Aloha to Waimea Beach Park

During the winter, the North Shore is hopping with tourists and surfers, all looking for the monster waves.  The strong surf waves closed Waimea Beach Park to swimmers ... but it was open to cameras!

My camera cannot capture the beauty and drama of the waves gathering speed ....

... and crashing onto the beach.

Even the dog stayed clear of the surf!

The lifeguards allowed "seasoned" surfers to sample the waves ...  

.... who were engulfed in the white wash!

A keiki (child) left this honu (turtle) ...

... which will find its way on this ... 

... unusual tree! 

One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 9, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 10 at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Eddie Aikau was a Waimea lifeguard and legendary surfer.  From the Eddie Aikau Foundation (at this link),

In 1978, a second voyage of the traditional sailing canoe (Hokule'a) was planned. At 31 years of age, Aikau was selected for this voyage as a crew member. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian Islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized in stormy weather about twelve miles south of the island of Molokai. In an attempt to get to land to save his crew and the Hokule'a, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard. Hours later a commercial airplane spotted the Hokule'a and the rest of the crew was soon rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Aikau was missing at sea. Despite great search efforts "Eddie" was never seen again.