good evening. i knew the waves were going to be small all around the island today so i decided to do something different. i went to a little secret spot and took some pretty cool photos. i had the beach all to myself. i was out there while most of the island was still sleeping. when i was finished, i surfed bowls and it was super fun! another active day so my eyes are closing already. but not so fast… i still have to download the photos….

after surfing and catching so many waves, you get hungry. and when your hungry, it’s time to eat the best bbq plate lunch in town. bbq pork ribs and prime rib!!!

like i said, as most of the island was sleeping, i was swimming in hawaii’s free national park, the ocean. if i didn’t have my camera today, i would have kicked myself in the ass. this little secret beach break? you will never find….

to go to another country and do good in a contest is one thing. to go to another country and win a contest with perfect waves score of a 10 in the final is another. chiaki okuyama was the underdog and took out all the best women’s bodyboarders in the world. bodyboarders in hawaii have been coming up to me and telling me the news. no, it’s not just japan news, it’s world news! i want to congratulate chiaki for doing such a great job and representing japan. your hard work and determination finally paid off!!! keep on dreaming because your on top of the world now!!! great thing will follow!!!
**CLICK HERE FOR CHIAKI OKUYAMA’S GO-NAMINORI OFFICIAL BLOG….

Prime Rib!

**going to weddings is always a happy day for me. why? because a wedding day is a day to celebrate a start to 2 peoples lives. and being that mr. and mrs. sato are part of the barrels family, it makes me more happier!! yesterday, i grab my canon 40d hooked up with my 10-17 fisheye lens and headed to calvary by the sea. check out the photos…

i suck at taking wedding photos and wouldn’t want to because there’s just too much pressure. if the photographer screws up, you will never ever be forgiven. i’ve heard to many horror stories about photographer wedding screw ups so and i don’t want to be one of them.
so there i was sitting quietly on the side and as soon as they say we can take photos, i bust out my camera. the girl photographer didn’t look too happy. i think she tripped out on me. am i wrong? if so, please tell me…

i have a full canon setup that’s worth over $10,000. should i use it, or stick to my iphone? that’s a dumb question. an iphone can’t take something so beautiful like this. can it? i just wanted to apologize to the photographer. i’m not trying to drop in, i just spent a lot of money on equipment that i want to use everyday…

shooting family photos are important to me. these are the kind i keep forever. this is the beautiful nakano family on their first trip to hawaii!!!

what a beautiful couple!!! congratulations again to the new mr. and mrs. sato!!!

of the hundred something photos i took, this one is my favorite because this is the moment. PURE HAPPINESS IN HAWAII!!! i wish you both a future full of happiness!!!