Tag Archives: Boats

City of Bismark

The US Navy ship City of Bismark in Kawaihae harbor

I saw this ship moored in Kawaihae Harbor recently. It looked unlike anything I’d seen there before, so I stopped by to take a look. I found the ship’s name on the stern, between the twin hulls.

According to Wikipedia, the City of Bismark is a Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport, operated by the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command. It was built in 2017 and entered service at the end of that year. Ironically, when I first saw the ship, I thought it looked a bit beaten up and wondered if it was an older ship that someone had bought and was planning on fixing up!

The US Navy ship City of Bismark in Kawaihae harbor

Tug and pigeons

Early morning clouds over the ocean off Kawaihae, Hawaii

A couple of days ago, on my way to work, the early morning sky had an interesting look to it. Then I saw a tug and barge heading toward Kawaihae Harbor, so I decided to pull over and park (right next to a No Parking sign!). I walked a few paces to get a more open shot of the scene and, in doing so, disturbed a flock of pigeons roosting in a nearby tree. They took to the air and swooped around for a while before dispersing.

Early morning clouds over the ocean off Kawaihae, Hawaii

SSV Robert C. Seamans at anchor

The SSV Robert C. Seamans anchored off Hawaii Island
The SSV Robert C. Seamans anchored off Hawaii Island

This rather splendid sailing vessel was anchored recently, for a few days, in front of Mauna Kea Resort. It’s the Robert C. Seamans, a 134-foot steel-hulled brigantine that, despite its classic appearance, was built in 2001. The vessel is a Sailing School Vessel (SSV) operated by the Sea Education Association, which conducts sail training and research.

For more information about the Robert C. Seamans and Sea Education Association, go to https://sea.edu/.

The color of water

Small fish swim in Kiholo Lagoon in Hawaii
Little fish swim in the glacier blue waters of Kiholo Lagoon.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Everything Water.’ See more responses here.

I’m going with some abstract images from my archives. No text with these except for some brief captions.

Late afternoon light on the ocean off Hawaii
Late afternoon sun on the ocean.
Water from an infinity pool in Hawaii
The runoff from an infinity pool.
Patterns in a lagoon in Hawaii
Wavy ripples are this color…
Ripples in a pool in Hawaii
…and straight ripples are this color … sometimes.
Greenery reflected in a lagoon in Hawaii
Green water in a tree-lined lagoon.
An abstract of colors in the waters off Hawaii
Shimmering colors.
Tide pool colors in Hawaii
Impressionist colors.
Water ripples in a tide pool in Hawaii
Sparkling colors.
An abstract of colors in the waters off Hawaii
Glittering colors.
A sailboat at sunset in the waters off Hawaii
And before the light goes, a splash of red.

A traditional sail

A small sailboat off the coast of Hawaii

This little sailboat is a modern rendition of a traditional Hawaiian style. The two hulls are common in various forms in Polynesian culture and the sailing rig features a Hawaiian Peʻa sail, otherwise known as a Crab Claw sail. These sails used to made from the woven leaves of Hala trees.

On this boat, the sail is made from a modern material and it’s speedy progress through the water wasn’t down the the light breeze, but rather an outboard motor, which is also not traditional!