Looking up from 9,000 feet. Please view large.

Looking up at Mauna Kea; already at 9,000 feet. Thanks for looking.

It was difficult to travel up the island - to watch the fabled lush beauty cede to grazing land cede to mile upon mile upon mile of desolation. You've caught that transition beautifully.

 

I felt cheated and a little sad on the trip up the mountains. Arriving at the top, of course, these negative feelings were washed away with the wonder of the vastness of the tangerine and orange and lilac sunset and, then, the surrealistic and awesome shovels full of stars emerging from the sky - spread like diamonds strewn carelessly across black velvet.

 

Not one's mother's Hawaii, indeed.

 

Forgive me - your photograph evoked these memories and they just kind of popped out.

 

Rich

I see that you are as good with words as with the camera. You describe the range of migrating feelings while going up the mountain perfectly. Feeling that deeply is a lovely curse.