Journey to Hawaiʻi

Dec 31, 2025 · Photo essay

Four islands, many changing skies, and a camera close at hand. These are a few memories from Hawaiʻi in December 2025.

01 · LAND OF FIRE

Big Island

Black lava, restless earth, and the last orange light falling into the Pacific.

Steam rising from a volcanic crater on Hawaiʻi Island

Orange sunset over the Pacific Ocean

Turquoise waves breaking over black volcanic rocks

Layered volcanic sea cliffs above deep blue water

Volcanic crater landscape beneath soft evening clouds

02 · ABOVE THE CLOUDS

Maui

Haleakalā at sunset, then wind and waves along the northern shore.

Fiery sunrise behind observatory silhouettes on Haleakalā

Haleakalā volcanic landscape above the clouds

Clouds moving through the Haleakalā crater

Warm morning light over the summit landscape

Observatory domes silhouetted against an orange sunrise

Red and orange dawn clouds over Haleakalā

Feathered red clouds at sunrise

Mountain road curving above a sea of clouds

Ocean waves breaking across black lava rocks

Kitesurfer above a large blue wave

Kitesurfer riding above white surf with mountains beyond

Orange kite over a rolling Pacific wave

Distant kitesurfer over a misty ocean

03 · THE GARDEN ISLE

Kauaʻi

Canyons cut into red earth, with green valleys disappearing into rain and mist.

Sunlit red and green ridges of Waimea Canyon

Layered ridges across Waimea Canyon

Nā Pali cliffs emerging through mist above the ocean

Deep green valley beneath a blue streaked sky

04 · RIDGES & OCEAN

Oʻahu

Rainbows on the trail, blue water beyond the ridges, and quiet encounters near Honolulu.

Honolulu skyline framed by green mountain ridges

Windward Oʻahu seen beneath passing clouds

Turquoise coastline and neighborhoods viewed from above

Steep green mountains meeting the blue Oʻahu coast

Byodo-In Temple beneath the Koʻolau mountains

Green sea turtle resting among bright shoreline algae

Rainbow appearing through trees beside a hiking trail

A final roll of ocean blue, volcanic black, and December light—one journey I will remember for a long time.