Shootz! Art, Dance, Sugar and Whales Come Into Focus

This week, a trip to Kauaʻi and a dance at the Blaisdell Center capture aging Hawaiʻi, even as youthful energy abounds.

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This week, a trip to Kauaʻi and a dance at the Blaisdell Center capture aging Hawaiʻi, even as youthful energy abounds.

On the First Friday of February (2.7.25), Artist Solomon Enos paints lei on a construction barrier at the State Capitol assisted by members of the public who added their personal touches to the mural. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
At this month’s First Friday art walk, artist Solomon Enos painted a lei on a construction barrier at the State Capitol. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
On the First Friday of February (2.7.25), Artist Solomon Enos paints lei on a construction barrier at the State Capitol assisted by members of the public who added their personal touches to the mural. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Members of the public added their personal touches to Solomon Enos’ mural. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The 54th annual Senior Citizen’s Valentine’s Day Dance took place on Tuesday at the Blasdell Center and included groups from all over O’ahu. David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
The 54th annual Senior Valentine Dance at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center included groups from all over O’ahu. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The 54th annual Senior Citizen’s Valentine’s Day Dance took place on Tuesday at the Blasdell Center and included groups from all over O’ahu. Most of them took advantage of the provided Photo Booth. David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
A photo booth at the Senior Valentine Dance, held Tuesday at the Blaisdell Center, was popular with kūpuna. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The 54th annual Senior Citizen’s Valentine’s Day Dance took place on Tuesday at the Blasdell Center. Norman and Susan Kawamoto travelled over from Kaneohe to attend. David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Norman and Susan Kawamoto traveled from Kaneohe to attend the dance. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Uwajima Mayor Fumiaki Okahara exchange gifts after they signed a continuing agreement as sister cities on the 20th anniversary of their first agreement on February 11th, 2004. Photographed a a ceremony at Mission Auditorium, February 11th, 2025. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Uwajima Mayor Fumiaki Okahara exchanged gifts to celebrate the 20th anniversary of becoming sister cities. The two cities formalized their relationship following a collision between the Uwajima-based fishing vessel Ehime Maru and the Pearl Harbor-based submarine USS Greenville off the coast of Oʻahu in February 2001. Nine people aboard the Ehime Maru died. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
A student traverses the South Vineyard Boulevard overpass that links two sections of the Princess Ruth Ke’elikōlani Middle School in Honolulu. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
And É who can resist the sight of a full moon hanging over the neighborhood? Photographed in the early hours of February 12th just after the viewable Full Moon achieved 99.9% in our area.(David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Who can resist the sight of a full moon hanging over the neighborhood? The moon is 99.9% full this cycle, with a tiny sliver not visible. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The Gay & Robinson Sugar Mill was shuttered in 2010 after many decades of producing Sugar in the area. All that remains are the rusting symbols of a bygone era. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The Gay & Robinson Sugar Mill in Kaumakani on Kauaʻi was shuttered in 2010. All that remains are the rusting symbols of a bygone era. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
An alternate view of the Gay & Robinson Sugar Mill that was shuttered in 2010 after many decades of producing Sugar in the area. These hills in front of the smoke stacks are what remains of years of crushing the cane to extricate the sugar. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The hills around the abandoned Gay & Robinson Sugar Mill are the remains of sugarcane that was crushed to extract the sugar. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Whale season is upon us and one of the best places to witness their passing is from Diamond Head. This frame composite image of 5 frames placed together to show the whales Fluke as it rose above the surface and then dove was photographed on February 14th, mid morning. An impressive sight even from 600 plus yards. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Whale season is upon us, and one of the best places to spot the majestic marine mammals is from Diamond Head. This image is the composition of 5 stacked frames to show the whale’s fluke as it rose above and then dove beneath the surface. An impressive sight even from 600-plus yards away. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)

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