I have a quest to get photos of breaking waves without getting myself smushed on the rocks. I like this one for the forms that the wave’s foam has taken – loops, tendrils and little blobs.
Abstracts: Breaking wave
Tag Archives: Surf
Surf’s up
Big waves crash ashore on the North Kohala coast, leaving the water white with foam.
South Point surge
There’s a lot of current and swell at South Point, the southernmost tip of both the Big Island and the United States. Not far from the spot where people jump off the cliff into the ocean (not all of them make it back alive!), there’s a hole in the cliff where water surges in and out. This spot also has an opening above and is a great place to watch this wave action. I particularly like the pink rocks and the frothy white water as the waves recede.
Surfers
In response to this week’s Sunday Stills challenge on the theme of ‘Water’ (more responses here) I thought I’d post something very Hawaiian. Most widely-seen surfing images feature a surfer cruising through a barrel of blue water or sliding down the face of a terrifyingly steep wave. But many people enjoy getting out on the water and having fun on whatever waves are available.
The Big Island isn’t known for its surfing spots in the same way as Maui and Oahu, but there are still plenty of surfing enthusiasts. Good, rideable surf often leads to an increase in people calling in sick to work.
These photos were taken at Honolii Beach Park north of Hilo, a popular surfing spot on the east side of the island and a good spot for kids to get to grips with the sport.
Abstracts: Cascade
A breaking wave cascades down a colorful rock face on the coast.
Abstracts: A’ama crabs and sea spray
One of the first things anyone visiting a rocky seashore here will see is lots of little black shapes skittering away. Those shapes are a’ama crabs.
On this day, I had, as usual, spooked the crabs into motion, but after putting a little distance between me and them, they settled down again. Where they settled was on this sloping rock next to a blowhole. Moments later, water shot out of the blowhole creating this scene.
Where I would have been squealing and running from the sudden deluge, the a’ama crabs remained. I guess, living on these rocky shores, they are well used to this sort of thing.
The surf rolls in
Recent high winds from the north kicked up large swells pounding the northern coast and lots of white water.
Maui view
Another layered view, this time of Maui, from North Kohala. Rocks and surf in front, the Alenuihaha Channel in the middle, with Maui in the background, and a layer of cloud thrown in for good measure.
Graham's Island 