tiring day, but one of the most rewarding days I've ever had. After all those years studying, I am dying to spend long hours at work, give my blood to the profession I chose. Until a few days ago, I still doubted if I have what it takes to be a journalist. I might not have it (what it takes), but at least for now I'm confident I have it. Well, at least my perception is positive, lol...

Gettin' a lei

2007-05-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

Graduation in Hawaii is unique in many ways. An example would be the lei's given to graduates at the end of the ceremony. It's such a big deal, the school opens up the soccer and baseball fields to accomodate the droves of family members and friends who come to lei their graduate. Are there any other college graduation traditions somewhere else as cool as this?

Abstract composition

2007-05-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

After a string of party pictures I decided to get back to what this blog is all about, and that is photography. Abstract composition during a conversation stimulated by cheap but good beer at Magoo's in Honolulu.

Mitch? Matt? Bitch? Cupcake? Tuy? What is this guy's name again?

2007-05-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

As one clever woman (a friend of "Well-Dressed Paul") put it, he should be called Fierce Animal! Just look at this picture, playing irresistible with that poor and innocent college girl...

Parasite

2007-05-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

These birds are the most annoying creatures on campus. They crowd around tables when lunch is on, they are noisy in the morning and they poop all over my moped seat. Truly an awesome animal!

One Night @ Magoo's - part II

2007-05-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

The beginning... Cheers!

Gulp, gulp...

More cheers! Salud!

Gulp, gulp, gulp...

"I'm kinda buzzed... Who's this blonde?"

"I think she likes me"

Every now and then a clown spoils a picture perfect moment!

Note the blonde: "Grrrr, get off my man!"

"Really, you too, back off! I saw him first!"

"Lady, we have been 'seeing' him for two years now."

"I'm the Man!"

And so the night went... Any flirting was harmless during this shooting. PhDs don't usually drink much, so this one is excused. In all actuality, his wife was seating a couple seats away, nursing his son. But it was fun to embarrass my professor a little. Aloha!

Spring Pink

2007-05-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

There are so many beautiful flowers and plants here on Oahu. The best part is that it's pretty much summer year round; so there's always something pretty to look at.

Hangover? Me?

2007-05-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

For all those present in that "One Night at Magoo's": I will post embarrassing pictures. Just wait for future postings...

Zen

2007-05-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Looking at these carefully raked pebbles, I was suddenly reminded of my grading practices as a landscaper. I understand how frustrating it is to rake this everyday.