Honolulu, Hawaii

This past year I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to visit the top of the Ko'olau Mountains as a volunteer for an environmental sustainability project. Rather than taking the intensely windy and treacherous hike, we went by helicopter. What you see below is the oddly graceful H3 freeway snaking through one of the most lush and beautiful parts of the island of Oahu. The drive is almost a spiritual experience. A 'must see' for any visitor.

It was a small four seater chopper with no doors, and on this ride I got to sit shotgun. At this height, the wind was very strong and when the pilot turned.. man it was an amazing and frightening feeling all at once! I was awestruck by what I saw; yet startled by the forceful wind and how the chopper seemed to wobble all too easily. With my left hand I had a death-grip on a nylon-type handle, and with my right hand I gripped tightly to my camera. All the while trying to shoot with some sort of focused intention rather then just snapping away as if it were going out of style.

Though lasting a mere 5-10 minutes, it was my first helicopter ride and I'll never forget it.