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???
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
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.
Sally, Wow! You really got moving so early in the morning! Thanks for sharing the video with those of us who were still sleeping during the sunrise!
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. :)
Roberta: We sure did! And it was all worth it...until we got home...did a few things and ended up taking a nap this afternoon. What a restful day!
Carole: Gary and I decided it's the sun....or a spaceship lol!
Sally you're more of a woman than me...I don't get up before 8 am in the summer unless it's an emergency! LOL
Beautiful pictures though - funny eclipse your camera created! LOL
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?
Great Pictures Sally! Very pretty!
A trivia question. I know the bigger island is Rabbit Island. What is the smaller next to it called?
Sally,
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?
Jo
Nice sunset! Sorry...I ain't up at no 4 am no where unless my dog makes me get up. Not even for a sunset...I'll watch them in my dreams thank you.:)
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, awesome video, strange spaceship though, grin. Thanks for sharing.
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 :)
Mahalo.... Life just doesn't get much better than that. Counting the days til I'm back again!!
Hi Sally,
What a beautiful way to start the day! I see you weren't the only early risers.
Thanks for sharing the pictures, video and local istory.
Jeremy: Thanks...it was a beautiful morning!
Randy: Stay tuned for the next post...geez.
Jo: No...didn't notice it with the other pictures either...funny how it's only there in the middle of the sunrise....whatcha think?
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 :)
Gary: I kind of like the mystery :) It wasn't the video...otherwise wouldn't the black dot move around? :) Hmmm. :)
Kathy: It was fun....but this gal needed a nap in the afternoon :)
Sally,
Nice post and video...but what's the black dot??? A title guy has to know!!! :) Thanks, Fran
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! :)
Mana: Sunrises are beautiful any day :)
Greg: It's just a beautiful day in Paradise :)
Hal: What did you do????
Fran: You were supposed to tell me!!! :)
Sally,
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
Great Blog! I have been selling real estate in Bend Oregon since 1981 and find it refreshing to find a helpful blog like yours! Keep up the good work!
http://www.bendoregonrealestateexpert.com/
Sally- spectacular photos! You obviously appreciate the beauty in the place you call home.
Hi Sally,
Great photos & video, a lot of people up for the sunrise. I can see why you love Hawaii.
All the best!
Sally, maybe a sunsorship....
Sally,
That's on the other side of the sign...how could you see that??? 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.
Sally, you were up nice and early. Beeeutiful beach and colors.....
You're getting to be a pro on the FLIP....I'll have to share my video display of the Fireworks last night. ;-)
Beautiful pictures Sally. I would love to visit Hawaii with my cameras and take some shots!
Robert Swetz
Sally, Gary must love you a whole lot to drive from Mililani to Makapu'u at 5am. :)
Great to see that you took the day off and were able to smell the refreshing ocean and enjoy the awesome sunrise.
Colorful and beautiful, thanks so much for sharing!
Greg: And this has something to do with a beautiful sunrise?
Fran: LOL! Glad it's on the flip side! We'd be a team!
Duane: Sunsorship LOL! That's a great answer too!
Kevin: WooHoo! It was great!
Carole: I do ....and I do appreciate all around me. In my younger years....didn't appreciate it all and didn't realize what I had.....have. :)
Sallie, That was marvelous!! I just love that place. Boy, you really make me miss HI! Thank you for sharing those beautiful photos and video.
Aloha,
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
Sally, that looks like a slice of heaven...thank you..
Sally, that looks like a slice of heaven...thank you..
Yvette: Ah...but I'm bringing it all to you so you can enjoy!
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!
Jack...a great slice indeed!
Those photos are absolutely beautiful! But what the heck were you doing, getting up at 4:00 a.m.? Are you crazy?
Sally,
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.
Lisa: Yesterday I sure was! Crazy for some serenity :) ;)
Esko: He's a sweetheart. Today he cooked me a stir fry for lunch :)
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....
Thanks, Sally - I haven't seen a sunrise in years! I love the lonely little lighthouse, too.
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.
I LOve Hawii, But I love Destin More... But I love to drive....
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!
Great photos. Let me know if you ever want to work together inter-island.
Steve
Thanks for all the nice compliments and sharing the sunrise with me!
Brian: good...people caught that woohoo :)
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.
Kathy: Always some sort of cleansing of the soul ....ah...
Karen: Okay.
Sally, another great post! Maybe the black dot in the video is related to the same reflective phenomenon with the camera that causes red eye?
Brian: You think??? Who knows ...all I know is was a freak video :)
Beautirul pics. Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to move to Hawaii
How fortunate you are. I think these photos are amazing. Thanks for the early morning tour of paradise!
Sally, Thanks so much for posting the video and all the other beautiful photos. Mike
You can really tell a story. If the whole real estate didn't work out for you , you could be a writer.
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Sally - You reminded me of why it is so great to get up EARLY! BEAUTIFUL!!! thanks!
Thanks for sharing. They are beautiful pictures. I have seen a sunrise only once but did not take a picture. I have seen some beautiful sunsets.