This webpage contains photographic images of certain aspects of Hawaii. After a brief and hectic stay at that superbly crafted monument to greed and overblown tourism called Waikiki, I retreated to the Kona Coast of the Big Island also known as Hawaii.

There I spent most of my time snorkelling and photographing flowers. The two have much in common ... unusually vivid colors, the feel of a strange environment. Unfortunately, I am not an underwater photographer, so I can offer no images of the reef fish. Like butterflies, they continue to flit through my memories. Perhaps the flower images will suffice.

While on the Kona coast, I visited a few special places such as Pu'uhonua o Honaunau [the Place of Refuge]. Now a National Historical Park, it is said to have been built in the 12th century to provide political and religious asylum and to provide a second chance for law breakers. Once at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, offenders were safe from their enemies and protected by the gods. More on this place can be found here.

We all require a place of refuge from our society -- refuge from work, social problems, urban congestion, family dilemmas -- I found mine under the seas visiting the reef fish and on the land photographing the wildflowers.

I hope that you enjoy these images. If you do, let me know: email

Ray Rasmussen