January 1, 2026, shortly before sunrise. The sun was tinting the western sky just before rising. This phenomenon is called the “Venus Belt. In the midst of silence, this is the moment when the year 2026 begins. The sun then appeared in the eastern sky. From Waikiki, located in the southern part of Oahu, the sunrise is seen over the mountains. Only the first day of the year was really clear. After the sunrise, I went home. As I went out on my SUP (stand-up paddle), a large honu (green sea turtle) popped out of the water, took a breath, dove under the paddleboard, and disappeared into the ocean floor as if to say, “Bye. It is said that “sea turtles bring happiness on the waves,” and I felt happy enough the moment I saw it. When you are SUPing in Waikiki, you are almost 100% sure to encounter them. Here are some Hawaii shots I took throughout the year!
Hawaii in Winter Just one year ago, the Empire Steak House steak restaurant opened on the top floor of the Ilikai Hotel. The elevator leading directly to the restaurant has a glass wall, and the view that unfolds as you ascend is a sight to behold. The manuokoo (white tern) is a pure white bird that lives mainly in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. They do not build nests, but instead lay their eggs directly on the branches of banyan trees and monkey pods, an unusual habit. We can see the fluffy, rounded chicks on the branches all year round, waiting patiently for their parents to come to them with fish in their mouths. If you see blue tape wrapped around the trunk of a tree, it is a sign that “Manuokoo are here, so please leave them alone. Let’s quietly look up and watch. The North Shore in February has high waves. It is not a very good condition to enter the ocean. Surfing competitions are held during the winter months, so it is recommended to watch the pro surfers on the beach. Royal Palm Drive is located in Wahiawa, a town in central Oahu. Royal Palm trees line both sides of this road, making it a great place to stop on the way to the North Shore.
Spring Journey More than a thousand years ago, humans arrived in Hawaii from Polynesia. They arrived in Hawaii by reading signs from nature, such as the moon, sun, stars, wind, ocean swells, and sea birds. The Hōkūle’a is a canoe that was created to revive this traditional art of navigation. In March 2025, celebrating 50 weeks since its first voyage, Kaneohe Bay was filled with a mystical atmosphere. This area has a unique temperature. The strong sunshine that is typical of Hawaii gradually returns around spring. The Halekulani Hotel is known as “the pavilion fit for heaven. In front of the hotel is “Kawehewehe,” where fresh water from the ocean floor mixes with seawater. This is a sacred place where ancient Hawaiians came to heal the sick and injured. The road leading to Honokaa, a small town in northeastern Hawaii Island. On the way to Honokaa from Waimea, a town in the middle of a vast ranch, you will feel negative ions with all five senses. Hawaii Island is known for its black sand and green sand beaches, but my personal favorite is the white sand beach where the clarity of the ocean stands out. The contrast between the black of the lava and the white of the sand is unique to the Big Island of Hawaii. Kua Bay, less than 30 minutes by car from Kailua-Kona, is a favorite beach for locals. The vast island of Hawaii is nicknamed the Big Island. Covered in lava plateaus, the island offers scenery that can only be found here. Diamond Head, the symbol of Oahu. The color changes from green to brown around May, when the dry season begins. Rainbows appear after a brief “shower” of rain in Hawaii. Most of them are double rainbows, so take a closer look. Mount Haleakala on Maui Island. The sunset from the top of this mountain, which means “house of the sun” in Hawaiian, is a 360-degree panorama that makes you feel like you are standing on a little piece of the round earth. The small Hawaiian islands in the Pacific Ocean. Each one has a completely different look and feel. So if you ask me, “Where would you like to travel? I would answer “Hawaii” without hesitation. I want to experience the charm of the islands that I still don’t know. The Na Pali Coast of Kauai, which I visited in May, is a coastline of sheer cliffs that took 5 to 6 million years to form, and even now, eight months after I finished my trip, it still leaves a vivid aftertaste.
A day in July, a morning walk on the beach revealed a Hawaiian monk seal taking a “morning nap” on its back. Walking along the beach in the morning, I saw a Hawaiian monk seal comfortably taking a “morning nap” on its back. Because they are listed as an endangered species, they must be kept at least 150 feet (46 meters) away from each other both on land and in the water. However, they can be found sleeping right next to the sidewalk like this: …….
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