🌊

can't say enough about how gorgeous Hawaii is. the colors there can feel unreal.

this was a place on the west coast of Oahu the locals nicknamed Electric Beach, because a power plant has an underwater wastewater outlet there (at the end of that pier-like protrusion, if i recall). the pipe puts out a constant stream of warmer-than-natural water that attracts a great variety of fish to a small area. it's only like 10-20 feet deep around the outlet, so great for snorkeling and photography.

however, it can be a little dicey entering the water from the shore because the small beach's waterline is lined with large, jagged rocks that continually get pounded by decent-size waves. you have to make it out past the rocks and waves to be safe. i got flipped onto my back the first time i tried wading in when i failed at trying to dive through a largish wave, some real hasn't-been-in-an-ocean-in-a-decade shit. (for extra fun, keep in mind you have to do this hurried wading while wearing flippers.)

there may also be riptide/undertow concerns? in any case, it's strongly recommended you swim with a buddy there. i connected with the only other people present, a straight couple, and the guy and i looked out for each other.

while snorkeling i made the mistake of handing him a like four- or five-foot metal fishing spear thing i found on the ocean floor, which he proceeded to swim around with for like 10 minutes as i kept my distance. guy liked his spear.

_{update: god damn it i was one day off from anniversary-posting this one}