Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Coming Up in Kona, Hawaii

Hawaii Ironman Triathlon & Underpants Run 2007

I shot these images and put the slide show together after the 2007 Ironman Race, and to my surprise the piece has had over 48,000 hits. Also the piece has attracted some ads which I seem to have no control over.
Well, this year's event takes place soon, on October 10th. The participants are already in town, running biking swimming - training and warming up to the day long triathlon.

(video and slide show images by Randy Magnus)

Kupuna Hula Senior Moments

The overall winners in performance.

Tony's group from Japan.

Uncle George with some Japanese hula performers.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

A Multi-Cultural Wedding in Kona, HI

Kona Kay got married to Michael Wilson recently, complete with a Chinese Lion Dance, Ribbon Dance, a Jewish song, some smooth jazz, along with Hawaiian and Chinese food. This was all held at the Mormon Church in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
(That's Jon Kunitake handing out gifts to the attendees.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

HAIB Peace Day Held at Paleaku Gardens

The local Buddhists Temples got together recently with prayer, chant, poetry, discussions, and presentations to honor the United Nations Day of Peace. This took place at Paleaku Peace Gardens in Captain Cook, HI.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Ladies of Kona - A Surprise Performance

I ran into a surprise performance by The Ladies of Kona, who were performing at the Keauhou Shopping Center Farmer's Market in place of Bobby and the Boys in Aloha In Motion. So here they are - Aunty Loretta, Aunty Mary, and Aunty Lei.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Kahalu'u Bay By Air

I had to do some aerial shots for an assignment, so got these shots of Kahalu'u Bay and the Outrigger Keauhou Bay Resort.

(The tight 360 degree circles in the holding pattern before landing, after the third circle, I was ready to get down (we had to do eight or so.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Lavaman Keauhou Action Shots 09

The 220 or so triathletes started with a 0.9 mile swim in the Keauhou Bay, then a 24.8 miles bike ride up to the Energy Lab and back to Keauhou Beach Resort, when they run around the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and back to the finish line at the Keauhou Bay Resort. Olympic distances.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Lavaman Keauhou Triathlon 2009

Nick Garrett was the first out of the water of Keauhou Bay.

Ben Hoffman won the Lavaman Keauhou Triathlon 2009 overall with a time of 1:58:17. It was the Olympic distance with a 0.9 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile run.

Bree Wee won the event for the girls with a time of 2:08:18 (5th overall).

Bree with race director Gerry Rott.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Hawaiian Legends in Keauhou, Hawaii

For this year's E Hula Mai Kaua (Couples Hula) we had noted Hawaiian musician Darlene Ahuna backing up one couple, and master chanter Charles Ka'upu from Maui was one of the judges.

The following week was the Kupuna Hula Festival at the Sheraton Keauhou Resort where we found our old friend Uncle George Na'ope. Here George is with Ecco and her hula halau from Okinawa, Japan.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Big Island County Fair

Rides, food, local people, walking on broken asphalt at night ruins one's slippers (flip flops.)
This takes place every year at the Old Airport in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
I miss the farm animals and the big slices of watermelon for a buck that we had in previous years.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

The 38th Annual Queen Lili'uokalani Outrigger Canoe Race 2009

The world's largest long distance canoe race was started in 1972.

Crews from Hawaii, the US mainland and around the world come to this event.

With both koa wood canoes and fiberglass canoes.












After the first day of the women racing from Kailua Bay to Place of Refuge and the men racing back,
there was an afternoon reception of beer drinking before handing out the torches for the evening torch parade.

It's always impressive to see that many paddlers and that many canoes going into the water at the same time, and that many people carrying torches through Kailua Village.
An Amazing Weekend.


(photos by Randy Magnus)

Jack Fruit in Hawaii

The insides of a Jack Fruit, from Ken Love's stall at the Keauhou Shopping Center Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.

Ken also had the original seeded banana, the Musa balbisiana.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Hula at Huggo's On The Rocks

Every Monday evening at 7pm you can see live Keiki hula under the direction of Kaleiula Makekau at Huggos On The Rocks in Kailua Kona, Hawai'i.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Mauna Lani Bay Resort Closes For 2 Months

The Mauna Lani Bay Resort has closed its doors for the next two months. They say its to refurbish and clean the resort to get ready for the winter crowd.
(Others have commented that maybe they don't want to pay the salaries of their employees during this slow period.)

I got word from sources saying the Mauna Lani Bay Resort is like a ghost town at this time.


(photos by Randy Magnus)