It was the night before a Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort wedding and sixty yards away from our bedroom we heard loud cracking sounds like fireworks, then a thunderous boom that shook our home, next silence and then the coqui frogs started up again.
We had thunder and lightning for 3 days, 10 inches of rain this year, our fur buddy Elvis was stressed, real stressed and we are too with him being stressed.
Then in the morning we found out what it was. 2 tons of unordered firewood and future furniture across our drive way and wedding exit. Instant concern was at the tip of my mind, because there is no excuse for being late to a wedding for a professional wedding photographer.
Named Ōhiʻaafter a Hawaiian Warrior, she had stood on the ancient lava flow in a Big Island forest for 150-300 years, Tai Lake shared that its growth is measured at 1/20” annually (yet to be determined). No rush.
For some reason I stopped myself the day before and took the first shot. I’ll miss her but not the fear of missing the “wedding kiss shot” or from her falling on my head every time I drove or walked Elvis under her.
It took 2 men, 2 chainsaws and a tractor and four hours to clear the path for us to pass. We could never have imagined a better outcome for us. Timing is everything.
Under an awesome post storm sky that provided incredible light for wedding photography, the wedding went on as planned.
Happy Hump Day!
