It's 4:05 am on July 4th, 2008 and he gets up and stumbles to the bathroom. After he's finished he climbs back into bed and snuggles close to her. Just when he's starting to doze off again she startles him wide awake with a "let's get up and drive to the other side of the island to look at the sunrise"!
Huh? He rubs his eyes and asks her, "Are you serious?". YUP!
She jumps out of bed and hops in the shower with the poochie running after him while he turns the automatic coffee pot to 'brew' NOW.
They check their emails and sip coffee for a few minutes and he hops in the shower. She gets off the pc and finishes getting ready.
Cameras...check. Flip Video .....check. Put a puppy pad down and feed the dog. Check.
Off we go! It's 5am and we're on the road. A cool crisp morning and it's still dark riding along the freeway from Central Oahu to the East Side of Oahu chasing the little sliver of light. That hint of light behind the clouds that tell us where the sun will be rising.
We arrive....at Makapu'u Beach, Oahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Makapu'u (Ma ka poo ooo) is Hawaiian for "Bulging Eyes". Right off shore is Manana Island or more known as Rabbit Island for it's shapely rabbit looking features. It was nicknamed Rabbit Island because a rancher had released rabbits there who lived there many years. It now serves as a seabird sanctuary.
Makapu'u Lighthouse sits atop the mountain overlooking the beach, Rabbit Island and far off in the distance you can see the island of Molokai. The lighthouse was built in 1909 and automated in 1974. There is actually a trail leading to the lighthouse and about a 2 mile hike. Too steep for me!
This is how we spent our Fourth of July morning.
It felt like Independence Day. Free and spirited for the land I love.
Enjoy the following video of the sunrise. In this sunrise you'll see a distinct black dot. Hmmmm???
76 Comments on A Paradise Sunrise at Makapu'u Hawaii (LOCALISM FEATURED)
Sally- Absolutely breathtaking photos! One time when we were in the Keys we saw the sunrise on the east beach and then walked across the way to see the sunset on the other beach, the kids thought that was the coolest thing! Being spontaneous is part of loving life. Thanks for sharing this beautiful morning with us.
Katerina: It was such a beautiful sunrise....not often we get OUT of the house by that time to see a sunrise like this but we did it today...missed all traffic...had breakfast on the way back and even stopped to snap a couple of other photos. :)
Sally, I really loved the sunrise, I haven't been up for one in years and I'm missing something gorgeous. I can't imagine what that black dot is, it is surrounded by white...any ideas??
Karen: Howdy! I think as I got older I got up earlier anyway. I'm always up by 5 but today just seemed like the day to get up and do something.....wonderful :) And that black dot was unreal, yeah?
Your photos and video are magnificently beautiful...I've never seen a black dot like that in the centre of the sun; very unusual. Did you notice it when you were taking the video?
Sally, I am here in New York City sharing your sunrise with my friend Monica in her 34th floor condo. And why didn't I wake up this morning and grab my camera? Maybe tomorrow!
Sally, you and Gary were great to get up that early and do the video. The black dot has to have something to do with your camera, because it really wasn't there was it? Leave it to you to find a spaceship parked in the center of the sunlight. Maybe they were taking a picture of the eastern side of Oahu. Hmmm...
Sally- Beautiful, just beautiful.....both the sunrise pictures and the idea that you can just say I want to see a sunrise on the other side of the island and go do it :) I love spontanious things like that.....keeps life interesting.
Beautiful job, and what a way to start the Holiday for sure.
5 am? You truly are a dedicated blogger if you're getting up at 5 am for video!!! It's beautiful, Sally, but to me the best part is closing my eyes and just listening to the sound of the water...now THAT is bliss :)
Neal: I'm usually up by 5...but hey...I'd rather do something on a holiday without fighting traffic! We were home before everyone was running around the coastlines :)
Pat: I love everyone sharing their pictures of different parts of the world,nation etc. Will check you out tomorrow!
Duane: It had to be something with the sunlight and the way it took the video.....it looks like the sun was actually shaded to show the shape or something. ...or ....it was a spaceship :)
Lisa: Actually, it was entertainment and craving for the solitude when one sits on the rocks and breathes clean salt air, listen to the ocean and watch the sun rise. It was super peaceful and relaxing. Then came the cameras and video...and sharing it with you all on my blog LOL! :)
OK...I'm up to the challenge...I went over to Charles McDonald's blog...he has a new 'zoom' feature...I copped it, and used it on your 'black spot'...voila...you won't believe it...it's a sign...and it says, "Use Patriot Land Transfer for all your title insurance needs"...go figure!!! LOL, Thanks, Fran
Hi Sally, I heard on the news that Hawaiians is starting to ship all their garbage back to the mainland? I would have thought that taking it to Japan would be closer? Anyway, your blog is nice, and I'm sure that living in Hawaii is worth the cost.
The small islet inside of Rabbit Island is known as Kāohikaipu for those who were curious.
Thanks for sharing your "dawn patrol" experience.
Aloha, Margy
by
Margy Grosswendt, Broker - Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties
You're welcome Margy....I am in the middle of writing my next post to include Kaohikaipu or Turtle Island....
Stefan: You're welcome!
Leonlinda: It was ....awesome!
Robert: Come on down!
Teri: Let me know when it's up! I didn't get to see much of anything last night except Ardell's pics :)
Sally those are beautiful pictures and video. But if you got me up at 4:05 in the morning from a sound sleep, I think my responce would be a little different that "Are you serious?" ........... LOL
George: Awww....come on...you'd be jumping right up to go have some fun fun fun tooooo! LOL! Besides, a good cup of ground Starbucks coffee beans would get you going hhahaha!
The spectacular sunrise obviously polished off some of the edge your husband must've first felt when he was roused so early. 4:05 a.m. is kind of early, I think. You might owe him a lunch now, though.
Sally.... some pretty neat names... and history. But overall, some gorgeous pictures.... I love both a sunset and a sunrise... but I think I love the sunset the best....
Sally, if I lived there in paradise, I'd be out on the beach every morning at sunrise, perhaps having a run along the sand or just enjoying the serenity.
I love the "Woo Hoo" about 30 seconds into the video.
Wow, thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful sunrise and reminding us how important it is to live life to the fullest. You did a great job of going 360 degrees without shaking the camera!
Sally - There is a wonderful sense of serenity that comes over you while sitting on the beach and the sun slowly rises with the sound of the early morning gently lapping waves or as you sit on the beach and it dips slowly below the horizon.
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (RA), e-PRO HAWAII Real Estate & HAWAII Relocation
Mililani, HI
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Off we go! It's 5am and we're on the road. A cool crisp morning and it's still dark riding along the freeway from Central Oahu to the East Side of Oahu chasing the little sliver of light. That hint of light behind the clouds that tell us where the sun will be rising.
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Sally- Absolutely breathtaking photos! One time when we were in the Keys we saw the sunrise on the east beach and then walked across the way to see the sunset on the other beach, the kids thought that was the coolest thing! Being spontaneous is part of loving life. Thanks for sharing this beautiful morning with us.