I just moved back to Kailua last month from Manoa. The Kailua Night Market is something new that started while I was living in town. I'm not sure, but it might have started in response to the need for an arts and crafts sales venue. Farmers Markets have been highly successful on Oahu, but almost none of them will allow craftspeople to sell their stuff. It's all food. The Night Market is almost all arts and crafts. There were a few food trucks but not much. Maybe I'll try to sell my pottery at the next sale, the third Saturday of July. Below are some photos I took.

On Saturday my wife and I went to the Hawai'i State Fair at the Aloha Stadium parking lot. We got there about 5, about an hour after it opened, and it was a ghost town. It was also sweltering and we spent the first two hours watching hula shows, eating, and staying away from the scorching sun and the burning asphalt. About 7, the crowd descended on the fair and things started getting more interesting. Below are some of the photos I took, especially after 7.

Coconut Island is the home of the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology which is part of the University of Hawai'i. I've lived in Hawai'i for 27 years now, and this is the first time I've been on the island. They do conduct tours of the island, but you need to be sponsored by a staff or faculty member. I had a great time touring with members of our church and learned quite a bit, especially about coral. Below are some of the photos I took during our visit.

I always enjoy taking photos at Ala Moana Shopping Center, especially in the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk. The whole area is a gigantic Japanese food court. I like the different varieties of ramen you can find there. I enjoyed a wonderful tan tan ramen today whose sauce was made with ground sesame seeds. It was smooth and rich and creamy and spicy. Can't wait to go back and eat it again! Below are some of the photos I took today at Ala Moana.

Yesterday the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra played its annual summer concert at Kailua District Park. I took a few photos while enjoying the music, including photos of firefighters who were involved in a search-and-rescue for a missing swimmer in Kailua Bay.