Happy New Year!!!
Nobody does New Year's Eve like Hawaii does. It is the biggest holiday of the year and quite a spectacle to see. The little fireworks are just the beginning of this over-the -top event as the big professional (and illegal) fireworks are the main attraction. Here in my neighborhood (quite local) every other house spends thousands on their TNT and for some reason this year was the loudest, longest, and most impressive.
The fireworks had been going off a few a night since Oct. and Jake was really afraid of the the loud noises every time. So needless to say at 6pm when the bombs began and pictures were falling off our walls (seriously!) I thought my little man was going to have a heart attack. He kept saying "Boom boom done?! Bye bye boom boom!" with a look of fright across his face. We hunkered down and watched a movie until he was used to the noise and eventually he wanted to go outside and take a look around.
Down at auntie Carols house the kids are taught the tradition early as you can see from this pic. Her younger daughter (3 or 4yrs old) was throwing those fireworks that spin really fast and give off a bunch of bright colors into the street while an Uncle lit them for her. All was well until he lit one and she didn't want to throw it anymore...so she held onto the ignited firework for what seemed like minutes. Finally an Uncle was able to grab it and all was well. I, being the only haole (white foreigner) around, was yelling and freaking out at the thought of this precious girl nearly loosing a hand in an instant and my reaction stood out like a sore thumb. There is no way in hell....OK I'll stop, but really people!!
Welcome to our lil firework show.
We played with the camera settings and Chris got some amazing shots of the 'big ones' that look like they are being launched in our backyard. Oh yeah and Jake slept through it all! The pics to come are all from fireworks above our house......
The reason for the big fireworks on New Years is actually rooted in a cultural tradition. They believe that the fireworks will ward off any negative spirits coming in the next year. The authorities have a ban on these big ones and want to put a ban on all fireworks due to the large black market, injuries, health hazards for all with breathing problems, as well as property damage, but the community resists and as you can see doesn't care if they are illegal as ' it's tradition'. Enjoy the show!
Here is a video of the war-zone that is my neighborhood on New Year's eve!
This weekend I finally got Chris to come along on the lighthouse hike that Jake and I have done many times. It was a warm crowded day but well worth it because we finally saw whales!!! I have only seen whales once on this island and always keep a look out especially on this scenic hike~yay!
Jake wanted out of the stroller and insisted on running around all alone. His running technique is still a work in progress and this pictures doesn't show just how steep the grounds really are up there. But out he goes and sending mom in a panic as he would run down towards the cacti (left side of this pic) looking like he was loosing control and acting as if he was going to face plant into the spiny brush. Oye!
View from the top looking out to Moloka'i isle.
Nobody does New Year's Eve like Hawaii does. It is the biggest holiday of the year and quite a spectacle to see. The little fireworks are just the beginning of this over-the -top event as the big professional (and illegal) fireworks are the main attraction. Here in my neighborhood (quite local) every other house spends thousands on their TNT and for some reason this year was the loudest, longest, and most impressive.
The fireworks had been going off a few a night since Oct. and Jake was really afraid of the the loud noises every time. So needless to say at 6pm when the bombs began and pictures were falling off our walls (seriously!) I thought my little man was going to have a heart attack. He kept saying "Boom boom done?! Bye bye boom boom!" with a look of fright across his face. We hunkered down and watched a movie until he was used to the noise and eventually he wanted to go outside and take a look around.
Down at auntie Carols house the kids are taught the tradition early as you can see from this pic. Her younger daughter (3 or 4yrs old) was throwing those fireworks that spin really fast and give off a bunch of bright colors into the street while an Uncle lit them for her. All was well until he lit one and she didn't want to throw it anymore...so she held onto the ignited firework for what seemed like minutes. Finally an Uncle was able to grab it and all was well. I, being the only haole (white foreigner) around, was yelling and freaking out at the thought of this precious girl nearly loosing a hand in an instant and my reaction stood out like a sore thumb. There is no way in hell....OK I'll stop, but really people!!
Welcome to our lil firework show.
We played with the camera settings and Chris got some amazing shots of the 'big ones' that look like they are being launched in our backyard. Oh yeah and Jake slept through it all! The pics to come are all from fireworks above our house......
The reason for the big fireworks on New Years is actually rooted in a cultural tradition. They believe that the fireworks will ward off any negative spirits coming in the next year. The authorities have a ban on these big ones and want to put a ban on all fireworks due to the large black market, injuries, health hazards for all with breathing problems, as well as property damage, but the community resists and as you can see doesn't care if they are illegal as ' it's tradition'. Enjoy the show!
Here is a video of the war-zone that is my neighborhood on New Year's eve!
This weekend I finally got Chris to come along on the lighthouse hike that Jake and I have done many times. It was a warm crowded day but well worth it because we finally saw whales!!! I have only seen whales once on this island and always keep a look out especially on this scenic hike~yay!
Jake wanted out of the stroller and insisted on running around all alone. His running technique is still a work in progress and this pictures doesn't show just how steep the grounds really are up there. But out he goes and sending mom in a panic as he would run down towards the cacti (left side of this pic) looking like he was loosing control and acting as if he was going to face plant into the spiny brush. Oye!
View from the top looking out to Moloka'i isle.
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