We’re taking an early winter break to visit Devany’s sister on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, and to celebrate my birthday. We happened to be here while the Haleiwa Challenger surf competition was on. I love shooting surf competitions, so we spent a couple of days watching that.

Devany’s sister works for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, so we had the chance to go out with her and check on Albatross nesting sites on lands that she’s been responsible for eradicating invasive species of plants and restoring the land back to its natural state to increase nesting areas. Managed to see a couple of endangered Hawaiian Monk seals as well.

Plus it’s about 80º warmer than back in Alaska, so that’s not a terrible thing either.